Animal Keeper Assistant

location
1 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Complete your reservation as soon as possible. This project fills up quickly and is already booked on certain dates.


Highlights

  • Help the Animal Keepers give the best cares to the animals in need and make a huge impact on conservation.
  • Baby sloths, baby birds and baby monkeys are in much need of constant cares and love, come join us and help grow them enough to be freed back to nature.
  • Help get rescued animals back to nature with your work and cares.
  • Daily tasks are always different as new rescues come on a daily basis.
  • Visit beautiful places in Costa Rica as you enjoy in this Volunteer Program, we will guide you to the best places and help arrange every trip.


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups

About the program

Hands on contribution with everyday chores like feeding, cleaning and giving animals any care they need, to help them recover and go back to nature!

Our Volunteer Program will allow you to work hands on with lots of different wildlife animals of Costa Rica,  you will learn a lot about taking care of animals in need of help. The Shelter receives more than 1500 rescue animals per year, so there is a lot of work and lots of important decisions to ...

About the program

Our Volunteer Program will allow you to work hands on with lots of different wildlife animals of Costa Rica,  you will learn a lot about taking care of animals in need of help. The Shelter receives more than 1500 rescue animals per year, so there is a lot of work and lots of important decisions to make, in order to free the most animals back to nature, were they belong.  

  • Volunteer with us and help animals in need and immerse yourself in a true 24/7 rescue center and their daily needs and tasks.
  • Have the unique opportunity to work alongside sloths, ocelots, macaws, toucans, crocodiles and much more.
  • Rehabilitate animals and release as many as possible back into the wild.
  • Love the opportunity to work with experts, learn lots of animal cares and enjoy the experience in a beautiful environment 

Experience hands-on volunteering with sloths, baby parrots, owls, baby monkeys, and injured adult animals of all Costa Rican species​

What are the daily tasks 

  • Animal feeding.

  • Cleaning enclosures.

  • Assisting animals in case of emergency.

  • Participate in efforts to rehabilitate and release animals.

  • Planting trees.

  • Assisting in giving tours of the Sanctuary.

  • Maintenance of animal enclosures and property.

  • Constructing organic structures for the animals.

  • Participate in the environmental enrichment of all types of animals.

  • Providing water to animals.

  • Sanctuary maintenance.

  • Feeding baby animals.

  • And anything else that needs to be done! 

(Always safety first and nothing is done against your approval)

On weekends Tours will be organized for extra fee and we will help you get to know Costa Rica as we ticos do! 

This project offers you the opportunity to travel and volunteer at a beautiful wildlife rescue center. 

About the project

The sanctuary itself is located in Santa Ana, just 5 minutes from downtown Santa Ana and downtown Escazu. Located in the middle of a high mountain called Alto de las Palomas, we have planted more than 1000 trees and vegetation, creating a small green lung in the middle of the cities.

The shelter has more than 12 years of experience and more than 10.000 animals released and relocated back into nature since its beginning. Come and make a change with your work, while you enjoy of Costa Rica! 



Typical day

What would your day be like:

  • ​7:00am - 9:00am – Wake up and breakfast 
  • 9:00am - 11:00am – Morning feeding of animals with supervision.
  • 11:00am - 12:00 noon – Daily tasks 
  • 12:00 noon - 1:00pm – Lunch, WiFi, and nap time!
  • 1:00pm - 3:00pm - Afternoon feeding of animals with supervision.

After the ...

Typical day

What would your day be like:

  • ​7:00am - 9:00am – Wake up and breakfast 
  • 9:00am - 11:00am – Morning feeding of animals with supervision.
  • 11:00am - 12:00 noon – Daily tasks 
  • 12:00 noon - 1:00pm – Lunch, WiFi, and nap time!
  • 1:00pm - 3:00pm - Afternoon feeding of animals with supervision.

After the afternoon feeding, volunteers are free to do whatever they would like for the rest of the day! 

  • Dinner is ready by 6:00pm.


Free-time activities

Lots of beautiful tourist places are near by, for example:

  • the beach is only one hour away
  • beautiful volcanos are one hour away too! 

We will help you book and arrange any visit you might want to go in Costa Rica. 


Free-time activities

Lots of beautiful tourist places are near by, for example:

  • the beach is only one hour away
  • beautiful volcanos are one hour away too! 

We will help you book and arrange any visit you might want to go in Costa Rica. 



Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level) or Spanish (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Love for animals

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 09:00 - 15:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Refugio Animal de Costa Rica

The volunteer program includes: 

  • 3 meals per day (Special diets are available, like Keto, Vegetarian or Vegan diets)

  • Shared bedroom with a Single size bed bunks, with a private curtains, light and plug for your privacy 

  • Locker to store any of your belongings 

  • Washing and dryer machine 

  • Fast Wifi 

  • Loft like Living area with dining table, Tv room and kitchen 

  • Security cameras on all the perimeters and common areas 24-7 

Accommodation

House EWA Its a beautiful house located on the Shelter property, modern and brand new, it includes: 

  • Large loft like dining, kitchen and living room: with TV, couch to relax and large table
  • Bunk beds with curtains for privacy, intern light and electric plug for your phone. 
  • Storage lockers 
  • Bathroom with hot water 
  • Security cameras in all premises 
  • Volunteers must keep their areas free of plastic litter and respect the property of others.
  • WiFi is currently available in volunteer housing.

Food & Beverages

  • 3 meals per day (Special diets are available, like Keto, Vegetarian or Vegan diets)

  • The shelter has a delicious typical food restaurant where you will enjoy the first two meals of the day, and dinner is served at House Ewa. 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Airport Pickups are available for small extra fee.

Arrive to House Ewa and enjoy alongside other volunteers of a nice environment. The Shelter is 20 minutes away from Juan Santa Maria International Airport.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 383€
2 weeks 765€
3 weeks 1,148€
4 weeks 1,454€
8 weeks 2,756€
16 weeks 5,205€
50 weeks (max. stay) 13,421€
Average fees 325€/week

Program fees

325€ per week 1 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Refugio Animal de Costa Rica during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Refugio Animal de Costa Rica

Brilliant 4.7 rating (35 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2010

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Alice

About the project

We rescue more than 1500 wild life animals per year, with the mission to give them the best treatment and release them back to nature.

Meet your organization

The Shelter was created on 2010 to help any wild life animal in need, over the years, our non profit organization grew and in 2023 finished building  a beautiful housing volunteer option.

House Ewa; it is a modern construction where volunteers will find a beautiful space to live throughout their Volunteer Experience in the Shelter premises.

The project offers the opportunity to learn and help make a positive impact on the animals under our care. Lots of orphan babies come in daily, and they need lots of cares, and time to grow; animals like baby sloths take several months to be ready to go back into the wild, and it is in tasks like this where we need your help and hands. The rescue center is not the only place that needs help, as we also have more than 250 animals that for health reasons can not go back to the wild, and that deserve the best cares and love; this are our Ambassadors of Education in our Guided Tour through the shelter trails.

The organization also built a Veterinary Clinic and a Restaurant, all in the same property, making this a very complete project and a great option to learn and help a truly great mission, to save animals and free them back where they belong. 

We speak English and Spanish. 

35 reviews · rating4.7

Sylvie Blanc rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

I had the best time at the Refugio Animal. Every single person who work there is kind and passionate about what he/she doing, they share with us the best informations so we can work in a very secure way and very close to the animal without annoying them. The work during the day is amazing and ...
Anita Ottobrino rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

We had a wonderful 8 days hanging out as animal keepers. They did their best to make sure we got to work in all the areas of the park and with all the different animals especially the ones we requested. They were friendly and informative and we loved our time there. It just went so fast. ..
Nadia Jensen Søhoel rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

It was a great experience. I did a lot more than i thought i would. They make sure you try everything, and listen to you if there is something you really want to try or something you don’t want to do. Recommend a ...
Domitille Roussel rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

J’ai passé 1 semaine incroyable au sein du Refugio Animal de Costa Rica. Tout d’abord, nous sommes au plus près des animaux. Les tâches sont variées car nous sommes en petit comité. Nous pouvons prendre soin d’un grand nombre d’animaux, comme par exemple nourrir des paresseux, des ...
Ella Fischer rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

Ich habe es im Programm absolut geliebt und wäre gerne länger geblieben, weswegen ich auch jedem einen längeren Aufenthalt empfehlen würde. Die Zeit war einzigartig mit tollen abwechslungsreichen Aufgaben und erinnerungswürdigen Erfahrungen. Alle Mitarbeiter sind sehr bemüht einem eine ...
Mia Karch rating5

2024 at Animal Keeper Assistant

I stayed at the refuge from August 12 thru October 12 i had a wonderful time. I would totally recommend it if you love animals. The animals love the attention. ..

Location


You might also be interested in

Contact Alice
  Very high response rate

Most volunteers ask about


Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Alice
Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

Book with Flex Option!

Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

Enjoy our services for dedicated volunteers!

Enjoy a Refund Guarantee, Free Flex Option, and Emergency Assistance. Our Price-Guarantee ensures unbeatable value, and our Support Team is ready to assist.