View Projects
Help our with maintenance on the reserve and get your hands dirty!
View Photos
We always need help maintaining the grounds, trails, animal enclosures, vegetable patch and microclimate greenhouse so if you are interested in getting your hands dirty then we always have a job for you. We have many gardens so planting flowers and tree as well as watering them and keeping their patches weed-free is essential. Moreover, as we release birds on the reserve, we must ensure there is an ample fruit supply so we must collect seeds and enhance the forest by planting more trees strategically. This role requires volunteers who are willing to conduct heavy physical activity and can work independently. The role is joint with the eco-volunteer role as it can get boring doing only manual labor so we will provide you a list of gardening tasks so you can work on this at your own pace as well as participate in our research activities.
A minimum of two weeks although usually we only accept long applicants
All year round
Caves: Iporanga is called “The Cave Capital of Brazil” with over 400 caves in the town. Below are just the highlights.
Social Events:
Private rooms, shared rooms in a volunteer house
Description: Volunteers will stay at the Darwin Guest House, situated on the reserve itself, which accommodates up to 12 people in 8 rooms. Two rooms are collective rooms and 6 rooms are single rooms. All rooms have air conditioning or a fan, closet space and electricity outlets. Individual rooms have a desk with a chair. The house has 3 bathrooms with hot showers, a washing machine and has a fully equipped kitchen where volunteers can cook. A cleaning lady provides basic cleaning services for public areas and will provide fresh bed linen once a week. However, it is also the volunteer’s responsibility to maintain and clean the house; we take this very seriously. Volunteers work from 9am to 3pm during week days with an hour lunch break. Shops are located in the town of Iporanga 6km away from the reserve, which you can walk to or get a taxi, where there are various shops with all you will need. There is a small organic herb patch you can use and the gardener distributes vegetables when they are ripe.
lab, volunteer house, greenhouse, aquarium, deck by the river where you can swim, 7 trails and lots more
9 staff members - manager, biologists, release centre coordinator, volunteer coordinators, cleaner, reserve keeper
House with locks, security camera etc. Although we are in rural Brazil where crime rates are low.
Volunteer will cook and clean for themselves.
Yes - good enough that I can regularly do skype interviews. Not good enough to download movies.
Yes - complete cell phone coverage
There is a small town called Iporanga 6km away from the reserve with shops, emergency hospital etc.
Details of how to get here explained in the volunteer package
Either English or Portuguese at a high level, Spanish can work also
No - best pick out of applicants
Over 18
Full list of what to bring in the volunteer package
Volunteers at IPBio are required to pay 650 reais per week (please check up-to-date exchange rate in your currency). This fee covers the volunteer’s accommodation, internet access and project costs for the specific dates agreed upon. Volunteers are also responsible for paying for any extra costs such as travel costs, visa costs etc. A volunteer only confirms their placement once their payment is made. Once a volunteer makes their payment there is no refund if they decide to cancel for whatever reason. We will provide you with specific payment options by email.
The currency in Brazil is the Real. There is an ATM machine in Iporanga which accepts Visa Credit/Debit cards. ATMs give a better exchange rate than Exchange Houses. Check with your bank to see if your cards will work in Brazil, and tell your credit card company that you will be traveling overseas. Exchange some money prior to arriving in Brazil. The amount of money you want to bring is really up to you. Volunteers are responsible for purchasing products for the house such as garbage bags, cleaning products and toilet supplies. Volunteers are also responsible for buying their own food and cooking for themselves. On average a volunteer spends 450-1000 reais a month on total although of course this varies on your lifestyle choices. This covers living costs such as food, drinks, transportation and house supplies. On the high end of 1000 reais you would be going out for dinner regularly and doing various weekend activities but this is up to each volunteer hence we put a price range. Dinner out (without drinks) ranges from 15 to 30 reais. Cost of tours (including a guide, equipment and entrance fee costs around 110 to 140 reais depending on how many volunteers go.
Volunteers are also responsible for paying for any extra costs such as living costs, travel costs, visa costs etc.
I want to apply to…
