Ben's Experience as a Rainforest Inn Volunteer
Trip Start
Apr 11, 2009
1
Trip End
Jul 11, 2009
Rio Grande,
Puerto Rico
Monday, July 6, 2009
In my three months at the Rainforest Inn I got a crash course in basic carpentry and the opportunity to use all manner of power tool: circular saws, hammer drills, jigsaws, air guns, radial-arm saws, table saws, grinders, planers, sanders, jackhammers, and more. I ran copious amounts of conduit, built several doors, framed in a bathtub, made a concrete wall, tore down a concrete wall, poured a concrete slab, did tons of painting, and worked on countless other small tasks. I would say my confidence level with this kind of work has improved a hundred-fold, especially since before I came here I didn’t even know what a Tapcon screw was.
The work here is basically Monday through Friday, but you aren’t exactly punching a time clock. You don’t use heavy equipment while the guests here, so as not to disturb the serene experience for them. Being a nocturnal creature, I tended to roll out of bed around 9:00, careful not to miss Laurie’s delicious breakfasts. The menu includes things such as ginger pancakes, all kinds of fresh tropical fruits, French toast stuffed with cream cheese and guava, almond butter and apple toast, eggs Florentine, spinach frittata, curried German-style apple hotcakes, broccoli cheedar strada, and of course expresso made with locally-grown coffees.
Me and Maya hiking
Dinners were equally delicious, with Laurie’s signature calabasa soup and her Thai-seared tofu being my favorites. And don’t get me started on the desserts, such as the homemade flan and key lime pie. Whatever your dietary requirements are, they will accommodate you, and I had no problems eating as a vegetarian. Bill and Laurie are very gracious hosts. My wife and mother were even able to visit, and I got to spend lots of time with them without having to work. They also occasionally treat you to a dinner out and/or a movie, and they will invite you along to family functions and friends’ dinner parties too. Since you will be here without a car, Bill and Laurie will drop you off at nearby attractions, and you can ride along into Old San Juan when Bill does work there on Tuesdays. Furthermore, Bill knows a ton of people on the island, and can get deals for volunteers at many places.
While I stayed in Puerto Rico I was able to hike the El Toro trail and camp overnight on top of that beautiful peak. I did not see one person on the way in, nor on the way out along the Tradewinds trail. Bill also knows of other old trails that the park no longer publicizes, so you can get adventurous and try to navigate your way through very isolated areas of the rainforest. I got lost doing this, it rained on me for nine hours straight, and I ended up covered with poison oak, but the experience was fantastic nonetheless. I also was able to do a tour of the Bio-Bay in Fajardo, go on a snorkeling trip to Icacos and other islands aboard a catamaran, visit Rincon and stay in a treehouse, kayak to Cayos Santiago where there are hundreds of Rhesus monkeys, explore the centuries old forts and churches in Old San Juan, visit both popular and isolated beaches, and even go hang gliding! Bill and Laurie even took a day off to bring me to the Arecibo Observatory, which has the world’s largest radio telescope (as seen in the movie Contact), and to Caguana where there are many Taino Indian petroglyphs.
As for accommodations here at the Rainforest Inn, they put me up in the “Jungle Suite.” This is also where I did most of my work, as they hope to get it into rentable condition ASAP.
At the waterfall on the private hike
It features a bed suspended by ropes from the ceiling and a giant back porch overlooking the jungle. The property itself is pretty isolated and private, tucked away in the mountains of the rainforest. Jogging up the mile long driveway from the main gate is a great way to stay in shape or have a stroke. They have a private trail that leaves their property and goes along part of the adjoining El Yunque National Forest. At the end you are at the top of a large waterfall with water cascading beautifully down the mountain toward the drop-off. There is a swimming hole there with shrimp that will tickle your feet. It is highly unlikely you will see anyone on the trail or at the waterfall unless you brought them with you, and there is a great view from the top. The weather in Puerto Rico is definitely very humid, and depending on where you are coming from, it may seem quite hot. I left Texas where it routinely gets over 100 degrees, so the steamy weather here felt like a nice escape. While working, though, you will sweat buckets. It also rains a lot here (obviously), so expect that on any hikes and put your cell phones and cameras in baggies. You can learn that the hard way.
The only other tip I’d give is to bring lots of work clothes because you will get quite dirty and stinky, and don’t expect to ever wear jeans! All in all, I really recommend the experience for people with flexibility in their schedules and who are interested in learning basic construction and seeing Puerto Rico. If you already have construction skills, that is even better and Bill will love you. If not, learning is one of the perks, or else you can garden, or even help out with the many other ongoing chores and projects. They’ll find something to suit you.
If you are concerned about only knowing English, you can still get along in Puerto Rico pretty well with only very crude Spanish skills. You can probably do most things with virtually none at all, actually, even though some locals do not speak English. Most of your interaction will be with the guests, as well as with Bill and Laurie. My one regret is that I didn’t improve my paltry language skills very much, but overall I’d say this was an excellent experience and I recommend it if you have a chance.
