Costa Rica5/5 (2 reviews)
Animal rescue center in Costa Rica
Near Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, help a rescue center care for sick, injured or orphaned monkeys, sloths and other wildlife before their release.
- Where
- Costa Rica
- Length
- From 4 to 12 weeks
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- Language
- English intermediate
- Departures
- Every Saturday
from €1,850 for 4 weeks
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The project
Costa Rica, a country supporting sustainable tourism, is perfect for nature and animal lovers. The country boasts countless protected natural parks, ensuring wildlife preservation and allowing animals to live freely in their natural habitat.
This animal rescue center is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, near Puerto Viejo. It serves as a sanctuary for sick, injured, or orphaned animals. The center primarily focuses on:
- Monkeys
- Sloths
- And a few mammals, birds, and reptiles.
It provides veterinary services and continuous care to animals, aiming to release them back into the rainforest whenever possible.
This center also operates a rescue facility where educational workshops and awareness sessions are offered to visitors. It is a place to interact with animals and people, work as a team, and gain valuable experience.
The center owns 49 hectares of primary forest (an area with no visible signs of human activity). This wildlife reserve is an ideal space to release many rehabilitated animals into a healthy, natural environment without human interaction.
A project we follow
Projects chosen with care and followed through regular visits on site.
Your role
The rescue center welcomes visitors throughout the week, and the animals require daily attention. Volunteers coordinate their workdays on a five-day schedule. You may work on weekends but will always have two days off during the week.
The work typically starts at 7:30 AM and ends around 4:00 PM, with a lunch break (exact hours may vary depending on tasks).
Your tasks include:
- Regularly cleaning animal areas.
- Helping with the construction and maintenance of fences and enclosures.
- Assisting in meal preparation alongside local caretakers.
- Guiding visitors and sharing your passion for wildlife.
- Participating in training sessions to learn more about animal behavior and care techniques.
- Supporting the local team in ensuring animal welfare.
Daily tasks are distributed among volunteers, allowing rotation between different duties.
The staff and on-site volunteers play a crucial role in monitoring the rehabilitation process, ensuring that released animals are safe and well-fed until they are fully ready to live independently.
Accommodation and meals
- Dormitory (shared rooms). At the rescue and rehabilitation centers, all services are included to ensure cleanliness and safety for the comfort of volunteers.
- Each room includes 4 single beds with high-quality mattresses, mosquito nets, an individual reading light, power outlets for charging devices, and a lockable storage space.
- Each dormitory has its own bathroom with 1 toilet and 1 hot water shower.
- Bed linens and towels are provided and washed regularly.
- Wi-Fi.
- Cleaning service.
- Washing machines available at an extra cost (approximately 8 USD per load).
- Common area for relaxing and socializing with other volunteers.
Meals
Meals are not included. There is a fully equipped shared kitchen (cutlery, utensils, stove, oven, microwave). Volunteers can store their food and drinks in the refrigerators. Lunch can be brought to the center, where a refrigerator and microwave are available. Each volunteer is provided with a secure locker for personal belongings. Common areas are regularly maintained, and both the on-site team and volunteers collaborate to ensure a comfortable environment for everyone.
Supervision
Volunteers do not come into contact with dangerous animals; only experienced staff members are authorized to handle them. Volunteer safety is a top priority.
On your arrival day, you will attend an orientation session where you will receive essential information, tour the facilities, and meet the team and other volunteers.
A dedicated support team is available on-site at all times to assist with any requests or needs.
Arrival and transfers
You will arrive in San José on Saturday. You will spend one night in San José and then take a bus on Sunday to the project site on your own.
Budget
How long are you going for?
Arrival every Saturday, all year round
What is included
- Airport pick-up and one night in San José
- Mandatory orientation meeting
- Emergency line and local team 24/7
- Donation to the project
- Accommodation in shared rooms
- Transfer to the project
Not included
- Meals
- Flight tickets
- Medical insurance
- Visa
- Return transfer
Where your money goes
Donations are reinvested in full and directly into the local associations. How the costs break down
See the budget week by week
| Length | Total programme budget |
|---|
Getting ready to leave
Your application
An up-to-date CV and a cover letter describing your background and what brings you here.
Conditions to take part
- Minimum stay of 4 weeks
- Must be in good physical condition (and bring appropriate clothing for the tasks)
- Intermediate English level
- 18 years old
Insurance
For any project abroad, Freepackers requires travel insurance covering accidents, illness, repatriation and third-party liability. With Chapka Cap Student, you get 5% off.
Online language lessons
With Clic Campus: video lessons and an e-learning platform, from home.
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