Why should I pay to be a Volunteer? Where Does my Money Go?
As a fully independent entity, we do not receive any subsidies from the State or any other sources. Due to this factor, volunteer funds aid our research efforts and ongoing operations of the reserve in addition to covering activities and their own accomodations. Essentially, the contribution of our volunteers make the existence of this conservation reserve possible!
The specific breakdown of funding are provided below:
Program Fee Rates
Our program fees are set in weekly increments. To optimize your stay and ensure that you engage in a diverse amount of activities, it is highly recommended that volunteers stay for a minimum of 2 weeks
For a Quote on Program fees please contact +51 938 640 145 by Whatsapp
You are eligible for DISCOUNTED RATES if you meet one (or more) of the following requirements:
- You are a Peruvian Citizen & Student
- You are a group of 3 or more individuals
- You have previously stayed with us
- Your planned length of stay exceeds that of 4 weeks
Notice: Registration and international bank fee transfers not incorporated into Program Cost. Once properly registered, an email will be sent regarding the total amount due to the email address you provided. A $75 Registration Fee is required for signing up and securing a spot with us. Before making your payment, we ask you to consider the 5% International Bank transfer fee associated with making your transaction.
Included
The cost of the stay includes:
- Accommodation
- Food (3 meals a day)
- Unlimited filtered/purified drinking water
- Transport from the airport/bus station to the center upon arrival and departure
- Tools/Supplies (shovels, rakes, machetes, etc).
- Guide for daily activities
Not included
- Airline tickets – international and local-outings, transportation, restaurants, hotels outside our framework program in particular on weekends.
- Costs arising in international transfers are at the volunteer’s expense (they vary according to each organization, check with your bank).
- Travel insurance, which should include expatriate insurance, medical emergency expenses, cancellations, interruption of stay…providing a wide coverage, plus civil liability.
- Visas
- Vaccines
- Laundry services
- Wifi and internet access
- Expenses during weekend stays in Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation
You will be housed with other volunteers in dorm style bungalows conceived and adapted to life in full jungle. Shared dormitory style accomodations are divided by gender. Facilties include running water, a solar-powered dining hall, and collective use of toilet and washroom facilities (cold water only).
Private housing available upon request–additional fees apply. *Contact us for details.
Please note that Panthera Sanctuary is a remote natural reserve with unreliable signal and no access to wifi. Volunteers are encouraged to take advantage of the time to disconnect, relax and connect with other volunteers and nature. You may visit Puerto Maldonado on Fridays\Saturdays where you will have access to internet and wifi in the city.
Meals
A local cook will prepare you breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals are mainly Peruvian dishes, so please remember to keep an open mind when trying new dishes, experiencing culture through cuisine in a foreign country and maintain a respectful attitude.
Peruvian cuisine has lots of variety, you will never go hungry at camp! Enjoy it and soak it in!
Purified drinking water will always be available to you. Make sure to bring a durable water bottle to take with you during activities!
Work Schedule
Sunday through Thursday. Friday/Saturday are our days of rest.
More information on the reserve’s work schedule
Two activities will take place each working day; one in the morning (between 9am and 12pm), and one in the afternoon (between 2:30 and 5pm). Depending on what activity you participate in, times may shift.
Night activities such as caiman/snake/amphibian monitoring take place after dinner and are completely optional but open to anyone interested.
Recreational Activities
Swimming is possible in the main river or local stream near the reserve. Equipped with a modest seating area along the river front and a couple hammocks for lounging, our tropical garden is also available for relaxing. Fruit harvesting and juice making is also a common favorite.
As we previously mentioned, weekend excursions to Puerto Maldonado are optional and take place from Friday to Saturday where you can find hotels, restaurants, cyber cafes, stores, a local market, and taxis. It is a very typical town and we can give you tips and detailed instructions upon arrival. Should you choose to leave the reserve for town, a taxi boat will be arranged to pick you up from the reserve around 8AM and take you back the following day around 3pm at your expense. Those remaining at the reserve have all their usual expenses covered.