Volunteer Abroad Brazil: Forest Conser­va­tion

Our partner requests that interested volunteers submit their CVs with their enquiry so that they may learn more about their skills and interests. Additionally, volunteers must be 18 or older and have a strong level of English or Portuguese. Although Portuguese is not a requirement, given that you will be doing some community work with locals, a little bit of Portuguese knowledge goes a long way and can only enrich your experience abroad. Additionally, it is important to be physically fit, have a sense of adventure, and be eager to learn!

Included in the price are accommodation, three meals a day, internet, and oversight by a team of competent and experienced researchers and specialists who will guide and teach you.
Not included in the price is airfare, transport to and from the project site, visa costs, and costs that are connected to free-time travel or activities.

It is crucial to be up-to-date with the following vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, and Polio

Vaccines such as Hepatitis B and Rabies are not required but may still be recommended by your doctor. The project site is not located in a malarial region of Brazil, but check with your doctor if you plan to extend your trip to other areas of the country that may be affected.

Medical and travel insurance are a must. We are happy to help you select an insurance provider if necessary.

Sunscreen, bug repellent, a towel, and a small flashlight are very useful. All materials needed for manual work are provided by our project partner. If you are joining for research purposes, make sure to bring your laptop.

A good pair of comfortable hiking boots with ankle support is crucial! Depending on the season (December–March is the rainy season), rain boots and a rain jacket are also very important. Otherwise, comfortable dark-coloured clothing that can get dirty, including pants, shorts, and long-sleeved shirts, is recommended. Jeans are not ideal since they take ages to dry in this climate. It is also recommended to bring books, games, and movies or TV shows on your computer.

There is a minimum stay of 4 weeks with the project, but you are welcome to stay up to 12 weeks or even longer if approved by the project partner ahead of time.

You will fly into Rio de Janeiro International Airport either in the morning and arrive at the project site on the same day, or arrive in the evening, spend a night in Rio, and travel onwards the next day. You will take two taxis and two buses to arrive at the project site, totalling 7-8 hours of travel and around €45–€50 in transportation costs.

Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by project staff and introduced to the people and facilities at the research centre. Depending on the time of day that you arrive and how you are feeling, you can get straight to work or simply relax, unpack, and settle in.

You work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and follow a weekly schedule created for you. You will start with a freshly cooked breakfast at 7 a.m. and begin your project tasks at 8 a.m. After an hour-long midday break for lunch, activities resume until 5 p.m., when you have an hour to relax before you are served a delicious dinner. On weekends, you can sleep in a bit as breakfast is served a bit later, at 8:30 a.m.

Your main activities will be working in the nursery, preparing the (55.000!) seedlings that will one day grow tall in the Atlantic Forest, planting trees, working with agroforestry techniques to bridge farming and forest regeneration, helping maintain walking trails surrounding the research centre, using camera traps to build on the catalog identifying animals and plants in the region, and assisting in the vegetable garden.

The research centre has the space to accommodate 28 volunteers and researchers at a time. Depending on the activity, volunteers will be split into smaller groups and work on different tasks.

There is a central house and four cabins, totalling 12 rooms for 28 people. Bathrooms are shared by a maximum of four people and are equipped with showers and hot water. The house has a communal kitchen, and the cabins all have a study space, tables and chairs, and plenty of storage room for volunteers to keep their belongings.

There is a restaurant on site that will provide you with three meals a day, cooked fresh. Breakfast is served from 7-8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and dinner from 6-7 p.m.

Absolutely. Our partner will always take food preferences and dietary restrictions into consideration when preparing meals.

English is the primary language spoken on-site, but much of the staff is Brazilian and many activities involve volunteers working out in the community, so Portuguese is also often spoken. It will be a huge bonus if you can learn a few keywords and phrases in Portuguese before you arrive!

You will be engaged in project activities from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday to Friday; weekends are all yours to do as you like and explore or just relax on site.

On the weekend, you have a chance to explore the beautiful surroundings. There are great spots to hike nearby, including Graminha Peak (1.501 m.) or Bandeira Peak (2.892 m.—the 3rd highest peak in all of Brazil!) which is a 3-hour drive away but well worth the trek. There are several waterfalls nearby that offer perfect swimming holes, nature trails all over the forest for you to discover, local festivities that allow you to immerse yourself in the community and experience Brazilian culture, and bonfires at night as a chance for volunteers to gather and exchange.

Yes, three staff members, including the Volunteer Coordinator, live permanently on the project grounds and are always available for volunteers. In case of an emergency, you will always reach out to the volunteer coordinator first.

Additional costs include those related to free time activities, eating out, etc. Eating dinner in the towns nearby costs around 15 to 30 Brazilian reals (€3-6), excluding drinks. To take part in a tour offered by a local tourism company that includes a guide, entrance fee, and equipment for activities such as kayaking or day hikes, you will pay between 100 and 140 reals (€18-25).
The closest ATM is in Muriae (1.5 hours away), so it is recommended that you withdraw reals at the airport upon arrival. Most places will only accept reals or a Visa credit/debit card.

You will have access to 24/7 wireless internet at the project site to stay in contact with your loved ones at home. You can also buy a SIM card once you are in Brazil. Our partner recommends either Claro or Vivo.

From March to September, the climate is dry and progressively cooler, with average highs around 24–28 °C and lows around 13–17 °C.. From September to February, the weather is warmer and rainier, with highs ranging from 27- 30 °C and lows from 16 to 20 °C.

No, volunteers are not restricted from drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes during their free time, but being under the influence of alcohol during working hours will not be tolerated. No alcohol is sold on site.

The project location is extremely safe, however, there is some wildlife that you need to keep an eye out for. Spiders, snakes, and scorpions are easy to avoid by taking the necessary precautions, and staff will be sure to give you the rundown. In case of emergency, you will be either taken to the small clinic in Rosário da Limeira which can provide first aid care, or to the large hospital in Muriaé.