IPBio - Biodiversity Research Institute Reviews

I was an Eco-Volunteer at IPBio for three weeks. I had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Economics, and hadn’t had much experience conducting ecological field research. My time as an Eco-Volunteer changed this. I learned how to spot and take inventory of birds and mushrooms, wade in a river to catch (and later, release) fish, which we would later identify and photograph, and monitor the health of a pond. Do prepare to get sweaty and get some bug bites, because this is part of the “job” of working in the Atlantic Forest!
The organization of the Volunteer Program is top-notch. Imran, the volunteer coordinator, has done a fantastic job of building this program. He is great with responding to emails and WhatsApp messages in a timely manner. Volunteers go through a first-day orientation, in which we learn more about IPBio, the protocols for each of the tasks, and rules/logistics. Imran meets with the volunteers every morning at 9am to give us updates and answer any questions we may have. Furthermore, the volunteer housing has a large space for cooking and spending time with the other volunteers, and Imran is great about helping us fix any problem in the house.
I recommend two things if you plan on going to IPBio. Firstly, get a plan on your mobile device that allows you to use WhatsApp, Messenger, and make calls without WiFi. Sometimes, the WiFi at the reserve randomly goes out and you may be stuck without WiFi for a day, especially if it’s Saturday or Sunday. Secondly, I highly recommend learning some Portuguese before you arrive. Not only will it make transportation and shopping a little easier, it will also help you get immersed in the local community of Iporanga. If you want to learn about peoples’ lives and points of view, you cannot get by with just English. I also would note that the interaction we have with locals is, unfortunately, limited, since we are on the Reserve most of the time, which is 6 kilometers away from the town. In order to have more interaction with locals, make sure to visit Iporanga and talk with people in the town, whether that be at a bar or restaurant, or somewhere else (like a gym). For me, since I am Catholic, I attended Mass in Iporanga and found it to be a great way to better understand local culture and meet people.

My only complaint about IpBio was that I didn't book to stay longer! A truly great little adventure, where I learned a lot and for once in my life I listened to those who knew what was around us. How could it not be fun paddling in ponds or rivers in tropical heat or rain storms?

Imran and his crew were incredibly supportive to a novice like me and the other volunteers were a mixed bunch happy friendly people.

One day you will find yourself counting, photographing and then identifying birds or bugs. Another sifting through foliage for mushroom species, always varied, always interesting. Go do it!

I am currently on a gap year and I decided to volunteer at IPBio as an Eco-Volunteer. I spend 3 weeks there and wished I had gone for a longer stay. It was an amazing experience. The programme is extremely well organized and the people on the staff are very kind and helpful. You get to do a variety of different and interesting jobs where you learn a lot about the biodiversity of the Atlantic forest. In your free time you can go swimming in the river, go to town or just stay at the reserva. The weekend trips organized by IPBio are amazing as well. During my very short stay I can say that I learned a lot about the Atlantic forest but also about the people and the culture. I would recommend this volunteer programme to anyone!

Imran does a great job communicating with all the volunteers before they arrive to the program to dismiss any doubts and possible fears of traveling to another country. The program structure is created to allow those staying just two weeks to experience every aspect of what IPBio is about. It was easy to connect with other volunteers and I had a great time! My favorite activity would be the mushroom inventory. Going on the night time trails with Grant was one of the coolest things to see and their most important project

I left my career as a Mechanical Engineer looking to connect with nature and travel. IPBio afforded me the opportunity to experience natural phenomena that exist in very few places on the earth (glowing mushrooms!!)! The work is meaningful, the people are fantastic, and the Atlantic Forest is truly a special place. I never once felt unsafe or bored. I would recommend this experience to anyone excited about protecting the preserving nature!!! In addition to this experience, Brazil is an amazing country, forget your expectations and enjoy the beauty of this place!

