About This Trip
Sea Turtle Volunteer Trip Highlights
- Volunteer with sea turtles in Trinidad, home to the world’s densest population of nesting leatherback turtles, with roughly 20,000 nests laid annually.
- Help local researchers measure, tag, and monitor nesting leatherback sea turtles each night.
- Visit beautiful Caroni Swamp, a 12,000 acre wetland that hosts mangrove forests, Scarlet Ibis, American Flamingos, silky anteaters and more.
With roughly 20,000 nests laid per year, Trinidad hosts the world’s densest leatherback nesting rookery, and our trip coincides with the peak of their nesting season. As a sea turtle volunteer, you'll have hands-on experience tagging, measuring, and recording data on amazing leatherback turtles at one of the world’s most important nesting sites.
Our local partner, the non-profit organization Nature Seekers, will host and train you to patrol the nesting beach nightly to collect sea turtle nesting data as part of their long-term research. Throughout this volunteer vacation you will not only learn about sea turtles and witness them nesting, you will also learn about and contribute to the award-winning community-based conservation work of Nature Seekers.
Read more about the volunteer experience:
Saving Sea Turtles: Cindy and Bosley’s Volunteer Adventure to Trinidad
Beyond our nightly beach patrols, we will take part in a recycling project that empowers local artisans to create jewelry with recycled and natural materials, explore some of the local sights, and visit Caroni Swamp, a protected wetland that supports more than 100 bird species including the Scarlet Ibis, one of Trinidad’s national birds.
Note: Turtle patrols will take place at night until the early morning hours. You will be able to sleep in and relax during the day. Participants must be able to walk on uneven terrain on the beach at night with minimal light and limited assistance in order to participate in this expedition.
Notes on Trip Costs
There is a single supplement fee of $500 for solo travelers. Trip prices do not include international airfare. Click here for our full expedition terms and conditions.
Conservation Impact
Founded in 1969, Oceanic Society is America’s oldest 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation. As pioneers of “eco travel,” our expeditions have been designed to directly support our mission. They not only positively impact our travelers, but also the people, places, and wildlife we go to see. A portion of your trip costs on this expedition go to support the work of Nature Seekers, our local nonprofit partner. Your work will also contribute to Nature Seekers' long-term research on leatherback sea turtles in Trinidad, and your visit helps demonstrate the global importance and local value of these wonderful animals. Oceanic Society's earnings from this trip are invested back into our global research and conservation programs.
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Day 1: Port of Spain - Matura
You will be met at the airport upon your arrival in to Port of Spain, and transferred to the small coastal town of Matura on the northeast coast. This evening we will have a welcome dinner and orientation.
Days 2–7: Sea Turtle Monitoring at Matura
Each evening we will join researchers on the nearby beach of Matura, one of the world's most important nesting beaches for leatherback turtles. This beautiful protected beach welcomes dozens of turtles a night during the peak of the nesting season. As a volunteer on this program, you will undergo training and work side-by-side with researchers to patrol the beach in search of nesting turtles as part of long term scientific research. Duties may include measuring and tagging turtles, and more. Beyond our nightly sea turtle monitoring duties, we will have time to explore some of Trinidad's natural wonders during the day, such as the beautiful Mermaid Pool, kayaking in the river, and an innovative community recycling program.
Day 8: Matura- Caroni Swamp - Port of Spain
We will check out the guest house and bid farewell to the leatherbacks. Today we will spend the afternoon visiting Caroni Swamp Bird Sanctuary, taking a wildlife boat tour through the 12,000-acre wetland, where we can hope to see rare species including Scarlet Ibis, American Flamingos, silky anteaters, and more. The Caroni Swamp tour will end at sunset, and from there we will have a farewell dinner. Overnight at the Holiday Inn Trinidad Airport. You may fly out after 11pm on this day, or the next day.
Day 9: Port of Spain - Depart
The hotel shuttle will transfer you to the nearby Port of Spain Airport in time to catch your flight home.
Accommodations
Participants will stay in basic but comfortable accommodations at Susan's Guesthouse in the small town of Matura, just a short distance from the main leatherback nesting beach and next door to the Nature Seekers office.
Naturalist(s)
Your expedition will be led by one or more of the following expert naturalist guides:
Trip Extensions
Optional Post-Trip Extension to Grand Riviere
Embark on a three-day adventure to Grand Riviere, a picturesque coastal village in Trinidad renowned for its mesmerizing turtle population. This immersive tour will introduce you to the remarkable Grand Riviere turtle conservation projects, where you'll witness the efforts dedicated to preserving the endangered leatherback turtles and their nesting sites. Over the course of three days, you can enjoy the beach and the town at your leisure int he morning or participate in a riverwalk or waterfall tour (additional fee apply). In the evening we will engage in monitoring and protecting the nesting turtles, join informative local experts to learn about their behavior and life cycle, and discover the community's commitment to sustainable practices. We will visit the Caroni Swamp on the last day before heading to the airport.
Trip fee includes all meals, transfers, two nights accommodations, turtle program with local researcher, permits for access to nesting site (only permitted individuals allowed on nesting beach from 6pm-6am), and visit to the Caroni Swamp.
