Plastic Cleanup Expeditions

Hello! We are MareBlu an Environmental Conservation Organization, based in Costa Rica, founded 4 years ago by our director and activist Geronimo Ciuti Z.

Our main goal is to make the oceans, rivers, and coastlines plastic free primarily through our coastal cleanup expeditions.  We also have an approach through regenerative programs that are possible thanks to our international volunteer program. We have had volunteers from more than 30 countries around the world participating in our projects. We also receive sponsorship from Companies and  NGO's that believe change is a priority for our planet.  

MareBlu’s Volunteer Camp is for volunteers from 18 to 35 age, located inside Punta Leona Resort, which is an hour’s drive from San Jose International Airport, our camp has sleeping quarters for 10 volunteers at a time and serve all meals. Punta Leona is surrounded by natural beauty and in the heart of the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This location allows us to be close to many beaches, that desperately need our help. Plastic Pollution from our main rivers coming from San Jose combined with poor commercial fishing practices and local tourism, are the major sources of contamination on the coastlines.

This Program is very important for the environment because we are a 24/7 (full time) organization that cleans the coastlines from tons of plastic each month. Besides our coastal cleanup expeditions we also run Environmental & Regenerative Projects such as artificial reefs, coral gardening and turtle protection program.

We believe in helping the poor communities, empower themselves and guiding them on how to collect plastic debris on the coastlines and making an income for themselves and their families. We are working on developing products that contain plastics that otherwise would end up in landfill and converting them on products that could be sold throughout the community. That way a conscious awareness can start to develop in this communities and for them to realize there is a way to earn income through the plastic contamination, helping themselves, the community and the environment.

As part as our environmental involvement, besides the beach and coastal cleaning expeditions, we constantly  search for innovative beneficial projects for ocean conservation:

"MX1 Expedition Truck"

One of our newest Mareblu projects is the MX1, the first Plastic Recovery Expedition vehicle in Costa Rica, set out to work hard on difficult to reach beaches and coastlines. This rugged Isuzu NPS truck is going to take our crew on amazing experiences through Costa Rica, on our mission to clean our coastlines from plastic pollution and having an awesome time doing it. It is fitted with roof racks and a trailer to haul the plastic back to our headquarters and our up-cycling facility. 

"Artificial Reefs"

On 2019, Punta Leona Resort  and Club requested MareBlu to initiate the development, design and construction of the artificial reef project. These structures duplicate spheres, which in time will promote and enhance marine life on the Playa Blanca marine reserve. This project consists of approximately 200 artificial reef structures will go through 2021 to 2025.

"Turtle Protection Program"

The turtle hatchery project, is the next chapter in conservation for Mareblu. It will be established at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022. Several studies indicate that these beaches are getting a growing number of turtle nests per year, but the beach does not have the ideal characteristics for them to hatch properly. The turtle nesting hatchery will increase the number of successful nests to promote marine life recovery.

"Upcycling Center"

Our upcoming upcycling center will be one of a kind facility on the central pacific of Costa Rica. We do not believe in retrieving plastic pollution from the environment and sending it to the Municipal Land fill. It is with that in mind, that we are creating the Upcycling center. First to motivate recycling in the area, and second but most important to create products from plastics we retrieve from the ocean, directly in our facility.

"Fishing Plastic"

Through one of our Initiatives called "Fishing Plastic" we can do an effective partnership, and ensure sustainable results necessary for the ecosystems and the people in the area. By sponsoring activities like this you are helping not only to recover tons of plastic and other materials from our coastlines to be upcycled but also giving families the opportunity to have a job and bring food to their households.

Volunteers first and foremost are the engine of our organization, with their enthusiasm and love for the environment they help us daily to achieve our goal of significantly reducing plastic pollution on our coastlines and therefore the ocean. Through our vacations with a purpose approach they get to help the environment and have an amazing time doing it while we discover Costa Rica's nature and beauty.

As an Organization we would expect volunteers to have a positive attitude towards the program and the activities they are about to experience. Respect, team work and a sense of responsibility are always welcome from the volunteers. Either on the clean up Expeditions or an extracurricular activity having fun, getting out of the comfort zone and getting to know themselves is always an opportunity to grow and learn.  

We expect volunteers to be neat and clean on their personal space as well as on common or shared areas.

We offer the volunteers a safe environment and experience. We make them conscious about the problems the world faces today regarding nature and climate change. We want them to have an amazing experience but also working hard to make a difference. We engrain in them important values of responsibility, hard work and embracing and appreciating nature while getting to know Costa Rica on an experience of a lifetime.

During the stay and for the activities, the volunteers should use exercise clothing, tennis shoes, hiking boots or water shoes depends on the place. It is very important to bring reusable water bottle or camelback, an small backpack for cleanups, water bag for the phone, masks, sun block (coral safe), bug repellent (coral safe) and of course swim wear and towel.

Here at the Camp we lend the T-shirt and the Cap for the working hours.

*** We have 2 supermarkets available in the resort area so if you forget / loose an item, it can be purchase.

Since the Camp is inside the resort that consists of thousands of acres of pristine lush rainforest. Volunteers will feel secure exploring the premises and enjoying all the activities the resort has to offer. Several swimming pools, hot tubs and restaurants are within walking distance from the MareBlu Camp, as well as many amazing mountain trails to walk and explore.