Your Arrival

Get ready for a warm welcome to Costa Rica! Your adventure begins the moment you arrive, with our airport pick-up on Sunday at Juan Santamaría airport (SJO). To ensure a smooth transition, we’ll provide you with all the necessary arrival and contact details when you book your program. The local team will be waiting for you, ready to transfer you to your accommodation where you’ll meet fellow volunteers from around the world.

Your Orientation

On Monday, our experienced coordinator will lead an exciting orientation session. This is your chance to get comfortable with your surroundings and dive into the local culture, while also receiving important health and safety advice.

During the orientation, you’ll receive a comprehensive introduction to your program, accommodations, and the exciting projects that await. Plus, you’ll learn all the do’s and don’ts of local customs, giving you a head start on immersing yourself in the rich and vibrant culture of Costa Rica.

Your Accommodation

Your accommodation is included in your package from Sunday night until Saturday morning of your last week, so you can rest assured that you’ll have a comfortable place to call home throughout your journey.

You’ll be staying in shared rooms with other volunteers, giving you the perfect opportunity to make lifelong friends from around the globe. You’ll be accommodated in single-gender dorm-style rooms, ensuring maximum comfort and privacy.

But that’s not all – we’ve got your meals covered too! You’ll enjoy three delicious meals per day from Monday to Friday, and two meals per day on weekends.

Childcare in Costa Rica

Join a Childcare Placement program where you will work with the daycare and preschool kids aged between 6 months and 6 years old. You will either be in a bilingual private institution, a government daycare, or a charity-run daycare. This placement is all about cultural interchange and fun, helping the children to grow up happy, inquisitive, creative, and unique.

The program consists of working with students aged between 6 months and 6 or 12 years, depending on the placement, and teaching and playing in English. You can choose to be with the younger or older children if you wish or to work with all ages. Participants will be working alongside local staff but will be free to bring their own ideas into class. It is important to understand that the methods of teaching and interacting are less important than the attitude of the participant toward the children. Activities will change in line with the school year, taking into account environmental issues or current festivals. During holiday periods, there are special events and programs to keep the children entertained and engaged.

The childcare program serves a dual purpose; of course, it is meant to help children have fun and learn English with a mother tongue or very fluent speaker, but it also benefits you, giving you an insight into childcare and the Costa Rican education system as well as an excellent opportunity to form bonds with students, teachers, and even parents and so take a full role in the community.

Aims & Objectives

Costa Rica is a country that heavily depends on tourism and international investment, which makes it essential for locals to be proficient in the English language. By participating in this program, you will have the opportunity to broaden the cultural horizons of children in Esparza at an early age, giving them the confidence they need to practice and use English. This experience will not only benefit them for a lifetime but will also enable them to converse and play with you.

The primary objective of this placement is to provide an opportunity for children to learn, have fun, and grow in confidence. As a participant, you will gain valuable teaching and childcare experience, which is an essential life skill. Additionally, you will have the chance to experience deep cultural immersion, which will broaden your perspective and enrich your life.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

You will be balancing a range of activities for your duration at the school or daycare. Your schedule can be flexible, but you should be prepared to teach 3-6 hours a day. You will have lunch on site and can expect to remain there from 07:30 until just after 16.30, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the school and its activities and to get to know its students and staff.

When confirming your dates, please take note of the long holidays (late December to early February) and the other Public Holidays in the Holidays section that schools may take advantage of. During such times, renovation work continues, with the option to join special classes and English camps when requested by the local community.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Teaching in Costa Rica

Give back to the local rural community by teaching children in government schools and by giving them exposure to other cultures and languages. Teach in one of the many rural schools around Esparza and get an inside track on the Costa Rican educational system. Teach English (or French, German, or Mandarin if qualified) to the children in a fun and practical way. Create real-life situations, games, and other activities. There is a lot of freedom for your own creativity and ideas in the classroom!

The local government and Educational Supervisor are fully behind our project, giving us access to many schools in the area. This program consists of working with students aged between 5 and 19, teaching language classes, usually English, although we can cater to French, German, or Mandarin Chinese.

