Volunteer Costa Rica - Sea Turtle Protection & Eco-Oasis

Free 3rd Week Grant – Get the 3rd week free when you sign up for two weeks or more. Limited grants available for start dates between September 2024 to December 2024. Schedule a call to apply.

Become involved in every aspect of sea turtle conservation on the pristine beaches of Costa Rica! By protecting 8km of beach, the project contributes significantly to the registration of over 7000 nests per season. Volunteers play a crucial role in this grassroots project, contributing to both turtle conservation and community development.

Program Highlights:

Community-driven conservation project on the Osa Peninsula.
Stay in a sustainable and eco-friendly community house with zero-waste goals.
Protects 8km of vital sea turtle nesting beach.
Registers over 7000 nests per season.
Offers a hands-on learning experience in one of Central America’s most remote destinations.
Requires no previous experience, just enthusiasm and a willingness to work hard.
Live and work on a pristine tropical beach with volunteers from around the world.

Your Schedule at a Glance – minimum 10 day commitment (itinerary subject to change):

Arrival Day, Saturday: You’ll arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), where you’ll be picked up and transported to a hostel in San Jose, included in your program, for your first night.

Sunday: You will travel to Puerto Jimenez. The program includes a bus departing from San Jose at 12:00 PM, reaching Puerto Jimenez about 6 hours later. If you prefer a faster option and wish to skip the night in San Jose, you may book a domestic flight to Puerto Jimenez at your own expense.

Monday: You will receive a private transfer from your hostel in San Jose to the San Jose Bus station in the morning approximately 06:00. A bus ticket from Puerto Jiménez to the turtle conservation site is provided.; instructions will be given before arrival. Upon arrival at the site, you’ll meet the project staff, receive an orientation, and start your volunteer work with the Turtle Conservation program.

Tuesday to Sunday: Your volunteer work at the sea turtle conservation project begins. Activities include turtle patrols, beach clean-ups, educational efforts in the community, and other conservation tasks. The exact schedule can vary based on the project’s needs.

Days Off: Given the flexible nature of our environmental and community work, schedule changes may occur, and you’ll be informed as soon as possible. Workload varies with the number of volunteers, and additional help may occasionally be needed, but rest is assured. Each volunteer will get at least one full day off per week, determined by the camp leader according to the week’s activities. If you have a specific day off in mind, please request it at the beginning of the week for scheduling considerations.

Departure Day, Monday: If you’re staying for only one week, this is your departure day. If you’re staying longer, the program continues on a Monday to Sunday cycle, with one day off each week.

Location of the Project: Osa Peninsula (Pacific Coast)

Project length: Minimum 1 week – Maximum 12 weeks (Project is closed May and June each year)

Arrival Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)

Volunteer Work: Beach patrolling, nest relocation, building hatcheries and assisting new hatchlings

Age: 18 +

Important Note: Remember that working with wildlife is unpredictable, and therefore we cannot guarantee the number of turtle sightings throughout the year.

What’s Included

Accommodations: Rustic camp with mixed dormitory-style cabins

Food: Three meals a day during the program (mostly vegetarian)

Airport Transfers: Airport pickup is provided upon arrival to San José, and your in-country transfers upon arrival in San Jose to Puerto Jimenez and to the program site.

Orientation: You will receive an on-site orientation on the program upon arrival.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visa (if required), travel health insurance, personal expenses, departure transfer at the end of your program

Location

The Osa Peninsula is a breathtakingly beautiful and biodiverse region of Costa Rica, home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. It offers a mix of tropical-humid rainforests, rare wildlife, and stunning Pacific beaches. Its remoteness adds to its untouched, wild charm, making it a significant area for conservation efforts. The project’s proximity to Corcovado National Park, recognized as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth, underscores the importance of its conservation mission.

Volunteer Work

This program is dedicated to making a real impact on the conservation of sea turtles and their natural environments through initiatives driven by the community. It is founded on the belief that engaging volunteers in meaningful activities not only fosters personal and professional development but also contributes substantially to conservation objectives. Volunteers play a vital role, participating in diverse tasks such as turtle patrols, safeguarding nests, gathering data, and conducting outreach within the community, all crucial for the aim of protecting sea turtle populations and their habitats.

In our commitment to sustainable development, we are developing a permaculture project on our new site. This endeavor will enable us to produce a significant portion of the food needed by our staff and volunteers, lessening our dependence on food sources that are not sustainable and supporting local food production efforts. Moreover, one of our ambitious goals is to transform our facility into a completely zero-waste operation, furthering our commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable living.

Volunteer tasks may include:

Daily turtle patrols (morning and night).
Protecting new nests and recording data on nesting females.
Participating in beach clean-ups and plastic classification.
Providing English lessons and presentations at local schools.
Assisting with tree planting and maintenance around the camp.
Assisting in community-oriented activities to improve local facilities.
Assist in sustainable permaculture gardens and other Sustainability initiatives

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Poor Wi-Fi availability in this destination, expect to obtain a SIM card before arrival and to have poor reception.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: During your stay in San Jose and Puerto Jimenez, you’ll stay in central hostels in the city. During your volunteering, our camp has been constructed with a deep respect for the environment, utilizing sustainable and natural materials wherever possible. We’ve even repurposed wood and other materials from disused buildings for our construction. Volunteers are accommodated in rustic, dormitory-style cabins that foster a sense of community, complete with a shared kitchen, a relaxation area, and a garden. Our vision for the camp is to achieve zero waste and to operate in the most eco-friendly manner achievable. Amenities include basic solar-powered electricity, WiFi, western-style toilets, and access to clean drinking water.

Food icon Food: Three meals a day are provided, they are simple and mostly vegetarian.

Requirements

Please note the project’s minimum requirements:

GoEco interview
Minimum age of 18
Basic Spanish knowledge will be helpful, although not mandatory.
National Police Clearance
Adaptable to high temperatures and humidity
Ability to cope with remote locations and rustic living conditions (volunteer dorms offer bunk beds, shared showers and toilets)
Consideration of the project’s goal to become a zero waste facility.
Flexible and open-minded in order to carry out a variety of tasks, depending on the project needs

Physical requirements to join:

Must be able to complete three-four hour night patrols on soft sand
Must be able to lift at least 15 kilos (35 pounds)
Must have a good bill of health without limitations to preform physical tasks required by the project

Travel Highlights

The Osa Peninsula offers an array of activities for volunteers during their free time, including visits to Corcovado National Park, surfing, horse-riding, chocolate tours, whale and dolphin watching, waterfall hikes, and guided tours. The area’s rich biodiversity and stunning natural beauty provide a unique backdrop for adventure and exploration.