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GYC1899 - Whale-watching and Eco-Tourism Country: Mexico Cost: £2700.00 Please note: £2700 for three months. Each additional month is £475. Cost also includes unlimited health, public liability & baggage insurance, good accommodation, all project related travel, weekend trip, comprehensive in-country support, Spanish CD course, language course on arrival, airport pick up. In the UK we meet you to discuss the project in detail before any commitments are made. Shortly before departure we provide a thorough briefing. Cost Includes: The price includes insurance, accommodation, food, pickup from airport and visas but does not include flight or kit       Duration: 3 months Company Rep Nearby: Daily 0845 344 7588 or

 

	This placement would suit... This is an outstanding project placement for those interested in marine life and the interface between conservation, research and tourism. Between the end of December and early April, the Bay of Banderas is the nursery for dozens of humpback whales and their young. Volunteers would work with an eco-tourism agency, taking small groups out whale-watching in the bay. You'd be expected to teach the visitors about the whales and other marine life around them. You would also be required to document (written and video) all whale sightings as part of an effort to develop a deeper understanding of their behaviour. In addition to this you might be asked to help with guided walks through the forests, birdwatching and helping with groups of 'biologically minded' tourists. The selected volunteers for this project will be required to become part of a small team. Your exact role will depend on your specific interests and the needs of Outreach International at particular times. Currently there is a need to produce a thorough photographic record of every whale in the Bay. (There are approximately 80 females all with their young). You may be involved in assisting the professional guides taking groups of eco-tourists on their expeditions. Your knowledge of English will be important when assisting the guides in explaining animal behaviour to the visitors. You would not be expected to know all the information before being selected and would spend the first days/weeks learning it along with procedures and safety. Some groups have an interest in ornithology. Volunteers working on these tours will be expected to learn the different species and enter data of those seen in a daily log that has been compiled since 1996. The selected volunteers for this project would ideally be graduates or school leavers with a strong interest in ecology. However an outgoing and flexible character is more important than scientific credentials. It would be ideal for those considering a future in eco-tourism. Accommodation, food, language and time off Accommodation will be in an Outreach volunteer house in the old part of Puerto Vallarta or upon request with a Mexican family. Work would be for five or six days a week based in Puerto Vallarta. The daily expeditions are in the Bay of Banderas. The selected volunteer would benefit from being able to speak Spanish but it is not essential and of course there would be every opportunity to learn the language during the placement. He/she would also participate in the occasional mini-trip organised by Outreach. Puerto Vallarta is a thriving, lively town with an abundance of small restaurants, internet cafes and bars. 0845 344 7588 Outreach International: if you're thinking of participating in volunteer work abroad, we are a specialist organisation that places committed volunteers in carefully selected meaningful projects. We have a wide variety of opportunities but all of them are small, worthwhile, grassroots initiatives working with communities where volunteer work abroad can make a big difference. They are all regularly visited by the Outreach director. Every volunteer is personally met and briefed about their selected project. Outreach International have a clear mission statement and operate a carbon neutral programme.