Your Project
At the dog shelter in Puerto Escondido, the dogs are not kept in cages, they roam freely. You should therefore feel genuinely comfortable being surrounded by a lot of dogs at once, and safety always comes first.
Your daily tasks include:
- Feeding the dogs and cooking for them
- Cleaning the different areas of the shelter
- Watering the plants and trees on the grounds
- Maintenance work around the shelter
- Walking, playing, and cuddling with the dogs
Once a month, additional activities take place:
- Bathing the dogs
- Reforestation campaigns together with the local Department of Ecology
- Fundraising events and donation drives
- Sterilisation campaigns for dogs and cats, including preparation and cleaning
Operations come up regularly, and you help with the preparation and aftercare, then make sure the patients take their medication properly. Our animal welfare guidelines apply throughout.
Location: The shelter is around 30 minutes from your accommodation by collectivo, the local public bus, at roughly 20 pesos each way.
Your Spanish course. Before your project starts, you complete a Spanish course of at least one week in Puerto Escondido, already included in the price. Classes run Monday to Friday in the mornings, and no project takes place during that week so you can focus on one thing at a time. You should arrive with basic Spanish, which will no longer be an issue after the course. Weekly salsa and cooking workshops at the school give you a chance to use what you have learned straight away.
Who You Will Be Working With
You work alongside the local shelter team, who know every dog and guide your work day to day, and with the dogs themselves, currently a mix of adults and puppies.
Our team in Mexico supports you throughout: Vanessa accompanies your start in Mexico, Susy looks after bookings and accommodation, and Fernando is our volunteer coordinator on site. In 2024 the Mexico team won our internal Happiness Award as the best team across all our destinations.
You are never on your own: other wayers volunteers live with you, take the same collectivo, and share the shelter with you. The language school sits in the same building as the wayers Home, so there is always someone around.
What We Expect From You
No previous experience is required. What matters is that you love animals and feel confident around dogs, since they move freely across the site. Bring initiative, reliability, and a willingness to get stuck into the less glamorous jobs too, cleaning and maintenance are part of every day.
Basic Spanish is needed to start, and the included language course builds on that. Things work differently in Mexico than at home, and an open, patient attitude makes all the difference. The minimum age is 18 and the minimum stay is three weeks.
What You Can Expect From Us
Before you leave, we prepare you with an online seminar, access to the wayers Lounge, our digital wayers Workbook, and the chance to connect with other participants before departure.
On site you get the airport transfer in Puerto Escondido, an introduction event, your Spanish course with textbook, contact persons at the project, personal support from our team, and a 24 hour emergency line staffed in Germany and in Mexico. After your return you receive a certificate of participation.
Life at the wayers Home
The wayers Home sits in the middle of Puerto Escondido, less than 500 metres from the nearest beach, with a pool and a garden. The language school is in the same building, which means you always have someone to talk to. In the shared kitchen you cook for yourself, with fresh produce and unusual spices available at the traditional market nearby. Most participants are between 18 and 25, and friendships here tend to outlast the trip.
The apartment at Playa Zicatella is within walking distance of the beach and around 30 to 45 minutes from the language school and the wayers Home on foot and by collectivo.
Depending on availability and project location, you stay either in the wayers Home or in an apartment, both close to the beach.
Surroundings: Puerto Escondido on Mexico's Pacific coast is a lively surf town with restaurants, bars, and small shops right around the wayers Home, and a beautiful beach five minutes away on foot.
Travel with Confidence
As a German tour operator with over 22 years of experience and more than 70,000 participants sent abroad, wayers supports you with visa guidance, insurance information, and a personal welcome on arrival, backed by a 24/7 emergency line in Germany and on the ground.
