Costa Rica – Health and Medical Care in San Jose

Costa Rica is a land of remarkable contrasts, offering stunning coastlines with both white and black sand beaches, lush tropical rainforests, mangroves, majestic volcanoes, tranquil canals, and renowned turtle nesting beaches. Nestled in Central America, it borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast, with the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west and southwest. Your adventure begins in San José, the vibrant capital city surrounded by green mountains and enjoying pleasant, spring-like temperatures year-round. San José also offers a lively atmosphere with plenty of activities to enjoy in the evenings and on weekends.

The Spanish Academy
In the San Pedro neighborhood, just a 10-minute bus ride from Downtown San Jose, the Spanish Academy is at the heart of a bustling student community. This area is surrounded by universities, giving it a relaxed and youthful vibe. Within walking distance, you’ll find an array of restaurants, gyms, malls, and markets, as well as bars, live music venues, and dance clubs for evening entertainment. The Academy features both indoor and outdoor study spaces, creating a welcoming environment for international students, interns, and volunteers. It’s the perfect hub to plan your activities, practice Spanish, and connect with like-minded individuals.

Volunteer placement location
The volunteer placements are in the San José area, with travel times ranging from 15 to 60 minutes each way, depending on your placement. Walking or using the bus is the most cost-effective option, though taxis are also available. On your first day, a representative will accompany you using local transport and provide guidance on navigating to and from your project.

This program offers three volunteer placement options: medical, healthcare and dental. See Requirements below for each placement.

Medical Placement:
Medical volunteers are placed in local clinics, hospitals, ambulance services, or assisted living facilities, offering a unique opportunity to support healthcare professionals and gain valuable experience in the medical field. While placements are determined by seasonal needs and project availability, every effort is made to align assignments with volunteers’ interests and skills. This program provides a meaningful way to contribute, even in roles that may not always involve direct patient care or working closely with doctors, because of the unique dynamics of international medical volunteering.

Volunteer Tasks May Include:

• Shadowing or assisting nurses, doctors, therapists, or other medical professionals
• Supporting consultations, triage, and taking vital signs
• Providing general care and companionship to patients (e.g., talking, feeding, bathing)
• Distributing or organizing medications and educating patients about their use
• Cleaning and preparing materials or equipment, including changing beds
• Assisting with administrative tasks, such as filing and record-keeping

Healthcare Placement:
Healthcare volunteers are typically placed in either an assisted living facility for older adults or a special school for children with disabilities. While preferences are considered, placements depend on seasonal needs and availability. Specific opportunities are available for volunteers with Physical Therapy training. Volunteers play a key role in supporting project staff and providing care and companionship to patients.

At Adult Assisted Living Facilities, You May Be Asked To:

• Organize arts and crafts, engage in conversation, and conduct talk therapy
• Accompany patients on walks
• Sort and distribute medicine
• Change beds
• Assist with feeding and bathing patients
• Monitor patients’ overall well-being
• Support with administrative tasks, such as filing

At Facilities for Children with Disabilities, You May Be Asked To:

• Act as a classroom assistant and help run activities
• Provide additional care and attention to the children
• Work consistently with one classroom or area of the school during your program
• Organize arts and crafts, play with the children, and assist with physical therapy
• Support children during meal times

Dental Placement
Volunteers are usually placed in dental or general health clinics offering dental services in San José. This program allows participants to assist with daily clinic operations while gaining valuable experience in dental practices and an understanding of Costa Rica’s healthcare system.

Volunteer Tasks May Include:

• Assisting in the reception area with appointments and paperwork
• Supporting teeth cleaning and routine check-ups
• Shadowing dentists or hygienists during procedures
• Educating patients about basic dental hygiene and healthy habits
• Cleaning and preparing dental tools and materials

Typical Schedule: Volunteers will work 3-4 hours per day, on either a morning or afternoon shift, Monday-Friday. Schedules are subject to change depending on the current needs of the program.

Important Note: Volunteer independence and roles depend on their training, Spanish proficiency, program duration, and initiative. While direct patient care may not always be possible, the experience provides meaningful opportunities to contribute. Volunteers should be prepared to collaborate with Spanish-speaking staff and work independently, with ongoing support from in-country coordinators when needed.

Holidays: While the project remains open throughout the year, activities and volunteer schedules may vary on the holidays. For specific dates, please consult with our placement coordinators. Please note, our institutes will be closed on December 25th and January 1st, there will be no project placements available during these days either. Both would be 4 day volunteer programs, instead of the usual 5 days.

Internet: Free access to the computer lounge at the Spanish Academy. You can also bring a laptop, tablet, or other personal electronic device and use the free Wi-Fi.

Laundry: Your host family can assist with laundry services for a fee of approximately $5 per kilogram (2.2 lbs).

Accommodations: You will live with a pre-approved host family in San José in a shared room with 1-3 volunteers. Private rooms are available upon request. The host families live in San Pedro, walking distance or a short bus ride away from the Spanish Academy.

Food: Your host family will provide you with breakfast and dinner. Meals include vegetables, fruits, rice & beans, pasta and occasionally meat, fish or chicken.

To apply for one of these programs, you must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

Healthcare Program Requirements 

• Medical School Years 1 and 2
• Paramedic
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Pre-Med
• Pre-Nursing
• Biology Major
• Volunteers with no healthcare experience or coursework

Medical Program Requirements

• Doctor
• Physician Assistant (PA)
• Nurse Practitioner
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Physical Therapist
• Medical School Years 3 and 4

Dental Program Requirements

• Dentist
• Dental Hygienist
• Dental School Years 1 and 2

General requirements:

• Minimum age of 18
• Police clearance
• Must be flexible and open-minded
• Volunteering in medical and healthcare can be emotionally demanding, especially when working closely with terminally ill patients. Mental and emotional preparedness are essential for this role.
• While in-country coordinators are available to provide guidance and support, volunteers must show independence and leadership at their placements.

Consider joining one or more of these specialized program add-ons to add another dimension to your volunteer and travel experience in Costa Rica:

Spanish Immersion Week – Recommended Add-on

During your first week in Costa Rica, you can attend Spanish group classes (Monday-Thursday for 4 hours each day) and take part in cultural activities in the evenings. This is a great way to start your volunteer adventure and meet participants from around the world. See Additional Options below for the extra fee, which includes:

• 4 hours/day in small group classes
• Host family, shared room
• Extra night between programs
• Breakfast and dinner 7 days/week
• Important note: If we can’t form a group at the student’s level, for every 2 hours of group classes, the student will instead receive 1 hour of private tutoring.

Surf School – Five-day surf school at the beautiful Manuel Antonio beach

Scuba Diving Certification – Four-day PADI diving certification

Mini Adventure—Catch the best highlights of Costa Rica on this week-long tour including Costa Rica Cultural Night, Volcano tour, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Coffee Farm tour and Catamaran tour to Tortuga Island.

Please note that there is an additional fee for these programs. See additional options below.

Other Activities & Tours
There are lots of things to do in San Jose, such as city tours, shows at the National Theatre, the central market, parks, etc. Our local staff will post a monthly events calendar to let you know about the activities going on. Outside of San Jose you can hike up volcanoes, go white-water rafting or zip-lining, take a trip to the Pacific or Caribbean coasts, and so much more. There are a lot of options at your fingertips. Our staff is well-acquainted with the area and can advise you on the must-see places. You can also book tours and trips through an on-site travel partner in San Jose.