About Us
IPBio – Biodiversity Research Institute is a non-governmental, non-profit organization focused on environmental education and scientific research on biodiversity, ecology, and the behavior of flora and fauna in Brazilian ecosystems.
Its reserve is accredited as an “advanced outpost” by UNESCO. IPBio has contributed to publications in leading scientific journals such as Science and Nature – Scientific Reports. The organization also supports both indirect conservation through sustainable development and direct conservation through reforestation and a wildlife release center in the Atlantic Forest.
Program at a glance
Why choose us?
IPBio is unique as it offer a citizen science program which allows people from all walks of life to participate in scientific research!
Requirements
To participate, volunteers must be 18 or older and have at least intermediate English. No formal education is required, but places are limited, so applicants must submit a CV and complete a short interview as part of the selection process. IPBio is committed to conservation and seeks motivated participants who are eager to learn and contribute meaningfully, while also enjoying a rewarding and engaging experience.
Volunteer experience
At IPBio, each day of the week is dedicated to a different activity. For example, a bird inventory day starts with a 7:30 am group meeting to discuss work and updates. Volunteers then go into the field—by hiking or boat—to photograph and film birds for biodiversity monitoring and abundance tracking, ensuring images can be verified by specialists.
Around midday, fieldwork ends and volunteers return to the house for lunch. In the afternoon, they identify species using guides and apps, rename files according to protocol, and upload data to a shared Google Drive accessed by researchers.
After work, volunteers are free to relax, go to the beach, visit restaurants, watch movies, explore Amazonian culture, attend traditional dance events, or take optional local cooking classes.
1800 BRL (€298 EUR) per week via PayPal, or about 257 BRL (€42 EUR) per day.
Participants stay at Casa da Lagartixa, a shared guest house 3 km from Alter do Chão, accommodating 8 people in two shared, potentially mixed-gender rooms. Each room has a king-size bed, a bunk bed, and a single bed (4 people per room) and is air-conditioned. The house includes three bathrooms, two with hot showers.
Room and bed allocation is arranged by IPBio for overall comfort. The property also has a fully equipped kitchen, washing machine, swimming pool, and a poolside BBQ area.
No. However, the house has a fully equipped kitchen. Volunteers do their own shopping and cooking, either individually or as a group. Shops are within walking distance.
Ilha do Amor is a beach island between Lago Verde and the Tapajós River, with food huts and canoe access. Morro Piraoca offers a steep hike with a panoramic view. Curimbó is a local music and dance night in Alter do Chão. Canal do Jari is a wildlife tour where you may see monkeys, sloths, birds, and giant water lilies. FLONA features a hike to the giant kapok tree. Ponta do Cururu is a sunset viewpoint beach. Lago Verde allows canoeing through flooded forest in wet season. Santarém viewpoint shows the meeting of two rivers. Ponta de Pedras and Pindobal offer beach and seafood. Arapiuns has long beaches and conservation communities. ZOONAMA is a wildlife rescue and manatee rehabilitation center.
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