Wildlife Conservation Volunteer in Costa Rica

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Good response rate


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Discover the breath-taking beauty and exotic wildlife, make unique experiences and contribute to the rehabilitation of animals in Costa Rica!

The country 

Costa Rica, a piece of tropical paradise in Central America, is known for its sun-kissed beaches with waves perfect for surfing, stunning sunsets, misty crater lakes, exciting paths and hiking trails, breath-taking waterfalls and white-water rapids. Costa Rica’s culture bears heavy ...

About the program

The country 

Costa Rica, a piece of tropical paradise in Central America, is known for its sun-kissed beaches with waves perfect for surfing, stunning sunsets, misty crater lakes, exciting paths and hiking trails, breath-taking waterfalls and white-water rapids. Costa Rica’s culture bears heavy influences by its Spanish colonizers but parts of it have other strong influences as well, such as Jamaican and Mayan. A small, yet enchantingly varied country, Costa Rica and its inhabitants invite all visitors to embrace its unofficial motto - ‘pura vida’ (“pure life”) and to enjoy numerous adventures and diverse nature. ‘Pura vida’ can be used as a greeting or a farewell, just to say “that’s great” or “all is good” and it expresses the positive outlook on life of the local inhabitants, also known as “ticos”.

With no real summer or winter, and a rainy season between May and November, you can enjoy temperatures between 21°C and 27°C all year round. In the central valley, temperatures are slightly lower than in the coastal areas. The Pacific Coast, especially its northern part (known as the Gold Coast), is hot and dry throughout the year while the Caribbean coast is hot and moist with rainfalls during most of the year. The highlands around Monteverde are filled with mist most of the year due to the high altitude and the lowlands have a nice warm climate. The Central Valley, which includes San José, is believed to have the best climate in the country.

The region

This project takes place in Esparza, a medium-sized agricultural town nestled in the mountains above Rio Barranca, in the Central Pacific Coast area. First inhabited by the Huetar and the Chorotega who fled from Mexico 1,500 years ago, Esparza was founded by the Spanish in 1577 which makes it the second oldest town in the country. Esparza is the second largest canton in the province of Puntarenas and has a rich history including legends of hidden pirate gold. The town is relaxed and off the tourist trail but close to beaches for surfing and relaxing, Carara national park and Puntarenas’ marine park and newly renovated marina.

The project 

Costa Rica is known for being one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. Almost everywhere you look you see amazing wild animals living around you. As such it is one of the best places to get exposed to, and learn to care for exotic species, and ensure their survival in our fast changing world.

The care of animals and the environment that this project carries out requires people with a high degree of commitment and cooperation. There are numerous diverse functions that you can perform to help animals, so you are not required to have specific knowledge about animals. All activities will always be carried out under the supervision of the organization’s staff. Volunteers will have very limited physical interaction with the animals.


Typical day

You will be working with local staff as they care for animals in the animal sanctuary. These are either former pets which were illegally kept, or injured animals, taken to the sanctuary by the government. The intention is to release them to the wild.

You don’t need specialist knowledge, as there ...

Typical day

You will be working with local staff as they care for animals in the animal sanctuary. These are either former pets which were illegally kept, or injured animals, taken to the sanctuary by the government. The intention is to release them to the wild.

You don’t need specialist knowledge, as there are many ways to help, but please be willing to learn about the appropriate management of wildlife – they are to be treated as wild animals, not as pets or curiosities!

You will feed a variety of animals, including jaguars, monkeys, many birds, tapirs, sloths etc, as well as being able to participate in the rescue and rehabilitation process. There is also maintenance of enclosures and the general environment. All work is carried out under the direction and supervision of professional staff in order to ensure your safety and the welfare of the animals.

Since most animals are passing through the project, we cannot guarantee you will work with any specific species, however you will get to know many incredible species in this incredibly bio-diverse country.

6:00am – Feeding of animals
8:00am – Breakfast
8:15am – Daily tasks – ecological restoration, cleaning and maintaining
enclosure, assisting with tours, preparing food and feeding animals etc.
10:30am – Juice break
10:45am – Daily tasks
12:00pm – Lunch, rest time
1:00pm – Feeding animals
3pm – Free time. There is wifi, and you are surrounded by nature.
5:00pm – Evening Meal


Free-time activities

There is a weekly evening activity such as dancing lessons, cooking lessons, Spanish lessons or a trip to a tourist destination or a nearby town. On a weekend, every month, there is an organized trip to a tourist destination - a beach, volcano, waterfall, canopy, ziplining, horse riding and more. ..

Free-time activities

There is a weekly evening activity such as dancing lessons, cooking lessons, Spanish lessons or a trip to a tourist destination or a nearby town. On a weekend, every month, there is an organized trip to a tourist destination - a beach, volcano, waterfall, canopy, ziplining, horse riding and more. Esparza and Puntarenas have a lot to offer in weekend activities for all budgets. You can also get involved in local events and fiestas. Enjoy some of the best scenery in the world and hop on the Panamerican highway to discover the rest of the American continent. From Puntarenas you can take a scenic ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula and its many secluded beaches.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak Spanish (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

A strong interest in the work and a readiness to get your hands dirty are needed. You cannot be allergic to seafood. Necessary vaccinations. Necessary flight & visas. Full travel & medical insurance.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Global Nomadic

  • Accommodation
  • Food & Drinks
  • Airport Pickup
  • Orientation
  • in-country support
  • project activities

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

You will be met at the airport and accompanied to the project location.

