Work in Turtle Conservation

The project

We collaborate with Costa Rican turtle conservation organizations with years of experience with volunteers and sea turtle conservation. They are in urgent need for more help! They receive thousands of sea turtles each year – but they have few volunteers to help cope with the amount of eggs and turtles. 

Turtle eggs are being poached in Costa Rica and sold illegally on the black market. Many people will "hunt" for eggs on the beaches, and collect them. There are also many other natural dangers such as stray dogs digging up turtle eggs to eat, and so do vultures and other wild animals. To prevent this, turtle projects collect eggs and place them into a safe enclosed place close to their headquarters, called a "hatchery". The eggs will mature there and then when baby turtles are hatching, they are carried and released into the ocean. With your help, more sea turtles will make it into the ocean and have the chance to fight for survival and mature into a fully grown turtle. 

Mainly four sea turtle species arrive at the beaches of Costa Rica:  Leather Back Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), Green-turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Olive-Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).

The location

The project locations depend on seasonal availability - we offer projects on the Pacific Side in Costa Rica and Caribbean side. You'll be placed where help is most needed at the time you'd like to volunteer. The sea turtle projects are always closely located to the beaches where turtles arrive, and where you'll patrol the beach. 

You will be living with other volunteers and project staff and sharing dormitory style accommodations with them. There is usually a large common area where you'll eat together, a kitchen, and bathrooms (cold showers, but it's so warm in Costa Rica that you'll WANT a cold shower!). 

Our volunteers

As a volunteer you'll work with other volunteers and the project staff. There is often also researchers/ biologists on site that you'll be helping with ongoing research. 

An ideal volunteer on this project has a passion for animal conservation and biology, enjoys physical labor and loves being outdoors! You should be 18 years of age or older to participate. You don’t have to speak Spanish for this project, as project staff and other volunteers speak English. 

You need to be willing to walk the beaches for hours during patrols, and also sit still for hours watching the hatchery. You need a special flashlight with the option of a "red" light. Turtles do not like white light and you would not be able to switch your torch on with white light during patrols. You should also bring your own bedding and a towel, as the organization does not provide those.