The aim of this conservation project is to preserve the environment of the beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs on the Osa peninsula in Costa Rica. The project covers 8 km of beach, and records more than 7,000 nests per season.
Your commitment as a volunteer will have a real impact on the turtles and members of the local community. The project team is always open to new ideas and appreciates volunteers learning new skills.
As a volunteer, you will take part in daily turtle patrols, either in the morning (3 to 5 hours) or at night (4 to 7 hours).
During patrols, you’ll protect new nests, record data on females during the egg-laying season, assist with fin marking, empty hatched nests and release newborns!
During the day, participants will also be helping to clean up the beaches, classifying plastics, teaching English to local people, giving presentations in local schools and tree-planting projects as well as other maintenance work around the camp!
The team generally works very hard on the project and expects all volunteers to do as much as possible to help achieve the objectives. Due to the nature of the environmental and community work, weekly project schedules are flexible.
In the event of any changes to the programme, the local coordinator will inform the volunteers as soon as possible.
The workload will vary depending on the number of people at the camp; the team may need their help a little more than usual. Each volunteer will have at least one full day off.
This programme is available from January to April and from July to December.
Arrivals on Saturdays.
Duration during the week | Budget total mission |
|---|---|
2 weeks | 1095 € |
3 weeks | 1323 € |
4 weeks | 1637 € |
5 weeks | 1951 € |
6 weeks | 2265 € |
7 weeks | 2629 € |
8 weeks | 2993 € |
The camp consists of two mixed dormitory-style cabins, each accommodating 8 to 10 volunteers, as well as cabins for staff. It also has a communal kitchen and a relaxation area. Electricity and WiFi are available on site. Meals are included during your stay and are mainly vegetarian.
The trees above the buildings are often used as passageways for monkeys or perches for birds, and the river that borders the property abounds in small mammals and amphibians.
Your arrival is scheduled for Saturday in San José, Costa Rica. Please note that the overnight stay in San José is not included in the project.
On Sunday, you will travel to Puerto Jimenez where you will spend the night. Although transport is not included in the cost of the project, accommodation in Puerto Jimenez is covered.
On Monday morning, a group departure is organised to join the project, included in the total cost of the programme.
At the end of your project, there will be a group return to Puerto Jimenez, also included in the price.
In your free time, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities: explore Corcovado National Park, surf at Matapalo, go horse-riding or take a guided tour of the gold mines. You can also admire the waterfalls and go on whale and dolphin watching excursions. Although the beach near the camp is not for swimming, it offers superb scenery for beach games and observation of the local wildlife.
