• Latin America is one of the most biologically diverse regions of the world and is of great importance to the future of our planet. Sadly, many parts of it’s ecosystems are being destroyed. Volunteer with Kaya on your gap year and take part in ecosystem preservation, rainforest conservation and national park projects and leave a positive impact on the countries you travel through. Our gap year package starts in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador where you’ll be involved in vital conservation work on a biological station. Next you’ll head off to Brazil to volunteer in the Pantanal before finally heading off to Costa Rica where you’ll get the taste of what it’s like to live as a rural Costa Rican farmer whilst also volunteering in an animal rescue centre. These projects are all in need of volunteers and enable you to contribute to the preservation of our endangered planet. Whether you are a beginner, skilled, on a career break or a student we have projects to fulfill your needs and give you an unforgettable experience.
  

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  Rural Wildlife and Community Work

  Costa Rica

  If you are interested in volunteering on a rural wildlife, environmental and community based project in the real Costa Rica, join us on the Central Pacific Coast for a project of a lifetime. The la...

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  Wildlife and Botanical Research to Help Prevent Extinction in Brazil

  Brazil

  Volunteer in Brazil on a conservation project in the Pantanal to help protect the white-lipped peccary from extinction. White-lipped peccaries (WLPs) are wide-ranging, fruit-eating ungulates that f...

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  Environmental Conservation on Biological Stations in the Amazon Rainforest

  Ecuador

  The Amazon Biological Station was founded in 1986 through the creation of a conservation, research and education centre to host scientists and students interested in preserving tropical rainforest....

Project Facts

• Duration: 12 or 36 weeks (4 or 12 weeks in each country)
• Cost: £3499 for 12 weeks or £7350 for 36 weeks
• Requirements: age 18+
• Location: Tena, Ecuador / Pantanal, Brazil / Central Pacific, Costa Rica
• Project activities: Trail building and maintenance, infrastructure development, signage, tree planting, feeding animals, maintaining enclosures, and building work, helping with farm work
• Working hours: 08:30 – 15:00, Monday - Friday, project hours will vary

What is included

• Accommodation: Single or shared room in homestays and volunteer houses
• Food: 3 meals per day - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Airport pick up and drop off
• Training: Orientation and 6 hours of Spanish classes in Costa Rica
• Support: 24 hour support
• Activities: 1 Dancing or cookery class provided in Costa Rica. Staff will be available to help you plan other weekend activities (activity price may be extra)

What is not included

• Flights
• Insurance
• Visas

Role of the volunteer

Volunteers in Ecuador will get involved in trails in the forest to collect seeds and learn about the flora and fauna of the region, trail maintenance, maintenance of the botanical gardens, seed collecting, soil preparation, tree nursery maintenance, monitoring of rare and endangered bird and monkey species, and aiding in eco-tourism by building fun and informational trails for tourism sites. Some environmental education may also be involved at certain times of the year.

In Brazil volunteers will help to: explore new areas, caves and prehistoric designs; walk on trails to monitor fruits and set camera traps; help with peccary captures, radio tracking, aquatic riparian surveys and reptile pit fall surveys; and will get involved with evening slide shows on conservation issues in the local region. Volunteers will also help process data.

You will have an on-site orientation for the peccary and botany project, an evening slide show and an introduction to the Aquatic ecology projects. During your project, you may also have the opportunity to experience various monitoring projects such as: the aquatic and bird life, wildlife, botanical, herpetology projects, community outreach, and our sustainable cattle ranching project.

On your days off the local staff will take you to visit beautiful waterfalls where you can swim and have a picnic.

Volunteers in Costa Rica will have the opportunity to get involved with a number of sustainable projects. You will have the option of working at the animal rescue centre where you can help to: prepare food for the animals; feed some animals; clean and maintain the cages, enclosures and feeding platforms; help to clean and bathe some of the animals.

You are also able to help in the Dairy Farm and this work takes place between 5 and 6am. The work includes: helping to clean the milking area before and after you have helped to milk them; help to herd the cattle and take the milk to the main grocery store in the community to be distributed among the community.

