Experience an authentic adventure by contributing to conservation efforts while journeying along the unexplored coasts of Mexico, supporting local communities along the way.
You’ve been putting off an adventure for too long, and it’s time to make it happen! Embark on this journey accompanied, enjoying nature safely while contributing to its conservation in Oaxaca, Mexico.
DOES THIS SPEAK TO YOU?
Then keep reading! You’ll receive a free travel guide to the coast of Oaxaca, crafted especially for travelers like you—those who seek authenticity, community, and sustainability.
Are you the one who gets excited watching documentaries?
Are you looking for a unique adventure in nature that makes a difference?
Do you question the impact of your actions on the planet?
Are you eager to give back to the Earth for all the beauty it offers you?
Choosing a trip fills you with excitement, but also a bit of fear. You browse the internet, and travel agencies promise you something authentic, but in the end, they take you to the most touristy, crowded spots where nature takes a back seat. You want something that genuinely supports community growth, but when you book, you’re never sure if the local communities will truly benefit from it.
It’s not easy—we’ve all been there. That’s why we’re introducing a volunteer trip designed in collaboration with community groups dedicated to conservation and ecotourism, ensuring you an unforgettable experience.
☑ Ensure the positive impact of your trip on local communities and nature
☑ Experience authenticity by staying in Oaxacan homes and exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations
☑ Travel with like-minded people who share your values
We ensure all of this in a truly special experience along the coast of Oaxaca.
For two weeks, we will join several community groups in their daily conservation and sustainable development activities, exploring unique natural destinations, connecting with local communities, and experiencing the most authentic side of Mexico.
What does our Volunteer Trip offer?
- 3 Meals a Day for 12 Days (€350)
- Accommodation in Shared Rooms (2/3 beds) with Local Communities for 14 Nights (€350)
- Nature Conservation and Ecotourism Activities with Local Guides (€1000)
- Transportation Between Projects (Shared Transport and Taxis) (€250)
- 24/7 Travel Coordinator for Two Weeks (€1000)
- Group Kit: Biodiversity Guides, First Aid Kit, and Work Tools (€30)
3.010 € –> 1.598 €
Until December 23rd!
ONLY 8 SPOTS PER GROUP!
A little bit about Tartarukus and me
At 21, my dream was to work for wildlife, and I found the opportunity of a lifetime: working on a remote beach in Oaxaca, Mexico, protecting sea turtles. I had never left Spain, but I didn’t hesitate—this was a dream come true.
During that experience, I transformed completely. I could never go back to my “normal” life after spending months in rural Mexico, walking along beaches at night with local communities.
I formed a deep connection with the Oaxacan coast and returned to develop my final degree project, which led me to graduate as an Environmental Engineer.
After finishing my studies, I needed an idea that could help local communities fund their conservation activities and allow me to continue working for nature conservation. I volunteered at various projects, gradually building what would become Tartarukus.
This is how Tartarukus was born, and in 2021, we gathered our first group of volunteers, proving that with each group, the experience only improved.
Today, we have already achieved:
+100
Volunteers involved
+90
Wildlife monitoring activities
+9
Local projects supported
+120
Trees planted with Communities
+13
Cleanups of Natural Areas
What do our volunteers say?
¿Es este viaje para mi?
☑ If you’re at a point in your life where you’re seeking a unique experience and have an open mind to new ways of living.
☑ If you’re interested in learning about wildlife conservation from local guides.
☑ If you want to contribute your part to the development and protection of the destination you’re traveling to—this time, along the coast of Oaxaca.
☑ If you’re torn between beach or mountain, we’ll experience both!
☑ If you want to live alongside local families and people who will show you places only they know.
What types of activities will you be doing during your volunteer trip?
Explore Manialtepec’s Natural Hot Springs
Get ready to discover the hot springs, an ancient place for the Chatina indigenous communities, serving as a source of natural healing. We will walk for an hour and a half along the river trail, occasionally crossing its currents. On this day, you’ll be able to relax your body by soaking in these waters, leaving you completely renewed, just as the locals have experienced for years.
Release of Newly Hatched Turtles into the Sea
On the same day that the sea turtles hatch from their eggs, they must be released into the ocean to ensure they retain maximum energy and can sustain it for as long as possible.
The odds are not in their favor, as it is estimated that only 1 in every 1000 will survive and reach adulthood. As part of our care, we can only ensure that nothing attacks them during their growth in the nest and their journey across the beach to the sea. Once they reach the ocean, their fate is in their hands.
Night Patrols to Protect Females and Their Nests
To protect the turtles and their nests, local groups must work through the night, patrolling the beach and collecting the nests to transfer them to the incubation pen—a safe place where the eggs will stay until the hatchlings emerge.
