Conservation in Costa Rica with Projects Abroad

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: All year round

Description: Projects Abroad offers you a fantastic opportunity to learn about tropical conservation and work in endangered habitats - while volunteering abroad in Costa Rica.

The parks in which volunteers will be working include the Barra Honda National Park, which consists of tropical dry forest with an extensive network of caves and limestone caverns to discover below the small mountains in the park. Volunteers will also spend time working in the Lomas de Barbudal Biological Reserve, an area of tropical forest, rivers and pools home to monkeys, large cats and a high diversity of reptiles, amphibians and tropical birds. The third reserve volunteers currently work in is the Diria Forest National Park composed of primary tropical dry forest and the last remnants of tropical cloud forest which once covered much of the Nicoya Peninsula. Over 130 species of bird live within the reserve as well as large mammals such as spider monkeys, white faced capuchins, coyotes, marsupials, anteaters and peccaries. The final reserve in which volunteers work is Las Baulas Marine National Park. This park boasts three turtle nesting beaches and two mangrove estuaries. The beaches here support the largest nesting colony of leatherback sea turtles (baulas) on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, with a population size of about 800 female turtles nesting per year. The nesting season is from November to April, and volunteers will usually visit the reserve at least twice during the season.

There is a lot of work to do at the sites and to make the most of your time there you will work six days a week with one day free to relax or take a trip. However there is often transport heading into town in the afternoons during the week and you will often be able to travel to check emails, visit the bank, etc. Work schedules will vary depending on the amount of work and the existing schedules at the parks.

All project sites are within conservation areas in easy reach of the Projects Abroad - Costa Rica office in Liberia and you will receive regular visits from our staff.

Highlights: Costa Rica is Central America's jewel. It's an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors and an ecotourism heaven, making it one of the best places to experience the tropics with minimal impact. It's also mostly coastline, both Caribbean and Pacific, which means great surfing, beaches galore and a climate built for laziness.

You will live alongside four local staff and the other volunteers in accommodation right on the edge of the beach. There is electricity and running water and your food will be provided by a cook on site.

Live in a tented camp on the edge of the beach with other volunteers indulging in the beach lifestyle!

Qualifications: none

Cost in US$: US$2,795 and up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: anyone with an open mind and a desire to travel

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992