Tambor Bay Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Conservation

location
1 - 20 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Rescue turtle nests from predation and poaching. Patrol for nests under the magnificent star-filled skies or while the sun rises on the bay.
  • Involvement in the entire process, from nesting to collection to hatchling release.
  • Learn about turtle conservation in this peaceful beach setting.
  • Experience this remote habitat of mangroves, sea life, and a huge variety of birds including the magnificent Scarlet Macaws- the beach is full of life.
  • Relax on the beach after a hard day of work, or adventure on your own to other interesting sites nearby .


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Help protect sea turtles in Bahia Tambor, a beautiful 6 km beach in the south of Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula.

The mission of the project is protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that lay their eggs on the beach in order to protect,  maintain, and grow the population of this keystone species. 


Location:

The program’s sea turtle conservation site is located at Tambor Bay in the south ...

About the program

The mission of the project is protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that lay their eggs on the beach in order to protect,  maintain, and grow the population of this keystone species. 


Location:

The program’s sea turtle conservation site is located at Tambor Bay in the south of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica.  The hatchery (where we protect the eggs) and work space for the project is located on the property of Tambor Tropical Beach Resort.

This bay receives the Olive Ridley sea turtles each year, and the area is a pristine and remote wilderness paradise!

Tambor is a quaint coastal community with a small grocery store, great pizza place, a few of bar/restaurants, a few small hotels, a church, and a school.  Most of the businesses are located on or near the small street that leads from the main road (Ruta 160) to the beach.  It's a quiet little town that comes alive on the weekends with locals relaxing and having with friends and family.  

There are 2 residential/vacation communities and a resort nearby that bring some international influence.  Tambor Tropical Beach Resort, Los Delfines Golf and Country Club, and Barcelo Tambor Resort are great supporters of the Tambor Bay Turtle Rescue.  Their access, cooperation, and support are invaluable to the success of the program.

Duties:

As a volunteer you will be working directly with experts and taking part in various conservation activities that includes late-night and early-morning patrols.  There is the possibility of witnessing nesting behavior, and assisting with relocating nests and  baby turtle releases.  Additional activities may include recording scientific data, nest exhumations, hatchery maintenance, beach clean ups, and environmental education.



Typical day

Early-morning and/or late-night walks are a vital part of the day.  You will learn to help find turtle tracks that lead to freshly laid nests.  Nature determines our days and patrol times which depend on the tides, the rains, and the season.  It is a challenge we face that keeps us guessing ...

Typical day

Early-morning and/or late-night walks are a vital part of the day.  You will learn to help find turtle tracks that lead to freshly laid nests.  Nature determines our days and patrol times which depend on the tides, the rains, and the season.  It is a challenge we face that keeps us guessing sometimes. Below is how a day might go if everything goes as planned.  This is a sample schedule and relies on flexibility, patience, and cooperation. 


  • 5 am: Beach Patrol- depending on the tide
  • 7 am: Breakfast
  • 9 am: Work in the hatchery, maintenance or beach clean up, or perhaps participation in local school programs
  • 12 pm: Lunch 
  • Free time/rest time
  • 4 pm: Baby turtle release and/or exhumation 
  • 7 pm: Dinner 
  • Night patrol: The time will depend on the tide. 

This represents a typical day but it may change.  Some duties may include nursery monitoring or a late night baby release.

There is information available about local activities and excursions you may be interested in on your own or with your fellow volunteers.  While we are not a tour company we are happy to help you get the most out of your experience here.   


Free-time activities

Tours and Free Time:

We know that volunteers come not only to work but also to discover the incredible nature of Costa Rica, we can provide information about unforgettable tours and activities. In Tambor Bay you can enjoy kayak tours, boat tours on the bay, bioluminescent tours, fishing, horseback ...

Free-time activities

Tours and Free Time:

We know that volunteers come not only to work but also to discover the incredible nature of Costa Rica, we can provide information about unforgettable tours and activities. In Tambor Bay you can enjoy kayak tours, boat tours on the bay, bioluminescent tours, fishing, horseback riding, bird watching tours, and even whale watching when in season… and volunteers are free to trek around the trails surrounding the site or walk to miles of beach along the bay.  You will have ample time to rest and spend days on the beach and exploring the area.  


