Sea Turtle, Crocodile and Mangrove Conservation

Project name:

ARCAS (2)

Project purpose:

Sea Turtle, Crocodile and Mangrove Conservation

Project activities:

  • animal interaction

  • animal rehabilitation

  • community awareness

  • data collection/analysis

  • habitat restoration/management

  • teaching

Weekly cost (approx USD):

$

175

Direct benefits you gain:

  • cultural integration

  • data/statistical skills

  • field research skills

  • remote scenic location

Noteworthy conservation points:

  • development goals (supporting local community)

  • publishes peer-reviewed science

  • publishes work

Accommodation:

Cosy 8 bed dorm (on beach)

When does the project run?

All year

Facilities:

accommodation included, food included, electricity, toilet (western), shower (cold), nearby medical facilities, local shops, cooking facilities, refillable drinking water, shower (cold), bedding, mosquito nets, personal lockers, ATM (8km away)

How long can I stay?

One week to two months

Requirements:

  • Must be over 18 to volunteer

Details of the day-to-day life on the project:

There are two price plans when volunteering at Hawaii:

 

  • $175 per week is the basic fee and includes food and lodging. 

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  • $200 per week (complete plan) includes a guaranteed place at the project, airport pick-up and transfer to and from the project site, and two nights hotel in Antigua.

 

** Volunteers wanting to improve their Spanish and have a more typically Guatemalan experience are able to stay in a home-stay organised with ARCAS 

 

Seasons in Hawaii

The sea turtle nesting season runs from July to November, with peak months in August-October, though there are solitary nesters all year around. We release hatchlings from late August to late January. Mangrove reforestations are carried out in December and January. Other reforestation activities are carried out in May-July.

For those interested in participating in environmental education, the Guatemalan school year runs from January to November. We also conduct permanent scientific monitoring of the local mangrove ecosystem and volunteers can participate in that. Local community development activities are carried out year-around

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Reviews & ratings

Harriet

Volunteer

Surrounded by nature

I spent a month working with ARCAS during their low season, meaning there wasn't a lot of turtle activity happening. Time was split between helping interning PhD students with their data collection (either in the mangroves or at sea) and between general jobs around the project, such as feeding animals and making enclosures.The project is located right on the beach front, and behind the project there are extensive mangrove systems. The staff are all really friendly and there is a lovely lady who helps out with laundry and cooking! I feel as if my review of the project isn't massively informative in terms of conservation work done, but that's because i visited in low season when there wasn't really much need for volunteers. I still had a great time though, and got to work with rehabilitated turtles as well as learn loads from the PhD students. We also did a lot of community outreach and teaching in the local schools which was a great experience.Down time here is amazing, with hammocks on the beach and a book to read your set (the mosquitoes here are evil though!). The project is super relaxed and laid back, and I think that it has grown a lot since i volunteered in 2014!

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