Animal Wildlife Rescue
Coordinator | Vanessa
Coordinator | Vanessa
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Rescue injured wildlife like sloths, monkeys, ocelots, kinkajous, coati, deer, macaws and other exotic birds.
Rehabilitate injured animals indigenous to Costa Rica with our skilled veterinarian team and skilled vet interns.
Release the rehabilitated animals back to their natural habitats after they have been proved themselves to be able to survive on their own.
Travel the country of Costa Rica to enjoy and learn about our culture, beaches, rain forests and volcanos.
Meet and make lifetime friends from around the world who share the same passion of helping animals and making a difference in our world.
We rescue, rehabilitate and when possible release injured and displaced wildlife. The generosity of time and effort from our volunteers help us achieve our mission.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Are you ready to become a wildlife volunteer abroad? We hope so. We need motivated and passionate volunteers to join us here at Rescue Center Costa Rica to take care of our injured and displaced animals. We have monkeys, sloths, kinkajous, coat, exotic birds and much more. However, in order for us to continue our mission of rescue, rehabilitation and when possible release we need the kindness and generosity from people like you who want to make a difference.
The volunteer program we run is rewarding, memorable, and a whole lot of fun. In addition to working with our animals close up and personal you also get to enjoy great food (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly), meet new friends from around the world, travel our beautiful country, and create lasting memories. Most importantly, we work out of a safe and secure location and provide private transportation for all your needs during your stay.
You will be picked up at the airport by our drivers, transported safely to the Rescue Center, be given your bed, and a quick tour of the facility. The first morning you wake-up you will enjoy a delicious breakfast before being given an explanation on your first day of work. At mid-day we serve lunch and afterward, you have some downtime to enjoy the pool, swing in a hammock, and meet the other volunteers. Afternoon work is followed by dinner and volunteer activities planned by the coordinators which include but are not limited to games, bonfires, night walks, etc.
Day work is the most important part when you sign-up to be a wildlife volunteer. Workgroups include food prep and feeding, animal enclosure cleaning, animal toy enrichment, and working with the vet team. At every step of the process, we have skilled and endearing coordinators who manage each group and will teach what to do and how to do it. They plan the following day's work each night so if you prefer to be in a certain group with a certain task feel free to communicate that and we will accommodate.
Bear Conservation
Activities
Leopardus Conservation
Sloth Sanctuary
Bird Conservation
Monkey Conservation
Kinkajou
Families with small kids
Ocelot
Three-toed Sloth
Parrot
Howler Monkeys
Typical day
- Breakfast is served from 6:30 am to 7:30 am
- Workgroups are assigned for the daily activities.
- Animal food prep, enrichment, enclosure cleaning, and veterinarian activities of the morning begin at 6am and 11am.
- Lunch is served from 12:00 pm until 1:30 pm.
- The afternoon meeting begins at 1:30 between coordinators and their workgroup.
- Animal food prep, enrichment, enclosure cleaning, and veterinarian activities of the morning begin at 2:00 pm.
- Dinner is served from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
- Night activities begin at 7:30 pm including but not limited to movies, dancing (salsa and bachata), night exploration walks, trivia, and more...
- Volunteers are asked to be in bed by 10:00 pm.
- Check in 3pm Check-out 11am
- We have 2 facilities, garita and guacima. Make sure to ask where you will be staying.
Free-time activities
We believe that volunteers who work hard need to play hard as well! We have a swimming pool on our property surrounded by beach chairs for plenty of time to cool off or get that much-needed Vitamin D.
Relax in one of our hammocks and read a good book or just relax with new friends and have a great conversation.
We also offer weekly adventure tours which are awesome. You can sign-up every week and travel with other volunteers to places around the country like Jaco Beach, Manuel Antonio National Park, the Monteverde Cloud Forest, and Arenal Volcano.In addition, we also do turtle tours weekly to the different beaches around Costa Rica. You will have fun, make better friendships, and experience and learn all the beautiful nature Costa Rica has to offer.
We provide private transportation for these tours at an additional cost to ensure both your safety and enjoyment. Also, we ensure you receive breakfast before leaving, a packed lunch for the day, and dinner when you arrive home to Rescue Center.
Swimming
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Opera
Sports
Riding
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.
You need to speak English (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
from
08:00
- 17:00
What's Included
The pricing is all-inclusive for your entire stay. You will receive private safe transportation to and from the airport. Every volunteer receives a free official Rescue Center Costa Rica t-shirt upon arrival. Stays of two weeks or more will receive an entire volunteer package which includes but is not limited to a bag, t-shirt, beach towel, water bottle, and a protective sloth monogrammed mask.
All meals are included which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We cater to all diets including vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, and all food allergies. You will receive a re-usable bracelet on arrival in the color that specifies your diet. We provide a 14-day menu so that the food is not just fresh but also different every day. If there is anything specific you like or prefer to eat we are always happy to accommodate.
The housing we provide includes private rooms, family houses, tiki huts, and tents. We believe sleep comfort is important for all of our volunteers. We appreciate and value your hard work so we work hard to make sure you are happy, safe, and comfortable.
The weekly adventure tours are an additional cost but they are not mandatory. We do our best to keep the prices reasonable and in line with expectations. Any money that is profited from these tours goes directly towards our mission which is feeding and caring for the animals. Your participation in these tours lets you enjoy yourself, experience the country, and donate to helping our furry friends.
The night activities we provide are FREE and we work hard to make them as fun and enjoyable as possible.
We have a supermarket and medical clinic within walking distance but we also have drivers available at all times if you need transportation to a nearby location. We are always happy to help and accommodate when possible!
We handle all of our transportation through private drivers who work directly for Rescue Center Costa Rica. Upon arrival, they will be waiting outside with your name on a sign ready to show you to the vehicle. They will hand you a paper detailing initial information including the direct number to management to call if you need to stop anywhere or ask a question. The vehicle will include the Rescue Center Costa Rica logo on the side doors so you can feel comfortable you are going to the right place. You will be given the driver's name in advance through our ticket alert email system by customer service.
The housing we provide includes private rooms, family houses, tiki huts, and tents. We believe sleep comfort is important for all of our volunteers. We appreciate and value your hard work so we work hard to make sure you are happy, safe, and comfortable.
All meals are included which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We cater to all diets including vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, and all food allergies. You will receive a re-usable bracelet on arrival in the color that specifies your diet. We provide a 14-day menu so that the food is not just fresh but also different every day. If there is anything specific you like or prefer to eat we are always happy to accommodate.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica.
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.
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.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
We work 365 days a year/24 hours a day. We deal with both diurnal (daytime) and nocturnal animals so our work never ends. We love it!
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 - 12 weeks
Program fees
1 week
(min. stay)
$350
2 weeks
$700
3 weeks
$1,000
4 weeks
$1,300
5 weeks
$1,600
6 weeks
$1,900
7 weeks
$2,200
8 weeks
$2,500
9 weeks
$2,800
10 weeks
$3,000
11 weeks
$3,200
12 weeks
(max. stay)
$3,500
Average fees
$321
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Rescue Center Costa Rica
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
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.
Your final payment will be agreed with Rescue Center Costa Rica during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
Why book with Volunteer World
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
Quality Assurance
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Change your reservation at no extra costs
Refund Guarantee
We refund your fees if Rescue Center Costa Rica cancels your trip
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Our services are free of charge!
All program fees are charged directly by Rescue Center Costa Rica.
What are people saying about Volunteer World?
Animal Wildlife Rescue
We rescue, rehabilitate and when possible release injured and displaced wildlife. The generosity of time and effort from our volunteers help us achieve our mission.
$321/week
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