Program Reviews

I spent 3 months volunteering with IPBio on the Amazon project and absolutely loved it. Pre departure they were brilliant at communicating information, answering any questions and generally making you feel comfortable with what to expect. Once on site the IPBio team were professional, supportive and a lot of fun. I found the work to be interesting and varied with plenty of free time to explore the local area and culture. The other volunteers tended to be like-minded, hardworking and fun loving. There were usually 8 volunteers sharing a comfortable house and there was always something happening from Capoeira lessons with the neighbor to Carimbo Dancing with the locals and not forgetting the forest night searches and riverside BBQ’s. I truly can’t recommend this company and the Amazon Biodiversity Research experience enough.

This was the best experience I could have asked for. The team are super responsive and organised before you arrive. The accommodation is great and you only pay a small price for a great place to stay. The amount of time per day that is normally from 8-1ish which works well in the heat and weekends off. Each day the team does different data collection/inventories (fish, trees, mushrooms, reforestation, and birds) as well as one night search per week. The people I met there were open, kind, hard working people with great personalities. The volunteer organiser is really kind and sometimes arranges BBQs or social activities. It's super easy to explore the surrounding area by yourself of booking tours into the forest. I had moments in this programme that will last me a lifetime. Like finding bioluminescence on a night search, snorkelling through the small crystal clear streams of the Amazon, dancing with the other volunteers at the local Carimbo. This is one of the most transparent, well organised and dedicated organisations I have come across.

22 year old French student, I was looking for a field experience as part of my studies in tropical forest ecology, and I first chose to apply for the IPBio Amazonie program due to its reasonable cost and the diversity of activities proposed.

I stayed for almost 2 months and I can say that all my expectations were fully satisfied! The diversity of the inventories carried out will enable people with or without a scientific background to appreciate the beauty of the flora and fauna, and to learn about them.

I'm still enchanted by the beauty of the region, which is certainly one of the most beautiful places on earth and offers plenty to discover during the weekends, as well as by the local culture, which will give you a warm welcome.

It was also an opportunity to meet other volunteers from other countries and with different backgrounds: amazing encounters!

In definitive, it was the ideal volunteer program for learning more about the Amazon ecosystem, doing useful and rewarding work with passionate people.

I'm a 19 years old girl from Sweden. After graduation I wanted to do a meaningful volunteer program and something that could be helpful for my future work area.
At IPbio we got pick up from the airport at all time. Staff was helpful and nice. The living accommodation was comfortable and the neighbours offered safe taxi transportations and other freetime activities. I liked that at IPbio we got to experience a lot of different things, the activities were for example fish inventory, bird inventory or planting trees on an island.

Social Impact (5)
Safety (4)
Support (5)
Free Time Activities (5)
Value (5)

My one month volunteering in The Amazon Rainforest was absolutely incredible, I really can't recommend it enough. It had always been my dream to go to the Amazon and everyday I was so happy to be there! Imi and Marleen, our coordinators were so welcoming when I first arrived and the other volunteers ended up becoming fast friends that I felt so at home there.

The work can be challenging in the heat, you are sweating 24/7, but you know you are making a positive impact and it feels very rewarding. Every day is different ranging from measuring and planting trees to identifying fish, frogs, birds, and mushrooms.

The volunteer lodge is beautiful, (you feel like you are on holiday!!) the locals are so kind, the neighbours are the best and the food is delicious. I went on so many amazing excursions out on the river, danced a lot of Carimbo and learned a traditional martial art called Capoeira. I'm now solo travelling around South America and EVERY time someone asks me what the highlight of my trip has been so far, I always say volunteering in Alter do Chao. I will definitely be coming back.

I spent a month volunteering with IPBio in the Amazon rainforest whilst on a career break. I joined while the program was still relatively new; having volunteered in conservation before, I wanted to participate in a program at an earlier stage of development.

On the whole, the program is well-organised and it has a lot of variety, with different themes for each day - trees, fish, mushrooms, amphibians and birds. There is also a day dedicated to reforestation activities (e.g. potting seedlings, planting trees) - I always enjoyed these as you could feel an immediate sense of your contribution. The activities rotate between locations every week so no two weeks are the same either.

