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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Life Below Water

Work For Sea Turtle Conservation

location
1 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Work with turtles to help conserve their habitat and their receding population
  • Work includes protecting turtle nests from poachers, helping manage sustainable egg-harvesting programs, and working in hatcheries to ensure Costa Rica’s turtle population does not further recede
  • Meet other international participants from around the world

Highlights

  • Work with turtles to help conserve their habitat and their receding population
  • Work includes protecting turtle nests from poachers, helping manage sustainable egg-harvesting programs, and working in hatcheries to ensure Costa Rica’s turtle population does not further recede
  • Meet other international participants from around the world
  • Spend time on isolated non touristy beach in Pacific Coast
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    As a volunteer, you will work on projects intended to protect turtle nests from human poachers, help manage sustainable egg-harvesting programs, and work in hatcheries

    Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is one of the wildest corners of Central America — a strip of rainforest and dark-sand coastline on the far south Pacific tip that holds an estimated 2.5% of all biodiversity on Earth. It is also where more than 7,000 olive ridley and Pacific green turtle nests are laid ...

    About the program

    Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula is one of the wildest corners of Central America — a strip of rainforest and dark-sand coastline on the far south Pacific tip that holds an estimated 2.5% of all biodiversity on Earth. It is also where more than 7,000 olive ridley and Pacific green turtle nests are laid each season, along an 8km stretch of beach that a small community team works year-round to protect.

    Join them and you become part of that team. Most of the work happens on patrol — three to five hours in the morning, or four to seven hours through the night — walking the nesting beach to reach new nests before poachers and predators do. You will record data on nesting females, tag flippers, move at-risk clutches into the protected hatchery, excavate hatched nests to measure survival rates, and help release hatchlings down to the surf.

    Between patrols there is plenty else to get stuck into: beach clean-ups, sorting and recycling the plastic that washes ashore, tree planting, English lessons and sea turtle conservation talks in local schools. That community side matters. The project deliberately creates paid work for former poachers and gold miners, making turtle protection a steadier living than the alternatives, and it contributes to five of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    No previous experience is needed and full training is given when you arrive. What you do need is a tolerance for early starts, late finishes and physical work in the heat. In return you get a remote, genuinely non-touristy beach beside Corcovado National Park, the company of volunteers from all over the world, and a couple of weeks spent on conservation work that measurably moves the needle.

    Typical day

    Volunteers need to be flexible to work in this program, as the schedules are largely dependent on the season and breeding activities that take place. However, a general day would look something like this:

    4:30 am - Beach Patrol

    This is a year-round activity, even in the low season (March to July). ..

    Typical day

    Volunteers need to be flexible to work in this program, as the schedules are largely dependent on the season and breeding activities that take place. However, a general day would look something like this:

    4:30 am - Beach Patrol

    This is a year-round activity, even in the low season (March to July). Volunteers have to go for an early morning patrol of the beach to monitor and protect turtle breeding grounds.

    8:00 am - Breakfast at the accommodation

    Volunteers are usually free post-breakfast and can utilize this time by reading, exploring the local area, swimming or chilling on the beach.

    1:00 pm - Lunch at the accommodation

    Afternoon Volunteering duties Post-lunch, volunteers will be assigned various duties that mostly vary depending on the season. Usually, volunteers can expect to work for 2 - 3 hours each weekday afternoon completing tasks to monitor, preserve and care for sea turtles and wildlife (such as sloths, parrots, macaws, alligators and more) in the local area.

    Evenings/Nights Free time/Night patrols

    During the nesting period (from August through February) volunteers will be involved in night-time beach patrols to protect turtles, collect eggs and generally monitor the breeding grounds.

    Note: This is just a tentative schedule and the actual program schedule can vary.

    Free-time activities

    Volunteers are free to visit and see places or do shopping during their free time. You can explore the local markets or travel to the beaches which can be visited on the weekends. The country offers unparalleled natural beauty, active volcanoes, rainforests, and a wide range of national parks and ...

    Free-time activities

    Volunteers are free to visit and see places or do shopping during their free time. You can explore the local markets or travel to the beaches which can be visited on the weekends. The country offers unparalleled natural beauty, active volcanoes, rainforests, and a wide range of national parks and eco-tourism. In addition, Costa Rica has over 1,000 miles of gorgeous white-and-black sand beaches.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    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.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (intermediate level) or Spanish (basic level)

    Required Documents

    CV

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program and should be prepared to work outdoors and get their hands dirty. Participants in the program should have a keen interest and love for animal conservation work. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    • 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
    • Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
    • Pickup from San Jose International Airport and transfer to accommodation
    • Transfer from San Jose to project location by bus
    • Accommodation 
    • Meals - Vegetarian at the project
    • Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

    Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

    Volunteers are picked up from the San Jose International Airport by the assigned local representative.

    Accommodation

    As a volunteer for the Turtle Conservation Project, you'll be received from San Jose Airport and transferred to a host family accommodation in Heredia. Later, you'll be traveling to your project placement site, where you'll get accommodation at shared dorms at the project location. All the accommodations have basic amenities like attached bathrooms, electricity, etc. You'll be provided with 3 meals a day (included in program fee). Volunteers often take part in the kitchen and cook meals together, which will be great fun! All meals provided at the project are only vegetarian.

    Food & Beverages

    Upon arrival in Heredia, two meals a day are provided at the host family. While at the project, volunteers are provided with three cooked meals a day at the  project accommodation. Local Costa Rican cuisine is a fusion of cuisines from different parts of the world. Only vegetarian meals are provided at the project site. No non vegetarian meals are provided.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    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. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    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. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Start dates: weekly, year-round — you can join this project in any week of the year. Pick the start date that suits you when you apply.

    On arrival: fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, where a member of our team will meet you. Your onward transfer from San José to the project on the Osa Peninsula is by bus and is included in your fee.

    Accommodation: volunteers on the Osa Peninsula stay directly at the project site, in shared dorm-style rooms alongside the rest of the team.

    Please note: the return airport drop at the end of your placement is not included, and any pre- or post-project nights in San José are arranged and paid separately. We can book these for you on request.
    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $679 per week 1 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    1 - 8 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Puerto Jiménez

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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