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The numbers of deer are declining due to people hunting them for their meat. Experience Mexico offers you the opportunity to help re-establish the lost population of one particular species of deer at Rancho La Noria. You will be working outside in a beautiful mountain setting with plenty of opportunity to learn and practice your Spanish in this very Mexican place.

Rancho La Noria is located two hours away from Tepic by bus, on the mountain from which, on a clear day, you can see all the way to the coast. The locals that run the ranch are very friendly and there are plenty of activites for the outdoors lover.

The project offers:

• A beautiful setting in the Mexican mountains
• A percentage of your money will go directly into the project
• You will get the opportunity to suggest how your financial contribution is spent
• The opportunity to make a true difference

The project involves:

• Caring for and observing deer in captivity
• Working towards releasing the deer back into the wild
• The opportunity to help guiding tours on foot or on horseback

Working with the deer will generally be from Wednesday to Sunday, with Mondays and Tuesdays available for travelling and any paperwork. You will be expected to help both with the deer themselves and with general maintenance of the ranch and deer area.

The ranch also provides opportunities for horseback riding and is a beautiful area for anyone who simply enjoys nature and the outdoors. Volunteers will have plenty of time for reading and learning Spanish as little English is spoken on the ranch.

The ranch has a telephone, though this only works for outgoing calls and does not receive calls. Internet, other telephone access and shops are available in Tepic.

The buses run twice a day to Tepic, the capital of the state of Nayarit. The city itself provides for many activities. There are opportunities to do several sports, visit the cinema (most films are shown in English with Spanish subtitles – a brilliant way to learn the language), shopping and cultural activities.

Tepic also offers the opportunity to see much of the Huichol people and their arts and crafts. The indigenous people, some of whom live in the mountains around Tepic, come daily to the centre of Tepic to sell their hand made crafts.

Just outside Tepic there is the beautiful Lagoon Santa Maria and the village of Santa Maria del Oro where meteorites are fabled to have landed and can be seen. It is also easy to travel to fantastic cities such as Mazatlan and Guadalajara from Tepic.

Volunteers are likely to be placed in a pair, due to the remoteness of the project.

Accommodation will be living on the ranch with the owners and food will be taken with them, but applicants should be aware that the showers and toilets are rudimentary.

The deer reserve runs, and accepts volunteers, all year round and Experience Mexico prefers volunteers to commit for at least three months to this project.

Preferred project dates:

• The deer reserve operates all year round and therefore preferred departure dates may depend on when current volunteers or applicants intend to leave the project.

Cost:

• £2500 for three months
• Additional months available, please contact us for details.
• As usual costs include flight, travel insurance, accommodation, food allowance and support and advice both in the UK and from our Mexican representative during your time in Mexico.

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