Some of the larger schools have English teachers, but the teachers themselves often struggle. Participants will be free to choose their own way of teaching and may bring their own ideas into class. It is important to understand that the methods of teaching are less important than the attitude of the participant toward the students. In addition, the subjects to be taught can alter, depending on current activities in the schools, which might include, for example, environmental issues or current festivals.

The teaching program serves a dual purpose; of course, it is meant to help children in rural Costa Rica have a chance to learn another language with a mother tongue speaker, but it also benefits you, giving you an insight into the Costa Rican education system as well as an excellent opportunity to become good friends with students, teachers, and even parents, and so take a full role in the community.

Aims & Objectives

Costa Rica relies heavily on tourism, and tourism relies on locals speaking popular tourist languages. Private schools are often bilingual, but expensive, and children in government schools are left behind. This program gives you the chance to improve the prospects of children in government schools by broadening their cultural horizons and giving them the confidence to use and practice a foreign language. They will learn to converse with you, and it will benefit them for life.

Therefore, the main aim is to continue to improve the children’s prospects by teaching them a world language. You will gain teaching experience, invaluable life skills, and experience deep cultural immersion.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
You will be organizing and balancing a range of classes for your duration at the school. With some schools, your schedule can be flexible, and you may also have some say in what classes you prefer to teach, but you should be prepared to teach 3-6 hours a day. You will have lunch at the school and can expect to remain there from 08:00 until just after 16:30, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the school and its activities and to get to know its students and staff.

When confirming your dates, please take note of the long holidays (late December to early February) and the other Public Holidays in the Holidays section that schools may take advantage of. During such times, renovation work continues, with the option to join special classes and English camps when requested by the local community.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Physical Education in Costa Rica

Get involved with children in the local community. Enjoy a cultural exchange and allow them to play sports at school. Teach Physical Education in one of the schools around Esparza and get an inside track on the Costa Rican educational system. This is a chance to step up to a challenge well suited to your skill level. Since many of the schools have no formal sports equipment, regimen or sports hall, you’ll have a chance to be creative in your use of the space outdoors for training.

The local government and Educational Supervisor are fully behind our project, giving us access to many schools in the area. This program consists of working with students aged between 5 and 19, and organizing games and exercises during school time. You can teach in English, Spanish, or a mix of the two.

Participants will be free to choose their own way of teaching. It is important to understand that the methods of teaching are less important than the attitude of the participant toward the students. At times, schools may focus on different activities, for example, environmental issues or current festivals, and you will be allowed to take part.

The teaching program serves a dual purpose; of course, it is meant to help children in rural Costa Rica have the opportunity to practice sport and exercise in an organized environment, but it also benefits you, giving you an insight into the Costa Rican education system as well as an excellent opportunity to become good friends with students, teachers, and even parents, and so take a full role in the community.

Aims & Objectives

Kids in rural areas often juggle numerous duties outside the classroom, leaving them with few chances to participate in organized sports. With that in mind, our mission is to present these young minds with the opportunity to flex their muscles and hone their athletic abilities right at school! In the process, you’ll not only gain priceless teaching experience but also immerse yourself deeply in a rich cultural adventure.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
During your time at the school, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to coordinate and balance a variety of classes. Some schools offer flexible scheduling and even let you choose your preferred teaching subjects. However, be ready to teach for 3-6 hours daily. Your day starts at 08:00 and extends till just after 16:30, allowing ample time to dive into the school’s vibrant environment, participate in activities, and build relationships with students and staff. Plus, you’ll get valuable moments to reflect upon and contrast this experience with your personal life back home while planning classes.

Keep in mind the long vacation period (late December to early February) and other public holidays mentioned in the Holidays section when confirming dates, as schools may observe those breaks. During these times, renovation work carries on, and you might be offered a chance to join exclusive classes and English camps as per the local community’s request.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Construction in Costa Rica

You will be giving your time to the community to help maintain buildings such as schools and retirement homes, as well as recycling gardens and sports fields. Many local government and community projects are in need of help to maintain buildings and gardens and to build new facilities. Depending on funding, you may even be involved in bio-gardening projects, biogas projects, and river or beach cleaning. Some of what you do will cross over with the activities of participants on other projects.

