Volunteer in Conservation in Ecuador

We have hands-on conservation work and education programs in Machalilla National Park. Established in 1979, Machalilla National Park has over 135,900 acres of protected area and is Ecuador's largest coastal park. The park includes rain forest, dry forest and coastal scrub, in addition to a long stretch of beach, two offshore islands and rocky islets, and a large area of surrounding ocean.

There are approximately 234 bird species, 81 species of mammals (23 percent of all mammals in Ecuador), 250 species of fish. In the summer months, humpback whales reproduce within park boundaries. The weather is very humid and sunny from December to May. Things cool off from June to November.

The volunteer work is a mix of physical labor as well as education efforts aimed at informing the larger community (national & international) about the park’s work and significance.

One area of work involves reforestation efforts and general park improvements & maintenance. This includes cleaning the beaches, clearing trash from the beaches, and planting trees. It is demanding work, in a hot climate. This is part of an overall effort to protect Ecuador's forests from human development and also natural destruction (like mudslides). The locations are diverse within the park, from the beach areas to the deep forest.

Another program available at Machalillia involves assisting the veterinarians at the animal rescue center. Through the program, 'unskilled' volunteers work at the center to rescue and rehabilitate wildlife that have been injured in various ways, mostly by poachers.

On the education side - There are opportunities to assist in creating printed materials that the park will distribute to the international community, such as government entities across Europe.

You will also be helping the park staff with writing content in English for their fledgling website. They are very eager to have volunteers help them describe on the website the story of the park and the park’s conservation efforts.

The location of the volunteer area is about a 10-hour bus ride from the capital city of Quito. We will accompany you on the trip, as well as introduce you to your host family and our local Program Director who is located in the town of Puerto Lopez.