Volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia

The accommodations are two volunteer stone houses, each with three large bedrooms. These are equipped with western bathrooms. There is no air conditioning in the houses.

The nearest town is about 40 km away and the nearest supermarket is 8 km away. The best way to get to both is by taking a cheap taxi.

There is a moto taxi on site that you can use for day trips. Again and again social events take place in the accommodation.

However, you should not be outside at night due to dangerous wildlife that may roam the area. During the day, too, the volunteers are accompanied by a team member for safety.

Our project location is in the lowlands of the Andes state of Bolivia. Here you live in the middle of untouched nature, surrounded by different wild animals!

The Municipio Colpa Bélgica, where the project is located, is a municipality in the department of Santa Cruz. The central location of the municipality is the city of La Bélgica, which lies on the banks of the Río Piraí. Also on this river is the capital of the department: Santa Cruz de la Sierra. In addition to countless restaurants, museums and nightclubs, the metropolitan cathedral in the historic center, made of pink bricks, characterizes the cityscape.

During your volunteer work, however, you live a little isolated, in the middle of the 44-hectare wildlife sanctuary. So you're in good hands here if you want to spend some time in nature and of course have a heart for animals! Immerse yourself in the wild and meet monkeys, birds and the many other residents here!

Since the district of Colpa Bélgica is located in the middle of the Bolivian lowlands, you are in the middle of nature. Despite the remote location, there are numerous activities at your project location that you can try out in your free time.

If you like hiking, the six hiking trails with different levels of difficulty are just right for you. You can also join a jungle tour or a guided night excursion to spot wildlife. Take a trip to the zoo, traverse the nearby swamps or explore the lagoons in the pampas. If you are experienced in horseback riding, a horseback ride is also recommended.

There are also numerous activities in and around Santa Cruz de la Sierra that you can do together with the other volunteers. The lively metropolis is Bolivia's largest and most modern city and is about 40 kilometers away from your location. Once there, you immediately soak up the relaxed and happy atmosphere of the residents.

Another highlight is the town of Samaipata: colorful houses, numerous cafes and trendy restaurants surrounded by a large mountain landscape create a wonderful ambience!

The heart of the city is the Plaza 24 de Septiembre with its pompous cathedral, which is also a tropical garden. For history buffs there are a number of museums to visit in the city, such as the Noel Kempff National Park Museum or the Museo Etno Folklórico. Also worth seeing are the churches and basilicas of the city, the amusement park El Arenal, the zoological garden, the big market and some handicraft shops.

In addition, it is common in Santa Cruz to celebrate a lot and boisterously. Not only is there dancing in bars every night, but also larger celebrations, such as the colorful carnival and the music and theater festival, take place and are worth a visit.

In the area around Santa Cruz you can try sandboarding on the sand dunes of Lomas or take a tour along the Jesuit mission villages from San Javier to San José de Chiquitos.