IPBio- Biodiversity Research Institute

Spending four weeks volunteering with IPBio in the Brazilian Amazon was one of the most extraordinary and meaningful experiences of my life. I arrived with no scientific background, simply driven by my love of nature, my curiosity, and my desire to experience the Amazon rainforest in an authentic way. I left with so much more than I could ever have imagined. Throughout the program, I participated in a wide range of biodiversity research activities, discovering fascinating aspects of wildlife, insects, plants, fungi, and the incredible ecosystems of the Amazon. Every day brought something new to learn. One of my favorite memories was Fish Monitoring, when we had to get out of our boat and push it through the muddy waters of the Amazon to reach our research sites. It was adventurous, challenging, and absolutely unforgettable! But what surprised me most was how this experience completely changed the way I look at nature. Before coming here, I had never really taken the time to appreciate the smallest details of the natural world. Through scientific observations and photography, I discovered an entire universe hidden right in front of our eyes. I even caught myself finding a tiny spider adorable because it looked like it was wearing a little motorcycle helmet! Something I would never have imagined before. The IPBio team deserves enormous recognition. Imran, Martha, Marleen, and everyone involved were welcoming, passionate, knowledgeable, and incredibly supportive. Even without a scientific background, I always felt included and encouraged to learn. Their ability to make complex scientific subjects understandable and fascinating is one of the program's greatest strengths. Beyond the scientific experience, these four weeks also gave me something deeply personal. Spending time in the rainforest helped me reconnect with myself, reflect on my life, and realize just how much I belong in nature. I genuinely believe this adventure came at exactly the right moment in my life. Of course, there are a few practical aspects that could be improved, particularly transportation between the volunteer house and Alter do Chão, which sometimes limits spontaneity and independence. I would also have loved more opportunities to spend nights immersed in the rainforest. But these are small considerations compared with everything this experience gave me. I learned, explored, laughed, met wonderful people, and created memories I will carry with me forever. Would I do it again? Without hesitation. Would I recommend IPBio? Absolutely. I came to the Amazon hoping to discover an extraordinary natural environment, and I left having also discovered a part of myself. Thank you, IPBio, from the bottom of my heart!

I came to IPBio hoping to make a positive impact on local biodiversity and the surrounding community, but my expectations were exceeded in every possible way. It truly was a 10/10 experience! The work is easy enough to pick up quickly, but varied and interesting enough that it doesn't become repetitive or boring. Most importantly, you genuinely feel like you are making a difference, which sets it apart from other volunteer programs. Getting the opportunity to see amazing wildlife up close, including sloths, monkeys and caimans, while on the job makes the experience even more special. The volunteer house is lovely as well, especially the pool, and Alter do Chão and Santarém have so much to offer, meaning there is always something to explore during free time and weekends. The beach was my favorite place to be! On top of all that, the other volunteers were incredibly nice, the staff were always helpful, welcoming and supportive and best of all there is a cat. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better experience and would wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking for a meaningful, fun and rewarding time volunteering!

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My time in Brazil was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Living and working alongside the other volunteers made it so much more than just a trip. We spent so much time together, from working in the rainforest during the day to hanging out and getting to know each other in the evenings. I met some genuinely great people who I’ll remember for a long time. A big part of what made the experience so special was Imran. He is a genuinely great guy who made everyone feel welcome and looked after us throughout our time there. His passion for the work and the people around him really stood out, and he helped make the whole experience feel like a community rather than just a volunteer program. I loved being out in the Amazon, learning about the environment and getting involved in biodiversity research, species identification and restoration work. I came away with a much greater appreciation for the rainforest, but also some great memories and friendships that I’ll take with me. I would honestly recommend the experience to anyone who wants to do something completely different and genuinely memorable.

My first experience as a volunteer abroad and I precisely picked upbio up because they seemed serious committed and professional. I wasn't wrong! Their project is effective and they are making a difference. I'm glad I have been part of this for a while.

My time at the Betary Reserve of IPBio was an unforgettable experience. I came here as a student to complete my bachelor's degree thesis and internship. Alongside helping with the eco-volunteering activities, I also worked on my own research project. The staff gave me great guidance for my project! As most of the staff have lived in Iporanga all their lives, they know so much about the Atlantic Rainforest. I learnt a lot from them! The reserve is located in a beautiful area with lots of amazing wildlife. It was such an amazing opportunity to help with research activities over here! I stayed in the volunteer house with the other volunteers and made friends for life. In our free time, we enjoyed lots of fun activities, such as visiting caves and waterfalls, swimming in the river or barbecuing with all the volunteers and staff. Iporanga, the closest town to the reserve, is a very safe and lovely place. The locals are really kind and very welcoming. I would definitely like to come back here in the future!

