Turtle Biologist

location
3 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Contribute to the conservation of sea turtles by doing daily beach patrols where you will encounter females laying eggs and baby turtles hatching.
  • Support community development by giving English lessons to local staff members and helping with presentations at local schools.
  • Learn about the process of beach clean-ups, sorting plastic and finally inserting the plastic pieces into an extruder and wrapping it around forms to create products (eg jewelry, plant pots).

Highlights

  • Contribute to the conservation of sea turtles by doing daily beach patrols where you will encounter females laying eggs and baby turtles hatching.
  • Support community development by giving English lessons to local staff members and helping with presentations at local schools.
  • Learn about the process of beach clean-ups, sorting plastic and finally inserting the plastic pieces into an extruder and wrapping it around forms to create products (eg jewelry, plant pots).
  • Gain Spanish fluency by living with locals and sharing daily life with other Spanish speaking volunteers and research assistants.
  • Experience living in our sustainable base camp that is located in one of the most biodiverse areas of the entire planet and only a few hundred meters from Playa Rio Oro!


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Volunteer to help protect Olive Ridley and green sea turtle nests by patrolling beaches. You will have the opportunity to work with nesting females and baby hatchlings!

    The Location

    Our community focused turtle conservation project is located on the incredible Osa Peninsular, Costa Rica. Home to an incredible amount of biodiversity the peninsular is also home to communities trying to make a living in this isolated area. Unfortunately, this often leads to illegal ...

    About the program

    The Location

    Our community focused turtle conservation project is located on the incredible Osa Peninsular, Costa Rica. Home to an incredible amount of biodiversity the peninsular is also home to communities trying to make a living in this isolated area. Unfortunately, this often leads to illegal activities such as gold mining or poaching.  This is why we strive to improve the employability skills and options for our local community by providing training and employment as much as we can. 

    About the Program

    COPROT is a fairly new project, founded in 2018 to protect the sea turtles and support the community in our area. We require driven and innovative individuals that are looking to make a real impact in a developing rural area in Costa Rica. You must be able to live in minimal conditions and survive off of a mostly vegetarian diet while on camp.

    Who can join us

    Volunteers require no previous experience and all are encouraged to apply. We are looking for volunteers who are excited to collect data on nesting female turtles during morning or night patrols, teach and plan English lessons for our local people, take part in hatchling release days, learn how to garden, and are keen to be more involved with nature.

    What you'll be doing

    As a volunteer, you will participate in daily turtle patrols, morning patrols (3-5 hrs) or night patrols (4-7 hrs). On the patrols you will protect new nests, record data on the nesting female, excavate hatched nests, assist in the tourism element and release hatchlings! Our beaches are some of the most important in the region with almost 7,000 sea turtle nests each year. We strive to collect as much data and protect as many of these nests as possible.

    If you are looking for a project that will give you the chance to experience one of the most biodiverse places on earth, encounter and protect sea turtles everyday and get involved in the local community, then COPROT is the project for you!

    Sea turtle monitoring can be quite physically demanding (lots of walking on soft sand), and in order for us to be able to collect the best data possible we are also mainly working during early mornings and late nights. This is awesome though, as the night sky is like no other, and we can never get tired of sunrises over pristine beaches...

    We expect volunteers to support on the beaches as much as possible, and collaborate in other environmental activities that we may be conducting during the day. This is not a vacation location, it's a conservation station!!

    We are also a POSITIVE VIBES ORGANIZATION :D which means that we expect everyone to bring the best version of themselves, and treat everyone on the project and in the community with love and respect.  


    Kit List 2023/24

    The items listed below are suggested for you to bring with you to Costa Rica during your stay with us. Please keep

    in mind that the Osa Peninsula is hot and humid even during the rainy season, so choose light, quick-drying

    materials where possible. We are also based on a rustic camp where our wastewater goes directly into the

    environment, so please consider carefully what products you bring with you (must be environmentally friendly

    and biodegradable wherever possible!!). We are promoting sustainability and eventually want to have our camp

    as a completely zero waste environment, therefore as little packaging, and plastic as possible would be greatly

    appreciated. Additionally, we ask that you take any personal waste with you when you leave (old batteries, aerosol

    cans, dead electronics etc.) as this is one of the hardest places on the planet to dispose of waste!

