Sea Turtle Conservation in Bali
Keen to do Sea Turtle Conservation volunteering in Bali - Nusa Penida? International Volunteer HQ’s Sea Turtle Conservation project is on the small but breathtaking island of Nusa Penida off the southeastern coast of Bali. Volunteers will gain experience in turtle care and marine conservation while helping to increase the population of these incredible creatures in Indonesia.
Highlights:
- Programs start every Monday
- Affordable fees from $767 for 2 weeks
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Help ensure the survival of endangered sea turtles
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Discover the stunning natural beauty of Nusa Penida
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Stay in a basic but comfortable volunteer house on a tiny island
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
In Indonesia, the endangered Hawksbill and Green Sea turtles face a number of threats to their survival, including overfishing, pollution and human consumption of their eggs. Young turtles are especially vulnerable and for every sea turtle that hatches, only one in 100 will survive to adulthood. Often they die after eating plastic bags they’ve mistaken for jellyfish or when they get a flipper stuck in a six-pack ring.
This means that efforts to help the turtles include protecting their eggs, nurturing young turtles, rescuing injured turtles and cleaning trash from the ocean. These all contribute to the goal of increasing the turtle population and ensuring that these fascinating creatures are around for many years to come.
IVHQ’s Sea Turtle project on Nusa Penida collects turtle eggs from fishermen and keeps them safe until they hatch and grow big enough to have a good chance of survival back in the sea. Locals also find injured turtles which are treated and rehabilitated by volunteers on this project. Volunteers are key to the project’s ongoing success and its impact on marine life.
As a Sea Turtle Conservation volunteer in Nusa Penida your duties will include:
- Feeding and cleaning turtles
- Teaching turtles to catch fish
- Cleaning tanks and equipment
- Beach clean-ups
- Helping improve waste management
Why do Sea Turtle Conservation volunteering in Nusa Penida with IVHQ?
When you’re volunteering with turtles, you’ll be assisting local groups to protect the extraordinary natural environment while getting hands-on conservation experience and achieving personal growth by:
- Helping increase the population of endangered marine wildlife
- Living on one of Bali’s small but beautiful islands
- Gaining experience in turtle care and conservation
- Learning about waste management
- Discovering spectacular Nusa Penida
Volunteer requirements
- It is important to note, all volunteers joining the Bali program must obtain the Social Cultural Visa (B-211). This type of visa is required to join the program, no matter your nationality or duration in Bali. The visa can typically take up to 15 working days to process and once registered you will be provide with instructions on how to apply for this visa.
- To respect the local culture and customs in Bali, volunteers should be aware that they’re unable to have anything obstructing their face while at their volunteer placement.
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”The best moment from the volunteer experience was helping the baby sea turtles every day. The biggest impact my volunteering trip had on me was awareness of the tough life of the turtles and strengthened my desire to fight the climate crisis. What I would say to someone still hesitant about volunteering abroad is you’re in the same position as every other volunteer there. Volunteering tends to attract good, like-minded people so be brave and go for it! You won’t regret it.”
Hannah, British, 33
Read reviews from Sea Turtle Conservation volunteers in Nusa Penida
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Location
The Turtle Conservation volunteer project is located on the small island of Nusa Penida, which is a 45-minute boat trip from Sanur on the southeastern coast of Bali. A nature-lover’s paradise, Nusa Penida is not only a haven for turtles, but is also a recognised bird sanctuary and home to several species of endangered birds which have been released there and are thriving.
Nusa Penida is not a tourist island and there are fewer shops and attractions available, but the beach is practically at your doorstep and the hilly island and its surrounds are bursting with natural beauty.
Arrival and orientation
The Bali volunteer program orientation begins every Monday and volunteers need to arrive in Bali on the Sunday before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport (DPS). Your airport pick-up is included in your program fee. We recommend that volunteers under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation. Your accommodation is covered by your program fee and includes the night before your program orientation. If you are in Bali prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Ubud or Denpasar on the Sunday morning before your program orientation.
There are two options for orientation for the Bali program:
1-day Orientation:
This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer project and stay in Bali. You will have an introduction to the IVHQ Bali program, your project and the local staff, Indonesian customs, rules, expectations, and safety.
5-day Introduction Week:
This not only teaches you everything you need to know for your volunteer project, but also gives you the opportunity to learn more about the culture and tick off some must-do Bali experiences including a language lesson, cooking class, village walk and visits to the Garba Cave and the Holy Water Temple. This week has an additional cost of $358. As your transfer from Ubud to Nusa Penida after your introduction week will be required, there will also be a transfer fee of $50. Join the Introduction Week by making a note in your application or contacting your IVHQ Program Manager after you register.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day:
On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.
