GoEco > Central America > Costa Rica > Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center + Academic Credits
Gain Academic Credits while you volunteer for an incredible sloth and animal rescue center in Costa Rica! This program is open to all volunteers.
Program Highlights:
Your schedule at a glance:
Before You Fly: A minimum of 6 weeks before your placement in Costa Rica, you’ll start your online course work. Approximately 4-6 hours per week is recommended depending on your learning pace and style. There are 2 modules you complete before your trip, one module you complete during your placement, and one module you’ll complete after you return home.
Arrival day, Sunday: Private airport pickup and transfer to the rescue center at any time. Settle in your new home and meet the volunteers.
Monday: Volunteer orientation
Monday – Sunday: About 6 days a week you’ll participate in meaningful volunteer work at the rescue center. The center has a few departments where volunteers are split into groups to focus on specific areas of the conservation work in a rotation.
Thursday: One day off per week is guaranteed for volunteers. It’s typically a Thursday, however please note this could change based on the volunteer rotation schedule. Msot volunteers take the day-off to relax or to join an organized tour around Costa Rica which can be booked on site.
Sunday: Departure and transfer to the airport or continue with the program. Note departure transfers on a schedule, a private drop off at any hour can be added for an additional fee.
Location of the Project: Guacima District in the Alajuela Canton, just a short drive from the Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Project length: Minimum 2 weeks – Maximum 12 weeks
Arrival Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
Volunteer Work: Wildlife care and conservation
Age: Min 18
Number of Volunteers: Up to 100
Important Note: Arrival and departure days are on a Sunday.
What’s Included
Accommodations: Multiple volunteer housing options from 4 to 8 people per room with a shared bathroom.
Food: 3 Costa Rican and Western Style meals per day prepared by our private chefs (we also cater to vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and all allergies).
Airport Transfers: We provide a private airport pickup on arrival at any hour, and a departure shared shuttle at the end of your stay at scheduled times.
Orientation: We provide a full orientation on the first Monday. Welcome package which includes a volunteer t-shirt, carry bag, beach towel, pillowcase, water bottle and a hat or coffee mug.
Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What’s not Included
Flights, visas (if required), private airport drop off upon request can be added for an additional fee, travel health insurance, and personal expenses.
Costa Rica is one of the world’s most popular ecotourism destinations, because of its incredible biodiversity. Scientists estimate that Costa Rica may contain as much as 5% of the earth’s plant and animal species! Costa Rica translates to “rich coast” in Spanish for its diverse landscapes, which include rainforests, tropical and temperate forests, volcanoes, beaches, high mountains and marshy lowlands.
The Wildlife Rescue Center is in Alajuela on a 10 acre farm, just a short drive from the Juan Santamaría International Airport.
Costa Rica is a well-known destination for sustainable and nature tourism. Yet, its diverse wildlife is still under many threats. These include habitat loss because of development, electrocutions, dog and cat attacks, and illegal pet trading.
We work with one of the best wildlife organizations in Costa Rica. They dedicate themselves to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of local animals.
As a volunteer, you will help the local staff treat sick, injured and orphaned animals. Their primary goal is to release animals back to the wild when possible. Your volunteer tasks will include:
Sloth Team: All GoEco Volunteers who join this program are placed into the Sloth Team after an orientation and an educational sloth course. The tasks on this team are just for sloths and include preparing food, feeding, cleaning their enclosures, creating enrichments and sloth babysitting.
Internet: WiFi is available
Laundry: Laundry service is available
Accommodations: Multiple volunteer housing options from 4 to 8 people per room with a shared bathroom.
Food: 3 delicious and healthy meals per day prepared by our private chefs (we also cater to vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and all allergies).
As a volunteer, you can join daily night activities, including Zumba lessons, night walks, bonfires, trivia, movie night and much more…
The program also includes weekly tours to many tourist destinations throughout the country. Some options include:
© 2022 GOECO | All rights reserved
Develop & Design | Msite