Other tasks that you can become involved with include: helping to maintain and prepare the communities vegetable garden (including harvesting and distributing crops); working at the local grocery store helping to price and sell merchandise; general maintenance including painting, cleaning, repairs and constructing signs for the wildlife centre and hiking trails.

While you are volunteering there are also some unique projects which you will have the chance to work on including: building a butterfly garden or ecological trail; establishing a recycling program; maintaining the public school; assisting biologists; carrying out species inventories and much more.

Skills Required

In Ecuador no specific skills are required to participate, although a knowledge of Spanish would be helpful. There are a wide range of varied tasks on this project therefore flexibility is essential; other than that the main requirements are a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard on each project.

No specific skills are required in Brazil, however, a love for the outdoors is essential. Those with additional knowledge of ecotourism are especially welcomed, as are those with prior knowledge of the Pantanal and the issues surrounding the threats to local wildlife, however this is not a pre-requisite.

In Costa Rica a basic level of Spanish is required and a love for the outdoors is essential. This project is for those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty and want to become fully immersed in both environmental and wildlife related conservation work.

For those with no Spanish skills, we recommend one week intensive language classes prior to your placement. The package that we currently offer is 20 hours of intensive classes for one week (Monday – Thursday) in San Jose for £125. This should be taken prior to you starting your project.

Your life outside the project

In Ecuador at weekends you can take day trips to Tena for white-water rafting or to Misahualli, a town part way between the reserve and Tena, which has wild monkeys running through the main square and some beautiful waterfalls. Or you may just want to hang around the Station and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the area.

In Brazil once you are in the Pantanal most of your time will be spent on site as transportation is very difficult and independent travel to places further afield pretty challenging. Weekends can be spent working additional hours on the project, or relaxing on site. You may also spend time visiting local villages or popping into the local town, and although small it will cater to some basic needs. From July to September there are a huge number of rookeries around, so if you visit the Pantanal during this time, you may be graced with their presence in the air.

If you have a love for rural outdoor life and want to get away from it all, then this project is definitely for you.

Costa Rica is one of the most popular countries for travel, and for very good reason! Though Costa Rica has only about 0.1% of the world's land mass, it contains 5% of the world's biodiversity, so nature lovers will find this lovely country a paradise. There are a multitude of opportunities for mountain and water sports and many other forms of outdoor recreation, so if you love the outdoors, Costa Rica is a place you'll never want to leave. English is a second language of Costa Rica, so volunteers with beginner Spanish skills will not have much difficulty travelling here. Many volunteers choose to explore the surrounding areas on their Sundays off and popular beaches such as Manuel Antonio or Dominical are located within 1 hour of project location.

Highlights

Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador

Mount Chimborazo is an inactive volcano and is the highest peak in Ecuador at 20,565 ft. It is also the farthest point on the planet from the Earth's core. It is a day's climb to the summit from base camp and the awesome towering ice-capped peak is a major incentive to reach the summit.

Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil

The world's largest tropical rainforest, Amazonia covers more than half of Brazil. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and it comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Float down lush river corridors teeming with rainforest birds and wildlife. Experience the warm tropical water via raft, kayak or dugout canoe. Enjoy the South American birds, wildlife, flora and fauna unique to the Amazon. Hike through the jungle with a shaman or naturalist and discover medicinal plants, spiritual traditions and the history and politics of the Amazon rainforest. If you've ever wanted to visit the Amazon basin, now is the time before it changes forever and its culture and wildlife disappear.


Whale and Dolphin Watching in Costa Rica

The shallow warm waters create the ideal ecosystem for humpback whales, killer whales, Pilot Whales and bottlenose, spinner and spotted dolphins. Humpback whales come from two hemispheres to breed and spend the longest period of the year here. It's the premier location to see these amazing mammals up close.

The shallow warm waters create the ideal ecosystem for humpback whales, killer whales, Pilot Whales and bottlenose, spinner and spotted dolphins. Humpback whales come from two hemispheres to breed and spend the longest period of the year here. It's the premier location to see these amazing mammals up close.

Itinerary