Now that I'm back from a lovely vacation, I can't help thinking about where to travel next. I'm still not comfortable touring alone, but volunteering sounds like a great midpoint. I've spent some time today looking over conservation volunteer opportunities (yes, they cost $$). I'm leaning towards somthing with sea turtles or a rainforest, and focusing on Costa Rica or Equador. There are amazing trips in Asia and Africa, but the airfare is quite a lot!
One of the most well known is probably http://www.earthwatch.org/. Although quite pricey, fees are tax deductible. Great if you itemize, but I don't. What else is out there?
TURTLES
http://www.seaturtle.org/jobs/ --has many opportunities, all to do with turtle conservation. The cost is less than most volunteer organizations that arrange opportunities for you.
- http://www.parisminaturtles.org--Costa Rica, $25 per day homestay. Carribean coast, 2 hr walk from La Tortuga Feliz.
- http://www.corcovadofoundation.org/program-sea-turtle-conservation.html --$270/2 weeks. El Progreso/Drake Bay (Pacific Coast)
- La Tortuga Feliz, Carribean coast just north of Tortuguero. 6 person dorms, $40 per day, spanish class $80.
RAINFOREST
Tirimbina Biological Reserve seems to have interesting research jobs for volunteers, but the information on the site might be out of date. About $20 per day, no meals, has internet and electricity. Ficus or Howler monkey research. 2 week min, north of San Jose.
WILDLIFE
http://www.rainsongsanctuary.com/volunteer.htm
ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.workingabroad.com/ one of the cheapest volunteer organizations I found.
http://www.tambopataexpeditions.com/expeditions/volunteer-placement-program.html
http://www.isvolunteers.org/
http://www.i-to-i.com/
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