Experience MexECO: Projects

Experience Mex-ECO offers the following projects, please select one from the list to view the corresponding information, or simply scroll down this page to see details for each of our projects:

- Sea Turtle Conservation

- Teaching English

- Special Education

- Learn Spanish

Each section includes a summary of the project, as well as a few photos, important information, dates and prices.

Sea Turtle conservation

Join us on this hands-on conservation project on the Pacific Coast of Mexico to help support the plight of endangered sea turtles. Managed by a local fisherman’s cooperative, Experience Mex-ECO provides volunteers and takes overnight eco-tours, allowing people to learn about these magnificent creatures and provide both physical and economical support towards the maintenance and development of the project.

Of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, six nest on the beaches of Mexico, making it a place of international interest for biologists and conservationists. Of those six species, three nest annually on the coast of Jalisco, where our project is based. Volunteers are given on site training and work alongside Mex-ECO staff and the team of fishermen in order to protect the sea turtles as they emerge from the sea onto the beach to lay their eggs during the night. Each nest is collected and relocated to a protected area of beach near to camp, known as an incubation corral, where hatchling activity is monitored and each night hatchlings are released into the sea to begin their long and mysterious journey to adulthood. Each season, a total of between 3,000 and 4,000 nests are collected, mainly from the olive ridley sea turtle, and some from the black turtle (Pacific green) and the leatherback.

Nearest airport(s): Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo (Click here to see map)

Location:

Campamento Majahuas (pronounced Ma’ha’wass) is a hidden gem on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Mid way between the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta and Melaque, it is tucked away behind an expanse of banana plantations and an extensive lagoon. Our volunteers arrive by road to the small town of Valle Majahuas, and are then taken to the camp on a short boat ride.

Click here to see the location of Campamento Majahuas

Food and accommodation: Food provided, cooked by staff and volunteers in basic conditions. Vegetarians can be catered for. Camping in tents underneath palapa shelter; tents are provided.
Experience Needed: No previous experience is needed to take part in this project; we look for anyone who is capable of the work involved and is interested in wildlife and conservation. Basic Spanish is helpful but not essential.

Building new corrals, collecting nests from nesting adult turtles and all whilst staying in the beautiful camp that is Majahuas Biological Station

Dates and Prices: June to February: June is the beginning of nesting season, so there are a low number of nesting turtles and very few hatchlings, but volunteers are needed in order to prepare the camp for nesting season, the busiest time for nesting sea turtles is from August through to December.

More reading material: Threats to sea turtles. 24hours in Campamento Majahuas, Campamento Majahuas A.C.: the charity

Weekly cost: (1 – 3 weeks):		£360 p/w
(4 – 12 weeks):		£325 p/w
(over 12 weeks):		£300 p/w

Price includes food, accommodation, training, transport from arrival point to project (only if arriving into Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo) and 24 hour staff support. If arriving into any other airport, an extra fee will be added for airport collection (please enquire for details).

Teaching English

For young people in Mexico, learning English is an opportunity to seek employment or carry on into further education, which often involves reading textbooks or other educational material in English. As our teaching projects are based in Melaque and Barra de Navidad, where tourism is one of the main sources of income, having English as a second language also allows family businesses to offer a better service and therefore maximise income. Such businesses include hotels/hostels, restaurants, shops, construction and many other services.

Our volunteers assist qualified teachers in the classroom, and sometimes also participate in extra classes during school vacations or outside of school hours. The schools we work with are primary and secondary schools, as well as a technical school for tourism and accounting. Volunteers work with students of varied ages, all of whom are enthusiastic about learning and really benefit from the motivation of the presence of someone from another country and culture in their classroom.

Volunteers who are interested in teaching a specific age group or who wish to teach other subjects as well, such as computing, sports, dance, etc should mention this on their application form.

Nearest airport(s): Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo (Click here to see map)

Location:

Our teaching projects are located in the towns of Melaque and Barra de Navidad, in the Bay of Navidad, which is part of the Costalegre region in the state of Jalisco. The area is a popular beachside tourist destination during the months of November to April, typically visited by Canadians and North Americans escaping the winter cold.

Click here to see the location of Navidad Bay (’Bahía de Navidad’)

Food and accommodation: Generally with host families in Barra de Navidad or Melaque, but private accommodation can be arranged upon request. Vegetarians can be catered for.
Experience Needed: No previous experience is needed, TEFL qualification not necessary, but this project is ideal for those wanting to put their TEFL qualification to use. Some basic Spanish is helpful but not essential as volunteers work with English speaking teachers.

Dates and Prices: Scholastic year (September to June), allowing for holidays at Christmas and Easter (during which time volunteer travel can be arranged). Volunteers are also accepted during school holidays to give extra-curricular lessons without school teachers.