We will accompany them in this process, assisting with data collection and expanding the area covered to protect the nests from illegal trafficking, all while ensuring complete safety. This collaborative effort helps ensure that the eggs have the best chance of hatching and the young turtles are given a safe start.
Oaxacan Cuisine
While living with our local cooks, we’ll have the opportunity to join them for a morning of “making tortillas,” as the Oaxacans say, or preparing a special dish together. They will teach us about plants and ingredients that only they use, giving us a true taste of their culinary traditions 🙂
Free Days in Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, or Huatulco
You’ll have three free days, and we’ll provide our best recommendations for the must-visit spots along the coast.
There are plenty of activities you can enjoy: surfing, yoga, diving, snorkeling, birdwatching… Or, you can simply relax on the beach and try something new at restaurants offering cuisine from around the world (Thai, Japanese, Italian, American, and more).
Environmental Education Workshops
Children are the future, and they are the ones who will make a difference. Let’s show them the importance of nature, teamwork, and enjoying life in their beautiful communities by engaging in various activities focused on biodiversity, recycling, and the connection between humanity and the environment. These workshops will help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
English Workshops
People from all over the world visit the coast, and the children are eager to understand them. Additionally, parents know that speaking English will open many opportunities for their children in the future. Let’s teach them some words they may not know yet, helping them expand their language skills and connect with people from different cultures.
Wildlife Monitoring Expeditions
We will actively contribute to conservation efforts by setting up camera traps to monitor wildlife. Currently, our research phase focuses on listing wildlife species. Multiple projects are developing this idea from Huatulco to Manialtepec, allowing us to compare biodiversity indices across different areas and ecosystems within the same region. This data is essential for understanding and preserving the rich biodiversity of the area.
Tree Planting with Local Communities
From July to October, we have the opportunity to plant trees with local groups or by involving children, giving them a sense of responsibility and making them proactive in caring for nature.
Cleanups of Natural Areas
Unfortunately, not everything is green and beautiful—plastic is everywhere. We will dedicate some of our time on the coast to cleaning and involving the community in the cleanup of natural areas or collecting trash on the beaches, whether at sunset or early in the morning.
Marine Wildlife and Whale Listing
In the morning, we will board a boat to observe and document various species. We’ll also take time to go snorkeling in the beautiful bay of Puerto Ángel.
During whale migration season (from November to March), we’ll head to Mazunte to continue our monitoring from land. We’ll end the day at Punta Cometa, the most stunning cliff in Mexico, where you’ll have the opportunity to witness both the sunrise and sunset.
Manialtepec, The Community of Horses
Manialtepec is a small community with a strong connection to horses and its typical Mexican rural environment, surrounded by lowland jungles, the river, the vast Puerto Suelo beach, and rolling hills. We will be guided by Ecoturismo Manialtepec to learn how to care for the horses and enjoy getting to know each one of them.
The Community Project of La Ventanilla
La Ventanilla is a prime example of conservation and ecotourism developed by local communities. It is the only community along the coast where tourism and conservation are the main sources of income for families, which means the entire community is organized to protect nature. Any form of exploitation of the lagoon is prohibited, making it a special place of biodiversity, home to many crocodiles. The community also runs a Managed Wildlife Area (UMA), which has become a rescue center for deer and other species to a lesser extent.
Depending on the season, you may assist in the deer area by feeding them, work in the crocodile area maintaining the facilities for crocodiles during their first year of life before they are released, or enjoy a boat tour through the lagoon.
Chacahua Lagoons National Park
This place is a natural paradise, with lush mangrove forests, tranquil lagoons, and a diverse variety of wildlife. We will join the local group ‘Ecoturismo y Aventura Lagunas de Chacahua’ to assist in conservation tasks such as tree planting or crocodile monitoring.
As part of our nature experience, we will take a boat tour through the expansive lagoon, passing through beautiful mangrove tunnels. Upon reaching Chacahua, we will participate in a night patrol to protect adult sea turtles at the Chacahua Bay Sanctuary during their nesting season from November to March.
Tour of the El Gavilán Jungle
El Gavilán Jungle is a vast evergreen forest covering 1,130 hectares, protected by 70 people born in this very land. Their commitment to conservation has led them to dedicate themselves to preserving this unique habitat.
During our visit, we will actively contribute to these efforts by using camera traps to monitor wildlife, planting fruit trees to support the local fauna, and participating in ecotourism tours. After a full afternoon of hiking, we’ll have the chance to camp surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.
This night could also provide an opportunity for wildlife monitoring, with the possibility of spotting armadillos, deer, and other species during a night patrol in the forest.