Whilst I liked the breadth of the program, this does come with one drawback - you gain surface-level familiarity in each area but never develop any deeper understanding. Some people may find this lack of depth unsatisfying. Currently there are no specialist staff on base so opportunities to nerd out on particular areas are limited e.g. you're not going to have an in-depth discussion about frogs with a herpetologist. However, this may change in future as the program develops.

Working hours are generally 8am-2pm so there is a lot of downtime. As mentioned by other reviewers, there is a wide range of extracurricular activities available and I have lots of fond memories of capoeira lessons, carimbo nights and weekend tours.

I spent seven weeks volunteering with IPBio in the Amazon and was extremely sad to leave. My primary reasons for choosing the program were to experience conservation work in a different country and to get the opportunity to see some of the Amazon's wildlife (insects and arachnids included) - and see wildlife I did! Almost every day brought a new creature of some kind, from birds and monkeys to spiders and scorpions. The program's location was also a massive plus - the town of Alter do Chão is amazing, with the best parts being the gorgeous white sand beaches and the weekly carimbó nights (which are ridiculously fun and attended by people of all ages). A fantastic experience overall!

I had the best 5 weeks of my life volunteering in the Amazon rainforest.

The whole time I was there I was like “I can’t believe I’m in the Amazon” surrounded by such beautiful scenery and amazing biodiversity.

I was a bit nervous when I first arrived, but everyone was so lovely and welcoming. The staff were amazing - so enthusiastic and passionate about their work.

Each day was an exciting adventure not knowing what cool animals you’d see that day. Seeing a potoo for the first time was mind blowing!!!

I really liked that each day was different, dedicated to a different project. One of the most memorable for me was searching for bioiluminscent species at night. It was magical -being in complete darkness listening to the sounds of the rainforest and staring at the clear night sky.

The work to life balance is great. There is plenty of time to relax and explore around Alter do Chão or chill at the beach at the weekends as well a chance to engage with the culture. I really looked forward to the Carimbó dance in town every Thursday night.

It was a truly fulfilling experience and one I will never forget. My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer. I met some amazing people, saw some really cool wildlife and stunning landscapes. It’s an experience that will stay with me forever and would certainly recommend it to anyone if they have the chance.

I volunteered with the Amazon programme and I couldn't recommend it more. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. The coordinators are excited about the work you do and it's very contagious. The work can be tiring due to the heat sometimes so if you are someone who would identify as lazy I wouldn't recommend this. I personally really enjoyed the work, we do half days and we have plenty of free time, the house is gorgeous and it feels like you are on holiday - you really can't complain. Everyone was so positive and supportive, I felt very welcomed. The people in Brazil are super friendly and I felt safe there. The area is gorgeous too, the town is great and there is so much to see and do out of work hours. I didn’t expect it, and I was so pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed meeting new friends throughout my stay and seeing wildlife in its natural habitat out of sheer luck. Every day is a different adventure and completely unique to everyone.

My 12-week volunteering experience with IPBio in Alter do Chao was incredible. Each day involved diverse tasks vital for Amazon rainforest conservation, including tree phenology and measurements, bioluminescence, fluorescence, reforestation, fish, mushrooms, frogs, and bird inventories. Despite some challenging days in the Amazonian heat (you will be sweating 24/7!), our efforts felt significant to preserve the rainforest, especially in the face of climate change. There is a sense of camaraderie among the volunteers and staff, and every new finding in the field is celebrated. The town of Alter do Chão, nestled in the Amazon and along the Tapajos river, offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and a welcoming community. The town's culture, cuisine, and the Carimbo dance every Thursday night add to its charm, and it will always have a special place in my heart. Although the program is conducted in English, having a basic understanding of Portuguese is beneficial for interactions in town and tours around the region. The staff is dedicated and attentive to all volunteers and any feedback that they have during their time at IPBio. This is a perfect place if you love nature and wildlife and want to make a conservation impact!