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.
At a glance
Not tourism — real conservation
8
Parrot & macaw species
Parrots, macaws and parakeets
500 ha
Tropical dry forest
One of the most endangered ecosystems
~1 h
From Cartagena de Indias
Beaches and walled city on weekends
2022
CARDIQUE registration
Resolution No. 1972 · National Navy
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.
Who is this program for?
Whatever your age or whoever you travel with, there is a place for you here.
You're traveling solo and want something life-changing
Meet volunteers from all over the world, make friends for life, and come home different.
You have life experience and want to make a difference
No upper age limit. Volunteers in their 50s, 60s and beyond work alongside us every season.
You want to share it as a family or couple
A safe, supervised, shared experience none of you will forget.
You're a vet or biology student
Real hands-on wildlife handling, rehabilitation and release, with a certificate of hours.
What you'll do as a volunteer
Care for rescued parrots & macaws
Feeding, enrichment and rehabilitation, day by day.
Restore the dry forest
Plant and maintain the nesting habitat.
Support wildlife monitoring
Camera traps and recording the reserve's 200+ bird species.
Follow nesting season
Track breeding pairs in the forest.
Work with the community
Alongside local farmer-guardians, against wildlife trafficking.
Witness supervised releases
Under CARDIQUE authorization and with the National Navy.
The species you'll protect
You'll work with the program's 8 parrot & macaw species. And beyond them: primates, mammals, reptiles and 200+ bird species share the reserve with you.
Yellow-crowned amazon · Amazona ochrocephala
Lora frentiamarilla
Scarlet macaw · Ara macao
Guacamaya bandera
Blue-and-yellow macaw · Ara ararauna
Guacamaya azul y amarilla
Chestnut-fronted macaw · Ara severa
Guacamayo cariseco
Orange-winged amazon · Amazona amazonica
Lora frentiazul
Blue-headed parrot · Pionus menstruus
Loro cabeciazul
Orange-chinned parakeet · Brotogeris jugularis
Periquito alibronceado
Brown-throated parakeet · Eupsittula pertinax
Cotorra carasucia
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 reserve
The place you're coming to
500 hectares of tropical dry forest in Villanueva, Bolívar. This is what greets you when you arrive.
Camera-trap monitoring
And the wildlife you help monitor
Our camera traps record the forest's life when no one is around. These are some of the species captured —wildcats, primates and other mammals— and part of the monitoring you'll take part in.
Ocelot · Leopardus pardalis
Ocelote
Jaguarundi · Herpailurus yagouaroundi
Jaguarundi
Tayra · Eira barbara
Tayra
Greater grison · Galictis vittata
Grisón
Crab-eating fox · Cerdocyon thous
Zorro perro
Crab-eating raccoon · Procyon cancrivorus
Mapache cangrejero
White-faced capuchin · Cebus capucinus
Mono capuchino cariblanco
Northern tamandua · Tamandua mexicana
Tamandúa mexicana
Collared peccary · Pecari tajacu
Saíno
Red brocket deer · Mazama americana
Venado
Black agouti · Dasyprocta fuliginosa
Ñeque
Porcupine · Coendou longicaudatus
Puerco espín
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.
~1 hour from the reserve
Your weekend, on the Caribbean
Caribbean beaches, the UNESCO-listed walled city, and coastal culture. You work with the birds on weekdays; weekends are yours.
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.
Your team
Here you're not a number
We're with you, name and face. Message us and we usually reply within 24 hours, before and during your stay.
Field coordinator
Alberto Martínez
He welcomes you and works beside you every day at the sanctuary; the person who knows the daily care of every animal best.
Veterinarian
Ana María Ariza
She leads clinical care for the parrots. With her you learn hands-on wildlife veterinary work.
Director · program coordinator
Alejandro Rigatuso
He coordinates the volunteer program and usually replies himself. Write to him with your dates and questions.
Meet Fundación Loros
Why we exist and where you're going, in a couple of minutes.
