Volunteer Abroad in Chontachaca-Manu: Ecological Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Abroad in Chontachaca-Manu (Cusco-Perú): Manu, located in the southeast area of Peru, is one of largest parks in South America. The area of the park encompasses parts of the Andean department of Cusco and the jungle department of Madre de Dios. Manu protects 2 million hectares (4.5 million acres) of a territory rich in flora and fauna species, and a variety of habitats including high Andes, cloud forests, and lowland tropical rain forests. UNESCO officially recognizes this natural paradise as a world heritage site.

ECO-VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Conservation:

- Help in all activities relating to reforestation,
impact studies, flora inventory, transport and
planting of mature sapling,
follow up studies of mature sapling,
value studies, fauna impact studies.
- Monitor flora and fauna
- Assist in creating an inventory of flora and fauna
- Photograph flora and fauna
- Manage the ecotourism lodge and Atalaya
Reserve in a sustainable manner
- Carry out research studies

Rescue center:

We are implementing a rescue center for wild animals. We need eco-volunteers to help with activities relating to the management of this center including feeding, behavior observations, maintenance, care and health of the animals, as well as activities relating to the possible reintroduction of animals back into the wild

Social work in the Chontachaca community:

- Environmental education workshops for children and adults.

- Educational activities and workshops in Chontachaca School

Others

- Medicinal plants, organic garden, orchid garden and activities, courses and workshops on certain dates.

Program Includes:

After arriving at the Cusco airport, volunteers will be transported to our ¨casa de voluntarios¨ (volunteer house) in Cusco. Here they will be shown their room and given a ¨mate de coca¨ (coca tea) to help their acclimatization to the altitude. For lunch they will be transported to the center of Cusco where after lunch there will be a meeting with the managers of the project to explain details to the volunteers and answer all of their questions. There will be free time after dinner to get to know the city of Cusco, after which volunteers will again be transported to the volunteer house. The next day at 5:00am they will leave by bus for the Reserva Biosfera del Manu (Manu Biosphere Reserve) in Chontachaka Reserve.

On the final day, volunteers will leave at 8:00pm to take a bus from Chontachaca to Cusco. They will be brought the following day directly to the volunteer house in Cusco (the bus stops directly at the volunteer house). On this day volunteers can go into the center of Cusco and tell us about their time in the project, including sharing their photos, stories and suggestions…volunteers can again eat lunch at our center.

If you would like to stay at our volunteer house, bungalows, and lodges you will get a volunteer discount. When you are in Cusco, discuss with the project director about available space. The income from staying at our volunteer bungalows and lodges helps with the economic self-sufficiency of our projects.