Volunteering in Puerto Rico

     Have you ever thought about volunteering when you travel? It is a great way to get to know a country better by immersing yourself and getting familiar with the locals and their culture. There are a lot of programs around the world that offer these opportunities. Puerto Rico is no exception. The volunteer experiences below are free. Citizens and travelers alike, here are a few options of volunteer work you can do in Puerto Rico.

Para la Naturaleza

     At Para la Naturaleza which translates to For Nature they work hard to promote the participation of the community through volunteer experiences, guided tours and other activities with the goal of protecting, preserving and managing some of Puerto Rico’s ecosystems under their care. They have four locations: Hacienda la Esperanza in Manatí, Casa Ramón Power y Giralt in San Juan, Las Cabezas de San Juan in Fajardo and Hacienda Buena Vista in Ponce. A few of the activities volunteers take part in are monitoring nests, planting and other agriculture related tasks, mapping, archaeological work, excursions protecting native endangered species and more. To learn more about the opportunities Para la Naturaleza offers click here and feel free to search through their adventure tours. I assisted to a tour in Las Cabezas de San Juan in Fajardo. The tour lasted about three hours and there was never a dull moment exploring the beach and mangrove forests. To register as a volunteer all you need to do is research if the volunteer experience you want has slots available and enroll here. Slots go quickly so it’s best to register well in advance. Staff will make sure you have a great time learning and exploring!

Catch my adventure with Para la Naturaleza here!

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service of Puerto Rico

     This organization located in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico helps conserve and protect fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. They teach the community how they can help out as well by giving them a chance to volunteer or join educational tours like the one I participated in. They operate with volunteers only and train all of those who want to join. Many animals suffer because of pollution. It is our job to ensure that at least we don’t contribute to this global problem. These animals and vegetation are an important part of our ecosystem that needs to be protected. I visited the center and received a tour of the facilities and a complimentary map of the island and another one of Cabo Rojo. Both maps had a list of museums, landmarks, beaches and more. They showed our group a short film featuring all of the animals living in that area. Some were in danger of extinction. There was also a small wax figure museum of sea creatures. The purpose of the museum is to make visitors aware of the animal’s way of living and how pollution affects them and consequently affects us as well. To volunteer at The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service of Puerto Rico go on to their website. Volunteers can do jobs in administration, sea turtle monitoring, exotic species eradication, tour guides, construction, nursery and much more!

Read more on things you can do after your volunteer work in Cabo Rojo here!

El Centro de Control y Albergue Capitán Correa

     Last but not least El Centro de Control y Albergue Capitán Correa in Arecibo, Puerto Rico is where I had my first volunteering experience. This organization is a non-profit association that looks for the well-being and health of animals. In their care there are mostly dogs and cats. They were established in 2014 by a group of young specialists with the goal to help the animals and educate the community. They offer many clinical services including dropping off pets, adoptions, vaccines, sterilization and others at reasonable costs.

     This organization is always happy to receive volunteers may it be practicing vet students, experts in the area or anyone with a good attitude and a love for animals. They also receive school or university groups and associations. To participate, anyone interested can contact the center by calling, emailing or messaging on Facebook or through their website. Some of the deeds volunteers help out with are walking dogs, playing with them, giving food to the animals, bathing the dogs and cleaning the cages and bathing stations/supplies. Donations are also welcomed. If donating the best way to do so is by contacting the center and asking what they need which could be from food to cleaning supplies.

     I had a wonderful experience at El Centro de Control y Albergue Capitán Correa by meeting the team and the person in charge Dr. Antonio Baez, but most of all by spending some quality time with Happy the dog I got to walk and play with for a few hours. She was excited to play and venture around the center. Without a doubt I recommend this to others who want a volunteer experience.

     I hope this list has inspired you to volunteer in Puerto Rico and be part of an experience full of culture, knowledge and nature. Happy Travels!