Guatemala Wildlife Rescue And Rehabilitation

You should consider working as a volunteer in Guatemala on this placement if you are interested in working with animals during your gap year and you are looking to have a worthwhile volunteer experience working and travelling Central America.

When volunteering, you will help feed and care for the animals at the centre which include parrots, macaws, spider and howler monkeys, margays, ocelots, coatimundis, taras and kinkajous. Nearly all of these animals have been seized from smugglers and are very young, needing constant care and attention.

Your role as a volunteer will be to work as part of a team to ensure a better future for Guatemalan wildlife. It is important that volunteers can show initiative, be fairly independent and prepared to get their hands dirty!

Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the welfare of the animals and daily tasks include caring for the animals, monitoring behaviour, cleaning enclosures, feeding, enclosure maintenance and any other specific needs of the animals that may arise.

There are also opportunities to take part in veterinary medical treatment, animal releases and wildlife surveys, though the scheduling of these activities is irregular and we can't guarantee you will be able to participate.

Your daily responsibilities are subject to change and can be quite unpredictable, new animals are admitted all of the time and tasks vary according to your interests.

Releases are possibly the most rewarding part of the work you will be involved with during your time at the Centre. Releases take place primarily in the area of Yaxha Lake and the Rio Azul area further to the north; these being some of the best-protected areas in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve with abundant food and water resources and few nearby human settlements.

Although not guaranteed, it is highly likely that releases will be planned during your time there; if you would like to be involved with these then you are free to do so. It’s best to speak to the onsite staff for details.

Sadly, many of the animals that are taken in at the Rescue Centre cannot be released due to the fact that they have been pets for too long, have become dependent on humans, have been injured and/or don’t know how to survive in the wild. In these cases, staff will find the best available destination for them, trying as much as possible to place them in humane and natural environments.

Tikal Excursion

Included in the programme cost is a two-day excursion to the famous Mayan ruins of Tikal. This will include a return shuttle service, one nights hotel accommodation in Tikal, two meals, entrance fees to the park and museum and a bilingual guide for an early-morning animal watching/archaeological tour. 

Here is how a typical day might take shape.

Please note that your itineraries may differ from this, depending on the projects needs, and the number of other volunteers at the rescue centre at the same time. There are certain responsibilities at the centre and everyone is expected to pull their own weight and work as a team.

Please use this itinerary as an example only.

7.00am: Get up, feed the animals, clean cages.

8.30am: Breakfast.

9.30 - 11.00am: Duties around the centre.

11.00am: Pick up food bowls, clean cages.

12.00 - 14.30pm: Lunch and time for a siesta!

15.00 - 16.00pm: Feed the animals, clean cages.

16.00 - 18.00pm: Individual projects, swimming, hiking, construction.

18.00 - 21.00pm: Dinner and time to relax.

21.00pm: Bedtime!

Please note: itineraries and activities are subject to change.