Join in a unique volunteer vacation to a beautiful remote area of Nicaragua. Spend a week helping the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle while exploring a beautiful mangrove estuary, boarding down a volcano and seeing a new country.
Fewer than 20,000 nesting females left in the world.
The hawksbill turtles of the Eastern Pacific are considered one of the most endangered sea turtle populations in the world. Padre Ramos Estuary, where we will be working, is home to one of two known nesting areas, comprising roughly 50% of the nesting for this population in the entire region. Volunteer support is critical to the success of this project and you will be working hands-on with researchers to study and protect these turtles.
Why are these turtles important?
Hawksbills feed on the sea spongers on the coral reef and can eat upwards of 1000 sea spongers a year. Without these turtles, the coral would be in danger, as would the many species who depend on it for life.
Why are these turtles important?
Hawksbills feed on the sea spongers on the coral reef and can eat upwards of 1000 sea spongers a year. Without these turtles, the coral would be in danger, as would the many species who depend on it for life.
Volunteer Duties
We can't guarantee every activity will occur during each week, but can consist of:
• Beach patrols to encounter, measure and tag nesting hawksbill turtles
• Egg collection for relocation to project hatcheries
• Monitoring of project hatcheries: nest burial, temperature measurements, hatchling release and post-hatching nest excavations
• Community Interaction (optional): English lessons, environmental education, Art programs, local tours, etc
• Turtle hatchery and patrol structure maintenance
• Beach patrols to encounter, measure and tag nesting hawksbill turtles
• Egg collection for relocation to project hatcheries
• Monitoring of project hatcheries: nest burial, temperature measurements, hatchling release and post-hatching nest excavations
• Community Interaction (optional): English lessons, environmental education, Art programs, local tours, etc
• Turtle hatchery and patrol structure maintenance
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$1200 + airfare Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 – July 29 - ARRIVE TO NICARAGUA
Arrive anytime the first day of the trip; our guide pick us up at Sandino International Airport near Managua and takes us by private transport to the hotel. Dinner included.
DAY 2 - - July 30 - TO PADRE RAMOS ESTUARY
After breakfast, hop on the private van and head to the northwest corner of the country to the small town of Padre Ramos (4 -5 hour drive), home to one of the most important hawksbill turtle nesting beaches in the America’s. Along the way, stop and have lunch in beautiful town of Leon.
Once there, settle in to the shared rooms at the research station near the beach, where you will stay during the trip. Our partners at Fauna & Flora Nicaragua will give an orientation. There will be time to take a swim in the beautiful estuary to cool off. That evening, head out with researchers for your first night to the beach to look for turtles, primarily hawksbills and occasionally olive ridleys.
DAY 3 – August 1 - TURTLE DAY
This morning, head out by boat into the estuary to capture and study juvenile hawksbills and then release them. Later, you’ll meet with local researchers to learn about the project and be trained how to do the data collection. Next, visit one of the hawksbill hatcheries; with luck there will be some hatchlings to release to the water. That evening, you will head out with researchers to patrol the nesting beaches.
DAY 4 – August 2 - MANGROVE DAY
A local guide will take you out for an optional kayaking tour this morning around the estuary to look for birds, flying fish, and turtle heads popping up out of the water. After lunch, attend a presentation on mangroves and participate in a reforestation project. That evening, you’ll head out again to patrol the beaches.
DAY 5 – August 3 - TURTLE THREATS
Learn about the threats facing sea turtles on this day. First you’ll see a presentation about how plastic affects turtles and a workshop on how to recycle plastic bags into souvenirs.
Later, you’ll participate in a beach clean-up to clear the beach turtles and hatchlings and keep plastic waste out of the estuary. Tonight’s turtle patrol will be optional, to allow a break for those who need it (though feel free to participate if you have the energy).
DAY 6 – August 4 - Volcano Day
Visit Cosiguina Volcano and its impressive crater lake. Cross the longest tropical forest in Nicaragua, an area full of great biodiversity in ora and fauna. From the topofthevolcano,you’llseethemarvelouscraterlake, the borders of both El Salvador and Honduras.
DAY 7 – August 5 - Leon
After breakfast, the group will board the van for the two-hour drive to Leon. Check in to the hotel, after lunch enjoy a guided city tour of Leon and visit the museum of Poet Ruben Dario, hailed as the father of Spanish poetry, as well as the UNESCO-listed La Asuncion Cathedral and Ortiz Guardian art gallery.
Day 8 – August 6 - Leon
After breakfast, we head out to enjoy ash boarding down the side of Cerro Negro Volcano.
DAY 1 – July 29 - ARRIVE TO NICARAGUA
Arrive anytime the first day of the trip; our guide pick us up at Sandino International Airport near Managua and takes us by private transport to the hotel. Dinner included.
DAY 2 - - July 30 - TO PADRE RAMOS ESTUARY
After breakfast, hop on the private van and head to the northwest corner of the country to the small town of Padre Ramos (4 -5 hour drive), home to one of the most important hawksbill turtle nesting beaches in the America’s. Along the way, stop and have lunch in beautiful town of Leon.
Once there, settle in to the shared rooms at the research station near the beach, where you will stay during the trip. Our partners at Fauna & Flora Nicaragua will give an orientation. There will be time to take a swim in the beautiful estuary to cool off. That evening, head out with researchers for your first night to the beach to look for turtles, primarily hawksbills and occasionally olive ridleys.
DAY 3 – August 1 - TURTLE DAY
This morning, head out by boat into the estuary to capture and study juvenile hawksbills and then release them. Later, you’ll meet with local researchers to learn about the project and be trained how to do the data collection. Next, visit one of the hawksbill hatcheries; with luck there will be some hatchlings to release to the water. That evening, you will head out with researchers to patrol the nesting beaches.
DAY 4 – August 2 - MANGROVE DAY
A local guide will take you out for an optional kayaking tour this morning around the estuary to look for birds, flying fish, and turtle heads popping up out of the water. After lunch, attend a presentation on mangroves and participate in a reforestation project. That evening, you’ll head out again to patrol the beaches.
DAY 5 – August 3 - TURTLE THREATS
Learn about the threats facing sea turtles on this day. First you’ll see a presentation about how plastic affects turtles and a workshop on how to recycle plastic bags into souvenirs.
Later, you’ll participate in a beach clean-up to clear the beach turtles and hatchlings and keep plastic waste out of the estuary. Tonight’s turtle patrol will be optional, to allow a break for those who need it (though feel free to participate if you have the energy).
DAY 6 – August 4 - Volcano Day
Visit Cosiguina Volcano and its impressive crater lake. Cross the longest tropical forest in Nicaragua, an area full of great biodiversity in ora and fauna. From the topofthevolcano,you’llseethemarvelouscraterlake, the borders of both El Salvador and Honduras.
DAY 7 – August 5 - Leon
After breakfast, the group will board the van for the two-hour drive to Leon. Check in to the hotel, after lunch enjoy a guided city tour of Leon and visit the museum of Poet Ruben Dario, hailed as the father of Spanish poetry, as well as the UNESCO-listed La Asuncion Cathedral and Ortiz Guardian art gallery.
Day 8 – August 6 - Leon
After breakfast, we head out to enjoy ash boarding down the side of Cerro Negro Volcano.
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Day 9 – August 7 - Managua airport and home
Board the van and transfer to the Managua airport for the trip home Cost
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