I highly recommend this program. The role of Amazon research assistant is very accessible to anyone interested in the natural world and provides valuable information on biodiversity to the scientific community which is essential to conservation. Imran, Marleen and Martha are incredible people, Well connected and appreciated by the local communities and you feel like you're having a positive impact. You live with other volunteers in a nice place with a pool, though be warned it is a bit far from town (45min walk) but you can ask the neighbour to taxi for a price. I made valuable connections with the other volunteers who kind of become your family for a time :) You get to see loads of animals and I've also seen the best sunset of my life in Alter do Chao from the beach over the massive river and enjoyed the Carimbo (local dance) parties that happen every Thursday.

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It was my first time in Brazil and first time volunteering. At IPbio I had many opportunities to see wildlife, which I have never seen before. There is a day and night difference between nature trips with “standard” tour guides (I have done it there too) and nature trips with professional biologists at IPbio. With IPbio staff one can see 10 times more wildlife, these folks know what they are doing My special thanks are to Imran Viroomal. He is a natural born manager (which is very rare find). Thanks to him all aspects of my stay there (from arrival to departure) were perfectly organized. In addition, Imran is very pleasant person, with good sense of humor and very easy to get along with. And he is absolutely dedicated to his job. Many cudos to him!

IPBio est le carrefour de la science, de la sensibilisation et de la culture. Nous avons pu participer à de nombreux inventaires, ce qui fait la force d'IPBio. Alter-do-Chao est un village aux plages et aux expériences inoubliables. Situé près de la forêt primaire de Flona il a énormément d'activités à faire. Alors un grand merci à IPBio amazone et toute son équipe d'ultra motivés et passionnés dans la conservation de la biodiversité.

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Staff are very well informed of the area, program, risks, events... and are keen for volunteers to be informed as well. Everyone recives a comprihensive introduction on arrival and questions are welcome. Volunteers do descover new species and distributions here, but don't let this fule your ego and encumbur your work. People come here to volunteer, not holiday. By prepared and willing to get your hands and cloths dirty. You will be in the forest most days and some nights planting trees and seed. Most your work will be collecting data of birds, arthropods, amphibians and birds and identifying species. Some prior knowlage of species taxonimy is recomended but not nessesary. A camera (to take clear enough photos to identify the animal is very usfull but also not a nessesity. This is the jungle, of course there are some risks. Take precautions staff inform you of and you'll be fine. No the Tarantulas are not 'out to get you'.

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I had an amazing experience volunteering in the Atlantic Forest, thanks to the magnificent natural environment that surrounds the area, where conservation programs are developed to study the biodiversity, which is endless. The local team also played a key role in making this experience so rewarding. Before my arrival, they provided detailed information and support, and once I was there, they offered thorough training and guidance. They truly transmit a deep sense of connection with nature and responsibility for its preservation, valuable learnings that will stay with me forever. I found the experience so enriching that when I returned home and shared it with my friends and family, my sister immediately wanted to experience it herself. She didn't hesitate to follow in my footsteps and become part of this incredible project.

Last summer I was lucky enough to volunteer at IPBio Betary Reserve in Brazil, and I can say that it was an amazing experience. For a month, I was lucky enough to enjoy a very well-organized volunteer experience with very competent people. The centre’s managers are very friendly and flexible, and always ready to help in whatever way you need. I was able to share this experience with other wonderful volunteers from various countries. The atmosphere was very good and during our free time, especially on weekends, we could enjoy excursions and leisure activities in the region, which has very beautiful and interesting natural sites to visit. I definitely recommend to volunteer with this amazing NGO if you are looking to do some meaninful voluntary work in conservation field in Brazil! :D

Having the privilege of assisting at both the Atlantic and Amazon forests, getting to see the differences in biomes and wildlife, and directly contributing to science has been a dream come true. Despite growing up as a city kid with a fear of spiders, I learned to enjoy collecting them and other insects to help identify and add to the database. It also wasn’t easy removing invasive Napoleon plants, hundreds of them, yet even still watching the endangered juçara palm saplings fill the new spaces we cleared is a satisfaction that makes me ready to do it all again. Working with people all over the world, practicing portuguese to speak with locals, getting to see wildlife I’d only ever saw on nat geo tv, from dancing manakin birds, to various monkey species, to fishing up piranhas, having a tree frog try to kiss me (still scarred), waking up to tarantulas or wandering spiders in the house, and barbecues with staff, so many memories were made. Would love to come back again, especially to visit the future bases across the other important biomes in Brazil. Even if you don’t directly see the impact you make here, there is proof in the data that every volunteer counts, and this is one you don't want to miss!

