Summary
Volunteer project at a wildlife sanctuary in Ecuador
Project location
Near Puyo, 5 hours from Quito.
Length of project
2-12 weeks
Group/individual basis
Individual, but you will be living and working with other volunteers.
Support
Help and advice from our UK office throughout. Local support from nominated staff member at the centre.
Includes
- Organising a rewarding volunteering project
- Pre-departure information covering work issues and advice about life in Ecuador
- Transfer from the airport to a Quito guesthouse
- Accommodation overnight in a Quito guesthouse at the beginning of your trip
- Collection from Quito accommodation and transfer to project site
- On-site accommodation at the project
- Food on weekdays whilst at the project
Not included
- Flights
- Travel and medical insurance
- Any home country transport (eg. taxis and buses to airport)
- Price of return transfer to Quito and onward travel (from 20USD)
- Meals at the weekends
- Meals in Quito
Accommodation
Basic dormitory accommodation on site.
Travel arrangements
Fly to Quito (UIO). You will be transferred to a central guest house in Quito for your first night. You will be collected the following day and taken by private transfer to the project site. Independent return.
Medical
Vaccinations will be required. We recommend that you visit your Doctor or Travel Nurse as soon as possible to discuss what you might need to have.
Please be aware that Oyster staff are not able to give advice on your medical background or the type of vaccinations that you might need.
You can get useful medical advice relating to your destination on the ‘Fit For Travel’ website – http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/.
You must inform Oyster of any pre-existing physical or mental health conditions. Oyster staff may ask for you to provide a letter from your Doctor before continuing with your booking.
Pre-departure information
You will receive thorough information on your My Oyster account covering project expectations, preparation, health and safety, responsible travel and arrival arrangements at least 4 weeks before departure.
Insurance
You must take out a full travel insurance policy as soon as you can before departure. This must cover you for personal accident, medical, cancellation, emergency evacuation, lost luggage etc. We strongly recommend that you organise your travel insurance upon booking your place. We can introduce a policy with Global Travel Insurance to UK citizens, details of which can be found in your My Oyster account, once you have completed your booking. If you are not eligible for this insurance, please read through it to have an idea of what you need to be covered for.
Any risk factors
The animals housed at the sanctuary are not normally dangerous to humans but you might suffer a scratch or a nip from the monkeys. We ask you to ensure that your tetanus inoculation is up to date. Maintenance work, such as building enclosures, carries a very low risk of minor injury (no greater than doing DIY work at home).
Ecuador has a relatively high level of crime. However, much of this is centred in the towns and cities, rather than in rural areas such as this. The project would not involve visits to any high risk areas and the accommodation is well-secured, with members of staff living on site. When leaving the site, take sensible precautions to protect yourself from petty crime. Avoid carrying valuables and take particular care of your passport.
Other potential risks include poorer road safety and sunburn. There is risk of infectious disease, so appropriate vaccination is essential. As this is a rural area of the country, you should be prepared for snakes and other wildlife. Please consult the Interhealth website as above.
Downtime
Participants will be able to travel independently during their time off, as long as they accept that they will be outside Oyster’s jurisdiction, make appropriate insurance provision and inform others. It is important to let staff know when you are due to return and keep them updated if your plans change.
Accessibility
This project could accommodate those with minor physical disabilities. Please discuss with destination manager before booking.
Financial security
When you book with Oyster you can rest assured that your money will be protected and you will not be stranded abroad in the very unlikely event that our company becomes insolvent. If your booking includes a flight arranged by us, your whole trip will be subject to ATOL protection. If we have not booked your flight then your trip will be just as safe, since it will be insured through International Passenger Protection Ltd.