Begin your volunteer adventure and head to the rainforests of Costa Rica, where you can take part in the vital conservation of some of the country's most vulnerable wildlife. Your help will enable the sanctuary to care for the many animals that come through its doors, giving these creatures another chance at life.

Founded in 1999 by two young girls, the project has grown from a humble fund-raising initiative designed to raise money to plant trees in the rainforest, to the phenomenal animal sanctuary that we see today. Take part in the enrichment of its resident animals, observe their behaviours, and keep their environments clean and suitable at all times. You could also take part in food preparation, the maintenance of enclosures, and monitoring of animal health.

Your time spent on the project will be crucial in the protection of sloths, monkeys, and a plethora of other exciting animal species, aiding the centre to run smoothly and effectively - and therefore, allowing the sanctuary to provide further care for any animal that needs it.

Activities

Enrichment: You will complete a variety of enrichments that help exercise the animals' wild instincts. These enrichments can be both environmental and nutritional. The environmental enrichment activities entail the volunteers to head into the rainforest under the supervision of an animal caretaker to find the leaves of native trees and palms to make the animals’ enclosures as close to their natural habitat as possible. During nutritional enrichments, volunteers will come up with ways to make the animals work for finding their food. This keeps their hunting instincts going strong.

Food Preparation and Distribution: You will spend time collecting, preparing, and then distributing food and water to the animal residents at the centre. You will do this alongside a trained animal caretaker who will ensure that you approach the enclosures in the correct manner, and have prepared the correct food for the right animal. 

Enclosure Cleaning: To ensure that all of the animals at the centre have a hygienic and suitable environment in which to live, you will help by cleaning the enclosures on a regular basis (typically once a day.) Cleaning will be done alongside an animal caretaker resident at the project site.

Rescue & Release: With almost 200 rescues and releases taking place per year, you may have the opportunity to join the team in either activity. Whether witnessing the rescue of a monkey or watching a sloth find its way to freedom, this is certainly an enjoyable part of the project.

Boot Camp & Nursery: You will have the opportunity to see young sloths up close as you pay a visit to the on-site boot camp or nursery. This is an educational activity, as you will gain an understanding of what it takes to aid the species' conservation.

Sloth Tracking: Once per week, you will head out into the forested grounds of the reserve in search of a sloth which had previously received care at the sanctuary. Prior to its release, the sloth was fitted with a tracking device to allow members of the team to locate it and make behavioural observations from a safe distance.

Suitabilities

When taking part on this volunteer project, be aware of the fact that much time will be spent on your feet and therefore a moderate fitness level is required for participation. In addition to this, Costa Rica can be very humid, so do bear this in mind when deciding whether this project is for you. Finally, in reference to the reforestation activities outlined above, do note that this involves a lot of walking on uneven ground and on terrain that can at times be quite treacherous (especially after the rains!) In addition to wearing suitable footwear and breathable outdoor gear, please consider your own physical capabilities before taking part in this particular activity.

Location

This project is based within the rainforest, with an approximate 10 minute drive through palms to the door of your accommodation. Volunteers will share accommodation with up to 8 other people, in a spacious building complete with kitchen, toilet, shower, dining area and 4 bunkbeds (one single bed may also be available, if not already occupied). For a fee of £150 per night, volunteers can upgrade to private cottage accommodation.

The project grounds are vast and natural, shrouded in trees but still well-kept. There is an onsite pool if the volunteers wish to cool off or unwind in their spare time, and there is also a restaurant, and a communal seating/lounge area in the foyer.

Equipment to bring

Volunteers are advised to bring a head torch, as it is very dark at the project site from around 5/6pm onwards and the walk between the restaurant and your accommodation is not well-lit (a head torch may also come in handy on some activities.) It is also wise to bring a rain jacket/waterproof clothing, plenty of spare socks, and some waterproof shoes with good grip.