    General Kit List (Essential)

    • Small backpack (for turtle patrols/day bag, preferably a dry bag backpack)
    • Drybag (especially important in wet season, can be a smaller size to keep your electronics in if you already have a dry bag backpack)
    • Hat and sunglasses
    • Water bottle (at least 1L capacity)

    - Wash kit:

    • Toothbrush (2), toothpaste, hairbrush
    • Tweezers, small scissors, nail file
    • Sanitary products (a menstrual cup/reusable pads are preferred to reduce waste)
    • Talc powder (very important to keep your feet dry during rainy season) 
    • Antibacterial soap, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant (all shampoos/soaps etc. must be fully biodegradable)
    • Natural insect repellent (must be DEET-free)
    • Suncream (factor 50+), after sun/moisturizer, aloe vera/coconut oil (both very useful as after sun, for
    • mosquito/sandfly bites)

    • Headtorch WITH RED LIGHT FUNCTION (in all night patrol work we use red light only, rechargeable’s preferred and if you are staying for a long period, it’s a good idea to bring a spare) and its batteries 
    • Waterproof wristwatch

    - Medical kit (highly recommended if you are staying for 1+ months):

    • Antiseptic spray/wipes or iodine, pack of plasters, rubbing alcohol (for any wounds), oxygen water 
    • Antihistamine tablets and cream (for allergies, mosquito bites),
    • Antifungal cream (for athlete’s foot etc.)
    • Rehydration salts, ibuprofen/paracetamol
    • Antibiotics, antibiotic cream (staph infections on your skin are very common)

    - Travel documents (passport, copy of medical insurance, personal medication information, vaccine card)


    General Kit List (Recommended / Optional)

    - Cell phone and charger (ideally that is unblocked for Costa Rican SIM card)

    - Two pairs of earbuds

    - Back-up charging device/solar charger (charging may not always be available, so good to have an extra

    battery device for charging phones etc.)

    - Correct adaptors/chargers (ones with multiple USB sockets are very useful)

    - Laptop (helpful for independent work; conducting research, making presentations, entering data etc.)

    - Sleeping bag liner – note this is liner, not the whole sleeping bag.

    - Penknife

    - Sewing kit

    - Beach towel


    Clothing List (Essential)

    - (3+) Long dark pants (for night patrol)

    - (3+) Dark long-sleeved tops (for night patrols)

    - (5+) Long socks

    - (2+) Hiking socks

    - (3+) Lightweight shorts

    - (4+) T-shirts/tank tops

    - (2+) Lightweight long sleeved shirts

    - (1+) Pair of waterproof sandals/shoes (Crocs style or similar are perfect!)

    - (1+) Lightweight raincoat

    - (3+) Quick drying towel (for your body, your hair and your feet are recommended) 

    (1) Beach towel

    - (7+) Underwear

    - (2+) Swimsuit

    - (1+) Long lightweight pajama (for the mosquitos at night)

    This list will depend on how long you are staying with us. Shorter stays may not need as much as this, longer stays may need more.


    Clothing List (Recommended)

    - Wide brimmed hat

    - Hiking boots/rubber boots (if you want to go walking on the trails or in the National Park) 

    Any casual clothing/evening wear/sports clothes for free time, trips/tours and fiestas!

    Optional Extras

    - Hammock (lots of great trees to swing in!)

    - Books/Kindle

    - Playing cards/group games

    - Camera

    - Downloaded films, music, and TV shows!

    - Favorite snacks from home! You can buy snacks in Puerto Jimenez before arriving, the largest supermarket is called BM. Make sure all your snacks can be closed as the kitchen is open and insects can get into your food (the fridge is currently not working, and it can be very hot and humid, so keep that in mind when choosing what to bring!)

    - Seasoning, spices, drinks etc – you may want to bring some additional flavors to throw on your camp food or bring some special teas or coffees that will keep you going on camp!


    Remember that you can wash your clothes here (although we don’t have washing machine and you’ll have to

    wash it by hand).


    Remember to check the baggage allowance with your airline before flying, both international and domestic flights

    (domestic flights tend to have a much lower allowance and extra baggage costs will vary). Also, some credit cards

    do not work with the atm in Puerto Jimenez for withdrawing money, so it is recommended to withdraw cash

    (colones or American dollars) before arriving.



    Typical day

    As a volunteer, you will participate in daily turtle patrols, morning patrols (3-5 hrs) or night patrols (4-7 hrs). On the patrols you will protect new nests, record data on the nesting females, excavate hatched nests, assist with tourist experiences and release hatchlings! During the day, we will ...

