Some families bond over a beach holiday. Jeff, Sarah and their two daughters, Isabelle and Sophia, headed into the Amazon rainforest together.
The family joined the Amazon Wildlife Rescue & Release Sanctuary in Tambopata, Peru, a grassroots rescue and rehabilitation center about 30 minutes from Puerto Maldonado. The sanctuary looks after more than 80 animals at a time, many affected by the illegal wildlife trade, hunting and habitat loss, and releases dozens back into the forest every year.
Where the work happens
Volunteers live on site inside the sanctuary grounds, and days are spent preparing animal meals, feeding, building enrichment and keeping enclosures in good shape. For the family, a big part of their time went into enclosure maintenance: repairing, cleaning and improving the spaces the animals live in while they recover. Every sturdier perch and refreshed enclosure means a better home for an animal on its way back to the wild.
Learning something new every day
For Isabelle, the highlight was the daily learning, surrounded by people who shared her passion.
“I loved being able to connect with nature again so wholeheartedly with people who shared a common interest. I particularly loved learning so much every day about the local species living in and around the shelter and the impact each one has in the diverse ecosystem of the Amazon.”
Volunteering together as adults
This isn’t one of our dedicated family programs. The sanctuary is open to volunteers aged 18 and up, and with both daughters old enough to join, the family signed up together. For families with grown children who are happy with physical work, a humid climate and simple shared accommodation, it’s a meaningful way to travel together. Free afternoons bring kayaking, boat trips to spot macaws, and visits to Lake Sandoval to look for giant river otters.
So, was it worth it?
Isabelle didn’t hesitate.
“Do it! It’s one of the best trips I’ve ever done and was so fulfilling to give back in what felt like a very meaningful way.”
Thank you, Jeff, Sarah, Isabelle and Sophia, for giving your time and energy to the animals of the Amazon.
Want to volunteer in the Amazon, on your own, as a qroup or with your grown-up kids? Explore the Amazon Wildlife Rescue & Release Sanctuary in Peru. Traveling with younger children? Ask us about our family-friendly programs and we’ll help you find the right fit.
