Volunteering at Santa Lucía: Stories from Isabela and Emilia

At Santa Lucía, each volunteer leaves an indelible mark, and the experiences they share enrich our entire community. Today, we want to share two special stories from volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to learning and contributing to our reserve: Isabela and Emilia. Both came with the desire to learn more about nature and left behind a legacy of learning and friendship.

Bela and Emilia 2025

"Having visited Santa Lucía since I was a child, I have grown to understand how special it is. Santa Lucía holds many unique memories for me and is the place where I first found my love for nature. I feel so incredibly grateful to have been able to spend a month volunteering there. I have learnt so much from each person and will always remember the time I spent there. It was an honour to work alongside the amazing team who graced me with their patience, knowledge, and kindness, all of which I will carry with me. I spent my time helping with an

amphibian and macroinvertebrate monitoring project as well as helping with general maintenance, learning key skills in woodworking. Thank you so much to Noé for teaching me the story of Santa Lucía, for your insights into the wildlife, and for including me in your family. To Eddie for your benevolence and company. To Nelly for teaching me how to make quimbolitos and Ecuadorian dishes. To Mauricio for all the laughs and fascinating stories. To Leyder for your friendship and the evenings playing Uno. I would recommend volunteering at Santa Lucía to everyone and hope to return soon. Special thank you to Denisse and Gloria for helping me throughout my stay." Isabela

"Having always heard about my mum's experience volunteering at Santa Lucía 25 years ago, I was always intrigued to learn for myself why it was so special. I finally got the opportunity to volunteer there, and it was everything and more. I learnt so much from the team about the cloud forest as I was able to help with the amphibian monitoring project and work on the orchid garden. Thank you so much to the team for making me feel at home and welcome. I had an amazing time, and I can't wait to go back!" Emilia

Both stories reflect the spirit of Santa Lucía, where not only practical and scientific skills are learned but also friendships and respect for nature are forged. Isabela and Emilia show us how volunteering not only benefits the reserve but also transforms those who take part in these projects.

If you're interested in joining our family of volunteers and sharing a unique experience in one of the most biodiverse forests in the world, we invite you to contact us! Isabela and Emilia's experiences are just a glimpse of what awaits you at Santa Lucía.