Ecuador – Humpback Whale Conservation

Volunteers will stay in Puerto Lopez, a beautiful fishing village on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. This province is one of the most culturally vibrant and historically interesting areas in the country. Sample the delicious typical cuisine or discover the most famous artisanal craft in the province: the Sombrero de Paja Toquilla, also known as the Panama Hat. The main street in Puerto Lopez has a lot of restaurants, bars, and cafeterias. People are friendly, and the food is delicious.

Weekends are free to discover the magical places around Puerto Lopez like the breathtaking beach Los Frailes Natural Reserve, spot humpback whales from June to October, or enjoy the vibrant surf, beach, and party beach village Montañita. From Puerto Lopez, a visit to Isla de la Plata is a must, which is considered the “little Galapagos” on the mainland of Ecuador.

As a volunteer, you will partake in two shifts. The first is whale watching aboard a vessel (2-3 hours), which will require safety training before boarding and training for certain research techniques on behavior, demographics, biopsies, and acoustic data collection, as well as photo identification. After a 1-2 hour lunch and rest period, the second part of the day will take place. This includes data analysis sessions using the pictures and data collected on that day. A typical day starts in the morning between 7-9 am. On the first day, you will head to the center with a project representative, about 20 minutes away (walking distance). Once you arrive at the project, you will have a briefing by the Foundation Director. Tasks will conclude between 5:00-6:00pm, then you will have the rest of the evening to yourself!

Main volunteer activities:

• Introduction to the research team, orientation, and research methods
• Field research of whales and the Pacific Ocean
• Data Analysis: results and conclusions
• Lectures on biology and conservation cetaceans

Internet: Wi-fi for free in the hostel. Consider that the Wi-Fi is not fast. Life in Ecuador is slow and so is the Wi-Fi

Laundry: Not included, but there are a lot of laundry shops around town.

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in shared, mixed gender, dorm-style rooms at a local hostel in the center of Puerto Lopez. There are up to four volunteers per room.

Food: Meals are not included during the program. You can use the kitchen and cook by yourself. There are also a lot of local restaurants in the village where you can eat a local meal for $5.

Puerto Lopez, around a 20 minutes walk from the accommodation

• Minimum age of 18
• GoEco interview after application
• Police clearance form
• Able to join daily cruises abroad whale watching boat
• Ability to work in a team
• Negative PCR test before arriving in Ecuador

Culture week in Montanita

Join our exciting culture week in Montanita before you volunteer and get the chance to learn Spanish, experience the lively local scene, and learn to surf in one of the hottest surf spots in Ecuador. It is the perfect way to prepare yourself for your volunteering project and traveling in Ecuador. Montañita is a very laid-back surfers town on the Pacific coast. You can add the culture week once we accept you to the program.

Extra fee: US$400 for 7 nights, this includes:

• Orientation meeting (online)
• Accommodation in shared cabana close to the beach, with a garden and swimming pool
• Breakfast
• 20 hours of Spanish classes with local teacher (4 hours a day)
• 5 surf lessons

During your volunteer program, you will have ample time to enjoy the many nearby attractions.

• Machalilla National Park
• Los Frailes (breathtaking beach)
• Isla de la Plata (Little Galapagos)
• Humpback whales between June and October
• Salango; the Salango community has deep ancestral roots that represent about 5000 years of history and culture.
• Agua Blanca
• Manta, the province’s capital
• Canoa, a beach village
• Amazing local food!

Our local team is happy to assist with any travel advice and arrangements.