Our project has received the full support of the local government and Educational Supervisor, which has granted us access to numerous schools and community buildings across the area. In addition, we have established partnerships with various environmental projects that welcome workers when their funds allow for projects to begin.

Our goal is to remain adaptable to the needs of the community by undertaking a range of tasks such as painting and maintaining buildings, providing assistance with construction work, preserving green areas, and lending a helping hand to local agronomy and environmental projects. If you plan to stay for more than a week, you can anticipate a diverse workload that will keep you engaged and challenged.

Aims & Objectives

The primary objective is to extend practical support and aid to the community residing in the nearby areas. This assistance will be offered wherever it is required, with the aim of contributing to the betterment of the community. Additionally, the organization also endeavors to promote cultural exchange and understanding between different groups of people. This will help to create a more inclusive and harmonious environment, where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together and learn from each other.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
Your workload will vary depending on the project, and you may not be at the same site all day. You can expect to work for 3-6 hours as manual work in Costa Rica is demanding, due to the humidity. You will have lunch either on or near the site or at the centre, and you can expect to be away from the centre between 07:00 in the morning and approximately 16:30, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the project and to get to know other participants and local contributors.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Farming Placement in Costa Rica

Assist local farmers with their livestock and crops of coffee, cacao, avocado, and more! Get a real taste of rural life in Costa Rica. Assist local farmers with livestock (mainly horses, cattle, fowl), and with crops (mainly coffee, avocado, and some cacao). This placement is a true experience, where you will be immersed in rural life, perhaps assisting with bio gardening projects, horse training, fish farming, or attending cattle sales or horse shows, depending on what is going on at the time.

During your farm placement, immerse yourself in the authentic rural lifestyle as you may have the chance to stay on the farm itself, rather than with fellow participants in town. Don’t worry, you’ll still be close by!

The experience will change with the seasons, and while you’ll primarily work on one farm, you’ll also explore others to discover various aspects of country living, such as cheese-making or beekeeping. With an array of livestock, crops, and ongoing projects across these farms, prepare to dive in and get your hands dirty! Should any rural development or agronomy projects arise during your stay, we’ll ensure you’re right in the thick of it!

Aims & Objectives

Dive into the rich tapestry of Costa Rican agriculture and rural life as you immerse yourself in the heart of the community. Discover a blend of traditional and innovative, eco-friendly farming practices that can’t be found anywhere else. Your secondary mission? To lend a helping hand to local farmers, fostering priceless cultural exchange. So, if you have a background in farming or agronomy, don’t hesitate to impart your wisdom!

Schedule

Monday to Friday
Embrace the thrill of a flexible schedule, where you’ll be on your toes for 3-8 hours daily! Indulge in a delightful lunch at the farm and gear up for a day filled with excitement, starting early in the morning and lasting until 17:30, depending on the tasks at hand. Experience the ebb and flow of farm life, as some days will push you to your limits, while others offer a leisurely pace – all based on the season.

We collaborate closely with locals and always prioritize their needs, so being adaptable is key!

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Wildlife Sanctuary in Costa Rica

Care for birds, mammals and reptiles in an animal sanctuary before they are released into the wild or kept within the sanctuary. During your time at the project, you will assist the local staff in caring for animals of various species, including jaguars, macaws, tapirs, sloths and anteaters. These animals will later be released into the wild if possible. Your tasks will vary depending on your level of experience, but you will be active and will have a lot of contact with animals!

In this opportunity, you will assist local staff in the animal sanctuary as they tend to former pets that were illegally kept or injured animals that were brought to the sanctuary by the government. The ultimate goal is to prepare them for release back into the wild.

