Volunteer Locations: Meanguera Island

Meanguera is a small volcanic island in the Gulf of Fonseca. Offering pristine beaches, diving, snorkeling, and jungle expeditions the island is also a breeding ground to a number of endangered turtles including Leatherbacks, the Olive Ridley, hawksbill and green turtles.

Meanguera is part of a volcanic archipelago including the Islands of Zacata Grande, El Tigre, Gueguensi, and Exposición (which belong to Honduras), Rocas Desnudas, Aislas, Los Farallones (part of Nicaragua) and Meanguerita, Conchaguita, Punta Zacate, Martin Pérez, and a number of other small islands which all belong to El Salvador.

Tourism is slowly increasing on Meanguera bringing the islanders much needed income and its hoped that a new port being built in Cutuco will be a point of economic and tourist development for the region. Despite this the island remains mostly untouched by tourism offering volunteers an authentic view of the islanders culture.

Volunteer Projects on Meanguera Island

Travel to Teach offer a range of volunteer programs on Meanguera Island including turtle conservation, English teaching and computer teaching. More information on our El Salvador volunteer programs.

Photo Gallery: Meanguera Photo Gallery

More images from Meanguera

General Meanguera Information

Accommodation
Travel to Teach volunteers are accommodated in a beautiful area of Meanguera Town. Volunteers stay with host families where they will experience daily Meanguerenses life. Volunteers will have a private single room and will share facilities such as the kitchen, refrigerator and bathroom.

Food
The diet on Meanguara Island is based around sea food and famous local specialities include apretadores and lobster soup. Other specialities which have to be tried include exotic zapamiche and peje aguja fish. As well as island specialities you can also find El Salvadorian favorites such pupusas, vegetals and tropical fruits like mango, marañon, jocote and coconuts.

Weather
El Salvador has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons. Rainy season (winter) runs from May to October, and dry season (summer) from November through April. Despite the seasons temperatures remain consistently hot throughout the year.

Activities
Activities on and around Meanguera include diving, snorkeling, trekking, volcano tours, bird watching, boat trips to neighbouring Islands and jungle expeditions to remote archaeological sites. For the less active volunteer there are the isalnds beautiful and often deserted beaches.