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Tropical Cloud-Forest Conservation Program

4.5
(60 reviews)60

The experience

Join us in Ecuador’s stunning Choco-Andean region to protect one of the planet’s most biodiverse areas. As a volunteer at Mindo Cloudforest Foundation, you’ll immerse yourself in lush cloud forests and vibrant wildlife, while helping our non-profit organization. You'll live and work in the forest, so it's a perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature.

What you offer

30 hours of help per week

Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 6 Per day

Fee pays for: Benefits for travelers, Materials for volunteer activities, and Donation to project

Description: As a non-profit foundation, we have basic expenses that need to be met and this small fee helps defray our costs for hosting volunteers.

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner Spanish

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

There are two main parts of the foundation. The apartments are located in Milpe Garden and are a short walk from the kitchen. You'll mostly work in Milpe, about a 10-minute walk away. That’s where you can see lots of birds, including Toucans, at the bird feeders. Animal activity is highly dependent on the season though.

The only internet connection is in Milpe, making your stay in the apartment a social media detox.

This isn't the only Reserve of the Foundation. There are two other reserves, Pacha Quindi and Rio Silanche, which you'll be able to visit, depending on the work that has to be done.

If you want to learn more about the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation please visit our homepage: https://mindocloudforest.org

Activities & Shift

Working in a remote area, dependent on tourism, climate and wildlife, means being adaptable and not having strict working routines.

Normally you start your day at 8am.

We'll take a break around midday, usually for about 2 hours to cook, eat and relax a bit.

The working day typically ends at 4pm.

Activities may include:

- Planting and cleaning plants
- Remove leaves from the trails
- Working with tourists
- Cleaning other things, such as the apartments or car
- As well as many others

You could also help us with something completely different if you have any special interests or skills.

You can expect to have days where you have to do a lot of physical work and days where there is not much you can do and you can mostly enjoy the scenery.