Programs Abroad

COSTA RICA - Save Sea Turtles in a National Park

	Project: Wildlife and Nature Booking Nº: CR116 Country: Costa Rica + Location: National Park Corcovado Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: all year round Price: from 2 weeks, 765 USD
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Task

Night patrolling along the beaches
Observing the Olive Ridley sea turtle
Measuring shells and counting eggs
Observing and monitoring turtles behavior

On your first day, you will participate in a short introductory seminar and receive all of the necessary information about the protection project as well as your work and accommodations during your participation in the project. You will also be assigned to the tasks that you will be doing in order to protect the threatened sea turtles from extinction. You will meet the other volunteers that come from many different countries with whom you will share the wonderful experience in this unique environment.

During your volunteer work you will support a wilderness project that is devoted to protecting the eggs of sea turtles in Costa Rica, especially in the regions of Playa Piro, Playa Carate and La Leona. These beaches form part of the Corcovado National Park on the western coast of Costa Rica. While working in this project you will participate in night patrolling along the beautiful beaches where you can observe and study the rare Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) and its nesting activities. These sea turtles are part of the family of Ridley sea turtles and can be spotted from September to December, when they go to the region's beaches to lay their eggs. During your volunteer work, you will get to witness up-close the 110 pound turtles and admire their heart-shaped, olive-colored, 28-inch shells. Volunteers will also help collect some of the turtle eggs so that they can be kept safe in incubators and studied once the turtle babies hatch after 45 to 60 days. Later on the small turtles are released into the wild to fend for themselves in the natural elements of the sea. The project aims to protect the eggs and the hatchlings from wild animals and, ultimately, support the population growth of the turtles in the Pacific Ocean.

Accommodation

Volunteer House
Dormitory style bedrooms
3 meals per day

As a volunteer you will either live in the administration building in La Leona or you will be accommodated in a small housing unit on the beach in Playa Piro (based on availability). The houses in which volunteers live are rustic but comfortable equipped with simple furnishings, electricity, bathrooms and more.

Note: Depending on your arrival day, the program includes between one and three overnight stays in a single room with a Host Family (half board) or in a hostel in San José.

Requirements

Language:
Functional Spanish skills (language courses can be booked through us)

Skills:
No professional skills or experience is 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

During your volunteer work you will support this Sea Turtle Protection Project in the National Park of Corcovado. The Park is situated in the western part of the Osa peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. It extends over an area of 47,757 hectares of dry land as well as 5,800 hectares of maritime territory. This area was untouched by humans until gold was discovered in the 1960's causing a rush of many gold seekers to the area. The gold extradition activities destroyed huge parts of the environment and the biodiversity, leading to the banishment of the destructive activities and the formal protection of the area. Corcovado is one of the most famous National Parks in Costa Rica with an abundance of breath-taking biodiversity. The Gulf of Dulce, an inlet that separates the Osa peninsula from the mainland, is also very important in the reproduction of Humpback whales. As a whole, the park is home to over 500 different types of trees, 140 species of mammals, 367 species of birds, 117 types of reptiles and amphibians as well as 40 types of freshwater fish. This large number of species makes Corcovado one of the most popular destinations for volunteers from all over the world. The turtle protection project in which you will participate is carried out in the regions of Playa Piro, Playa Carate and La Leona since the Olive Ridley sea turtles gather there between the months of September and December in order to lay their eggs.

Before you start your volunteer program you will receive a permit in order to have access to all parts of the National Park, allowing you full rein of the area in order to carry out your tasks successfully. You will have the unique experience of getting to know many volunteers from other countries with who you will share this once in a lifetime experience in this naturally magical land.

mapa_corcovado

Source: Google Maps

Prices

Program Duration	in USD
2 weeks	765.-
3 weeks	995.-
4 weeks	1,225.-
Additional week	210.-

Registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
3 meals / day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number
Airport pick-up
Volunteer Work Placement
Certificate of participation

What’s not included:

Flight
Medical Insurance
Local Travels

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!