Accommodation

The accommodation is near the project, on the coast, 100m from the sea. You will stay at one of the two newly built eco houses - Jaguar House and Toucan House. The two houses accommodate up to 22 people. The rooms are single gender and are mostly equipped with two bunk beds so they sleep a maximum of 4 people. Bed linens are provided; however, you need to bring your own towels. One room per house has a bunk bed with a double bed under a single bed so it can accommodate couples or small families. Both houses have western style toilets and cold showers which is very refreshing in the heat. The two houses have washing machines and you can hang your clothes to dry - it’s quick with these temperatures! To keep cool there are two fans in every room and all windows are fitted with mosquito screens so you can sleep uninterrupted by the annoying buzz. For extra security, you can make use of the lockable doors. If you prefer a private room, you can arrange one for an additional cost before arriving at your program.

You can relax together with your fellow participants in the communal areas/games room and use the free WiFi. The large garden welcomes you with tropical plants including coconut, papaya, banana and citrus.

Food & Beverages

During your stay you will have three meals on the weekdays and two on the weekends consisting mainly of a mix of traditional and modern Costa Rican food. Most dishes include fish or chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarian preferences are also taken into consideration.

Within 300 metres of the centre you can find shops and a 15 minute walk away are bars, restaurants and an excellent public pool. An ATM can be found a kilometer away as well as in town, 2 kms away. There are also more shops, bars and restaurants in town.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Project is on-going, and you can join at any time, depending upon availability.
Placements start each Monday.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 1,627€
3 weeks 2,440€
4 weeks 3,253€
24 weeks (max. stay) 15,615€
Average fees 731€/week

Program fees

731€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 24 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Global Nomadic during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Global Nomadic

Perfect 4.6 rating (38 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2009

Verified by Volunteer World

  Good response rate

Coordinated by

Jeremy

About the project

We believe real change can happen when people find life-enhancing opportunities.

Meet your organization

Who we are

Global Nomadic empowers positive change by connecting people with projects

Global Nomadic was founded in 2008 with one clear goal – to empower change by connecting people. We believe real change can only come about when people are able to find the right opportunities with the right organisations. Over the past years, we have grown to offer high-quality international internships in a wide range of professional fields, but our aim is still the same; connecting people with projects.

We provide aspiring young professionals with exactly what is needed to set them apart in the very competitive world we live in. We exist to help you further your career through educational international work experience placements, but also to help NGOs around the world carry out their community-building work, by connecting them with you. By working with local NGOs, charities, and communities you will gain excellent experience and valuable skills, aiding you to further your ambitions – whilst making a difference where it’s needed most.

This world is not a perfect place – and we don’t claim to be able to fix it. But what we can do is provide a bridge between you and the people who can. Our mission is to work towards a better and more stable world by connecting people with projects. We believe we work better together than apart. We believe travel and exposure to other cultures, beliefs and ways of life are the best ways to achieve this. We believe you can travel the world and travel your career.

What we do

We provide access to vetted, worthwhile international internships in a wide range of professional fields.

We work in a range of different fields from veterinary medicine and environmental conservation to journalism, public health, business development and education – matching you with reputable, worthwhile organisations around the world. Unlike many other volunteer organisations, we have personally visited and vetted our project partners, to ensure you a safe and worthwhile international experience.

We also choose to only work with partners whose projects contribute to their local community in a sustainable manner. We do not support, nor advocate orphanage tourism or irresponsible wildlife conservation projects. Our aim is to help our project partners focus on their core work by offering an easy way to find committed interns and volunteers to support their daily activities.

Our volunteers

Global Nomadic is a trusted community meeting space connecting people with NGO projects around the world.

We also offer helping you to source and organise the best flights, insurance, visas and all the many other things you will need before you reach your project destinations, including country guides, packing lists and much more! We want to make sure that you have the volunteering time of your life.

Global Nomadic personally visits all volunteer sites to ensure a quality experience for volunteers. You will receive support before, during and after your placement.

38 reviews · rating4.6

katalin csernai rating5

2024 at Nutrition Outreach Assistant

The programme was well organised . It is a very meaningful programme. Everyone was very friendly and supportive. I can warmly recommend it to anyone this experience ...
Kylie Jones rating5

2024 at Working at a Local Food Shop

This was our first volunteering experience and we absolutely loved it. The feeling of gratitude and humility at being able to assist a little bit is so rewarding. What an amazing team of kind and hardworking staff and volunteers, and the warm smiles and greetings we had from customers I will never ...
Enya Niedermeier rating4.8

2024 at Teaching and Sports Education

The Green Lion staff are some of the nicest people I have ever met. The other volunteers were so nice too and it was very easy to find likeminded people to hang out with. The program itself was amazing and also educational. Doing sport with the children was so fulfilling and everyone was polite and ...
Dominic Aeschlimann rating4.8

2024 at Construction & Renovation of Community Facilities

I have been two weeks in the project to help in diffrent stuff like painting and prepairing bricks. I enjoyed it a lot and the locals were so happy when they saw it. The stuff is lovley and the other voulenteers too. i would do it immediately ...
Anais hulot rating3.2

2024 at English Literacy Teaching

Incroyable expérience dans une école malgache. L'accueil a été très chaleureux, les enseignants sont très heureux de nous accueillir et leur enseigner l'anglais est plus qu'utile car ils vivent sur une île plutôt touristique. J'ai vraiment eu le sentiment de leur apporter quelque chose. J'ai ...
Beatriz Nicolau rating5

2023 at Whale & Dolphin Conservation in Italy

I had the privilege of participating in this program which I can only describe as the best experience of my life. Angelo, the driving force behind this initiative, is an incredible individual dedicated to making the world a better place. My week on board was nothing short of amazing, offering me a ...

Location


You might also be interested in

Contact Jeremy
  Good response rate

Most volunteers ask about


Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Jeremy
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.