Programs Abroad

COSTA RICA - Animal Welfare at Rescue Center

	Project: Wildlife and Nature Booking Nº: CR100 Country: Costa Rica + Location: San Carlos Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: Year round, every Monday Price: from 2 weeks, 1,130 USD
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Task

Taking care of and feeding animals
Cleaning cages
Assisting in repairing or building new cages

An average week for a volunteer involves cleaning and feeding the animals on a daily basis while constructing and maintaining cages. There are also observation and enrichment projects where you are encouraged to spend time observing the behavior of the animals.

You as a volunteer should have the real desire to work and understand the animals’ situation. You are responsible for the welfare and day-to-day care of them involving not only the daily feeding and cleaning duties, but also construction and maintenance work to improve their living conditions. The Rescue Center also releases animals that are ready to live again in the wild jungles of Costa Rica. Volunteers support the release facilities, studying how, where, and when is the best moment to return animals to their natural habits.

Animals, especially the monkeys love to play. Volunteers have a lot of fun designing and creating toys for the animals and making them play. This helps the animals to overcome the traumatic experience that they have had in the past and reminds the staff and volunteers how lucky they are to have a center for these precious animals.

If you have experience in any area of conservation or veterinary work, we would really encourage you to spend time at the center and can try to accommodate any interests that you have. The more time and effort you are willing to put into this project, the more you will get out in return.

Accommodation

Volunteers are accommodated with local Costa Rican families
Full-board, three meals per day
Host Families are close to the center

The home stay program is an important part of our project in Costa Rica. Living with a family creates a full immersion experience. Our host families have been carefully screened to support you in improving your language skills and making new friends. You will experience a natural home setting with the hospitality for which Costa Ricans are known. You are accommodated in your own room and you will receive full-board with three meals per day. The host family will also care for your laundry. Bathrooms might be shared with family members. With advance notice the host families can meet special dietary needs, including those of vegetarians. The standard of living of the host families is considered middle class by Costa Rican standards.

Requirements

Language:
English and/or Spanish skills required (you can book your Spanish course in Costa Rica with us!)

Skills:
No professional skills or experiences required.

Age:
18+ years

Vaccination:
Not required. Please consult us and your doctor for specific recommendations.

Insurance:
Full travel and medical insurance is required. You can purchase a full coverage, no deductible health and travel insurance at a special rate for our participants by contacting your South America Inside representative.

Visa:
Tourist visa valid for 90 days. For further information regarding visa requirements please contact us and the corresponding embassy or consulate in your home country.

Details

This organization is dedicated to wildlife protection, environmental conservation as well as fostering positive cultural exchanges through education. It serves as an animal rescue center, a Spanish school and a volunteer center.

The Animal Rescue Center strives to give animals the care and respect they deserve while rehabilitating them. It is also committed to providing quality Spanish classes, where students are engaged and immersed in the Costa Rican culture. Additionally, the volunteer center offers a variety of opportunities for the local communities and foreign participants to work together in order to increase environmental conservation awareness through communication and community service. It is the center’s vision to provide all its international participants and the local Costa Rican community with a profound immersion experience that will deepen their cultural awareness and create more environmentally conscious global citizens.

The center is situated in the heart of Costa Rica in an oasis of abundant beauty. It is thus an ideal setting for reconnecting with yourself and the world around you. There are plenty of activities which you can enjoy during your stay in the center. you have the chance to explore its private 8 acre ecological reserve on the edge of the rainforest where you are in contact with monkeys, caimans, wild pigs, parrots and more!

You have the chance to study Spanish in a classroom situated within a biosphere and live with a Costa Rican family in a small rural community to practice and improve your Spanish skills. On the weekends and during your spare time you can enjoy many fun outdoor activities like canyoneeing, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking or just visiting small cities and touristic attractions close-by.

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Source: Google Maps

Prices

Duration	in USD
2 weeks	1,130.-
3 weeks	1,715.-
4 weeks	2,240.-
5 weeks	2,765.-
6 weeks	3,215.-
7 weeks	3,595.-
8 weeks	3,895.-
Additional week	450.-

One time registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number
Laundry service (Homestay)
Daily transfer to work site
Activity calendar
Volunteer Work Placement
Certificate of participation

What’s not included:

Flight
Airport pick-up
Medical Insurance
Visa (if necesary)

Country

Country information Costa Rica

Costa Rica stands as one of the smallest countries in Central America with approximately 19,000 square miles and a coastline of 810 miles. The country borders Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south and the Pacific and Caribbean Sea on either side. Costa Rica is home to 4.5 million people with upwards of 350,000 people living in the capital city of San Jose.

The Costa Rican climate is commonly humid and warm year round, although temperatures in the highlands are typically colder and cloudier. Incredibly, 23% of an already small amount of densely populated land remains protected territory by National Parks and/or private reserves. This protected land is home and host to a wide variety of exotic plants, animals, and social and environmental projects to ensure the protection and conservation of the tropical habitat. When walking the streets of Costa Rica, make sure to ask Costa Ricans, who typically know heaps, about their national treasures.

Further, Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in Central America, with a disbanded army for more than sixty years and a relatively high standard of education. Tourism is one of the main economic income sources for Costa Rica. With over 2 million tourists exploring Costa Rica each year, the country stands as the most visited nation in the Central American region. Through eco-tourism programs, (which CR was one of the first countries offering this type of tourism), a variety of activities, and year round tropical weather, the country attracts tourists from all over the world.

Aside from protected land, the true jewels of Costa Rica are the surrounding islands with serene beaches and breath-taking nature. This country offers beautiful landscapes for dream vacations of beach lounging, surfing, snorkeling, hiking volcanoes, zip-lining, rafting, bird watching, fishing, and exploring rain forests.

The dry season of Costa Rica is between December and April, though like most Latin countries, schools are closed, beaches full and finding last minute hotels may be tricky. A second peak season arrives with the Europeans and North Americans during June and July. As the off-season arrives in May, so does the lush green vegetation with the rainy season. Lastly, Costa Rica encompasses year round possibilities for surfers, fishing enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike. Depending on what coast you want to surf, what fish you want to catch and what bird you hope to see, there are variations on ideal months to further research.

Finally, Costa Rica is a perfect place to learn Spanish, as the Spanish spoken here is typically slow without strong accents and layers of slang. The Costa Ricans are very friendly, energetic and always with a smile!