Bali – Bali 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!

 

Program Highlights:

  • Work closely with sea turtles
  • Enjoy the turquoise beaches while living on the tropical island of Nusa Penida
  • Contribute to a vulnerable species with important volunteer tasks
  • Release rehabilitated turtles back into the sea
  • One of GoEco’s best wildlife conservation programs
  • Ethical wildlife volunteer tasks and interactions
  • You can enhance your Bali experience by adding our “Bali Culture Week” for an additional cost.

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):

Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). The local team will transport you to the volunteer house 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.
Weeks 2-12: Volunteers will have weekends free and will work at their volunteer program Monday-Friday. (Check out “Travel Highlights” below for suggestions!) Departure is on a Saturday.

*This schedule is subject to change. 

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Bali, Indonesia

Project length Project length: Minimum 2 weeks (13 days) – Maximum 12 weeks

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

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work: Sea turtle conservation and environmental education

Age Age:  18-70

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 60 International volunteers and this can increase in high season

Important Note Important Note: B211 Visa is required for all volunteers regardless of duration. You will receive the documentation after registration and approval.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared dorm room in a volunteer house.

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

Orientation Orientation: Volunteers will receive an orientation of the area upon arrival and will receive a program orientation on their first day of volunteering.

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

 

What’s not Include

Flights, B211 visa (approx. $50 USD), travel health insurance, lunches on weekends, personal expenses

This project is based on a beautiful island just off 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 from 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:
You must be back at your accommodations before 10:30 PM Monday to Friday.
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: Wi-Fi is available throughout the accommodations.

Laundry icon Laundry: There are laundry facilities on the island.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: You will share a single-gender room at the volunteer house with bunk beds. Each dorm will house up to six volunteers and includes electricity, AC, hot showers and western style toilet facilities. From your accommodations, a ten-minute walk will take you to your project site. Private rooms are available at a nearby resort for en extra fee (see Additional Options below).

Food icon Food: They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week, while on weekends, only they will provide breakfast and dinner. Indonesian food is tasty and diverse and volunteers can expect to experience a myriad of flavors and meals during their stay. Typical dishes included miegoreng (fried noodles and vegetables), nasigoreng (fried rice and vegetables) or gadogado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce). For those who do not eat meat, Indonesian cooking uses a lot of tofu and tempeh (soybeans), we also provide some western dishes. They offer varied breakfasts, including pancakes, fresh fruit, and toast. We do not recommend that you drink the tap water. Tea, coffee and purified water are available at the volunteer house.

  • Good level of English
  • Police clearance
  • Genuine interest in turtles and conservation education
  • Good level of physical fitness
  • Flexible and open-minded
  • B211 Visa is required for all volunteers regardless of duration. You will receive the documentation after registration and approval.
  • 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. See additional options below.

Volunteer Experiences

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