Programs Abroad

COSTA RICA – Sea Turtle Protection, Playa Cabuyal

	Project: Wildlife and Nature Booking Nº: CR117 Country: Costa Rica + Location: Playa Cabuyal Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: all year round Price: from 2 weeks, 765 USD
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Task

Patrolling the beaches during the night and day
Observing sea turtles
Participating in studies
Excavating turtles nests
Participating in household tasks

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 project dedicated to the protection of the sea turtles nests and the hatchlings on the beaches in the region of Playa Cabuyal. This region forms part of a beautiful and biologically diverse National Park on the Gulf of Papagayo on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

While working in this project you will patrol the beautiful beaches during the night and day where you will observe and study the rare sea turtles and their nesting activities. These sea turtles can be observed from September to December when they go to the beaches to lay their eggs. During your volunteer work you will observe the 250 pound turtles up-close and admire their beautiful dark brown and black colored shells. The turtles creep out of the water, dig holes in the sand and lay their eggs in the holes, then cover them up with sand. They then disappear in the waves not to return for a whole year when they come back to the same beach to repeat the process. It is of great importance to save and count the eggs as they are vulnerable to the appetites of many wild animals. Therefore, volunteers will participate in collecting some of the turtle eggs to be kept safe in incubators. They will be carefully observed up until the small turtles hatch after 45 to 60 days. Then they will be released on a specially chosen date and time to assure the maximum protection of the hatchlings when returning to the ocean. The project aims to protect the eggs from predators and thereby supporting their population growth in the Pacific Ocean.

Normally, the patrolling teams consist of 2 to 3 volunteers with one biologist (depending on the total number of volunteers). The number of turtles that will arrive on the beach to lay their eggs varies from five to fifteen observed each night. In order to understand the environment, the temperature on the beach is measured every two days. This task can take a few hours and is alternated between the volunteers and biologists. You will also participate in special studies that aim to get as much information as possible about these mystical and legendary animals.

Living together with other volunteers in the project requires a tolerant and helpful attitude. Everybody in the project is expected to participate in household chores in order to keep the living environment and the paths clean.

Accommodation

Volunteer House
Dormitory style bedrooms
3 meals per day

Your accommodations are an important part of the volunteer project. As a volunteer, you will be living in a small rustic house. You will live simply but comfortably in one of the shared bedrooms. There is a kitchen area, bathrooms, and showers. Volunteers usually cook together in the kitchen on the wood-fired stove. There is no electricity in the home nor is there a telephone. However, in case of an emergency, it is possible to use the satellite phone. Volunteers should be willing to live very simply for the time that they are in the project. You should be excited to live together with nature and appreciate the simple life.

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 a Turtle Protection Project in one of the National Parks of Costa Rica. The Park is situated on the Gulf of Papagayo, in the southwest of Costa Rica and it extends over an area of 32,512 hectares of land. It lies 30 km away from the city of Liberia. The Gulf of Papagayo is famous for its large waves and its location on the coast with an impressive peninsula. Some people claim it was built by indigenous Costa Ricans while others claim it was constructed miraculously by nature without any human influence.

The National Park was founded in June 1991 and as a whole, it shelters 3,000 different types of plants, 300 species of birds and many different mammals like pumas, jaguars, coatis, sloths, deer, etc. In addition, there are many small reptiles and snakes along with thousands of beautiful butterflies.

This large number of species makes it one of the most popular National Parks for volunteers from all over the world to come and stay. This turtle project is carried out in the region of Playa Cabuyal due to the abundance of sea turtles that gather there from September to December in order to lay their eggs. During your work you will gain a huge appreciation for nature and wildlife that will stay with you for the rest of your life!

mapa_cabuyal

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
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!