Protect sea turtles and crocodiles in Mexico. You'll share the life of a local community in a tropical mangrove forest. All projects to protect sea turtles.
Support for local communities and biodiversity
The partner association supports sustainable development and biodiversity conservation initiatives in the Oaxaca region of Mexico.
Ella works with local communities, helping to :
- Conservation of wild species ;
- The development of environmental workshops for children or English courses;
- Planting trees in private and public areas;
- Beach clean-ups;
- Promoting ecotourism.
Tartarakus supports ecotourism development projects and works with local communities to protect species such as sea turtles and crocodiles...
La Ventanilla, a small community committed to protecting biodiversity
Among the projects it supports is La Ventanilla Ecotourism Services. La Ventanilla is a small indigenous community located near Mazunte, in the San Pedro Pochutla district. Since 1996, the inhabitants of La Ventanilla have been restoring the mangrove forest that once lined its shores and protected the lagoon. They protect the different species that live in the forest: crocodiles, turtles, birds and deer, while developing an eco-tourism project. La Ventanilla offers tours of the lagoon in traditional Cayuco boats, enabling tourists to observe the local wildlife.
Protect sea turtles and crocodiles in Ventanilla, Mexico
You'll be helping the local community of Ventanilla in its efforts to protect biodiversity, particularly in its sea turtle and crocodile conservation project. The Ventanilla community has developed ecotourism. The reserve in which it operates is open to travelers for excursions.
Example of a volunteer day
- 7 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.: at the turtle nursery, check for hatchlings during the night;
- 8 am - 9 am: breakfast ;
- 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: cleaning the turtle nursery, painting and repairing the facilities, preparing food for the baby crocodiles, maintaining the facilities for the baby crocodiles;
- 12 p.m.: lunch ;
- 1 - 4 pm: free ;
- 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.: releasing baby turtles, raising environmental awareness among tourists, cleaning beaches, maintaining a clean area for turtle nesting. Community tasks can also include English and environmental classes and beautification projects. Recording of data collected during various activities.
- 6 p.m.: dinner ;
- 8 p.m. - midnight or midnight - 3 a.m.: night patrol along the beach to locate turtle nests, count the eggs in the nests, collect them and protect them from predators in the sea turtle nursery.
This schedule is only an example. The work you'll be asked to do won't be limited exclusively to these tasks. Depending on the weather, the needs of the time and the season, volunteers' work may vary.
- Turtle season: January, February, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Crocodile breeding season: June
- From 1 to 12 weeks
Rate
- 1 week: €769
Included in price
- 24/7 supervision;
- Airport welcome
- 3 meals a day 5 days a week
- Transport to projects
- Volunteer certificate
- Wifi
- Emergency contact
Not included in price
- Airline tickets
- Travel insurance
- Personal effects
- From 18 years old; families with children over 8 years old
- Language: English (medium level)
- Time commitment: Monday to Friday
- Be open-minded and flexible to changes in itinerary due to social or climatic imperatives.
Food
Food is mainly vegetarian and Mexican. If required, menus can be adapted to cater for intolerances and allergies. Meat is served as a supplement to certain meals.
Housing
Shared rooms with 2 / 3 volunteers near the beach
Arrival
Pick-up at Puerto Escondido airport before 4pm on Monday.
What to bring
- A backpack instead of a suitcase and a small daypack.
- Comfortable warm-weather clothing.
- During sunset, you'll need loose-fitting pants that cover your legs to avoid using repellents, as well as long-sleeved shirts. A cap or hat.
- A sweatshirt for night patrols. November to February.
- A waterproof jacket if you travel from June to October.
- Comfortable footwear: sneakers or boots for walking in the forest, sandals, and flip-flops for the shower.
- Towel and hygiene products: shampoo, body soap... the team recommends solid products that are as natural as possible.
- Swimsuit (long-sleeved to avoid sunscreen in the water), goggles.
- For mosquitoes, the team recommends essential oils: citronella, lemon eucalyptus, neem, ... instead of chemical repellents. (Nothing works 100% here, so travel with loose-fitting clothes that cover your body).
- A small first-aid kit for your special needs.
- Earplugs and light sheet for camping.
- Water bottle! Please, let's avoid plastic
Ventanilla is very close to Mazunte (15 minutes by public transport), a backpacker village with a hippie vibe and lots of activities and events (yoga, art workshops, meditation, etc.). In Mazunte, you can swim!
All reviews of Tartarukus missions
About the partner association
Tartarukus is a Spanish non-profit organization that supports local communities working to preserve the environment and develop ecotourism, in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Tartarakus was created in 2021 by Beatriz, who after several years spent on the Oaxaca coast as a student and volunteer, wanted to strengthen the local population's impact on sustainable development. The association offers a range of volunteer experiences in the less-visited areas of the Oaxaca coast. All Tartarukus missions