While you do not require specialized knowledge, you should be eager to learn about the appropriate management of wildlife. It is essential to treat these animals as wild creatures, not as pets or objects of curiosity.

Your responsibilities will include feeding a wide range of animals, such as jaguars, monkeys, birds, tapirs, sloths, among others. Additionally, you will have the chance to participate in the rescue and rehabilitation process, as well as assist with enclosure maintenance and general environmental upkeep.

It is important to note that all work is carefully supervised by professional staff to ensure both your safety and the welfare of the animals.

Please keep in mind that a cash deposit of 25 USD will be required for the room keys at the accommodation.

Aims & Objectives

The primary objective of this endeavor is to restore the health and well-being of animals that have been injured and subsequently release them back into their natural habitat. Your proficiency in veterinary medicine will be of immense value in attending to the needs of injured avian, mammal and reptilian species.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
6:00 am – Feeding of animals
8:00 am – Breakfast
8:15 am – Daily tasks – ecological restoration, cleaning and maintaining enclosure, assisting with tours, preparing food and feeding animals etc.
10:30 am – Juice break
10:45 am – Daily tasks
12:00 nn – Lunch, rest time
1:00 pm – Feeding animals
3:00 pm – Free time. There is wifi, and you are surrounded by nature.
5:00 pm – Evening Meal

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Marine Park and Animal Rescue in Costa Rica

Get involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of sea birds, mammals, and reptiles, including rare marine animals, before they are released into the wild. You will also work behind the scenes in the aquarium, cleaning and feeding animals, including docile sharks & sea turtles.

During the program, you will be working with local staff as they clean, feed and give medical attention to animals at the marine park, both in the aquarium and in the rescue centre. On-site training will be given.

Day to day tasks vary greatly. Larger marine animals need to be scrubbed periodically to remove algae, and temperature and pH levels in tanks need to be monitored. Glass tanks and enclosures need to be cleaned, and all the animals fed. If funds allow, you may be involved in constructing new enclosures for the rescue centre as well.

The main purpose of the centre is to return animals to the wild. Most of these creatures were previously neglected and mistreated.

Aims & Objectives

The main objective of the rehabilitation centre is to return animals to the wild. You will be involved in improving the lives of animals that have been neglected and mistreated, or that have died of disease or accident. Moreover, the aquarium aims to educate locals and tourists in the importance of marine conservation.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
Your schedule will be flexible, but you should be prepared to be active for 4-6 hours a day. You will have lunch with your local co-workers and can expect to be occupied between 09:00 in the morning and just before 16:00, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the project and to get to know co-workers.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Turtle and Marine Conservation in Costa Rica

Assist the resident biologist and the rest of the team with the conservation and protection of up to four of the seven different species of sea turtle. These include loggerhead turtle, hawksbill turtle and green turtle, but especially leatherback turtle. During your time at the project, you will assist the biologist in residence in caring for injured animals, moving eggs to safe hatcheries, and collecting and processing biometric data. Your tasks will vary depending on your level of experience and the time of year.

You will be working with the biologist and other local staff as they collect and process biometric data, collect and protect eggs in a nursery, and guide hatchlings and adult turtles back to the sea and away from danger. This placement is very much what you make it. Obviously, the level of your involvement will depend on your experience and knowledge. You must be flexible to the needs of the centre. There are also monkeys, sloths, caimans and other animals in the immediate area – you will see more wildlife here than in the national parks!

The project is located in a quiet, remote area accessible only by boat. There is limited electricity in the evenings, provided by solar panels. Your time at the project will be spent patrolling for sea turtles laying their eggs, rebuilding defences to protect them from the ocean or perhaps establishing a hatchery. This is hands-on work and often includes maintenance and improvements to the accommodation, clearing paths and beach cleaning. Patrols are led by an experienced patrol leader walking a sector of the beach searching for nesting females. Once a turtle is encountered the leader, with the aid of the participants, will collect information; the length and width of the turtle, nest location and its dimensions and the number of eggs laid. The eggs will be carefully removed by the group leader and relocated to the hatchery. Turtles are sensitive to light, so only red light is permitted on patrols.