This never felt like a volunteer program. It felt like 2 months I had a new home surrounded by great people amazing opportunities and spectacular wildlife. The volunteer projects were never boring because the wildlife was constantly changing. Bioluminescent mushroom walks, stargazing, waterfall hikes, swimming in caves, bird watching, running into monkeys, glowing larvae, afternoon river swims, trail hikes, and dancing at festivals in town were experiences I cherish. I cant wait to go back and have more experiences of a lifetime!

I have had an amazing time at IPBio - Reserva Betary. Working as a photographer, I took pictures from frogs, insects, birds and mushrooms, day and night. My expectations were exceeded! Programs were very intersting. Learned a lot about animals and plants. Also learned how the projects are run. Over the weekend we have had fun, were visiting caves.

Becoming a volunteer at IPBio is simply the best choice you can make! Living and working in the middle of a rainforest is an experience you will not forget anytime soon. I came to IPBio as a Mathematics student who wanted to do something else for a change. The joint role of eco volunteer and research assistant, gave me the possibility to both work outside in the field, and in the lab in the central area of the reserve. The projects that IPBio does are interesting and fun, whether it is bird watching, looking for mushrooms, or doing measurements on the ponds. The volunteer coordinators are great, and often join in for weekend activities, which creates an informal atmosphere. Also living on the reserve is an unforgettable experience; waking up to the sounds of the rainforest, swimming in the river next to the volunteer house and of course making new friends! It is so great to see how you meet people from all over the world who are all very different, but all share the same enthousiasm for the things we do at IPBio! I absolutely loved my stay here, and I will cherish the memories of this magical place.

I am a 22 year old from Canada with an Environmental Technician diploma and I volunteered at IPBio for 5 weeks. I was hoping to freshen up my field and lab skills and broaden my knowledge of the natural environment during my stay. The Betary reserve was exactly what I was hoping it would be. The volunteer coordinator, Imran, was extremely helpful and organized prior to my arrival and during my entire stay. He is very accommodating and resourceful. The volunteer program was methodical with set working hours and schedules which I enjoyed. We covered a wide range of study from species Identification of all sorts to measuring water parameters and working with the microscope in the lab. We really got down to the nitty gritty of sampling and were able to experience all of the joys of field work like wading through swamps and mud, bushwacking in heat or rain and being bitten by various insects. The biologists at the reserve are brilliant and insightful. They are wealths of knowledge with a love for Brazilian biodiversity so I suggest learning some Portuguese and picking their brains while you are there. All of the staff members are welcoming and friendly. The volunteer house was exceptionally tidy and well stocked. As far as free time activities, we may have been living in the middle of the jungle far away from any cities but there was still plenty to do. There were waterfalls, swimming and caving close to the reserve and we planned some weekend getaways to the coast and to Argentina. My favourite part of living on the reserve was taking night walks down to the aquarium and seeing all of the creatures that come out of the jungle at night that glow and make noise. Overall my experience with IPBio was wonderful and I highly recommend them. I enjoyed living in the thick of the jungle and getting to witness the local culture while enhancing my knowledge of the environment. For anyone planning to volunteer with them, I also recommend bringing quick dry clothing (there are no dryers for clothing), long socks to tuck your work pants into to avoid bug bites and ticks, and a headlamp with a red light setting for night walks. I will miss waking up to the sounds of the jungle and will cherish this experience for many years to come!

I can say in one breath that this is the best thing i did in my life. In five I experienced what I thought would take a lifetime.

I came as a muralist but I got to be an Eco volunteer half the time. I got to collect data about living organisms and got to know them a bit closer, I saw animals and especially insects that i couldn't believe existed and so much more. I could go on and on but words really can't describe the experience you get from this place.

I had tears in my eyes so many times just from the beautiful and wondrous things and little moments that occurred there.

From a more practical perspective this place was excellent as well. You get all the facilities you need and the staff is very attentive, helpful and kind.
Lastly I can only urge you to go visit this wonderful place, and stay as long as you can . If you ever wondered if there is magic in the world this is the place to confirm it:)