Why volunteer with us
Real, legal conservation
Every release is supervised by CARDIQUE and accompanied by the National Navy. Registered in the Wildlife Friends Network (Resolution No. 1972 of 2022).
~1 hour from Cartagena
The only parrot volunteer program with the Caribbean on its doorstep.
500 hectares, not a cage
You work inside a living, regenerating territory.
A true flagship species
Work with the bird that symbolizes Colombia's fight against wildlife trafficking.
An international community
No Spanish required — but it's your chance to practice it.
How it works
From booking to your first day
1 / 4
Reserve your spot
Choose your dates and plan online and tell us about you.
Our guarantees
No experience needed
We train you when you arrive.
From 1 week · 18+ · year-round
No upper age limit.
Full transparency
You know what your fee covers before you decide.
Voices of those who came
What they take home
Verified reviews on Tripadvisor and Airbnb. We leave them in their original language — the mix is part of the portrait.
This is one of THE best experiences I've ever had anywhere in the world! It goes far beyond being a mere ATV tour. You escape to the countryside about 90 minutes outside Cartagena — a completely different world from the walled city. You arrive at a nature reserve where they rescue, rehabilitate and “rewild” parrots and macaws (and in our case, we were lucky to see the release of a toucan). You meet the owner, Alejandro, a passionate conservationist, and his wonderful team. I canNOT recommend this experience enough! Book it!DO IT! 10/10 recommend
This was a blast! Seeing the macaws and parrots so up close was amazing, we also got to see monkeys close to us and, using binoculars, saw a tucán! Seeing them in their natural habitat is way better than a zoo, and knowing that the macaws we saw in aviaries would be released as soon as they were ready made the experience even better. I love the good they are doing here. I highly recommend adding this tour to your Cartagena trip — honestly my favorite part. Book it!
Skyler D.· EE. UU./Canadá
Tripadvisor · 3 may 2026
Soul-healing experience
What an absolute amazing experience! We love that the foundation is owner-owned and operated. As animal lovers, we were very impressed with how he manages and rehabilitates the animals — you can tell the passion and love he has for what he does. The hands-on experience was rewarding and does something for the soul. It's unexplainable to see the macaws and parrots flying free overhead, the tití monkeys enjoying their jungle, and the horses and dogs living side by side.
Katherine L.· EE. UU./Canadá
29 dic 2025
Truly a sanctuary for rescued wildlife
The work the sanctuary does to rescue and rehabilitate birds and monkeys is amazing. Their goal is to release them back to their natural habitat, if possible. We heard the horror stories of some of these beautiful animals; to see them interacting in this safe environment was heartwarming. I highly recommend this tour when you visit Cartagena.
Deborah A.· EE. UU./Canadá
22 oct 2025
We prepared food for the birds and learned about how the foundation was started and the mission that guides their work. We visited the soft-release locations for the macaws. A special moment was planting a tree as our offering to the foundation. This is a journey perfect for nature lovers and for those who enjoy adventures off the beaten path.
Alex R.
14 mar 2026
Must-do in Cartagena, Colombia!
Just an hour outside of Cartagena, we discovered the magic of the Loros Foundation. Horseback riding carried us to the highest point of the 1,200-acre reserve, stopping by the macaw release site. One of the most meaningful moments? Planting my very own white cherry tree on the hillside. The Loros Foundation is doing incredible work in bird rehabilitation and reforestation, and I'm so grateful to have experienced it firsthand.
Candice C.· EE. UU./Canadá
30 ago 2025
Awesome
The guides were all very knowledgeable and passionate about their conservation efforts. We learned so much about the foundation and the importance of preserving nature and saving the animals affected by deforestation and other issues. This is great for families and a great opportunity to learn.
Catherine J.· EE. UU./Canadá
28 ago 2025
These testimonials are real customer reviews. They can be verified on:
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?+
International volunteering
Reserve your spot
Tell us your dates and interests and we will reach out to arrange your stay. No charge today.
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.
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