Cerro Seco is a dry tropical forest biological reserve in Bahía de Caráquez, a small coastal town in the Manabi district of Ecuador. The reserve contains one of the best examples of rare tropical dry forest on the coast of Ecuador (only 2 percent of Ecuador’s original dry forest remains intact). 

After a sting of natural disasters Bahía de Caráquez has rebuilt itself as an "Ecological City ". Cerro Seco plays an important role in the various projects within the town that ensure that the future of Bahia de Caràquez is green, and that the people of Bahia are aware of the importance of preserving the unique environment around them.

Within the reserve volunteers can work maintaining the trails, in construction and general maintenance. Volunteer can also investigate their surroundings to collect, identify and classify native flora and fauna for both scientific purposes, and to educate the community and students at local schools. The results of the investigations are used to create ecological education programs in local elementary schools, high schools, universities and in the wider community.  Also, the Cerro Seco Center has books and information for the volunteers to work together and create their own programs and teaching plans.
Another volunteer activity is planning, construction, and maintenance of a permaculture garden within the grounds of the reserve, as well as the initiation of a plant bank and nursery- a store of native plants for reforestation and recuperation in and around Bahia. This includes composting practice and education.

Also volunteers can work with the community near the reserve with education programs, teaching English and other subjects, mural painting, and construction projects.

Basic Spanish, but for environmental education projects needs to be at least intermediate.