The Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association is a Guatemalan NGO founded in 1989 whose mission is to conserve wildlife and its habitat, carrying out activities in conservation, environmental education, ecotourism and sustainable development. ARCAS benefits from the help of more than 600 volunteers and ecotourists per year who contribute their expertise, manpower and tourist dollars to the conservation of Guatemalan wildlife. One of ARCAS’s first supporters was the Columbus Zoo, and it continues to maintain close ties with it and other zoos in the US and Europe, including the Cincinnati, Oregon, Oakland and Heidelberg Zoos. Zoo-organized ecotours and volunteer vacations contribute significantly to support ARCAS’s wildlife conservation efforts. The following is a description of ecotourism and volunteer opportunities at ARCAS available to zoo staff and friends.

In the northern Peten region of Guatemala, ARCAS administers the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, a pioneer project in Latin America, supported by the Columbus, Cincinnati and Oakland Zoos, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and the Guatemalan government’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). The ARCAS Rescue Center is recognized as one of the most advanced rescue centers in the Americas, receiving 300 to 600 animals of more than 40 species per year, the majority confiscated from smugglers. ARCAS also carries out research in veterinary medicine, wildlife management and natural nutrition.

Volunteers at the Rescue Center help in feeding and caring for confiscated animals, including parrots, macaws, spider and howler monkeys, ocelots, margays, coatimundis, taras and deer, as well as assisting in the scarlet macaw and white-tailed deer captive breeding projects. When possible, volunteers can participate in releases of rehabilitated animals in the Maya Biosphere Reserve or in wildlife studies in their natural environment. Work at the Rescue Center is for lovers of wild animals who want a unique, hands-on experience directly participating in the rescue and rehabilitation of these endangered species.

The program is well structured with a schedule that allows volunteers to combine work with the animals with visits to the Mayan ruins of Tayasal, the Petencito Zoo, the Kan Aktun caves or swimming in Lake Peten Itza. It is suitable for people who do not speak Spanish, ages from 16 years and up, or children accompanied by their parents.

With the support of the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, ARCAS has developed the Kinkajou Kingdom Environmental Education Center on the grounds of the Rescue Center. Kinkajou Kingdom allows short-term visitors to learn about ARCAS’s conservation efforts and about the threats to Guatemalan wildlife while not interfering with the wildlife rehabilitation process being carried out at the Rescue Center. Volunteers can assist in the development of educational exhibits and trails, as well as with educational activities carried out at the Kingdom.

Volunteers at the Rescue Center sleep in shared rooms with two bunk beds, lockers, mosquito netting, fans, 110V electricity and formal bathrooms. There is boat service from Flores, and internet and laundry service at an additional cost.

The ARCAS Rescue Center and Kinkajou Kingdom is located next to the Petencito Zoo on the Tayasal Peninsula, 10 minutes by boat from Flores.

COSTS IN PETEN:Volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue Center have the option of three plans:

Plan Mochilero (Backpacker)
For seasoned travelers who speak Spanish and prefer to arrive at the project site on their own (without reservation, space is not guaranteed.) Includes:
- Accommodation
- Food, drinking water

$ 140 per person per week

Plan Reservation - Includes:
- Accommodation
- Food, drinking water
- Reservation at the Rescue Center
- Pickup at the airport in Flores and transfer via car and boat to the Rescue Center round-trip

$190 for the first week, $140 per additional week

Plan Completo - For less experienced travelers and those who do not speak Spanish. Includes:
- Accommodation
- Food, drinking water
- Reservation at the Rescue Center
- Pickup at the airport in Flores and transfer via car and boat to the Rescue Center round-trip (@ 15 minutes)
- Two-day trip to Tikal National Park, including:
• Transport; Rescue Center-Flores-Tikal round-trip
• Lunch and breakfast. Does not include dinner or drinking water
• Guided tour in English or Spanish
• DOES NOT include admission to the park ($25) or the museum.

$390 the first week and $140 per additional week

I'm Gabriele Consonni from Italy and I volunteered with ARCAS at the Petèn Rescue Center this past summer. This mail is to wish you and all ARCAS staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I also want to thank ARCAS because volunteering with you has been one of the best experiences I've ever had in my entire life. I wish you good luck with all the animals and everything, and I hope to be able to come back again and help.Thanks again, Buon NataleGabriele

On the southern, Pacific coast of Guatemala, 8kms east of Monterrico, ARCAS manages the Hawaii Park and Sea Turtle Hatchery. The Hawaii Hatchery is the oldest and most productive of the 21 hatcheries in the country, releasing about 40,000 turtles per year and collecting the most complete scientific data of the country. Work is also carried out in conservation and research of the mangrove ecosystem, community development and environmental education.

In Hawaii, volunteers participate in nightly beach patrols in search of nesting adult sea turtles as well as in the release of newly-hatched baby turtles, and can participate in scientific studies, mangrove monitoring projects and environmental education.

Dates: The nesting season of adult sea turtles is from July to November and release of baby turtles on the beach occurs from August to January. Please note that observation of adult turtles nesting only occurs at night and release of baby turtles only at night or early morning.

Plan Mochilero (Backpacker)
For seasoned travelers who speak Spanish and prefer to arrive at the project site on their own (without reservation, space is not guaranteed.) Includes:
- Accommodation at Parque Hawaii
- Food, drinking water
- DOES NOT include food
$ 75 per person per week

Plan Reservation - Includes:
- Reservation
- Accommodation at Parque Hawaii
- Drinking water
- DOES NOT include food

$ 125 per person for the first week and $ 75 per additional week.

Plan Completo - For less experienced travelers and those who do not speak Spanish. Includes:
- Reservation
- Airport pick up at the Aurora airport in Guatemala City and transport to Antigua and then to Monterrico and Parque Hawaii, round-trip
- Two night’s accommodation in a hotel in Antigua, one night going and one night returning
- Accommodation at Parque Hawaii
- NO food

$275 the first week and $75 per additional week

Homestay - For volunteers who want a more Guatemalan experience and who want to practice their Spanish. Includes:
- Accommodation with a family
- Three meals per day
- Laundry service

$110 per person per week

In addition to its two main projects in Peten and Hawaii, ARCAS is also co-administering the Senderos de Alux Ecological Park, a 27 hectare nature reserve of pine-oak mountain forest located on the outskirts of Guatemala City . The park offers educational trails, games, swings and barbeque huts and is an ideal area for bird watching.

One-day birdwatching tours to Senderos de Alux Park includes:
- Bilingual ornithologist
- Park entrance fee
- Transportation from Guatemala City or Antigua to the Park and return

$30 per person, minimum three people

ARCAS offers ecotours of 7, 10 and 14 days to groups interested in working directly with and participate in the conservation of Guatemalan wildlife. ARCAS specializes in organizing student groups from high schools and universities, as well as from zoos, having worked with the Columbus, Oakland and Oregon Zoos, and Eckard, Savannah, Cal Polytech and Texas A & M Universities. These tours are ideal for environmental youth groups, zoo groups and vet students, and combine hands-on work with the animals with visits to touristic destinations such as Tikal, the Pacaya Volcano and Panajachel. Please contact us for references and a sample itinerary and price quote.

For more information please email

info@zaccconference.com