The Romelia Wildlife Reserve, in the secluded, lush Nicoya Peninsula, dedicates itself to protecting the coastal ecosystem and habitats of nesting sea turtles. As a volunteer, you’ll be at the forefront of these sea turtle conservation efforts, becoming an environmental steward and experiencing first-hand the natural beauty and biodiversity of Costa Rica.
Program Highlights:
Your Schedule at a Glance – minimum two weeks commitment (itinerary subject to change):
Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). A representative will transfer you to your new host family in San Jose, followed by an orientation meeting about your schedule, safety, traveling, and volunteering in Costa Rica.
Week 1, Monday – Sunday: Spanish Immersion Week:
Our Spanish language immersion course at one of the best schools in the country marks the beginning of your first week in Costa Rica. Live with a local family and gain essential Spanish skills to travel around easily, interact with staff and other volunteers. This includes:
Week 2, and beyond: Sea Turtle Volunteer program:
Monday to Friday: The transfer day to the program is Monday. Transportation to the program site is approximately 5 hours and involves the following transfers which are included for GoEco volunteers: a private van ride from San Jose to the ferry, followed by a ferry journey to Paquera, another private van ride from Paquera to Montezuma, and finally a 30-45 minute walk down the beach to the secluded reserve. If you have heavy luggage which you cannot carry for this length of time, our team can assist in hiring a horse for $10 paid locally. On-site orientation is on a Monday or Tuesday depending on your travel day duration, followed by meaningful volunteer work at the sea turtle project through-out the week.
Saturday-Sunday: One day off a week is guaranteed for volunteers on usually a Saturday or Sunday. Volunteers can negotiate time off as a group together with the local coordinators on site, considering the workload assigned. Transfer back to San Jose is on your last Saturday at the program. You will spend one night in San Jose with our host family, and on Sunday, catch your flight home.
What’s Included
What’s not Included
The volunteer program takes place in the Romelia National Wildlife Park, near the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This remote coastal jungle boasts a rich ecosystem, with over 57 species of birds, 26 species of reptiles, and 26 species of mammals.
The volunteer base lies 30-50 minutes walking distance from Montezuma, a popular tourist town (5 hours from San Jose), accessible via a boat/ferry ride across the Nicoya Gulf.
Since 1998, the Romelia Wildlife Reserve protects the diverse flora and fauna of the area, covering around 224 hectares. The program focuses on protecting coastal and marine ecosystems, particularly the nesting areas of sea turtles, during their prime nesting season of July to December. As a volunteer, you will gain the opportunity to join a dedicated team of conservationists and experience a remote jungle ecosystem teeming with wildlife. Your volunteer work tasks may include:
Important Note: Please note that the activities may vary each week, and the local team requires volunteers to be flexible and adapt to the needs of the project. The longer you stay volunteering with the program, the more involved and diverse your activities become.
Arrival Day: Upon arrival, volunteers will register, receive their keys, meet staff, tour the station, and get a brief about the project over dinner.
Example of the Daily Schedule (subject to change):
08:00: Breakfast (Coffee, fruits, breads)
10:00: Morning work (1-2 hours): station maintenance, beach clean-ups, data entry, varying with weather
12:00: Vegetarian lunch (rice, beans, picadillo, soups, and guisos)
15:30: Afternoon work (1-2 hours): similar tasks as in the morning
18:00: Self-serve dinner time with cookies, pancakes, and coffee
19:00: Nightly patrol (4 hours), contingent on tide, moon cycle, and daytime activities. On weeks with early morning activities (05:30), there are no night patrols.
Weekends: Volunteers have one day off unless it coincides with turtle arrivals. In such cases, they will shift the day off.
Seasons: The Romelia project runs throughout the year, with the turtle nesting period spanning from May to late November/early December. The height of this season lies between August and November when turtles continue to nest and hatchlings emerge.
Note: It’s important to know that while the seasons stay mostly the same all year, factors like water temperature, late rains, and changes in the weather can affect how many turtles come to Romelia beach. During the busy times, you may see around 4-5 turtles each night, but we can’t promise this will happen every time. Some nights during the busy season, you might only see 1 turtle nesting, and sometimes we might not see any at all.
During the non-nesting season (January-April), night patrols cease, and the focus shifts to the hatchery. Volunteers ensure that all eggs have hatched, carry out an exhumation and data collection process for those that didn’t hatch or died in the nest. Afterward, the hatchery’s sand is replaced to prepare for the upcoming turtle season, with careful attention to remove any plastic or other contaminants. This task is physically demanding and can extend beyond a month. Additional duties during this period include beach cleaning and community work.
Alternative Placements: This volunteer program fills up quickly! In case your requested date is full, we can also place you with excellent Sea Turtle conservation programs in Ostional (open all year round), Montezuma (open all year round), or the Caribbean Coast (open from March – August each year).
Local activities
Volunteers can enjoy various activities during their free time with close access to Montezuma town and stunning beaches. Extra activities are not included in the program fee and thus volunteers have the freedom to choose to spend their free time as they wish. Activities available in the area: Montezuma waterfall, Cabo Blanco Reserve, El Chorro waterfall, Boat trip to Tortuga island, Horseback riding, Zip lining, Yoga and wellness retreats, Surf lessons.
Tour options
We recommend traveling around Costa Rica before or after your volunteer placement. You can either explore the country on your own or simply join a tour. Here are a few popular options that you can book with us in advance (subject to availability):
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