Join our team in Bolivia and work on one of the most unique wildlife conservation projects on the planet. Spend a month working in the Inti Wara Yassi wild animal refuges, followed by a mind blowing expedition through Bolivia and Peru.

Overview
Inti Wara Yassi

Since 2002, Quest has been working to support the Inti Wara Yassi wild animal refuges in the Bolivian Amazon. These refuges exist to give a home to animals rescued from captivity in circuses or for sale as pets, returning them to their natural habitat with a quality of life that they deserve. The majority of the animals cannot be released as they could no longer survive in the wild, so thanks to the efforts of our teams we are helping to buy up more land and construct the infrastructure in which to house them, as well as giving them the daily care they need.

Your role

Your team’s role is twofold, helping to construct enclosures for new arrivals, as well as supporting the local staff in the daily care of the animals already in the refuge. The construction of a 40m x 40m puma enclosure for example is tough work, carrying rocks, sand, cement and fencing into the middle of the jungle. Without your help though, these centres will not be able to reach out to the many animals still in serious need of a home.

Alongside this, each member of the team will be given responsibility for the care of one animal in the park, anything from a monkey to a hawk, or an ocelot to a puma. While some animals are being prepared for release into the wild, many just need care and attention to help them settle into their new home. Building a bond with a wild animal is something words cannot describe.

Your expedition

Your reward after the hard work in the jungle is a mind blowing expedition through Bolivia and Peru. Trek up to a Bolivian glacial peak and try your hand at ice climbing, bike down the worlds most dangerous road, kayak across Lake Titicaca and trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – and that’s just for starters!

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Itinerary

Since 2002, Quest has been working to support the Inti Wara Yassi wild animal refuges in the Bolivian Amazon. These refuges exist to give a home to animals rescued from captivity in circuses or for sale as pets, returning them to their natural habitat with a quality of life that they deserve. The majority of the animals cannot be released as they could no longer survive in the wild, so thanks to the efforts of our teams we are helping to buy up more land and construct the infrastructure in which to house them, as well as giving them the daily care they need.


Time Location Activities
Weeks 1-2 Park Jacj Cuisi, near to Rurrenabaque in the Bolivian Amazon Construction of essential infrastructure for for the park (enclosures, extension to vet clinic, quarantine area)
Weeks 3-5 Park Ambue Ari, near Guarayos in Bolivia Daily care of the animals in the refuge (pumas, jaguars, monkeys and parrots)
Week 6 Sucre, Potosi and Uyuni Exploration of the southern Andes in Bolivia, including the capital city of Sucre, silver mines of Potosi and the mind blowing Salar de Uyuni
Week 7 La Paz and the Cordillera Real Mountains Trekking through the mountains, including a possible glacial summit attempt in the Condoriri range. Mountain biking to the cloud forest town of Coroico.
Week 8 Lake Titicaca and Cuzco Kayaking on the highest navigable lake in the world. Exploring Cuzco, the heart of the Inca civilisation.
Week 9 White water rafting and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Rafting down the Urubamba river followed the the iconic trek to Machu Picchu
Dates and Costs

 

Team Name Start date End Date Quest Overseas Payment Quest4Change Contribution
Bolivia Gap 2019 14th March 2019 16th May 2018 £2,890 £850

 

The dates below are the dates each expedition begins and ends in country. Do bear in mind you may need to begin your travels from home the day before the start date (and may arrive home the day after the end). We will give support and advice on recommended flights once your place is confirmed on the team.

What’s included

All food and accommodation
Activities throughout (and any specific technical equipment needed)
Transport in a combination of public and private transport

Project Contribution

You will see that there are two payments to make, one to Quest Overseas and one to our charity, Quest4Change. The payment to Quest Overseas covers all your costs on the ground – meals, accommodation, activities etc. The project contribution is kept separate to your trip payment because every penny of this goes directly to supporting the project you will be working on. This not only ensures we have the materials needed to get the work done, but also makes sure that the project can continue after the team moves on. For more information on this, please check our Costs Explained page.

Not included

International flights
Personal travel insurance
Personal equipment
Personal expenses (nights out, souvenirs, internet, laundry etc.)

Early Application Discount

For all places confirmed on a team 12 months before departure, we will give a 15% discount on your payment to Quest Overseas. Places confirmed 6 months before departure receive a 10% discount. Contact the office for more details.

Who is this trip for?

Team members who join our this expedition are typically recent school leavers on a break before university, or taking a break during their higher education. We do accept applications from all ages, however the typical age is between 17-23. Applicants come from all over the world, but are predominantly from the UK and USA.

You don't need any specific animal care or construction skills to join this team, our project staff will arm you with the skills to get the work done. It is tough work in a challenging tropical environment though, so it is important you are willing to get dirty and stuck in.

The expedition route is a combination of trekking and time in cities. Whilst you don't need extensive wilderness skills to take part in these treks (again, our expedition staff are there to support you), it is important that team members are in good physical shape.