Whether you are a birder, an ecologist, a nature lover, a backpacker looking for adventure or simply looking for a quick break from Quito

The lodge and reserve are 100% owned and managed by members of the local community and you will be offered a warm Ecuadorian welcome when you arrive at Santa Lucía

 

Volunteer Opportunities at Santa Lucía

Santa Lucía has been welcoming volunteers, both groups and individuals, since 2000 and our volunteer programme continues to play a crucial role in enabling the development of our sustainable ecotourism operation and of our conservation and community projects. The hard work, support and enthusiasm of so many volunteers have helped to reinforce for us the value of our cloud forest reserve and the importance of its continued protection.

Our volunteering programme offers you the opportunity to:

  • Make a real contribution to conservation and sustainable development
  • Experience the tranquillity, beauty and biodiversity of the cloud forest
  • Learn about rural Ecuadorian life and the opportunities and challenges of sustainable development
  • Build cross-cultural relationships with community members
  • Learn or improve your Spanish
  • Have a lot of fun!

We currently need your help to support several tasks and projects. This includes:

  • Coordination of volunteers (only long-term) - help coordinating the volunteering program and the daily activities of volunteers
  • Work with children
  • Help in the local nursery feeding and playing with children (from six months to four years)
  • Work in local school
  • Maintenance of the organic garden
  • Organize and hold classes in environmental education
  • Working in the library
  • Helping with physical education
  • Organic gardening (only long-term) - working either the organic garden in La Delicia (to be created in 2013) or in Santa Lucía (lodge)
  • Work in Santa Lucía (lodge) will be according to necessity (please ask!):
  • Trail maintenance - essential to ensure that the trails don't cause erosion and that they are safe to hike
  • Organic Garden
  • Orchid Garden - we need help maintaining and enlarging our orchidarium

Daily chores - during times without large volunteer projects we also ask for helping hands with the daily chores like cleaning in and around the lodge or kitchen work

Also, we want to build a butterfly farm near our office in La Delicia. If you have experience with this and are willing to help, please let us know.

One of the strengths of the volunteer programme is that volunteers work alongside members of Santa Lucía and you will gain a real insight into daily life in a rural community. People are always ready for a game of football or you can spend your free time hiking, birding, swimming, visiting waterfalls and enjoying the fiestas and dances in the nearby towns.

The volunteering fee covers your accommodation and all meals and allows us to provide a basic salary for the local people who work alongside you, as well as helping to support our conservation, sustainability and community projects.