Research Assistant at Wildlife Sanctuary
Coordinator | Luis
Coordinator | Luis
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Highlights
Working in one of the most biodiverse countries in the world!
Beach and wildlife on the same program - a perfect combination!
Live in an exotic place surrounded by nature, where the magical songs of the animals and the waves are combined!
Experience the authentic Caribbean!
Be part in the conservation of our environment and help us to preserve our treasure!
At Pacuare you can observe over 300 species of animals, such as mammals, reptiles and birds of the Caribbean zone, and you can actively participate being part of this
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 17+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
The project
This is a wildlife conservation project focused on preserving our natural Caribbean of Costa Rica. We want to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our environment, through the knowledge acquired through our work of monitoring the large number of animals that live in this beautiful place.
What kind of animals will you find here?
Mammals such as: 3 types of monkeys, common ants and pygmy anteaters, felines, raccoons, kinkayous, horns, among many others. More than 300 species of birds, amphibians such as poison dart frogs and tree frogs, reptiles such as iguanas, crocodiles, Basilisk, snakes and others.
Why our work is important:
Year after year, the human being has been populating many of the habitats that belong to wild animals. Our goal is: We want to monitor the health conditions of the different animal populations that inhabit our Costa Rican Caribbean. Based on the knowledge acquired, we want to implement a plan to restore the areas affected by afforestation and develop environmental education programs.
What do we do?
- Build research platforms, located in different areas of the island
- Make transects for forest monitoring
- Study of the cognitive abilities of monkeys
- Monitoring of mammals during the day and night
- Reptile monitoring during the day and night by the river by boat
- Monitoring of birds in the forest and by the river
- Placement of trap cameras, for the collection of video data
We know that protecting our mother nature is not only about knowing her, but we must also act directly to protect her through different actions, such as collecting garbage on the beach to recycle it and creating endemic nursery reforestation emission areas that have been deforested by logging or the plantation of monocultures
What volunteers do:
Work in the endemic tree nursery, after training, monitoring, participate in our recycling program.
Volunteers will live in Barra de Pacuare, around the house are the Tortuguero canals, the wildlife and the Caribbean Sea, and they will be working in Pacuare, Luis Solano and the biologist Jaco Robles are people in charge, the volunteers will collaborate in all the tasks designed for them.
We expect volunteers, motivation, attitude, love for wildlife and the protection of animals.
What can volunteers expect from us?
A kind treatment, staff committed to protection and a pleasant environment to work, in addition to the best Costa Rican style of Pura Vida!
Sloth Sanctuary
Anteater Conservation
Monkey Conservation
Waste Reduction
Two-toed Sloth
Silky Anteater
Howler Monkey
Plastic Reduction
Capuchin Monkey
Three-toed Sloth
Typical day
The schedule will have variations 3 days per wake-up at 4:30 am to do monitoring we start at 5 and end at 8:00 am breakfast at 9:00 am
After 9:00 free time at 2:00 pm we do different tasks such as beach cleaning, Sorting the plastic for recycling, working in the nursery of endemic trees or doing maintenance of the volunteers house
From 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm doing monitoring in different areas dinner at 6:30 and from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm monitoring by the canals of Tortuguero National Park
We do also recreational sports as volleyball, football, or kayaking
Free-time activities
During your time you can enjoy our beautiful beach, of volcanic sand, play football, volleyball, rent bicycle, or rent kayak to enjoy the canals of Tortuguero National Park
By bicycle you can enjoy around Pacuare
In front to the project are located a football place, and a volleyball place, there in the afternoons volunteers can enjoy playing with the locals
Water Sports
Swimming
Sports
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 17 years old on the program start date.
You need to speak English (basic level)
or Spanish (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
from
05:00
- 11:00
What's Included
Our goal it's to work for environment conservation, that's the reason our fee is one of the cheapest in Costa Rica the use we give to your fee is:
-Tools for scientific research
-food for the volunteers
-maintenance for the volunteers house
-salary for the staff
Accommodation and food & drink are included in the fees.
The use of resources is very important for us for that our house was made it with logs found on the beach, We got wood from found logs and that way we built the house, electricity for the house we get from solar panels, to this way we are looking to be eco-friendly it's a house with 2 rooms, for 10 people each room, 2 showers, and 2 toilets, our house is located just in front to the beach with nice views and Caribbean Brice
Comida típica costarricense, como gallo pinto, casado, picadillo, tortillas, empanadas y muchos más alimentos típicos
Desayuno: café o té, gallo pinto (que es la comida más típica para el desayuno en Costa Rica) empanadas, panqueques, enyucados, tortillas, picadillo, y normalmente en las mañanas tenemos frutas tropicales (el desayuno será una de estas opciones en el día)
Almuerzo y cena: el arroz y los frijoles son nuestra comida costarricense, así que las opciones que normalmente tomarán son comúnmente acompañadas de arroz y frijoles como picadillo, huevos en salsa, pollo, carne de soya en salsa, jabón de garbanzos, hamburguesa de lentejas, entre otros acompañamientos. algunas veces, como uno o dos días a la semana, hacemos pan o pizza.
Limited access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
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
For your arrival to the project from San Jose you have to take bus at 11:00 to Siquirres, from Siquirres you should take another bus to Las Vegas de Imperio, at 2:30 and get off the bus in the last stop where the boat driver don Víctor will be waiting for you to bring you to the project.
- San Jose where you have to take bus to Siquirres
- Gran Terminal del Caribe
- You will arrive to Siquirres, (arrival 1:10)
- Terminal de Buses Siquirres
- Bus from Siquirres to Las Vegas de Imperio leaves at 2:30
- Las Vegas de Imperio (arrival 4:15)
Here you will arrive and you will go from the Pacuare River to the project, boat driver name is don Víctor (cost for the boat transportation $35 both trip.
We also arrange transportation form the airport to the dock, cost: $170 one way $320 round trip (boat transportation is not included)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 - 46 weeks
Program fees
1 week
(min. stay)
$250
2 weeks
$500
3 weeks
$750
4 weeks
$1,000
8 weeks
$2,000
16 weeks
$4,000
46 weeks
(max. stay)
$11,500
Average fees
$250
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Tortugas de Pacuare
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 Tortugas de Pacuare during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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Research Assistant at Wildlife Sanctuary
At Pacuare you can observe over 300 species of animals, such as mammals, reptiles and birds of the Caribbean zone, and you can actively participate being part of this
$250/week
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