Los Cedros Biological Reserve depends on the work of volunteers for the maintenance of the facilities and projects, for development of new projects, and to assist research in the reserve. Long-term volunteers are particularly valuable since they have more time to get to know the reserve and to develop their own initiatives, but shorter-term volunteers are also a necessary source of energy, ideas and labor. A minimum commitment of one month is asked. Most people who come here end up wanting to stay for longer anyway, and many have. Many people arrive here thanks to the encouragement of friends who have come before.

The Los Cedros volunteer experience is, paradoxically, both hard working and relaxed. The length of the working day varies with the projects at hand. In a given day, volunteers can count on breaking an occasional sweat and earning their appetites, but they can also count on plenty of time to relax, chat, read, eat, hike, drink tea, swing in hammocks, chat, admire the view, and generally enjoy their well-earned sense of accomplishment from the day’s labours.

See recreation for more ideas about off-hours activities.

Typical day-to-day tasks include trail maintenance and development, reforestation of previously cultivated areas with endemic species, garden cultivation and harvesting, and checking the integrity of the reserve’s borders. The biotic landscape of the cloudforest is constantly evolving, as are the conservation goals of the surrounding community, and steady effort is required to adapt the reserve to those changes. Depending on what scientific research projects are active, there are frequently opportunities for volunteers to participate in field research. For up-to-date information on current volunteer priorities, contact the reserve.

PRIMENET is an ongoing primate conservation and monitoring project which is actively seeking volunteer support at Los Cedros. More details about PRIMENET program are on the research page.

To apply to volunteer at Los Cedros simply contact the Reserve with some basic information about yourself and we will get back to you soon, usually within a couple of days. Useful info for us is your name, where you are coming from, why you’re interested in volunteering, when you would arrive and how long you would like to stay. A short email is usually sufficient. We can also answer any questions you have and provide additional travel information in response.

All prices in US dollars. Fees include all accommodation and food. Vegetarian cooking is available. Food is plentiful and good.

Mule transport can be provided for bringing gear up the mountain to the reserve.

Los Cedros is a non-profit reserve. All fees go to maintenance, staff wages, and the development of projects which are part of the reserve’s goals of conservation and education.