Day 1-2:
After arriving in San Jose, you will be transferred to the project site to begin your volunteering trip (or the following day if you stay overnight at a hotel). Once settled into the accommodation at the reserve, you will receive an induction all about where the project is located, a brief summary of the project activities, and how you’ll be helping the turtles during your time here!
You will receive a full day's training on nesting sea turtles, their biology, the differences between species, and what to look out for in their behaviour. Later in the day, you will visit Tortuga Beach to learn about the research protocol and turtle hatchery.
Day 3:
You will spend the day exploring the reserve and seeing many local mammals. When night comes, you will then switch to turtle duties, spending 3-4 hours searching for nesting sea turtles and collecting the eggs to bring them back to the safety of the hatchery. This will be your first chance to study the turtles up close and help gather biometric data from the adults.
Day 4:
After spending some of the previous night working with the turtles, you’ll be pleased to hear you’ve got the morning off to catch up on some rest! After this, you will spend the afternoon working with the educational collaboration officer, either tending the butterfly garden or producing educational materials for the schools you’ll be visiting.
Day 5:
Today you will head into the forest to help set up trail cameras to spot the mammals that live in the area. Since 2013, when the mammal monitoring began, there have been more than 17 medium-sized animals spotted, and you’ll be learning how to set up the camera, identify footprints and pick up skills you can only really learn in the field!
Day 6:
After working hard for five days, this is your chance to rest or further explore the area. You may want to spend the day relaxing on the beach, or maybe even book one of the tours which are available in the area, including trips to waterfalls and, if you travel between July to October, the Marino Ballena National Park where you may be able to spot Humpback Whales!
Day 7:
Depending on the weather conditions, you could be spending today monitoring the local crocodilian population by kayak on the waterways around the reserve, taking notes on the number, size, and species of any you come across. During the night, depending on the research protocol, you could take an exciting night walk along rivers and estuaries under starlight, or even go on a boat trip down the longest river in Costa Rica, the Terraba, to capture, mark, and identify individuals.
Day 8:
Sadly, today is your last day. After you've said your goodbyes, you'll be transferred back to San Jose to make your way home or continue your onward travel plans.
Please note that this is only a rough guideline, and the itinerary may be subject to change based on the reserve's needs.
Activities:
Data Collection
This will include monitoring the turtles nesting in the area and gathering crucial information on them. You will also help with tagging and managing adult turtles. You may also get the chance to help relocate some of the eggs back to the sanctuary, and if the timing is right, you could even be on hand for a baby turtle release, helping to scare away predators as they make their way to the ocean.
Night Patrols on the Beach
Another very important part of the turtle conservation effort you will be part of throughout your stay is spending time monitoring the beaches where turtles nest, keeping an eye out for poachers and other threats to their safety.
Crocodilian, Mammal and Bird Inventory
The project is not just about turtles; you will help monitor and inventory crocodiles, small mammals such as monkeys, and bird species in the region!
Beach Clean Up
This is a major part of the work here, as you will need to ensure the nesting sites remain as healthy and safe as possible to give the turtles the best chance of survival. Something as simple as a plastic bottle can be a death trap for a baby turtle, so you will need to be thorough in this task.
School Visits
You will help educate local children about the wildlife in their area through the Butterfly Garden. You’ll be preparing workshops, making crafts, and participating in outreach activities like beach and river cleanups alongside helping in the maintenance of the butterfly garden!
Coral Restoration Lab
Visit the coral restoration lab and help restore bleached coral in Marino Ballena National Park. Assist with measuring, weighing, and photographing corals while learning how they're bred, monitored, and prepared for transplantation onto nearby reefs.
Butterfly Garden
Assist in the onsite butterfly garden, which helps breed at-risk species as well as serves as an educational support to local children, helping students explore concepts like insect life cycles and ecological roles.
