CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
“This is an experience
of a lifetime, one for people from all walks of life.”-
Lawrence Smart
Who We Are
As a volunteer organisation we are committed to protection
of the balance of life in the Peruvian Rainforest. Our aim
is to bring economic, social and environmental harmony to
the Manu region using sustainable practice. Attending our
volunteer programmes you will be involved in conservation
and community development projects.
Why volunteer with us?
Volunteer work abroad offers a never-to-be-forgotten
adventure in the Peruvian rainforest.
Become a productive volunteer learning valuable field skills
for career, degree or just for fun!
In 2004 CREES set up the Manu Learning Centre. Since then,
we have worked with over hundreds of volunteers from around
the globe, creating a positive and important impact on the
Manu’s forests and local communities and the volunteers
themselves.
Our volunteer programme combines
training, challenging work and a great adventure, making it
a brilliantly unique and rewarding way to visit and actively
understand more about the rainforest, its people and its conservation
needs.
Our conservation volunteers will be working
alongside scientists and local experts. By studying amazon
rainforest animals such as the endangered Blue Headed Macaw,
you will explore how humans impact biodiversity and crucial
conservation issues and contribute to data that helps ensure
these species remain protected and informing government
decisions.
Community development projects
As a community development volunteer you will support
essential projects designed to increase the income and nutritional
levels of local people though sustainable land management. This
sustainable community development project provides the most direct
way of changing lives: the local communities can see the difference
in a matter of weeks.
or watch this video on our Rainforest Conservation
Volunteer projects first:
Volunteer
Itinerary
The Training
To begin your volunteering placement, we
start in the ancient Inca capital city of Cusco with a day
of orientation and preparation. After arrival at the centre
the first seven days is used to give all volunteers the
sufficient training.
You will receive key education in the following:
First Aid & Basic rainforest survival
skills
Tropical Ecology
Conservation & Sustainability
Natural History
Cultural Diversity & History
Astronomy
Wilderness Ethics and natural resources
conservation
Flora & Fauna Monitoring
Reforestation & Agro-forestry
Ethno-botany
Environmental Education
Accommodation
The volunteer accommodation consisting of 6 thatched
buildings. It is relaxed, peaceful, and has been stylishly constructed
in keeping with its surroundings. You'll be sharing a room with
other volunteers. There is no electricity but our generator works
ideally for charging up electronic items and is run for a few
hours every night: not great for hair-straighteners but perfect
for camera batteries etc!
The bathroom is a separate block and well equipped
with six cubicles, each containing a (Western) flush toilet, hand-basin
and cold shower. There is a dining and relaxation area, with tables
and a few armchairs, as well as a library and covered hammock
area to wind-down in after a days work.
You'll have three meals per day. The food is wholesome
and mainly vegetarian. Often pasta or rice, soup, fruit juice.
There is always a flask of hot water, tea, coffee and filtered
(safe) drinking water available. The cook is able to cater for
a number of specialised diets, although choices may be limited.
The environment is relaxing, with nice weather, good
views, excellent accommodation and very pleasant company.
Entertainment is very much home-made and there is a real community
spirit among the volunteers whilst still allowing for ‘personal
space’. Volunteers are well cared for whilst still having
the excitement of being in the jungle. All the staff are enthusiastic,
helpful and caring.
Expedition (*)
Take a break and experience 4 days of trekking
through the forest, visiting the indigenous community of Queros,
exploring virgin forests and discovering hot springs in the Amazon.
The expedition takes volunteers further into the local communities
way of life, the enormous biodiversity and also challenging activities.
(*) Available for programmes of 4 weeks or longer
Programme Prices
Price USD ($)
Price GBP (£) *
4 Week Programme
(33 days / 32 nights)
$2,099
£1,399 *
6 Week Programme
(41 days / 40 nights)
$2,599
£1,733 *
8 Week Programme
(61 days / 60 nights)
$3,199
£2,133 *
10 Week Programme
(69 days / 68 nights)
$3,699
£2,466 *
12 Week Programme
(89 days / 88 nights)
$4,299
£2,866 *
* Prices
are quoted in USD. GBP (£) rates are quoted at and exchange
rate of 1.5 and are subject to exchange variances
Crees also has a specialised short voluntourism programme for shorter stays (One - two weeks) and families. Please contact us for more details.
Programme Dates
2012 Start
Dates
27th Feb
26th Mar
23rd Apr
21st May
18th Jun
16th Jul
13th Aug
10th Sep
8th Oct
5th Nov
3rd Dec
A Break from the Working Rhythm: Optional Add-On Activities
Project work can take its toll on even the
hearty volunteer, so our optional Add-on Activities allow
our volunteers to take a break and make the most of all
the rainforest has to offer.
ADD-ON Activity
4 day / 3 Night Trek
- Hot Springs OR Whitewater Rafting: a 4 Day trek, including
visiting a breathtaking hot water spring and white water
rafting down local rivers with incredible views, camping
out in the rainforest
4-day Machu Picchu
Trek
2-day Machu Picchu
Train Tour
1-day BUDGET Machu
Picchu Train Tour
1-day FIRST CLASS
Machu Picchu Train Tour
1-day Sacred Valley
Tour
CUSCO City Tour
Lima City Tour
Our optional Add-On 4 Day Expeditions have proved
incredibly popular in the past 5 years, offering you and other
hard-working volunteers a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.
While trekking to hot-springs and white water rafting you will
also get to stay with the local indigenous communities giving
you the perfect chance to learn further about the people, sites
and diversity that exist in Manu.