    Typical day

    As a volunteer, you will participate in daily turtle patrols, morning patrols (3-5 hrs) or night patrols (4-7 hrs). On the patrols you will protect new nests, record data on the nesting females, excavate hatched nests, assist with tourist experiences and release hatchlings! During the day, we will also have beach clean-ups, plastic upcycling, community workshops/English lessons, presentations, gardening and general camp maintenance!



    Free-time activities

    In your free time you can go hiking around the jungle, go walk or swim at the nearby beaches (Playa Peje Pero, Rio Oro, Carate) where you can also play some sports such as soccer or volleyball! We also have yoga mats that can be used for yoga or doing some exercise. We also make bowls, pots, jewelry ...

    Free-time activities

    In your free time you can go hiking around the jungle, go walk or swim at the nearby beaches (Playa Peje Pero, Rio Oro, Carate) where you can also play some sports such as soccer or volleyball! We also have yoga mats that can be used for yoga or doing some exercise. We also make bowls, pots, jewelry (bracelets, earrings, rings) and some functional items (soap holders, toilet brushes) out of the plastic that is collected at the beach. Additionally, there are some shared books available to read on our bookshelves. 


    We normally work very hard on the project, but there’s still always plenty of time to relax and explore. There are a lot of different activities around the Osa Península that can be arranged in advance and may have discounts for volunteers. Here you have a list of some of these activities (these prices are just for guidance and may be subject to change) and also an example of how your week could be in the last page:

    - Corcovado National Park

    - Surfing in Matapalo

    - Horse-riding

    - Chocolate tour

    - Whale and dolphin tour

    - Waterfall hike

    - Guided gold-mining tour

    - Plus a lot of free activities: night walks, jungle walks, beach cleans, game and movie night, pizza nights, etc.


    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 English (intermediate level)

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 07:30 - 17:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by COPROT

    This amount covers: 

    • food and lodging
    • as well as their training during their stay. 
    Volunteers must cover their transportation costs to reach and leave COPROT, and any extra activity that they want to do during their free time.

    Accommodation

    Since the beginning of 2019, we have been developing our base camp located just a few hundred meters from the entrance to Playa Rio Oro, on a piece of land that has been offered to us by the landowner for use for our project development (thank you!). We have built our camp with nature in mind, and have used primarily sustainable and natural resources, upcycling the majority of wood and other materials from old buildings no longer in use.

    The base camp is surrounded by a wide range of tropical plants where we often see many tropical birds and sometimes monkeys! We have a few chickens roaming around the camp, as well as 2 dogs and a cat.

    Our volunteers sleep in one of two lodges, one has 2 single beds and the other has 2 bunk beds. They are located just a few steps away from the bathroom and kitchen.

    Our communal kitchen is open with a panoramic view of the garden. There are 2 tables where we like to cook and eat our meals together.

    There are 2 bathrooms and 2 showers that are shared.

    All the facilities get cleaned on a daily basis!


    Project members can expect to sleep in open air dormitories in bunkbeds fitted with mosquito nets. Both camps have bathrooms with western toilets and showers as well as lovely, large and open communal kitchens. All of our buildings are made primarily with sustainable and/or upcycled materials in order to have the lowest possible impact on the environment. Both camps have simple solar systems to offer small amounts of power to light the camps and charge appliances. The use of this solar system for guests will depend on how many people are on camp and how much sun we have, as this effects how much power we will have available to the project sites. For those that are worried about collection, we recommend getting yourself a Kolbi sim card that has some signal in certain places. we are very conscious about our waste, so everything needs to be reused, recycled or sent back to Puerto Jiménez as trash. One of our goals is to become a zero waste facility within the next 5 years, and have the least possible impact on the environment. Please consider this when planning your trip, and think about what you’re bringing to the camp. It will be your responsibility to get rid of the big waste articles (like shoes, big containers, batteries...) before your arrival, or bring them back with you when you leave. During your stay, please reduce the use of plastic and bring biodegradable soaps and shampoo when possible.

    Food & Beverages

    We provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! All of our food is vegetarian/vegan. Some examples include:

    Breakfast: 
    • oatmeal with fresh fruit and peanut butter
    • pinto beans and rice with fresh/pan fried vegetables
    Lunch/dinner:
    • vegetable curry with rice/naan bread
    •  bean chili with rice and lettuce
    • pasta with lentil bolognese
    • minestrone soup with veggies, beans and pasta
    Snacks: 
    • fresh cut up fruit (papaya, pineapple, starfruit, oranges, grapefruit)
    • fresh cut up vegetables (red bell peppers, carrots)
    • salty crackers

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Airport Pickup at Puerto Jimenez

    An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Puerto Jimenez (PJM) in Puerto Jimenez. 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

    Volunteers can join the program at any time during the year. 

