Help bring macaws back to the skies of the Colombian Caribbean
Hands-on conservation across 500 hectares of tropical dry forest · about 1 hour from Cartagena de Indias
Where it all began
Fundación Loros started in 2019 with a single hand-raised parrot — Beethoven — in a Cartagena apartment: a syringe, a spoon, and the internet for a vet. From the day Alejandro took him in, the mission was never to keep him — it was to return him to the wild.
In 2022 the environmental authority granted our first rehabilitation permit; a few birds became dozens, and behind them the thousands seized across Colombia every year. We bought land, biologists and scientists joined, and what began in an apartment is now a 500-hectare reserve.
From one parrot to a reserve
What that one parrot set in motion: 500 hectares of protected dry forest, hundreds of birds in rehabilitation, and the daily work you join as a volunteer.
The program
You don't come to watch. You come to work.
The Yellow-crowned amazon (Amazona ochrocephala) — our flagship species and one of the most affected by wildlife trafficking — is the reason this Foundation exists. Here you don't watch conservation happen: you do it with your own hands. You rehabilitate, feed and prepare rescued parrots and macaws, and watch them return to the tropical dry forest, one of Colombia's most endangered ecosystems.
Help protect and monitor 500 hectares of one of Colombia's most endangered ecosystems
Very little tropical dry forest remains in Colombia, and what survives is fragmented into isolated patches. Our reserve in Villanueva, Bolívar protects and restores 500 hectares of it: the home the parrots and macaws we rehabilitate return to. You'll be part of that work.
The place you're coming to
Your free timeCartagena awaits
Volunteer on weekdays. Caribbean beaches and a historic city on weekends.
Unlike most reserves, you're about an hour from Cartagena de Indias. Work with the birds Monday to Friday, then spend your weekends on Caribbean beaches, in the UNESCO-listed walled city, and immersed in coastal culture. We'll help you plan your trips.
Your weekend, on the Caribbean
Where you stay and what you eat
Three meals a day with fresh local flavors: not the same plate every day. Vegetarian options and special diets available, just let us know. Accommodation is clean, comfortable, and made for resting after a day with the animals.
Choose how to stay: a shared room for the group atmosphere, or a private room for your own space and rest.
One fee, all included. No surprises.
Both plans include accommodation, three meals a day, transfer from Cartagena, biosecurity induction, a welcome kit, and a certificate of conservation hours.
| Flock · shared | Guardian · private | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | US$385 / week | US$525 / week |
| Best for | Social travelers | Privacy and rest |
| Three meals a day | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer from Cartagena | ✓ | ✓ |
| Induction + kit + certificate | ✓ | ✓ |
| WiFi in common areas | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workspace | — | ✓ |
Length-of-stay discounts: 4+ weeks −10% · 8+ weeks −15% · 12+ weeks −20%.
Launch pricing (indicative, subject to confirmation). 100% of your contribution supports animal care and the protection of all 500 hectares.
Meet Fundación Loros
Why we exist and where you're going, in a couple of minutes.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the price?+
How do I get there from Cartagena airport?+
Do I need travel insurance?+
Do I need to speak Spanish?+
Is there an upper age limit?+
Can families or minors join?+
What do I do on weekends?+
What's the food like?+
Can I work directly with the birds?+
Do I need a visa for Colombia?+
What's the cancellation policy?+
Spots are limited
We accept a small number of volunteers each month so we can care for every bird. Reserve your spot or message us.