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Highlights
The area where we work on is closed to tourism, we are the only people allowed to live there due to the nature of the research we do
Hands on turtle research! During turtle nesting season volunteers get to physically touch sea turtles (measuring their carapace and counting their eggs by feeling them lay in your hand!)
One of only a few places documented where jaguars predate nesting turtles
You can see a huge variety of aquatic birds in the canal near base and if you're very lucky a manatee
In the middle of the jungle where you can find sloths, tamanduas, agoutis and so much more!
Join a team of international participants in Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Your hands on work will contribute to the long-term management and
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
50+
Live in the heart of the jungle surrounded by the natural beauty of Tortuguero’s rainforest-lined Caribbean beaches. Hike the jungle trails conducting biodiversity surveys, walk along the beach looking for evidence of sea turtles during turtle nesting season, check camera traps for footage of jaguars, and explore the rainforest canals noting important aquatic bird species.
Volunteers go out on 2 surveys a day, except for Friday afternoons and Saturdays which is free time.
One survey a week volunteers will be on kitchen duty. You will receive training on all species and surveys.
These are the projects that you could expect to get involved in:
- Jaguars feeding behavior and population studies including a 15 mile survey on the beach (once a week) to monitor the number of predated sea turtles and the use of camera traps to ID jaguars and monitor their feeding patterns. Seasonal Feb to Nov.
- Scats (faeces) gathering in order to study and genetic studies.
- Marine turtle (seasonal end of march to October) conservation using a international protocol to ID nesting greens, leatherbacks (March to June) and some hawksbills.
- Tropical species surveying and identification techniques which will be comprised of surveys in the forest focusing on the whole biodiversity of the area (amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles).
- Data recording and Input, volunteers will assist in inputting the data collected on surveys into the projects databases.
Not only does this program offer you the opportunity to get involved in ongoing conservation efforts, but you will also be provided with the training and experience to grow professionally by mastering both transferable and technical skills. These include teamwork, intercultural communication, and best practices for recording biodiversity data.
Health & Hygiene:
The work we contribute to across the globe remains important and new measures allow our participants to continue to join our programs and continue impacting positively on their world and the communities we work with. Changes to our existing protocols have been made by our health and hygiene team to strengthen our health and hygiene protocols and ensure that international standard safeguards are in place to protect our participants, staff and host communities. Please inquire for more information on the protocols.
Typical day
Here is an example of a daily schedule:- Wake up 5/6am,
- 1st survey 6-10am,
- lunch,
- 2nd survey 1-4pm,
- dinner,
- bed by 9pm.
- Nighttime turtle patrols are 8/9pm-2am (you would have the morning off the following day!)
Volunteers go out on 2 surveys a day, except for Friday afternoons and Saturdays which is free time. The Tortuguero National park where we are based is remote and only accessible by boat.
It is important to remain flexible as schedules can change based on seasons and also needs of our program partners.
Free-time activities
You will be based at the research station within the National Park, located 1 hour by motorboat from the nearest town of Tortuguero, and working on the surrounding canals, rivers, forest, beaches and in the nearby communities. Travel around the local area is limited and dependent on expedition staff and water taxi services.
Due to the remoteness of base, we offer a long weekend (3 free days) every 4 weeks, so people can travel around Costa Rica at the start of project or once a month, be sure to budget for it if you would like to visit more places in Costa Rica. Likewise, there is a close by restaurant, and volunteers have the option of ordering fried chicken and sodas every Friday at your own expense, cost is between 6 to 10USD. Before and after your program you could explore the rest of Costa Rica, or travel onwards throughout Latin America. Buses are cheap but basic, and regional flights are relatively affordable. With so much culture and adventure it's sometimes hard to know where to start – the possibilities are endless!
Travelling around the region is possible by bus with connecting services from Caño Blanco to cities across the country. It is useful to know that street addresses are not really used or known in Costa Rica - landmarks are used instead. For example, to get to Hostel Casa Colon ask to go “En contraesquina de Torre Mercedes” (translated: "across the street from Torre Mercedes).
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Sightseeing
Diving/
Snorkling
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Climbing
Safari/
Zoo
Hiking
Museum/
Opera
Sports
Riding
Yoga/
Meditation
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