Our foundation in Costa Rica owns and protects 140 hectares of nature and cultural reserve, perfect for a ecotourism trip. Located in the Caribbean lowlands, between Barbilla National Park, an Indian reserve, the village of San Miguel and banana plantations, this reserve has hardly been mapped.
The aim of the project is to study the local biodiversity, identify threats and put in place measures to have the most sustainable impact for both nature and humanity. So far, the foundation has been able to acquire new land each year and is aiming for a total of 2000 hectares of rainforest to be protected and preserved. The foundation’s role is also to involve the local population, helping them to find alternative solutions, to prevent logging and illegal activities such as poaching. The ultimate goal is to create a space where humans and nature can coexist.
Volunteers can contribute to the project’s goal during their ecotourism stay: living in and with nature without damaging it. To achieve these goals, the project focuses on three main topics: biodiversity, reforestation and sustainable living. As a volunteer, you will be participating in scientific researches to map the biodiversity in the project area such as collecting data during rainforest expeditions. The data will be collected via cameras. Other tasks include: creating trails through the reserve, setting up information points for visitors, monitoring the development of trees planted in the organic garden, and applying permaculture techniques. There will also be other activities to accompany the project towards self-sufficiency. For example, partaking in english classes and participating in sustainable actions such as collecting waste from the river around the reserve . Supervision is provided by on-site biologists, a local nature guide and a volunteer coordinator.
And there is also room for your own contribution. For instance: you are a videographer and want to document the reserve and its activities. Or you have work experience in a hotel and see possibilities to improve the project. In addition, you will be involved in the daily operational tasks of the project during your stay, which includes the maintenance of the accommodation, etc.
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Duration in weeks | Registration fees |
|---|---|
3 weeks | 1667 € |
4 weeks | 2019 € |
5 weeks | 2371 € |
6 weeks | 2773 € |
You will be staying in a shared, dormitory-type room with up to 4 people per room and a maximum of 12 people in the house. The volunteer house is well ventilated and fully screened to keep out insects. There are also 2 showers and 2 toilets. The research centre has a public house/common area including a dining room and a relaxation area with hammocks where you can eat, relax, and meet other volunteers/students. There is also a kitchen with a cook that prepares 3 delicious meals a day.
The accommodation is surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden, with a wide variety of plants and animals. From the porch you can see unique species including hummingbirds, toucans and butterflies. In the garden you will find a wide variety of fruit trees such: mangoes, bananas, oranges, pineapples, carambola and many more. You are free to eat the fruit, as long as it is the right season!
Transportation
The day after your arrival in San Jose, you will be accompanied by a supervisor to the San Jose bus station. There, you will purchase a bus ticket which will take you directly to the project site after a 5 hour journey.
Commitments
The work can be physically demanding, therefore, volunteers must be: responsible, disciplined, hardworking, motivated, a team player, flexible, patient and proactive. They must be in good physical and mental shape as well as be capable of walking at least 4 hours a day in the hot, tropical climate.
Money and phone service
We recommend that you bring cash for personal expenses (few local businesses take credit cards); the suggested weekly budget is U$50 for laundry and entertainment. You can buy a local SIM card for basic communications. There is no town nearby, so you will need to buy what you need before you arrive at the project.
We constantly adapt our environmental missions abroad to meet the needs on the spot. The programme description is intended to give an idea of the mission, but participants should expect to quickly adapt to circumstances. Missions respond to issues that change over time, therefore we must constantly evolve to adapt to our environment, not the other way around.
– 18+ .
– Intermediate level of English or Spanish (be able to understand instructions & communicate)
– Minimum of 2 weeks