Weekdays:
A typical volunteer day is as follows:
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house |
| 9:00 AM | Volunteers spend 2-3 hours at the turtle sanctuary, feeding and cleaning the turtles and their tanks, as well as training them to catch live fish. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch and downtime |
| 2:00 PM | Volunteers return to the beach to assist with beach clean ups, seaweed collecting, catching crabs and other turtle conservation work. |
| 4:00 PM | Work at the project usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel back to their accommodation or do some sightseeing. |
| 6:00 - 7:00 PM | Dinner at the volunteer house. |
Weekends:
In Nusa Penida you can use your free time to relax on the beach and go snorkeling at the palm-tree dotted Crystal Bay, visit one of the many tiny islands nearby or take advantage of the excellent diving spots where you can see coral reefs and lots of fish and marine life.
There are also daily boats back to the mainland, so the rest of Bali can be at your feet in less than an hour. Bali is packed with museums, temples, stunning natural features, outdoor adventures, art galleries, markets, small farms and rice paddies so you won’t be short of things to do on the weekends.
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll be staying in a volunteer house in Nusa Penida. Living conditions on the island are basic yet comfortable and volunteers can expect to share a room with one to seven other volunteers of the same gender.
Bathrooms are also shared. Bedding is provided. Lockers are available but you’ll need to bring your own padlock. There’s also limited room for your stuff, so try to pack light.
There is WiFi available at the volunteer accommodation, however the connection is unreliable so it’s a good idea to buy a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone during your program orientation in Ubud.
Meals
Volunteers are served mainly Balinese style dishes and should expect light vegetarian meals like:
- Rice, fresh vegetables and occasionally tempeh/tofu
- Nasi goreng (fried rice and vegetables - often considered as the national dish)
- Mie goreng (fried noodles and vegetables)
- Gado gado (mixed vegetables with a satay sauce)
Western meals may be served during the week. Breakfast can include fresh fruit, toast, and eggs. Tea, coffee, and toast will be available throughout the day. Purified drinking water is also available in the volunteer house; we do not recommend that you drink the tap water.
On weekdays you’ll get three meals a day, but during the weekend only breakfast and dinner are provided. If volunteers wish to eat out in Ubud, there are a large number of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets.
If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so that we can make arrangements for you. However, you should not expect to eat as you normally do at home and need to be as flexible as possible. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $767 Equivalent to $55/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,114 Equivalent to $53/day |
| 4 weeks | $1,456 Equivalent to $52/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,753 Equivalent to $50/day |
| 6 weeks | $2,055 Equivalent to $49/day |
| 8 weeks | $2,579 Equivalent to $46/day |
| 10 weeks | $3,108 Equivalent to $44/day |
| 12 weeks | $3,632 Equivalent to $43/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Bali - Ubud generally find US$80-100 per week to be sufficient for expenses.
Recommended activities and tour add-ons
We believe that no volunteer adventure would be complete without experiencing the natural and cultural wonders of your host country. That’s why we offer an exciting Introduction Week to IVHQ volunteers in Bali as an affordable add-on.
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Introduction to the IVHQ Bali - Ubud Program and the local staff, Indonesian customs, rules and expectations, safety and a Ubud walking tour (2 - 3 hours). This will be followed by a welcome dinner and Balinese dance show |
| DAY 2 | Bahasa Language lesson and a Batik painting class |
| DAY 3 | Indonesian cooking class and Bahasa Language lesson |
| DAY 4 | Local village walk through the countryside and nearby rice fields, Garba Cave and an Indonesian flower making class (flower offerings are a daily ritual in Bali) |
| DAY 5 | An introduction to your project which will help you prepare for your placement on Monday. Followed by a Temple visit to “Pura Tirta Empul”, the Holy Water Temple where you can enjoy a swim in the Holy Water |
*Turtle Conservation volunteers who join this week will go to Nusa Penida on Sunday to start their project and volunteers in Ubud will prepare for the start of their projects the following week.
The introduction week has an additional cost of US$358 which includes all orientation activities, meals, and accommodation.
Please note the introduction week is not included as part of your program duration. So if you want this to be part of the total amount of weeks you spend on the program, please let us know.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
Ready to join? Please see the add-on options in your MyIVHQ checklist or email your IVHQ Program Manager and they will add this to your file.
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Denpasar |
| Population | 4.22 million |
| Languages | Bahasa Indonesia |
| Currency | Indonesia Rupiah (IDR) |
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
Weather and climate
Bali has a tropical climate with year-round warm weather and an average temperature of 30°C (86°F). High humidity can be expected during the wet season from October to April. The dry season is between the months of May and September and has the lowest humidity.
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