Protect Caribbean Sea Turtles

The Project

As a volunteer, you will be a part of a turtle protection project in Pacuare. The area stretches over acres of rain forests and 6 km of beaches, and is located on the Caribbean Coast, around 25 km from Limón. 

The goal of this project is to protect the Baula and Lora sea turtles from extinction. Conservation efforts are driven by a wide range of people, including locals, international tourists, and scientists who are researching the turtles. 

Volunteers will work with scientists when observing the nesting of sea turtles. This task also includes watching and excavating the eggs. After 45-60 days, volunteers and staff have the opportunity to reintroduce the hatchlings into the wild. At the same time, they will be collecting vital research about the turtles by recording key factors, such as temperatures and the amounts of precipitation. Volunteers should be very flexible, as they will carry out a wide range of tasks during the project. 

In addition to sea turtles, the conservation area is home to over 20 other species of mammals and many different reptiles. The area is in the middle of a protected rainforest, and is surrounded by rivers. 

Your Tasks 

This program devotes itself to the protection of nesting sea turtles in the Limón province of Costa Rica. During your stay, you will study the turtles and their behaviors on scenic Caribbean beaches.

There are two different types of turtles: Baula turtles (arrive February-October) and Lora turtles (arrive July-October). Volunteers are needed year-round. 

On a day-to-day basis, you will be expected to patrol the beaches at night, find nesting turtles, examine turtles for research purposes, assist with collecting eggs, and protect baby turtles when returning them to the wild.

During your time off, there are many different activities that you can participate in, such as swimming in the Caribbean Sea, doing sports, and hiking around the reserve to take in the beautiful nature of Costa Rica.