Weekly cost: (1 – 3 weeks):		£330 p/w
(4 – 12 weeks):		£314 p/w
(over 12 weeks):		£290 p/w

Price includes food, accommodation, transport from arrival point to project (only if arriving into Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo) and 24 hour staff support. If arriving into any other airport, an extra fee will be added for airport collection (please enquire for details).

Special Education

C.A.M. Cihuatlán (Centro de Atención Multiple Cihuatlán) is the only special education school in the large municipality of Cihuatlán, Jalisco. The school provides an essential service for children with special needs including speech and hearing impediments, autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy amongst others. The school has also recently formed a charity, allowing them to raise funds to develop their school and therefore the quality of the service they can provide to the students and their families. C.A.M. Cihuatlán also receives sponsorships from ‘Ayuda a los Niños Costalegre A.C.’, allowing underprivileged children to attend the school, and make the most of a life changing opportunity.

Groups at C.A.M. Cihuatlán include initial education, speech therapy, physical therapy, psychology, art workshops and dance. Volunteers on this project support teachers in the classroom in order to dedicate more personal attention to each student in the group, and therefore aid in their development. Although Mex-ECO staff are not on location, our office is in the next small town (10 minutes by bus), and volunteers are in regular contact with staff, as well as having a 24 hour emergency number.

Click here for information on the charities involved in this project.

Nearest airport(s): Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo (Click here to see map)

Location:

C.A.M. Cihuatlán is located in the beachside town of Barra de Navidad, in the Bay of Navidad. The bay is part of what is locally know as the Costalegre area of the state of Jalisco. The town of Melaque is found in the opposite end of the bay; both Melaque and Barra de Navidad are popular tourist destinations between the months of November through to April.

Click here for the location of C.A.M. Cihuatlán

Food and accommodation: Generally with host families in Barra de Navidad or Melaque, but private accommodation can be arranged upon request. Vegetarians can be catered for.
Experience Needed:No previous experience is needed, but volunteers must be patient and show an interest in education. An intermediate level of Spanish is essential for this project.

Dates and Prices: Scholastic year (September to June), allowing for holidays at Christmas and Easter (during which time volunteer travel can be arranged).

Weekly cost: (1 – 3 weeks):		£330 p/w
(4 – 12 weeks):		£314 p/w
(over 12 weeks):		£290 p/w

Learn Spanish

As well as Spanish, over 60 indigenous languages exist in Mexico; all recognised as national languages, however Spanish is the most widely spoken.

Each of our projects provides an excellent opportunity to develop existing Spanish skills as you will be living and working with local families and professionals. Practicing with our Mexican staff and/or host families means that many volunteers can communicate in Spanish at least at a basic level after a two month stay.

For volunteers who choose to study Spanish, we offer courses of varying length and ability. All courses are highly interactive, and being in a Spanish speaking country means that the rate of learning is considerably higher than when studying a foreign language in school or at home in an English speaking country. We use local experts, with internationally recognised teaching qualifications and many years of experience.

As well as gaining classroom experience, the Costalegre area of Mexico offers the perfect opportunity to chat to native Spanish speakers and put your skills into practice. Locals are friendly and often enthusiastic about helping foreign visitors improve their Spanish in return for some help with their English.

Nearest airport(s): Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo (Click here to see map)

Location:

Our Spanish projects are located in the towns of Melaque and Barra de Navidad, in the Bay of Navidad, which is part of the Costalegre region in the state of Jalisco. The area is a popular beachside tourist destination during the months of November to April, typically visited by Canadians and North Americans escaping the winter cold.

Click here to see the location of Navidad Bay (’Bahía de Navidad’)

Food and accommodation:Generally with host families in Barra de Navidad or Melaque, but private accommodation can be arranged upon request. Vegetarians can be catered for.
Experience Needed: No previous experience of Spanish study is needed, we accept complete beginners through to advanced Spanish students.

Dates and Prices: Year round, however volunteers who wish to participate in a project as well as learning Spanish should check dates for the project of their choice.

Lessons Only:
Weekly cost: (1 – 3 weeks):		£160 p/w
(4 – 12 weeks):		£129 p/w
(over 12 weeks):		£115 p/w

The above prices are for volunteers taking part in a project as well as the Spanish lessons (where food and accommodation costs are included in project price).

Health & Safety............Before you go.......... Make a donation ..........Mex-ECO Store

‘Experience Mex-ECO Tours S.A. de C.V.’ is a legally registered tour operator in Mexico which supports local charities through its activities. Experience Mex-ECO volunteer projects are operated by the same company.