    Something unique to this area is that sea turtles nest all year round so you will always have the opportunity to work with them.

    We ask volunteers to arrive on Mondays, to fit in with our training schedule and the schedule of the local transport. 

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    3 weeks (min. stay) 788€
    4 weeks 998€
    8 weeks 1,995€
    16 weeks 3,990€
    50 weeks (max. stay) 12,469€
    Average fees 255€/week

    Program fees

    255€ per week 3 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    3 - 50 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 COPROT during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    COPROT

    Brilliant 4.7 rating (19 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2018

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Very high response rate

    Coordinated by

    Isa

    Spoken languages: Spanish, English

    About the project

    COPROT is a community-driven conservation sea turtle project that aims to address the conservation/community issues that occur in the Osa Peninsula.

    Meet your organization

    Who we are? 

    We are a community driven sea turtle conservation project on some of the busiest beaches in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica.


    What we do?

    We patrol our beaches for nesting mother turtles. We have both olive ridley and green sea turtles nesting on our beaches, least we we recorded almost 7,000 nests! We work to collect data on the populations and protect the nests. This is not our only focus, we also work with our local community to develop and improve the local area through sustainability projects (plastic and food) as well as giving English lessons and support to our local community.


    Where we work?

    We are based on the incredibly biodiverse Osa Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Our camp is around 100m from the beach, and nestled in surrounding secondary rainforest. It is a safe area with very few people around, we are often the only ones on the beach. There are no special health requirements to visit the area.


    Our mission

    We strive to protect the sea turtle populations in our area whilst enhancing the scientific knowledge of these populations and the prosperity of the local community.


    Our goals

    • Increase scientific reports of the sea turtle populations in this area
    • Improve livelihoods and sustainability of local communities
    • Protect the populations of sea turtles nesting on our beaches
    • Upcycle plastic from our beaches to create an income for local community members. 


    Who are we looking for?

    People who want to experience this amazing environment and help protect it whilst working within the local community. Good physical fitness and capacity to work in a hot and humid environment. Sea turtles are mainly active at night, which means we need volunteers that are happy to work late nights and early mornings.


    Why choose us?

    With our large turtle nesting populations you are practically guaranteed to see turtles in your stay with us whilst also being able to get fully involved in all of our conservation and community work.

    19 reviews · rating4.7

    Marta Ciccolari Micaldi rating5

    2023 at Turtle Biologist

    It is a very intense experience, from all points of view. Firstly because it forces you to completely detach from your normal life (which very soon becomes a memory) and adapt to a lifestyle in total communion with nature in which, for example, wakefulness and sleep are regulated by the cycle of the ...
    Marine Feron rating5

    2023 at Turtle Biologist

    Ce fut une magnifique expérience de conservation et de protection des tortues. Je suis restée un peu plus de deux semaines et j'ai pu rencontrer des personnes incroyables (assistants biologistes et volontaires), on apprend beaucoup sur les tortues et l'environnement en général. L'organisation ...
    Molly Mitchell rating5

    2022 at Turtle Biologist

    My time here what such an amazing experience I gained so much knowledge working alongside the coprot team. There are many volunteering experiences in Costa Rica to choose from but I definitely recommend visiting ...
    Eduardo Tubelli rating5

    2022 at Turtle Biologist

    It was one of my best experiences in my life, enjoying and getting in touch with nature. Doing jungle walks forgetting about city problema and just enjoying life. Waking up to see different species of monkeys and animals was a nice. Not just that working closely with the Carate community teaching ...
    Megan Gledhill rating5

    2022 at Turtle Biologist

    I had the most amazing experience visiting coprot tortugas I will definitely be back again. I recommend this place to anyone looking to volunteer. The coprot team are all really friendly and ...
    Juan Camilo Borrero rating5

    2022 at Turtle Biologist

    In the beginning, I was anxious about the little number of reviews and the location of the project. But, as soon as I arrived at the camp. I had a warm welcome from the team which instantly made all my worries melt away. Day by day I was learning a lot about turtles, and the importance of the ...

    Location

    Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Osa Peninsula

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