Volunteer with turtles in Costa Rica
A week of contributing to a turtle conservation project, working with an established marine research organisation. See Costa Rica’s spectacular Pacific beaches. Hard work with huge rewards.
San Jose One week of volunteering with sea turtles Options for longer volunteering stays Local community cabin accommodation Local cooking Monitoring turtle nests Protecting turtle hatchlings Turtle releases Costa Rica Pacific coast.
Price
US $1430 excluding flights
Description of Volunteer with turtles in Costa Rica
Map
Price information
US $1430 excluding flights
Includes voluntary work programme, food and accommodation - optional extras of tours, transfer from airport and private room upgrades.
Your trip can then be extended at a cost of $900 per week.
Your trip can then be extended at a cost of $900 per week.
Departure information
Flexible departures July - December (nesting season)
Travel guides
Find out what this kind of trip entails and who it suits in our Costa Rica volunteering vacations guide.
Wake to howler monkeys in the morning, and fall sleep to the sounds of the jungle.
Vacation information
US pricing:
The currency converter above works on todays exchange rate. We do take bookings in USD but the price is set at a rate confirmed months in advance and is typically above the current exchange rate. Please inquire for details.
Diet:
We cater for both vegetarians and vegans.
Accessibility
Accessible overview:
There are challenges associated with volunteer travel, and these can make accessible travel difficult. However, we are very keen to chat with travelers with specific needs to see if we can make a trip possible.
Reviews
2 Reviews of Volunteer with turtles in Costa Rica
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 09 Jan 2019 by Jonah Cedar
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The most memorable part of my trip was getting to release hundreds of baby
turtles after watching them hatch and peek their heads out from the sand. Then having the opportunity to release them safely into the ocean and watch
them make their way to the water.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Drink plenty of water because it will be hot! Other than that, allow yourself to
be bored having nothing to do but relax in a hammock on the beach and work
with some turtles and new friends. The experience goes by fast, and is once in a
lifetime so embrace every moment!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I felt like my vacation did all three. The local people were always so excited to
see you and were invested in the project. People, no matter where they
are from, just like to connect with each other and know that others care about
their culture. Also, the project gives them work which is desirable anywhere. We reduced environmental impact by improving fishing methods, raising awareness about light pollution, and cleaning the beach by hand.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I can’t wait for a chance to
go back and to share the trip with others who would enjoy it!
Unsure if needs op to clarify their stance on 'handling' turtles in case it's not clear from this? Chris informed 16/01/19 LJ
Reviewed on 21 Aug 2018 by Julie Clark
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Playa San Miguel the most beautiful unspoilt beach, it's very magical. I enjoyed the night patrols, walking by moonlight, seeing the constellations, milky way,
shooting stars & some of the lightening storms were spectacular. The other volunteers, researchers & locals were all lovely & really good fun and their
commitment to the project was truly inspiring. The food was incredible too, we ate very well!
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Consider why you want to volunteer on this project and go prepared with an open mind. I was there for 10 days and loved being involved but only saw one
adult turtle. Part of San Miguel's beauty is that it is so remote and this is a wonderful experience, you need to be resourceful about keeping busy during the
day as most of the work & excitement is on the night patrols. I walked along the beach most days, sketched & took inspiration for my artwork, giving me
another purpose for being there and loved having a WIFI detox. If you can surf you'd love it! On night patrol, you'll be out walking up and down the beach in
the majority of weather conditions, you need to be reasonably fit with good protective shoes, I sprained my ankle whilst we were seeking shelter in a pretty
bad storm during rainy season.
Although I tried to find out about and arrange the mentioned trips such as horse riding or kayaking prior to and during the trip I was very disappointed at
how difficult it was and communication was very slow, taking days to get an answer. There were no trips during the time I was there, so I wouldn't go with
the hope that this will be part of the experience. Organise your own trip afterwards which is what I did. At San Miguel there is little in the way of
independent or public transport unless you have hired a jeep & local taxi's are very expensive.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, it was great to support a local conservation project and meet local people employed by its work. The leaders and researchers were passionate about
reducing environmental impacts such as plastic waste and light pollution. Local children came once or twice a week for English lessons and learnt about the
project. There was a lovely local restaurant Locos Cocus who showed support to the volunteers.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Overall I would definitely recommend this trip, although some elements may not have been as expected, I loved the experience and have some wonderful
memories, I'm sure I'll treasure for ever. I will definitely look into doing more similar projects. I would suggest that looking into organising an optional trip
once a week for the volunteers would make it more of a vacation (as that is what you refer to in your question).
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your vacation to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
Our projects are designed to immerse you in a different culture, living and working with local people. There’s plenty to gain personally from this - but we make sure that the project directly benefits local people and wildlife too.Animal welfare
The threat of extinction for sea turtles is very real. Projects such as this are playing an important role in stemming this decline. You will be working with a well-respected marine conservation and research organization, staffed by biologists and enthusiastic volunteers. Turtle protection is an important aspect of its work, but it also campaigns against pollution, unsustainable and inhumane fishing practices too.
Protecting the world
We are passionate about encouraging our travelers to be kind to the environment as they travel. Each participant receives advice about how to care for the environment whilst they are away. This includes water usage, how to avoid single use plastic, and electricity usage.
We insist that all participants bring their own water bottles when they travel with us, and clean free water is always available. We have even created a water bottle that can be purchased before departure and encourage people to use it at all stages of their journey including at the airport, on flights and whilst on their project. We are striving for all of our projects to be free of single use plastic.
People
Meeting local needsMany in the local community rely on the marine environment for their livelihood (whether through fishing or tourism). This project aims to conserve the natural environment which they depend upon. The organisation provides some paid work locally, but has to rely on extra help from volunteers to be able to protect the turtles effectively. As well as protecting the turtles, you will also contribute directly to the local economy, eating, shopping and using leisure facilities in the surrounding area.
Cultural sensitivity
We emphasise the importance of showing respect for local people and their customs in our briefing material. Participants will work alongside permanent staff, forming close bonds and getting an insight into real life in rural Borneo. Volunteers are briefed on the local cultures and customs. Our policy is to send people in small groups, which minimises the environmental and social impact that the participants have on the destination and helps them to integrate into the local community.
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