Escobilla Beach Sanctuary
Escobilla is the most important beach for Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), boasting the highest nesting rates in the world. It is also one of the 12 beaches globally where you can witness the arribada: a mass nesting phenomenon, where up to 10,000 turtles may nest within a few kilometers in a matter of hours, or more than 100,000 in a single day.
This phenomenon is linked to the waning moon, but it is very difficult to predict the exact day. The longer you stay, the more likely you are to witness this incredible natural event!
What will you gain?
- Experience nature in a completely different way, guided by locals dedicated to its conservation.
- Contribute your time to important conservation activities.
- Discover different places along the coast with local guides, while making a positive impact.
- Connect with the community.
- Taste one of the richest cuisines in all of Mexico, prepared by Oaxacan cooks.
- Travel with the security of a nonprofit organization that works with local communities, supporting you every step of the way from the moment you arrive at the airport.
- Disconnect from your routine and gain the motivation and energy to return to it.
- Meet other volunteers and people who share your love for nature.
The experience includes
- 3 Meals a Day for 12 Days (€350)
- Accommodation in Shared Rooms (2/3 beds) with Local Communities for 14 Nights (€350)
- Nature Conservation and Ecotourism Activities with Local Guides (€1000)
- Transportation Between Projects (Shared Transport and Taxis) (€250)
- 24/7 Travel Coordinator for Two Weeks (€1000)
- Group Kit: Biodiversity Guides, First Aid Kit, and Work Tools (€30)
3.010 € –> 1.598 €
Until December 23rd!
ONLY 8 SPOTS PER GROUP!
Frequent Circumstances:
“I need help organizing the trip and booking the flights”
We offer guidance before or after you make your reservation with us, ensuring that you choose the right flights and helping us prepare for your arrival. We’ll also provide you with information to help you pack, making sure you’re as prepared as possible before you arrive!
“I can’t stay for 15 days, but I want to participate”
The conservation groups continue their activities whether or not volunteers are present. So, if you can’t join us for the full 15 days, we can adapt and welcome you for the time you have available. We’ll adjust the fee based on the activities you participate in with us.
“Flights are too expensive for my available dates”
If you’ve already decided that this trip is for you, don’t hesitate any longer. Take action before you fall back into the cycle of waiting and waiting. Book for next year and make sure to get affordable flights with plenty of time in advance!
MORE REASONS TO JOIN US!
☑ Some activities, with more complex logistics, could cost up to 300€ for just one. However, since this program is run frequently and in small groups, sharing the expenses makes it much more affordable.
☑ During the activity days, you will have 3 typical Oaxacan meals a day, so you won’t have to worry about where to eat or what to choose.
☑ Throughout the program, you’ll spend part of your mornings, afternoons, or even full days engaging in activities. The workdays will be balanced in terms of physical activity: one more relaxed day followed by a more demanding one, allowing you to rest while staying active and making the most of your time.
☑ You will receive guidance and support to make the most of your 3 free days, whether you want to visit the best beaches—both virgin and popular—where you can rest and learn an easy way to get to your preferred spots.
☑ You will have a coordinator available 24/7 during your trip, assisting you with anything you need: from any discomfort, recommendations, to any doubts.
☑ We’ll guide you from the moment you arrive at the airport, and together we’ll teach you how to get around by public transport between coastal communities.
What our Volunteers say about us!
What Could Happen If You Don’t Choose Our Trip?
- You’ll keep waiting for “next year” to take a trip that aligns with your values and reconnects you with what truly matters.
- If you opt for a travel agency, you won’t have the assurance that they are involving the community in a fair way or ensuring the preservation of the environment.
- You won’t experience a trip where you are genuinely part of the local community, living the destination in a truly authentic way.
- You won’t have a variety of conservation and cultural activities that make for a complete and fulfilling experience.
But what could happen if you join our volunteer trip?
- You’ll live a unique experience with local guides who will show you nature like you’ve never seen before, including witnessing one of the most amazing phenomena on the planet: a sea turtle arribada.
- You’ll become like a local, eating what the people of Oaxaca eat, living in remote communities, and experiencing nature in the way locals do.
- You’ll enjoy a refreshing break that will motivate you to return to your daily life with renewed energy, or give you the drive to make the changes you’ve been wanting to make.
Volunteer trip along the coast of Oaxaca.
- 3 Meals a Day for 12 Days (€350)
- Accommodation in Shared Rooms (2/3 beds) with Local Communities for 14 Nights (€350)
- Nature Conservation and Ecotourism Activities with Local Guides (€1000)
- Transportation Between Projects (Shared Transport and Taxis) (€250)
- 24/7 Travel Coordinator for Two Weeks (€1000)
- Group Kit: Biodiversity Guides, First Aid Kit, and Work Tools (€30)
3.010 € –> 1.598 €
Until December 23rd!
ONLY 8 SPOTS PER GROUP!
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