Costa Rica Volunteer and Cultural Enrichment Program

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Guanacaste
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Cartago
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Bribri,  Puerto Viejo

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Any day of the year

Description: We are a non-profit organization based in Costa Rica, offering volunteer tour packages for individual travelers, families and groups interested in exploring the culture, contributing to the communities, learning the language and discovering the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

This year, in addition to our regular projects, we're running a Summer Camp. Summer Camp volunteers will be participating in a wide variety of service projects and tours throughout Costa Rica, while at the same time making new friends and learning about the culture, language and beauty of Central America. Please see our detailed description listed on VolunteerAbroad, or visit our website for more information.

Each of our programs offers participants the opportunity to experience the culture and spirit of Costa Rica by living and working with the local people and personally contributing to the much-needed community development efforts.

Volunteer in the Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo, the beautiful Central Valley or exotic Guanacaste. Join some of our fun projects with local kids, teach English, help out on the indigenous reservation or get wild with one of our envionmental or animal projects.

The full range of our exciting programs is listed below, but check out the individual profiles that we've listed on VolunteerAbroad or visit our website for more details:

- Summer Volunteer Adventure 2008

- Children and Education:
Teaching English
Teaching in Elementary Schools.

- Conservation and Wildlife:
"Monkey Park" Animal Refuge
Iguana Farm
Cahuita In-Water Sea Turtle Project
Monte Alto Nature Reserve
Natural Wildlife Reserve of Camaronal in Guanacaste
Corcovado Sea Turtle Project on the Pacific Coast (July-March)
Gandoca Sea Turtle Project on the Caribbean Coast (March-August)

- Community Development:
Bambu Indigenous Project
Community Work in La Flor
Bambu Asilo de Ancianos - Retirement Home

Our programs, which volunteers can start on any date, are a minimum of 1 week long. We are able to adapt and customize these programs to suit the volunteer's personality and interests - it is possible to combine different volunteering projects and we can even arrange tours if you wish to spend half your time volunteering and half your time vacationing.

Highlights: Life-changing experiences, unrestricted glimpses of the Costa Rica most visitors don't know, and a way to have a positive and lasting impact on a community are all major components of a volunteer vacation with Tropical Adventures.

Live among locals, learn from them and share talents that can make a difference in a society often forgotten.

Take advantage of the Spanish immersion program to enhance communication during the project work. The vacation is not all work; plenty of play is available: snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, river rafting, canopy (zip line) tours, chocolate factory tours, and several sights to see (waterfalls, butterfly garden, volcano, etc.).

Build bridges, literally and figuratively, and return home fulfilling a community's hopes and feeling fulfilled.

Qualifications: We are seeking volunteers who have the ability to impact the community in a positive way. Prospective volunteers should have a good work ethic, a friendly attitude and be willing to immerse themselves in another culture.

Cost in US$: 1 week - $699, 2 weeks - $1395, each additional week - $245

Spanish language lessons, excursions and cellphone rental are available at an extra cost.

Children 5 and under are charged $250 for two weeks. Children aged 6-12 are charged $500 for two weeks. We offer a family discount of 10% off total base price.

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: The typical volunteer at Tropical Adventures is someone who wants to experience the rich bio-diversity of Costa Rica, while learning Spanish and sharing their time, skills and love. Our volunteers like to work hard and play hard. They work well with others and enjoy submersing themselves in a different culture. Typical volunteers are college students, families or retirees.

Age Range: 16+ unless with parent.

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

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network

Tropical Adventures's Mission Statement: The Tropical Adventures Foundation is a resource for empowering individuals and communities inside and outside of Costa Rica. Our goals are to: Support the inherent value of the individual, reduce poverty and injustice, help communities achieve sustainable growth, create safe environments, promote international learning and cooperation and foster personal and worldwide peace. Every community around the world faces the fundamental challenge to create social and economic systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We meet this challenge by supporting and encouraging initiatives by those living and working closest to where the problems are located. We promote collaboration among diverse individuals, nonprofit organizations, government and businesses from the local area and around the world, as well as from every level of society. Our experience shows such activities help build common understanding, bring forward and reinforce the inherent value of the individual, strengthen a sense of local and worldwide community, and ultimately enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.

Year Founded: 2005