Mexico – Jaguar Jungle Conservation

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in North America or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

 

Join us for jaguar conservation: protect the beautiful felines that inhabit the jungles of southern Mexico by helping to preserve their habitat!

Program Highlights:

  • Gain hands-on experience in wildlife research
  • Learn from highly-trained researchers about wildlife conservation
  • Ethical wildlife-related volunteer tasks
  • Track jaguars in their natural habitat
  • Partake in environmental awareness activities
  • Aid in data collection that is used for conservation initiatives

 

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

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Mérida International Airport (MID). You will be picked up from the airport by local staff and travel from Mérida to Calakmul. Volunteers will receive a welcome tour in Campeche. At the end of the day, volunteers will travel to the Calakmul Reserve.

Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will meet and greet the local staff and begin this training day with expert biologists.

Days 3-5, Tuesday-Friday: Volunteers will work 4-6 hours per day, placing trap cameras, partaking in environmental conservation workshops and monitoring wildlife activity. Volunteers will also take part in community workshops and language lessons throughout the week.

Day 6, Saturday: Trip day for volunteers. Example trips include visits to the Calakmul pyramid, City of Campeche, Cenote Miguel Colorado limestone sinkhole swimming attraction, Mayan city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and visiting an area with pink flamingos.

Day 7, Sunday: Free day for volunteers.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico

Project length Project length: Min 1 week – Max 12 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Mérida International Airport (MID)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work: Wildlife and ecosystem conservation

Age Age:  18-80 . Volunteers aged 16 and 17 may apply with parental consent.

Important Note Important Note: Please note that the work you will be doing will contribute to jaguar conservation in the area, however, a real-life jaguar sighting is quite rare and not guaranteed.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Shared housing in cabins

Food Food: Three meals per day are provided

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers:  Airport transfers are provided on both arrival and departure days

Orientation Orientation: All necessary training and introductions provided upon arrival.

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

 

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses

Calakmul is an ancient Mayan archeological site that is submerged in the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. Calakmul is a federal natural reserve where people have been living since the 12th century. It is located in the middle of the state of Campeche, which is a very rich oil state in Mexico. The project is based in Calakmul, Campeche, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Campeche is home to the second largest jungle in Latin America, which provides a habitat for a diverse array of species. Campeche was originally built as a fort to protect the Caribbean coast from pirate attacks and is now a major attraction for tourists. The historic town is lined with cobblestone roads and multicolored, pastel houses.

 

Jaguars live in tropical jungles and the species is an iconic animal, recognized in traditional Mayan culture. The species has been labeled as endangered due to the destruction of its habitat, as seen by the decreasing population in the past several decades.

If you are passionate about helping preserve and protect threatened wildlife and want to make a difference in a location free of tourism, this project is for you.

Some of your tasks may include:

  • Installation of cameras to document for wildlife
  • Conservation of the felines and other species that inhabit the jungle
  • Wildlife monitoring
  • Learning the importance of recycling in a jungle

Internet icon Internet: No WiFi is available.

Laundry icon Laundry: No laundry facilities are available.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in simple, shared, single-gender rooms in cabins. Clean sheets and blankets are provided. Bathrooms will be shared with other volunteers. Room upgrades are available for an additional fee.

Food icon Food: Three meals are provided per day. Most meals include meat dishes, but vegetarian meals can be supplied.

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:
  • Minimum age of 16 years old
  • Basic level of English
  • General good health in order to endure working in hot and humid conditions

The project is based in Calakmul, Campeche, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Campeche is home to the second largest jungle in Latin America, which provides a habitat for a diverse array of species.

Campeche was originally built as a fort to protect the Caribbean coast from pirate attacks and is now a major attraction for tourists. The historic town is lined with cobblestone roads and multicolored, pastel houses.

Volunteers often travel in Yucatan Peninsula before their volunteer placement. Some places you may want to check out include:

Ría Lagartos
You can visit this little town with pink lakes, crocodiles and flamingos. Ría Lagartos is one of the most popular places in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Chichén Itzá
One of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Chichén Itzá is a complex of Mayan ruins centrally located on the northern half of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

Mérida
Mérida is the capital and largest city in the Yucatán. It is the best place to eat typical Yacatecan food and purchase local handicrafts.

Izamal
Izanal is a small, vibrant town very close to the capital. There you can find archeological sites, churches and handicrafts.

If you arrive in Mérida before the program starts, we recommend joining a city tour and visiting the museums, restaurants and markets.

Volunteer Experiences

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