Sea turtle conservation and protection
Coordinator | Sergio
Coordinator | Sergio
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Help protect endangered sea turtle species and make them be able to fight exctinction
Experience a different reality to yours and gain new perspectives
Make long lasting bonds to the other volunteers and workers at the site, as well as with the people in the community where you will be staying at.
Get some first hand valuable biological knowledge of sea turtle behaviour, habitat, features..
Discover the beautiful things that Costa Rica has: a very diverse wildlife, unique culture, historic buildings...
Help protect the nests of the threatened turtle species that come yearly to these areas in Costa Rica, while also getting a memorable and impacting experience.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Sea turtles are important members of the local ecosystem: they maintain the dynamics of coral reefs, control the growth of other species like jellyfish, and are also responsible for maintaining healthy sea grass beds. Sadly, these species, and with them their whole ecosystem are threatened by problems like the destruction of their nests by people who sell their eggs, construction and development on nesting sites, extreme fishing, and in general a lack of awareness about them in the local communities near the beaches where they nest. Our main goal in this project is collaborating in the protection of the different species of sea turtles that nest in the area, and to conserve them and their habitat.
In order to reach that goal, volunteers do some tasks such as:
Nightime tasks:
- Monitoring nesting sites and beaches
- Nocturnal vigilance of nests (this usually lasts between 4 to 6 hours, where you will be accompanied by a working group assigned to you by your coordinator).
- Protecting nesting turtles
- Recording data about the turtles that nest
- Conducting egg counts
- Identifying nests
Daytime tasks:
- Releasing the offspring to the beach and collecting data
- Cleaning the beach
- Constructing nurseries
- Helping in the relocation of nests
- Working in the ecological orchard at the site by planting different vegetables.
Waste Reduction
Sea Turtle Conservation
Plastic Reduction
Flatback Turtle
Green Sea Turtle
Hawksbill Turtle
Typical day
Volunteers work on this project on weekdays (Monday through Friday) on the following schedule:
-Morning shift: it lasts from 9:00 to 12:00; at this time volunteers may help in maintenance activities, work in the orchard, and others.
-Patrols: they are made from 21:00 to 00:00, depending on the number of the turtles that arrive to the beach and the tides at that moment.
Free-time activities
Costa Rica is a country with great biodiversity in flora and fauna. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has well known provinces and unique characteristics such as:
+Lemon
+Puntarenas
+Guanacaste
+And its capital San José.
In these places you can find a wide array of activities including:
+Tours to natural parks
+Climbing volcanoes
+Sea turtle sightings
+Being surrounded by nature
+Beautiful beaches
And many more
Due to its very welcoming and friendly people, it is considered one of the happiest countries in the world.
Water Sports
Swimming
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Zoo
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
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.
You need to speak Spanish (basic level)
or English (basic level)
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
We expect our volunteers to be very communicative with others at the site, willing to do tasks, empathetic, participative, and committed to the cause of helping turtles.
Additionally, volunteers must be in good physical shape, as some of the activities may require them being so.
Additionally, volunteers must be in good physical shape, as some of the activities may require them being so.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
What's Included
- Welcome at the airport and transfer to the accommodation.
- Accommodation during your stay as a volunteer.
- 3 Meals during your volunteer work .
- 24/7 support from the Adventure Volunteer team.
- Follow-up and evaluation of the program.
- Orientation and induction to the program.
- Certificate of weeks spent volunteering.
- NGO receipt for your program fee.
- Guidance, advice and management in the choice of the program.
Volunteers will be picked up at the airport at between 8:00 and 21:30. If the volunteer arrives outside of these hours, they will have to be picked up on the next day or cover some extra fees.
Volunteers will stay at a guesthouse next to the projects. At this house, you will be given to use a bed in a shared room, a dining room, a kitchen, a common bathroom, and a hand-wash area.
It's also worth knowing that the guesthouse has no WiFi, its tap water isn't drinkable, and it has no electricity (it's powered by a generator).
During your stay, you will be provided three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
Meals are prepared Costa Rican style: at breakfast you can expect to be served coffee, tea, fruits, pancakes, or cereals; at lunch you may expect to be served rice, beans, salads, meats, pasta, vegetables, or fish; lastly, during patrols, pancakes and cereals are usually served.
Sorry, no 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
The project is open on the times of year that turtles come nest in the area: March through August. Volunteers must arrive on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, as this makes their induction into the program significantly easier.
2 - 12 weeks
Program fees
2 weeks
(min. stay)
$915
3 weeks
$1,263
4 weeks
$1,610
5 weeks
$1,958
6 weeks
$2,306
7 weeks
$2,654
12 weeks
(max. stay)
$4,392
Average fees
$412
/week
The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
Adventure Volunteer
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 Adventure Volunteer during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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Sea turtle conservation and protection
Help protect the nests of the threatened turtle species that come yearly to these areas in Costa Rica, while also getting a memorable and impacting experience.
$338/week
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