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    • Wildlife & Turtle Sanctuary

      Background Notes - Volunteering

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    • Wildlife & Turtle Sanctuary

      Background Notes - Volunteering

      Book Now

    About Turtle Volunteering

    Monterrico sits at the heart of the Biotopo Monterrico–Hawaii, a nature reserve that embraces a 20km-long beach, blessed slice of the Pacific coast and includes a vital turtle-nesting ground, abundant wetlands and the small villages of Monterrico and Hawaii.

    During week 3 of the Learn Spanish & Volunteer program our volunteers  move to Hawaii beach for a placement at ARCAS wildlife & turtle sanctuary. Here our efforts are centered around sea turtles and the hatchery (in season) and rehabilitation efforts for other species cared for here.

    ARCAS

    ARCAS is a wildlife rescue & conservation association supported by the Guatemalan government with a primary objective to protect the regions most important seas turtles and to help ensure conservation of the last remaining mangroves in Guatemala.

    Volunteers work between 6-10 hours per day and jobs include; maintenance of infrastructure and surroundings, beach cleaning, night patrols to look for nesting female turtles (in season), transport of food and water, collection of data and releasing baby turtles into the ocean (in season).

    Background

    Originally established as a destination for confiscated trafficked wildlife, Columbus Zoo assisted in establishing the rescue centre and has supported ARCAS ever since.

    ARCAS is working with the Guatemalan government’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) to establish a 4000+ hectare protected area to help ensure the conservation of the last remaining mangroves in Guatemala as well as protecting the country’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches.

    Animal rehabilitation efforts focus on yellow naped parrots, orange-fronted parakeet, sweet water turtles, iguanas, the occasional caiman and pelican, and of course sea turtles – Olive Ridley (approx. 90%), Green and Leatherback.

    There are three ‘hatcheries’ at Hawaii beach (3km from Monterrico), where volunteers will be based and a further one a little way up the coast at Rosario. Each hatchery can contain up to 200 nests; last year 80,000 eggs where incubated of which 80% hatched.

     

    The official turtle season, including nesting, on the Pacific coast runs between June 1st and end of January and towards the end of the season, only baby turtles will be seen by volunteers. In the first few months of each new season, generally only nesting adult turtles are seen.

    The non-turtle months are February – April, but there is still a lot of work to be done in preparation for the new nesting season, as well as community projects, which run all year round.

    You’ll be protecting the eggs and hatchlings of Olive Ridley, Green and Leatherback species, who visit this intensive nesting beach at night to nest. In Guatemala it is still legal to collect and sell turtle eggs. However, ‘Parlameros’ as the fishermen are called are obliged to give 20% of their catch to ARCAS in return for a receipt that certifies that they are permitted to sell the remaining 80% of their catch.

    This makes it especially important for our volunteers on night patrols to spot turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs and mark the nest before the Parlameros mark the nest! The relationship between Parlameros and ARCAS is surprisingly friendly and cooperative however, and there are never conflicts regarding who spots and marks a nest first.

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    ARCAS Turtle Hatchery Construction xx xx xx xxx xxx
    ARCAS Turtle Patrols x x xx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx
    ARCAS Hatchlings x x xx xxx xxx xx
    ARCAS Wildlife Rehabilitation x x x xx xxx xxx xxx xxx xx x x x

    You will work between 6-10 hours per day and your jobs will include; maintenance of infrastructure and surroundings, beach cleaning, night patrols to look for nesting female turtles (in season), transport of food and water, collection of data and releasing baby turtles into the ocean (in season). Turtles almost always nest in the dark, and on a moonless night during egg-laying season you have a good chance of seeing one in Monterrico.

    Owing to the special work carried out at ARCAS the following house rules are in place;

    No mosquito repellent is to be applied for at least 2 hours running up to patrols or hatchery duty.

    No smoking is permitted near the hatchery or on patrols and ARCAS is an alcohol-free zone.

    Nobody is allowed on the beach after dark unless they are on patrol, and never alone.

    Respect hours of night patrols, and respect project coordinators, other volunteers and Parlameros.

    Please leave all tools and equipment clean and in their correct place.

    Program Price

    Cost of 2 week program USD 735 / EURO 645

    Cost of 3 week program USD 1,095 / EURO 960

    Weekly price includes accommodation (private in Antigua, shared ‘single sex’ in Monterrico & ARCAS), meals (3 meals daily in Antigua & ARCAS, breakfast & lunch with brunch at weekends in Monterrico), Spanish lessons, volunteer activities, transfer Antigua to Monterrico plus other activities described above.

    Private airport transfer from Guatemala to Antigua USD 40 / EURO 35

    Cost of extra night – accommodation & breakfast USD 30 / EURO 25

    Book Now
    Video

    Start Dates

    Program Start Dates 2018: 14-Oct, 28-Oct, 11-Nov, 25-Nov, 09-Dec, 30-Dec Start Dates 2019: 13-Jan, 27-Jan, 10-Feb, 24-Feb, 10-Mar, 31-Mar, 14-Apr, 28-Apr, 12-May, 26-May, 09-Jun, 30-Jun, 14-Jul, 28-Jul, 11-Aug, 25-Aug, 08-Sep, 29-Sep, 13-Oct, 27-Oct, 10-Nov, 24-Nov, 08-Dec

    NOTE : program start/end day is Sunday but you are welcome to arrive Saturday or earlier and prepay for extra nights as required. The program starts in Antigua and finishes in Monterrico.

    Getting Here

    Guatemala City’s ‘Aeropuerto La Aurora’ (GUA) is the country’s major international airport. There are direct flights from the USA and Europe with a variety of airlines, as well many connections to other Central and South American countries.

    To get to Antigua, you can either book a prepaid private taxi transfer with us OR you can take a shuttle bus service for Q80 (around $12 – look for the kiosk just before you leave the terminal building). You may have to wait a while for the shuttle bus to fill up before departure but they will generally take you to your nominated address in Antigua. Transfer time about 1+ hour.

    Book Now

    To book now or simply let us know that you are interested in learning more about this program, please send us a message today. We will usually get back to you within 24 hours.

    We have fixed start dates but you are welcome to arrive a day or so early, or extend after program ends, if this helps to optimise your travel plans. We look forward to hearing from you!

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