Quick Facts
Program code
CR-WT100
Category
Working Holiday, Work & Travel
Country
Costa Rica
Location
throughout the country
Program start
year round, start and end dates are flexible
Minimum duration
4 weeks
Minimum age
18 years
Project details
Would you like to experience a different way of traveling in Costa Rica and fully experience its natural beauty? Would you like to support locals while you immerse yourself in the local working environment?
If you want to broaden your horizon during your gap year and get to know the country and its people in a work setting, our Work and Travel program in Costa Rica makes it possible! The Work and Travel program is designed for all ages and levels of work experience, whether you are still studying or close to retiring!
Our Working Holiday programs in Costa Rica are for anyone who would like to see more of the world and experience the country and people in a work-focused environment. Far more important than experience or expertise is a positive attitude and tolerance towards other cultures, and alternative work methods!
Working Holiday in Costa Rica gives you the opportunity to get to know Latin American culture and its customs, allowing you to become a part of it. You will work hand in hand with the locals, or “Ticos” as they call themselves, and widen your cultural and personal horizon. You will have the opportunity to obtain profound insight into daily life, away from typical tourist experiences, and gain intimate knowledge of the "real" Costa Rica, beyond a tourist's point of view. Costa Rica is the ideal place for this type of program. This small Central American country is known globally for its stunning natural wonders and national parks that feature unique flora and fauna. Tourism, specifically eco-tourism, is one of the main sources of income in the country. Extensive tourism is a result of the country’s year-round pleasant climate, various national parks, and miles of beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coast.
To make a long story short, Costa Rica is THE country for nature lovers and explorers alike. Due to high demand, don't hesitate and apply today!
Tasks
Working Holiday in Costa Rica gives you the opportunity to get to know the country and people, deepen your linguistic knowledge, and finance your stay abroad. Although you will not receive a salary, you will get free room and board.
The Working Holiday programs are implemented throughout the tourism industry. Among the programs there are placements in small or large hotels, resorts, eco-lodges, hostels, restaurants, and tour operators. The work tasks assigned can vary widely and depend on each particular placement. Typically, Working Holidayler work in "front office" jobs and assist with attending to tourists. Possible duties may include working at the front desk and restaurant, organizing and selling day trips and excursions, being a tour guide/translator, assisting with marketing activities, helping with room service, and providing breakfast service.
Please note that we cannot take into account personal preferences regarding the location. We place our participants throughout the country, always trying to find the perfect match based on your personal qualifications and past experience.
Your personalized program placement will be sent to you after successful registration in the program and after the placement process is completed. You will know detailed information about your work placement before booking and before starting your trip to Costa Rica!
Working Holiday in Costa Rica is also a very good way to refresh your Spanish skills.
Program participation will not be denied to beginner level speakers, but those with limited Spanish knowledge will need to start the program with a Spanish course in San José. It is important that participants have adequate Spanish knowledge so that they can communicate well at the program site.
Accommodation
The type of housing that is arranged for participants depends on the program. Participants will be accommodated either in a single or shared room. In most cases, the accommodation is located directly at the program site itself. Participants may be accommodated at the staff section of the hotels/hostels or live in a hotel/hostel room. In very rare cases, the accommodation takes place in a local homestay.
Breakfast is usually served in the hotel/hostel/restaurant (the program itself). In some cases, the program participants prepare their own meals (ingredients provided). The exact details of accommodation will be exposed in the program offer after successful placement and before your booking.
Location
Your project position will be one of the many national parks in Costa Rica. Although it is one of the smallest countries in Latin America, it has an immense biodiversity and absolutely fascinating landscapes. Costa Rica really has everything you need for a dream vacation: Both on the Pacific and the Caribbean coast, dream beaches with great surf spots and dense rainforest in the hinterland wait for you, plus lovely landscapes with volcanoes, mountains, large and small rivers. Watch out animal lovers since you can observe local wildlife like sloths, macaws, turtles, monkeys and ocelots from up close. Large parts of this fascinating world are actively protected in more than 20 national parks and many private protected areas.
Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in the region and tourism is a very important economic sector. In order to promote tourism with environmental protection in equal measure, Costa Rica was one of the first countries to introduce ecotourism extensively in the early 1970s.
The people in Costa Rica are friendly and relaxed, and live according to the motto "Pura Vida" - "pure life" what in Costa Rica you can learn to enjoy life to the fullest! In addition, the "Ticos" speak a clear and slow Spanish, so that it is easy to understand them.
The climate in Costa Rica can easily be divided into two seasons: the rainy season (around May to November) and the dry season (around December to April). Even in the rainy season, it doesn't rain all the time, but about three hours a day.
Language skills
Spanish at communication level. For optimal preparation for your Working Holiday in Costa Rica, we advise you to take a Spanish course before the program starts. This gives you the opportunity to slowly get used to the language, culture and mentality.
You can book your Spanish course in Costa Rica directly with us!
Requirements
- Spanish skills (book your Spanish course in Costa Rica!)
- Minimum age 18 years
- Application at least 12 weeks before the desired start of the program. Read more about our application process here.
Please contact us for short-term applications. - Completion of a foreign travel health insurance (get your travel insurance here!)
Pre-departure and in-country support
Before arrival, our experienced team will be at your disposal to assist you throughout the booking process and travel planning. With the booking confirmation you will receive our 24-hour emergency number, so that you can reach us in case of emergency on 7 days a week around the clock.
In addition to the assistance given by our office staff you will be supported by our partner organization in Costa Rica located in San José.
Depending on the day of arrival in Costa Rica, the program includes one to three nights in San José in a single room with a host family (including half board).
Before you leave for the project site, you will take part in an orientation talk with our colleagues in San José.
Costs & Services
Working Holiday in Costa Rica includes:
- Single or shared room
- Breakfast
- Airport pick-up in San José with overnight stay in San José
- Transfer from San José accommodation to bus terminal for journey to project site *
- Professional English-speaking advice
- Translation of your application documents
- Volunteer Work Placement in Costa Rica
- English-speaking in-country support
- Welcome meeting in San José
- Handbook Costa Rica
- 24/7 emergency number
- Information about suitable travel insurance
- Certificate of participation
*the costs for the bus ticket to the project site are not included.
Costs
Application fee: US$ 120
Program fee: US$ 640 (until 2 months)
From the 3rd month, each additional month: US$ 75
Additionally, you can book:
Our tips (experience more + see more = save $$)
Is it difficult for you to decide between the many great projects? You want to see and experience as much as possible during your stay in Latin America? Then build your own itinerary - experience more & see more! Our program combination makes it possible!
All our stay abroad programs can be combined with each other: So, you can combine different volunteer projects in the same country or in different countries, or you mix Working Holiday with volunteer work or Farm Stay with Working Holiday ...and so on …
Your creativity knows no limits. The longer your stay abroad in Latin America, the greater the discount you get from South America Inside. Below you can see how much you can save:
- 2 stay abroad programs: save US$ 55
- 3 stay abroad programs: save US$ 75
- 4 stay abroad programs: save US$ 165
- 5 stay abroad programs: save US$ 220
- 6 stay abroad programs and more: save US$ 325
Note: Language courses are excluded from this promotion. These discounts can not be combined with other promotions.
If you need assistance in putting together your personal experience abroad, then please contact us. Our experienced staff will help you to set up your tailor-made stay abroad.
Working Holiday Guide
Find valuable information about Working Holiday abroad in our advice pages. Find out about all the advantages of a stay abroad, the opportunities and challenges, and the many great opportunities that South America Inside has to offer.
Browse through our section Reading Matter!
