Nesting Season
Code: e70a54c5-94bd-11ec-920f-fa163ef8d720 Copied
About the project
Nesting Season
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Project Biodiversity is a Cabo Verdean organisation committed to conserving and restoring the island’s unique ecosystems.
Based on the island of Sal, the project implements a variety of environmental programmes that achieve ambitious conservation goals and support sustainable economic growth for the community.
Our Vision: A world in which humans and nature can thrive together; where communities practice sustainable use and management of natural resources, and are committed to protecting them - ultimately giving back in return.
Our mission: to implement conservation programs that promote a sustainable growth model, protecting Cape Verde's natural ecosystems and paving the way for a more vibrant community - one that is both environmentally conscious and economically strong.
💼 What the programme involves
As a volunteer, your primary role will be to patrol the beaches at night with other assistants in order to deter hunters and ensure the turtle can nest safely. During patrols, you will also assist with important fieldwork activities, including tagging and measuring turtles, and relocation and excavation of nests. You may also get involved with other aspects of the outreach activities and assist other local community-focused charities with small projects. With this experience, you’ll learn about turtle conservation techniques and will have the opportunity to make a real difference in the survival of marine turtles.
Living under these conditions can be challenging, extremely tiring, and stressful, and will include work both at night and during the day.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers are based in a field camp (living in a shared tent with other volunteers), with rest periods in apartments in Santa Maria. Water and electricity provided.
🍲 Food
Meals are provided during your work period but not on rest days. Please note that water and basic meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided in the camp. We can accommodate vegetarians and vegans.
📍 About the location
The islands of Cabo Verde constitute the world’s second most important nesting site for the Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), one of seven marine turtle species found worldwide. This incredible species is a critical link in marine ecosystems, helping to maintain the health of seagrass beds and coral reef systems that provide food and shelter for a vast array of other marine life.
🎒 Leisure activities
Volunteers work six days each week and will have 1 day/night off to explore the island, enjoy diving, surfing, and other water sports, or just lay on the beach and relax!
⚠️ Requirements
• Desire to participate in conservation;
• At least 18 years old;
• Must understand written and spoken English;
• Good level of physical fitness;
• High level of energy and flexibility;
• Able to cope with physically challenging conditions (camping, long walks, sleeping on the beach, working late nights, hot weather, insects);
• Ability to work and live with people of different backgrounds and nationalities.
ℹ️ Additional information
One week: €275
Two weeks: €340
Three weeks: €400
€50 for each additional week
At your arrival, you will be required to pay a €100 refundable security deposit against loss or damage of project equipment, and you should bring sufficient funds for any other activities that you would like to do. Once a volunteering period has been agreed upon, you will be asked to pay via bank transfer €100 of your fees in advance. This payment will ensure that your place is booked as we have limited spaces and the demand is big. The payment will not be refunded if you cancel your volunteering – unless the cancellation is due to travel bans and/or flight restrictions, as a result of the pandemic (see the Updates on COVID-19 document for more information on the conditions of the programmes). The remaining amount of the fees should be paid at least one month before your arrival. If once you arrive at the project you decide to leave before the agreed date, your total contribution will not be refunded (this does not apply for the refundable security deposit, which will be refunded).
We strongly recommend a stay of at least 3 weeks, but the minimum stay is of 1 week. Some airlines only fly to Sal Island on specific days of the week, depending on where they fly from. Please, confirm the best routes to Sal Island with our team before purchasing your flights, we will be happy to assist you.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
PB-nesting-2022
24/06/2022 → 20/10/2022
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Sal, Cabo Verde
Cape Verde
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE / $)
Exchange rate
1 CVE = 0.009107 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Cape Verde Standard Time
Local time: 20:53 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken