Sea turtle and wildlife conservation trip

Tartarukus
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Coordinator | Beatriz
Coordinator | Beatriz
Book with Flex Option! Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.

High­lights

It is possible to experience one of the most amazing spectacles worldwide: thousands of sea turtles nesting at the same time along the beach in a phenomenom called arribada.
You will participate in several conservation actions led by local people: protecting sea turtles, crocodiles, deers, planting trees in the jungle, doing beach cleaning, ...
You will live as a local in three different indigenous communities in the coast of Oaxaca during 11 days.
People from the coast are the best for making you laugh. They will make a joke for everything and you won't be able to stop laughing
Your actions will impact to empower local people to conservate nature and its resources, making them aware of its value and threats through environmental education workshops.
11 days for experience Mexican life as a local travelling along Oaxaca coast & protecting turtles, crocodiles, deers, jungle wildlife, educating children, and more! This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

The mission of the project is to support and strengthen the conservation work of three community groups by supporting their activities, such as patrolling the beach, collecting nests to protect them from poachers, monitoring wildlife, feeding a small population of deers... And to wait for one of the most impressive phenomenon of the world: the Arribada, a mass nesting phenomenon of olive ridley sea turtle

In addition, the project will be focused in raising awareness in the community about endangered species and their threatened state.

This project covers one of the most important beaches for olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) worldwide, since they have a synchronous mass-nesting behaviour, which occurs just in twelve beaches over the planet, termed arribada. This beach is also relevant for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). 

The main activities of the projects will be:

  • Patroling beaches during the night protecting sea turtles and their eggs, collecting eggs to protect them in the hatchery. 
  • Environmental education with children of environmental brigades 
  • Fruit and medicinal tree planting
  • Placing/removing photo-trap cameras to monitor fauna
  • Maintentance and vigilance of the white-tailed deer population rescued by the environmental police
  • Baby crocodiles facilities cleaning during their first year of life
  • Camping in nature, as well as some ecotourism activities that fund conservation (observing arribada phenomenon, boat trip in the lagoon)
  • Accompaniment in rural entrepreneurship projects such as traditional bread making in a wood-fired oven

Typical day

Every day is different.

We are aware that many of you don't have many time to know what actually Mexico is. For that, we choose different activities to try to show you how amazing the coast of Oaxaca is, as well as choosing different traditional food, adapting it to a vegetarian diet.

During eleven days, you will visit different places, working with different people to protect different animals and natural habitats. We made this program to be able to involve you making an impact to local projects that share our values of protecting nature and wildlife, at the same time that you experience Mexico as they live it. You will live the authentic Mexico as if you were a local.

We will start our day early, with the rising sun, when birds are super happy singing for the new day. Our breakfast is simple, a coffee or tea with some fruits and a piece of bread or a mexican tortilla with cheese.

One day we support to the person in charge to feed at 8 am the deers rescued by the environmental police, after that baby crocodiles may need our attention to prepare their food too or to clean their pools until they grow large enough not to be depredated.

Other day, El Gavilan team will show us their amazing jungle, we will support them planting medicinal and fruit trees or locating photo trap cameras to monitor wildlife. We may camp there, sleeping in the forest that heal you from the inside.

We cannot forget to explain how beautiful is to educate children. They are environmental brigades that aim to protect their community, nature and the species. They are full of energy and good will to make their community better, so we will help them to be prepared to be changemakers!

Experiences don't stop there, patrolling at night is an amazing adventure, where the stars bright enough to show you the way. Waiting for a turtle to nest is a unique moment, but imagine if it's not one but thousands. In Escobilla and Morro Ayuta, we can see more than 10,000 sea turtles nesting at the same time!

Mexico is well known for their amazing sunsets, which we will enjoy while cleaning the beach from plastics, having the best landscape knowing that you are helping to keep the place wild and amazing as it should be.

We won't skip some sommunity work, strenghtening some entrepreneurs women in their production of traditional bread in a wood-fired oven, they welcome us with lot of love, making us feel as one more in their community.

We are improving and using opportunities during each call for volunteers, every month, new activities show up: birds monitoring, supporting traditional building for the conservation groups, sewing the netting of the hatchery for baby turtles, ... 


