• Sustainable Cities And Communities

Construction and Renovation

location
3 - 10 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Work in a fun and relaxed environment.
  • Hands on work while helping low income individuals.
  • Immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture.
  • Meet other volunteers from around the world.
  • Improve your Spanish through total immersion

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups

About the program

Help build and renovate low income housing, schools and community centers.

Are you handy? Volunteer in construction in Costa Rica and get your hands dirty by building and renovating in low-income communities.

As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will be building or renovating schools, community centers and houses in impoverished communities. If you have experience in ...

About the program

Are you handy? Volunteer in construction in Costa Rica and get your hands dirty by building and renovating in low-income communities.

As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will be building or renovating schools, community centers and houses in impoverished communities. If you have experience in construction you will be assigned specific tasks, but if you don’t you will be assisting staff or more experienced volunteers in the project.

The construction program in Costa Rica is great for people who like working in teams and like manual tasks. As a volunteer in construction, you could be painting, mixing cement, laying bricks, cutting wood, moving earth, drilling and more. You don’t need to have previous experience, but if you know construction or renovation it certainly helps. If you have any specific skills related to construction let us know so we can add a note on your previous experience.

The specific work varies depending on the priorities at the moment you arrive, and what is being built or renovated at the moment.

Most of the work is outdoors and requires volunteers to be somewhat physically fit and being able to cope with dusty and sunny conditions regularly.

Typical day

  • 7 am : breakfast with host family
  • 7:30 am: walk to project
  • 8am : meet with project staff to oversee daily tasks
  • 1pm: lunch time
  • 4pm: Project work time ends
  • 7 pm: Dinner with host family

Typical day

  • 7 am : breakfast with host family
  • 7:30 am: walk to project
  • 8am : meet with project staff to oversee daily tasks
  • 1pm: lunch time
  • 4pm: Project work time ends
  • 7 pm: Dinner with host family

Free-time activities

San Ramon is centrally located to various places like la Fortuna or Monteverde. Also many hikes are available around San Ramon.

Gyms and various sporting centers are also available.


Free-time activities

San Ramon is centrally located to various places like la Fortuna or Monteverde. Also many hikes are available around San Ramon.

Gyms and various sporting centers are also available.

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)

Required Documents

CV, Application form and

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

Must be reasonably fit

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:30 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Integrated Learning Experience

  • Accommodation: Host family, in private room with two meals per day.
  • Participation in cultural activities.
  • On call support throughout the service.
  • Coordination with the host country organization of volunteer service.
  • Orientation to volunteer work or intern placement.
  • Welcome at airport with transport.
  • Certificate of program completion.

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

Airport pickup provided. Airport return not included in pricing.

Accommodation

Host family lodging with two meals per day.

Food & Beverages

Two meals per day. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated. Other types of diet may require participant to cook for him/herself.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

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

Every Sunday Except for December and January.

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

Program fees

3 weeks (min. stay) 1,286€
4 weeks 1,663€
5 weeks 1,840€
6 weeks 2,017€
7 weeks 2,194€
8 weeks 2,371€
10 weeks (max. stay) 2,726€
Average fees 350€/week

Program fees

350€ per week 3 - 10 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

3 - 10 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 Integrated Learning Experience during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Integrated Learning Experience

Perfect 4.6 rating (48 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2005

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Diego

Spoken languages: Spanish, English

About the project

Integrated Learning Experiences was founded in 2005 by former Peace Corps staff that wanted to provide flexible volunteer programs with a positive impact.

Meet your organization

Integrated Learning Experiences’ (INLEX) mission is to strengthen human resources in Central America and South America through volunteer programs, educational travel and internship opportunities.

In addition to this, INLEX provides opportunities for students and professionals to further gain experience in their field of choice by matching participants with the best opening available.

We work towards:

  • Sustainability in the projects and communities that we work in.
  • Programs that promote cultural exchange.
  • Safe and affordable programs.
  • Strengthening and empowering communities.
  • Authentic experiences for our participants.
  • Facilitating education.

INLEX was set founded by former Peace Corps staff in Guatemala in 2005 who wanted to provide flexible programs for volunteers in Central America. This flexibility allows our participants the option to commit for as long as they want in the area they are best suited to support; creating a positive impact and a rewarding experience. We do this because we believe in the principle that every volunteer can make a difference.

Many years and happy people later, we continue working with key partner projects to develop communities in the Latin American region.

48 reviews · rating4.6

Max Gierth rating4.8

2024 at Environmental Preservation

I stayed in Costa Rica for a rather short time but even in two weeks I had the chance to learn a lot and to dive a bit into tico culture. My work was dealing with butterflies, the rearing and handling of caterpillars and planting tasks for the host plants of the caterpillars. The work was very ...
Laura rating5

2023 at Medical Clinic Supporter

I spent one month in Antigua with Inlex, working in a medical clinic in the mornings and undertaking Spanish lessons in the afternoons. Alex and Diego made sure I felt comfortable and integrated into the community and my host family from the very start, and continued to check in throughout my ...
Lowie rating5

2023 at Microfinance Internship

I worked at a company that specialises in constructing social housing. It's a family-owned business where the father is a lawyer, one son is an architect responsible for designing houses and overseeing construction sites, and the other son and daughter handle administrative tasks and interact with ...
Laura O'Grady rating5

2023 at Medical Clinic Supporter

I spent one month in Antigua with Inlex, working in a medical clinic in the mornings and undertaking Spanish lessons in the afternoons. Alex and Diego made sure I felt comfortable and integrated into the community and my host family from the very start, and continued to check in throughout my ...
Emmerson rating5

2023 at Environmental Preservation

i feel it could have been more environmental conservation, some times it just felt like i was helping with the tourism instead of the environment. the host family was wonderful and i made friends that i know will last a life time but for the actual position itself i struggled to find meaning and ...
Isabelle ERNY rating5

2022 at Wildlife & Sea Turtle Conservation

The work in preservation and protection programs of marine wildlife in Monterrico (Guatemala's Pacific's coast) was amazing: I did exactly the same work as my Guatemalan colleagues. The work itself was completely adapted, carried out with seriousness but always in a very good mood! :) I had chosen ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > San Ramon de Alajuela

You might also be interested in

Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Construction in Costa Rica
Contact Diego
  Very high response rate
Spanish, English

Most volunteers ask about

Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Diego
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.