Bali – Family-Friendly Sea Turtle Rescue

Join a fully dedicated team on a small island off the tropical island of Bali to help care for injured sea turtles until they are ready to be released into the sea again! This program welcomes families with children five years of age and older.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Work closely with injured sea turtles and release rehabilitated turtles back into the sea
  • Contribute to a vulnerable species with important volunteer tasks
  • Enjoy the turquoise beaches while living on the tropical island of Nusa Penida
  • Ethical wildlife volunteer tasks and interactions

 

Family Price Details:

  • The Program Fee is for one family member (see Dates and Fees tab below).
  • Children aged 8 and under get 50% off the Program Fee.
  • Standard rooms have bunk beds and shared bathroom. As a family, you can upgrade to a double/triple en-suite room/s with AC. The extra fee is $150 per week per room.

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (minimum 8-day commitment):

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). The local team will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel accommodation on Nusa Penida Island. Following lunch, volunteers will receive an introduction to the area.
Day 2, Monday: Following breakfast, you will receive an introduction to the program and volunteer at the turtle sanctuary. Volunteers will watch a documentary on sea turtles in the evening.
Day 3, Tuesday: Rewarding volunteer work at the turtle sanctuary.
Day 4, Wednesday: Rewarding volunteer work at the turtle sanctuary in the morning and beach sports in the evening.
Day 5, Thursday: Following volunteer work, volunteers will enjoy a farewell dinner and bonfire at the beach. On either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, volunteers will visit the beautiful Crystal Bay on a relaxing excursion.
Day 6, Friday: Rewarding volunteer work at the turtle sanctuary. They scheduled releases for hatchings each Friday.
Day 7, Saturday: On this day, families on the program will enjoy an exclusive excursion, including visits to Kelinking View Point, Broken Beach and Angel Billabong.
Day 8, Sunday: Departure day. (Families also have the option to depart on Saturday after 3:00 PM.)

*This schedule is subject to change. 

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Bali, Indonesia

Project length Project length: Minimum 1 week

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work: Sea turtle conservation and environmental education

Age Age: This program welcomes families with children aged five and older

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 30 International volunteers

Important Note Important Note: B211 Visa (approx. $50 USD)

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Family room in the volunteer center (extra fee for the upgrade)

Food Food: They provide three meals per day during the week, two meals on weekends

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers: Airport transfers are included on the arrival day

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team

 

What’s not Included

Flights, family room upgrade, B211 Visa (approx. $50 USD), travel health insurance, lunches on weekends, personal expenses

This project is based on a beautiful island just off the Indonesian island of Bali, called Nusa Penida. Nusa Penida is a quiet and relaxed island where divers and bird lovers alike can enjoy a day on secluded,white sand beaches along the north and northwest coasts. The surrounding limestone caves and high coastal cliffs make for scenic views in every direction. Hindu temples and cultural sites pepper the landscape and offer exciting views into the local history.

 

Daily Tasks
Daily tasks will include cleaning the tanks, scrubbing turtles, preparing food and feeding the turtles, collecting crabs, cleaning the beach and village area, making conservation awareness signs, making turtle toys and monitoring the progress of the turtles currently in the center.

Nesting season (May-October)
Besides the regular tasks, volunteers will collect turtle eggs brought to the center by anglers who have rescued them from being eaten or taken as pets illegally.

Hatching Season (45-75 days after nesting)
Besides the regular tasks, volunteers will feed and treat the hatchlings until they are strong (8-12 months). They schedule releases for those hatchlings each Friday.

A typical day: After a light breakfast, you will head out to work on a specific project at the sanctuary. After a few hours, you will have lunch and a bit of time to rest. You will spend the afternoon with the community. By 5:00 PM, you are back at the project to check on the turtles before dinner.

Please Note: Volunteer activities and schedules can change based on the needs of the project.

Holidays: While the project remains open throughout the year, activities and volunteer schedules may vary on the holidays. The educational awareness classes, where volunteers conduct outreach to local schools, do not take place during school holidays. For specific dates, please consult with our placement coordinators.

Internet icon Internet: Free Wi-Fi is available.

Laundry icon Laundry: There is a laundry service available nearby, for an additional fee.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: The family room upgrades are in the main volunteer house. They include en-suite bathrooms, AC and hot water.

Food icon Food: Families will eat with the other participants at the volunteer house. They provide three meals per day during the week, and two per day on weekends. The local team can accommodate vegan or gluten-free diets and severe peanut allergies with advance notice.

  • Good level of English
  • Police clearance
  • Genuine interest in turtles and conservation education
  • Good level of physical fitness
  • Flexible and open-minded
  • Children must be at least five years old
  • All participants must bring along with them 4-5 COVID-19 self-test kits (average 1 per week) to cover their stay.

There is plenty to do on Nusa Penida, but there are also some great places to visit outside the island. Just 45 minutes on a speed boat will get you to the mainland of Bali, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and historical and archeological sites. You can also spend your time surfing, diving or exploring the lush rice terraces and volcanic hillsides. Bali has something to offer every visitor. Divers can also visit Sanur, an east coast town, where you can dine in amazing restaurants and biking through the lovely scenery.

 

Culture Week (Highly Recommended):
This week-long introduction is a perfect opportunity to meet fellow volunteers and surround yourself with the local Bali community! Before you begin your volunteer project on Nusa Penida, you will enjoy an exciting orientation in Penestanan Kaja village (just five minutes from Ubud center) that will provide an introduction of Bali culture, such as a walking tour of the local markets, attending a Balinese traditional dance show, taking Balinese language classes, taking part in painting and flower classes, and visiting famous temples. The orientation runs from Monday through Friday, giving you the weekend to relax or explore the area on your own before you start work on your project.

 

Program Add-Ons:
Consider joining one or more of these special programs to add another dimension to your experience in Bali:

  • Yoga and Mind Week: Learn about yoga and meditation practices to improve your health and well-being.
  • Bali Adventure: Enjoy an adventure-filled week of trekking up volcanoes, cycling through town and enjoying a relaxing massage at the end of the week.

 

Please note that there is an additional fee for these programs. Prices are available upon request.

Volunteer Experiences

“Turtle time!”, loudly called out by one of my newfound friends signified the beginning of either a morning or afternoon…

Want to join this program?