Depending on the season, you can experience:
  • Arribada, when thousands of sea turtles are nesting massively (few days per month from July to March)
  • Newborn sea turtles in natural habitat. After 45 days of an arribada, millions of sea turtles born in order to start their lifes in the Pacific Ocean (few days per month from July to April)
  • Leatherback sea turtle nesting, the biggest turtle in the world (from December to February)
  • Whales (From December to February)
  • Crocodiles hatching (June)
  • Deer hatching (June, July)
  • Bird breeding, signing like crazy (April, May)
  • A green, full of butterflies, Mexico (from June to December)
  • A 100% sunny Mexico (from January to May)

Free-time activities

Close to Morro Ayuta Project:

  • Huatulco. It’s a city full of wonderfull things: coral reefs, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, a national park, … It is a place full of possibilities
  • Chipehua Dunes, a little-known beach very close to Morro Ayuta. There are some impressive dunes, it seems the Sahara but with a beach.
  • Barra de la Cruz, a small surfer village for their nice waves.

Close to Ventanilla Project:
  • Mazunte, certificated as pueblo mágico is full of life, in the mornings it is possible to do tours to see dolphins, whales, rays, etc.
  • Tours in Manialtepec, during the night is posible to see bioluminiscence. It’s like the water is shining in the dark! They also offer riding tours.
  • Puerto Escondido, a surfer city, full of travellers people who loves meditation and yoga, … It is a coastal city with a lot of beautiful beaches: Zicatela, Carrizalillo, Bacocho, etc.

Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Hiking
Riding
Yoga/
Meditation

Require­ments

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
Language Skills
You need to speak English (intermediate level) or Spanish (basic level)
Required Documents
Travel insurance, Passport copy, flight tickets and volunteering commitment signed
Nationality Restrictions
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Other Skills
Education; environment; anthropology; Marketing; Bussiness administration; Art; ...
Time Commitment
Your helping hand will be required on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 15:00 - 20:00

What's Included

Services by Tartarukus

  • Shared cabañas in the indigenous community of Ventanilla, Morro Ayuta and Escobilla. 
  • Camping in the middle of the jungle.
  • Transport to the projects from the airport.
  • 2 meals per day elaborated by an Oaxacan cook and a simple breakfast (coffee or tea, fruits, bread or mexican tortillas)
  • Local guides who will teach you to understand nature in a completely different way. 
  • Activities coordinator to unlock your full potential. 
  • Basic material to work and for common using.

Airport Pickup at Huatulco Airport

It's possible to pick up you from 9 to 15:00 from Huatulco airport or bus station. We can see possibilities to pick you up from Puerto Escondido airport or Pochutla bus station.

Accommodation

Rooms are called "Cabañas". 

The rooms have three double beds and one bathroom in Escobilla. In Ventanilla, the bathroom is for common use and the have two double beds. They will be shared with part of your team, if you come in the 15 days group volunteering program :)

If you come during the individual volunteering, it's possible that you have to share your room with another volunteer.

Food & Beverages

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided and it's possible to serve vegetarian food.


The breakfast will be basic, some fruits, toasts, coffee/tea, maybe some seeds such as peanuts... The lunch and dinner will be prepared by a oaxacan cook and she will prepare us the traditional food (also adaptated to vegetarians when possible). In Ventanilla, our cook is Edi, a lovely and incredible woman who cooks very nice dishes! And I have to say that she loves zucchinis to make an amazing soup :) .

Internet Access
Limited access at the project site
What's NOT included?
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
Flight Tickets
The nearest airport is Huatulco Airport (HUX) in Huatulco. We assist you to find cheap flights to Mexico.
Travel Insurance
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Mexico provides security and is a plus to have.
Vaccines
If you are intending to volunteer in Mexico you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Mexico.

Dates & Fees

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Details on arrival

Calls for volunteering groups in 2023:

🔆11 of October to 21 of October🔆

🔆9 of November to 19 of November🔆

🔆9 of December to 19 of December🔆

🔆9 to 19 of February 🔆

🔆10 to 20 of March🔆

🔆10 to 20 of April🔆

🔆4 to 14 of June🔆

🔆4 to 14 of July🔆

🔆2 to 12 of August🔆

🔆1 to 11 os September🔆

🔆30 of September to 10 of October🔆

🔆30 of October to 9 of November🔆 (Special call: Día de muertos)

🔆28 of November to 8 of December🔆


Pick up on the first date from 9.00 am to 15.00 in Huatulco airport or bus station


Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Duration
1 - 2 weeks

Program fees

Costs: Prices in USD
1 week (min. stay)
$558
11 days
$824
2 weeks (max. stay)
$896
Average fees
$503 /week

The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation. Tartarukus will let you know about the final price during your application process.
Deposit (15%)
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Final Payment (85%)
Your final payment will be agreed with Tartarukus during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Why book with Volunteer World

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We refund your fees if Tartarukus cancels your trip
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Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Tartarukus.

What are people saying about Volunteer World?

Sea turtle and wildlife conservation trip

11 days for experience Mexican life as a local travelling along Oaxaca coast & protecting turtles, crocodiles, deers, jungle wildlife, educating children, and more!

$449/week

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