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

Everyone has something to offer. Flexibility, cooperation, and patience are valued characteristics that will make this a worthwhile and rewarding experience. Spanish and English are spoken, most information is provided in English.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 04:00 - 04:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Tambor Bay Turtles

The program fee includes:
  • Basic accommodations with private bath and WiFi internet connection, A/C, no hot water
  • Local transportation to and from beach patrols
  • Hands on Training
  • An invaluable and rewarding experience
  • Upgrades available
The initial deposit is handled by Volunteer World.
Program fee balance will be paid via PayPal at least one week prior to arrival.  Wire transfer can be arranged upon request.





Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

Pick-up from the Cobano Airport may be arranged with advance notice.

Accommodation

Local accommodation is provided in Tambor, Puntarenas- about about a 10-minute from walk from the project site.  Shared kitchen available, Wi-Fi, TV, private bath, and air-conditioning in the bedrooms included.


 




Food & Beverages

Meal packages available at at an additional cost.

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

Placements are available: from 1st July – 15 December

Minimum stay: One week.

Arrivals and DeparturesAll volunteers must make their own arrangements to arrive to the project.  You will receive some helpful information.

There are 2 international airports: Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR) and Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).

Upon arrival in Costa Rica there are 3 primary ways to arrive at the location:

Domestic Air- Sansa Airways or Costa Rican Green Airways to the Cobano Regional Airport

Private or Shared Shuttle Service

Public Bus transportation

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

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 348€
2 weeks 646€
3 weeks 944€
4 weeks 1,243€
20 weeks (max. stay) 5,965€
Average fees 323€/week

Program fees

323€ per week 1 - 20 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 20 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 Tambor Bay Turtles during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Tambor Bay Turtles

Perfect 4.6 rating (18 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Olger

Spoken languages: Spanish, English

About the project

Sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica whose mission is to reduce threats to the sea turtles.

Meet your organization

Tambor Bay Turtles (TBT) was founded in 2015 as an initiative of a group of people who live here and want to protect the remaining Olive Ridley sea turtle that lay their eggs on the beaches around Tambor Bay.

In 2016, TBT carried out a pilot study of the local sea turtle population. It was learned that there are many threats to the survival of the population, and that their numbers are rapidly declining. It was clear that something had to be done, and soon! So, TBT launched a project to save the Tambor Bay turtles.

TBT’s mission is to reduce threats to the sea turtles still coming to the beaches of Tambor Bay, so, we will produce enough hatchlings to actually grow the population, so that in 20-25 years, there will once again be enough adult Olive Ridley sea turtles to sustain the local population naturally. 

TBT operates under the direction of a qualified biologist, and our project coordinator is a local science teacher. It operates under a Scientific License and Hatchery Permit issued annually by the government of Costa Rica. TBT enjoys having a very strong support base in the local community. TBT has a very high-quality hatchery facility, one of the finest in Costa Rica.

18 reviews · rating4.6

Well worth the 2 day trek to get there and back. I was the only volunteer that week. Olger and Sam took the time to hang out with me when we weren’t volunteering (meals etc). It was fun, educational and a great bargain. The room was definitely hostel grade but clean and air conditioned. The ...
This is a great program. We stayed for two weeks at the end of November and had a wonderful experience. Olger was a perfect host. He taught us about the ecology of sea turtles as well as the specific issues facing turtles in Tambor. He trained us on how to patrol the beach and look for nests and ...
I volunteered with Tambor Bay Turtles in September 2023 after wanting to do something like this for over 3 decades. I went as a solo female traveller and 56 years young. I combined it with a short stop over in San Jose so I could see a little more of the country before commencing my week of ...
Das war eines der bewegendsten Dinge, die ich in den letzten Jahren gemacht habe . Tambor liegt abseits - aber genau das hat auch den Reiz ausgemacht . Es herrscht eine sehr persönliche Atmosphäre- Olger , der Leiter , ist sehr engagiert . Und die Arbeit mit den Schildkröten ist faszinierend, ...
J’ai passé une super semaine dans ce volontariat! C’est le premier que j’ai fait de ma vie et je ne suis pas déçue d’avoir tenté! J’ai pu avec les autres volontaires libérer plus de 500 bébés tortues en une semaine! L’ambiance était super et j’ai appris beaucoup de choses ...
We had a great experience volunteering with Tambor Bay Turtles. We had full exposure to the work required in conservation for Olive Ridley Turtles. Patrolling daily during the night, or at dawn to locate and collect nests. Rescuing the eggs. Working at hatchery to rotate, exhume nests. Releasing ...

Location


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  Excellent response rate
Spanish, English

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