Your Tasks and Responsibilities:
Night beach patrols
Collecting biometric data from nesting turtles
Day/night hatchery duties
Beach cleaning
Relocating of nests
Nest Monitoring
Hatchling liberation
General maintenance
Reforestation work – collecting/sorting of seeds, planting saplings
Basic construction work, building hatcheries for example

Aims & Objectives

The primary objective is to safeguard the sea turtles and their eggs from any potential threats while simultaneously acquiring additional knowledge about these remarkable animals. This endeavor is carried out in collaboration with a committed marine biologist who provides valuable insights into the behavior and biology of sea turtles.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
Your schedule will be flexible, but you should be prepared to be active for 4-8 hours a day. There are normally two nightly patrols at 11pm or 3 am depending on the tides, you will spend around 4 hours patrolling depending on the number of turtles found with a short break at each end of the beach. Be prepared to go with the flow! Whilst some of the work may be hard it is incredibly rewarding and in the most amazing setting. It may take you a while to acclimatize to the conditions, we recommend that you remember to drink plenty of water, you may find it useful to bring rehydration sachets, stay in the shade during your breaks, wear plenty of sunscreens and don’t overdo it.

The project site is in the northern Caribbean, on the beach with the highest nesting rate for leatherback turtles in the Caribbean. Nesting periods are March-May for leatherbacks, and others through to October. Eggs hatch throughout summer. Important conservation work goes on throughout the year. Local staff can arrange trips to Tortuguero National Park at additional cost, which can be agreed upon on site.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Turtle Sanctuary Biologist Internship in Costa Rica

Assist the resident biologist and the rest of the team with the conservation and protection of up to four of the seven unique species of sea turtles. During your time at the project, you will assist the biologist in residence in caring for injured animals, moving eggs to safe hatcheries, and collecting and processing biometric data. Your tasks will vary depending on your level of experience and the time of year.

As part of your role, you will collaborate with the biologist and local staff to assist in the collection and processing of biometric data. Additionally, you will be responsible for the collection and protection of eggs in a nursery, as well as guiding hatchlings and adult turtles back into the sea and away from potential danger. Your level of involvement in these activities will naturally vary based on your existing experience and knowledge. It is important to remain adaptable and responsive to the needs of the center, as this placement is highly dependent on your individual contributions.

What we offer

Guaranteed internship placement with assigned project and professional work environment.
Guaranteed Spanish and English language working environment .
Guaranteed 25+ working hours per week (4 or 5 days a week, depending on the requirements of the intern’s educational institution). If there are emergencies, the hours can be long while you care for injured animals.
Learningful and meaningful internship/ work assignments that are relevant to the interns field of study
A predefined professional role for the intern.
Guidance, Supervision and on the job training.
Frequent (bi-weekly/monthly) feedback and progress sessions with the hosting company/ organization.
24 hour in-country Support (emergency phone number).
Welcome and pick-up at the airport.
Accommodation, max 2 – 8 pax per hut, in an international environment with other interns, staff and like minded people.
A proper (physical) workplace for the intern at the accommodation.
Three meals per day provided
The accommodation and the internship placement is in the same sanctuary. Your accommodation is surrounded by nature.

Aims & Objectives

The primary objective of this initiative is to safeguard the lives of sea turtles and their eggs. Alongside this noble goal, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about these magnificent creatures. The program is led by a committed marine biologist who will provide valuable insights into the behavior, lifestyle, and habitat of sea turtles. By participating in this program, individuals can contribute to the preservation of these endangered species while also gaining knowledge and appreciation for them.

Schedule

Monday to Friday
Your schedule will be flexible, but you should be prepared to be active for 4-8 hours a day. You will have lunch with your local co-workers and pax and can expect to be occupied between 09:00 in the morning until just before 16:00, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the project and to get to know co-workers.

The project site is in the northern Caribbean, on the beach with the highest nesting rate for leatherback turtles in the Caribbean.

* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.