I really enjoyed my time in the Amazon with IPBio. The work was varied, interesting and gave me the chance to learn a lot about biodiversity research in a real tropical fieldwork setting. I especially enjoyed the bird inventories, fish inventories, mushroom searches, night surveys and the chance to contribute to species records and data processing. The Amazon location is still developing, so sometimes the structure and working hours were more flexible than I expected, but the staff were supportive and the research itself was taken seriously. Overall, it was a unique and valuable experience where I learned a lot about fieldwork, Brazilian nature, teamwork and working in an international environment.

I had the best three months at IPBio! It's the best introduction to the Amazon one could ask for. You get to be immersed in the rainforest and surrounded by wildlife while also having the comforts most people are used too. We got to see the most amazing wildlife and meet the most amazing people! Leaving is by far the hardest part.

I had an incredible experience volunteering with IPBIO. The program was both engaging and genuinely enjoyable, with plenty of hands-on fieldwork surveying a diverse range of flora and fauna. The staff were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, creating a warm and sociable environment from the very start. What stood out most was how open they were to new ideas—volunteers were encouraged to share input and contribute meaningfully, which made the experience feel even more rewarding. Throughout the program, we encountered an amazing variety of wildlife and had countless memorable moments. It was an enriching and inspiring experience overall, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in conservation and field research.

My name is Simon, and I was a volunteer at IPbio in may/April 2026. I traveled to brazil during a gap year after high school, where I made time to follow this program for 8 weeks. I had an amazing experience with this program. The staff is incredibly kind and passionate about their work. The work was enjoyable and there was a large variety in the activities that we performed. All in all, this program left me with 8 weeks worth of amazing memories!

Volunteering with IPBio in the Brazilian Amazon was an incredible experience that exceeded my expectations. The program is extremely well organised, well explained and offers a wide range of biodiversity research activities, from bird inventories and habitat management to mushroom and arthropod surveys and night searches. I really appreciated being involved in both the fieldwork and the post-data process, as it made the work feel purposeful and helped me understand how our contributions fit into long-term conservation goals. One of the strengths of volunteering in the Amazon is how accessible everything is. Shops, restaurants, beaches and free-time activities are all close by, which gives volunteers a great balance between structured field days and independence outside of work. It also makes it easy to socialise, explore the area and feel part of the local community. The volunteer group dynamic was another highlight. Whether we were cooking together, exploring Alter do Chão, swimming in the rivers or spending evenings at local events, there was always a strong sense of connection and shared experience. Being surrounded by people who are passionate about conservation made the whole placement even more enjoyable. Overall, this program gave me practical field skills, unforgettable memories and a much deeper understanding of Amazonian biodiversity. I left feeling incredibly grateful for the experience and would highly recommend this program to anyone wanting meaningful conservation work in one of the most unique environments in the world

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I enjoyed learning about taxonomy, conservation, and science-based techniques for data collection. The field work was very immersive and focused on the actual conservation issues. The program is very well structured, and the repetition allows you to get comfortable with a wide variety of techniques.

My name is Mae and I am 23 years old. In February 2026, I had the privilege of volunteering with IPBio in Alter do Chão. Despite my initial hesitations, applying for this project turned out to be one of the best decisions. I learned so much about nature, about birds, and about myself. I developed a newfound fascination for birds and a deeper passion for protecting the environment, both of which I will carry with me long after returning home. I was fortunate to be part of the first group of the year, where everyone stayed for at least four weeks, which allowed us to truly get to know one another. The hardest part for me was definitely watching people leave. What I find so beautiful about IPBio is that everyone works toward a shared goal. The weekly presentations were a wonderful reminder of what we had collectively achieved, because it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when you are out in the field. I will forever be grateful for this experience and everyone who was part of it!

Here’s your revised version with a more general and positive tone: ⸻ I had a really great experience volunteering at IPBio and would highly recommend it. The fieldwork was interesting and engaging, and I especially enjoyed working alongside such a friendly and supportive team of coordinators and fellow volunteers. The small size of the organization creates a welcoming atmosphere where you feel heard and connected. There’s also enough free time to experience Brazilian culture, which made the overall stay even more rewarding. Overall, a very positive experience with a strong sense of community.