Volunteers will support a project that devotes itself to the protection of nesting sea turtles in the Limón province of Costa Rica.
Programs Abroad
COSTA RICA - Environmental Conservation in Cloud Forest 
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Booking Nº: CR109 Country: Costa Rica + Location: Monteverde Minimum Stay: 3 weeks Start dates: Year round Price: from 3 weeks, 680 USD |
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Task
- Working in the tree nursery and gardens
- Maintaining trails and facilities
- Assisting environmental teacher
Volunteers mostly work with the local Costa Rican manager who has a few years of experience placing volunteers and appreciating their projects! Though flexibility is important, the reserve strives to coordinate personal interests with useful and enjoyable work for both volunteers and ground staff. Past volunteers have helped to network the computers, taught music lessons, instructed yoga classes, made brochures and films for the school or painted beautiful murals on the campus. The school is happy to accommodate any skills that a volunteer would like to share with the students and staff.
Accommodation
- Home stay with local families
- Private rooms
- Laundry service
- Three meals per day
We use the same host families year after year, meaning they have an understanding of culture shock, homesickness, communicating with non-Spanish speaking students, and the differences in other cultures. 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’ll receive 3 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.
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
The school is located in the province of Puntarenas, in the Tilarán Mountain range in north western Costa Rica, about a 3 ½ hour drive from San José, half of which takes place on a scenic, bumpy dirt road. The community sprawls over a distance of about six miles of ridgeline and is composed of several different neighborhoods. There are roughly 6,000 permanent residents in the zone with thousands of tourists passing through annually. The roads are very hilly and often muddy and stretch far between towns. It is very common to have to walk nearly one hour to travel between towns, supermarkets or a friend’s house.
High season (dry season) tends to run from February to May and low season (rainy season) is from about June to January. The dry season has light winds, sunny days and misty evenings. The rainy season grows in intensity around September and October where it may actually rain all day, every day, for weeks. When the rain stops, you will be treated with breathtaking rainbows in the day and moon bow´s at night! Nights are always cool (especially during transition seasons) though day time temperatures are moderate year-round, peaking during the dry season.
In the 1980's loads of biologists, ecologists, and other scientists were attracted to the area for its unique ecosystems and rare plant and animal life. Around this time, the area began to change rapidly to accommodate a rising flood of expatriate scientists, writers, and artists, as well as a huge influx of eco-tourists. The current economy of the province is very dependent on the tourism industry and efforts are underway to reforest and conserve the land that was once deforested for agricultural and pastoral purposes.
The region is of course also known for its beautiful and rare cloud forest, a special type of high altitude tropical rainforest that is characterized by high amounts of mist, clouds, humidity, and rain. The result is a habitat with nearly unprecedented biodiversity composed of beautiful birds, butterflies, mammals as well as lots of interesting creepy-crawlers and snakes! Although the insects can take some getting used to, they are a part of the circle of life here. Learning to live in harmony with this extreme climate is crucial to being happy and comfortable here.
School Life
The school currently enrolls close to 230 students from grades Preschool (Kinder) through 11th grade. They begin English immersion and environmental education at the Kinder level and continue with both disciplines until graduation. The school’s philosophy promotes progressive education in the form of child-centred learning, positive discipline, constructivist mathematics, reading and writing workshop, etc.
They rely on volunteers to help teachers maintain a high quality of creative, bilingual education in the classroom environment. This dependence on English instruction means that only about half of the teaching staff is Costa Rican, while the other half is native English speakers. Free Spanish classes after school are offered to all staff and volunteers who are interested. The school has
Source: Google Maps
Prices
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Duration | in USD |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | 680.- |
| 4 weeks | 890.- |
| 5 weeks | 1,100.- |
| 6 weeks | 1,310.- |
| 7 weeks | 1,520.- |
| Additional week | 210.- |
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)
What’s not included:
- Flight
- Airport pick-up
- Medical Insurance
- Visa (if necesary)
- Personal expenses
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!
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