from 786€

Fantastic 4.5rating (99)

Save Turtles and Sloths

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 17 - 50+

rating  Fantastic 4.5  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of marine turtles and sloths.
  • Learn about their unique behaviors, habitats, and conservation efforts.
  • Escape the complexities of modern life and rediscover simplicity.
  • Indulge in the pura vida lifestyle, known for its relaxed and joyful approach to life.
  • Make memories that will forever hold a special place in your heart.

Especially good for

Age 17+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups

About the program

Patrol along a wonderful beach and help to guard the nests of endangered marine turtles. You will also help monitor sloths in their natural habitat.

About the Program

On breathtaking beaches you and other volunteers protect turtles that are in danger of extinction. 

Volunteers play a crucial role in conservation efforts!

The Location

This program is located in the central Pacific coast, south of Quepos and north of Dominical, and it is right in the ...

About the program

About the Program

On breathtaking beaches you and other volunteers protect turtles that are in danger of extinction. 

Volunteers play a crucial role in conservation efforts!

The Location

This program is located in the central Pacific coast, south of Quepos and north of Dominical, and it is right in the tiny village of Mata Palo. The beach – dark sand – is about 10 km long and 6 kilometers are patrolled by the volunteers of this camp to find mainly with Olive Ridley turtles and sometimes Green Sea turtles and some Hawksbill turtles. Compared to other turtle programs you will have some infrastructure here – a little supermarket, a little restaurant and there is a school that we plan to cooperate with. The coastline in this area is stunning and also very suitable for surfing. There is a surfschool right beneath the project.

And - help us to protect the most emblematic animal from Costa Rica: sloths!

Your help to care for the many animals with wounds or baby orphans you will find during monitoring. We rescue and provide first aid to take them to the rescue center located a few km from our camp, giving these creatures another chance at life. All procedures are carried out with a professional in biology who carries all the monitoring information, which helps us act in favor of these beautiful animals. You will learn a lot about them, as well as about many other animals around our beautiful beach, while we help preserve its kind. 

You should be prepared for very simple living conditions and for sometimes physically demanding work at unusual hours as most of the turtle nesting occurs at night. If you love outdoor life ... you will see that every single turtle is worth it!

Our Volunteers

Our Volunteers should have a love for nature and fun with outdoor-living. They should be prepared for sometimes physically demanding work and work at unusual hours as most of the turtle nesting occurs at night. The volunteers should bring a sleeping bag, repellent, mosquito net, flashlight, batteries, rain protection (May - November), sun protection and a hat or cap.



Typical day

Your Tasks

You will be working between 4-6 hours every day - one day free per week

Typical tasks can include:

  • Patrol walks on the beach, mainly at night
  • Find turtles and their nests
  • Collecting data on the turtles
  • Protect the eggs in safe breeding grounds (viveros)
  • Freeing new born turtle babies 
  • Nest ...

Typical day

Your Tasks

You will be working between 4-6 hours every day - one day free per week

Typical tasks can include:

  • Patrol walks on the beach, mainly at night
  • Find turtles and their nests
  • Collecting data on the turtles
  • Protect the eggs in safe breeding grounds (viveros)
  • Freeing new born turtle babies 
  • Nest exhumations
  • Your help is very welcome to construct and beautify the camp
  • Data collection in contact with our biologist who will train you in field work with sloths


Free-time activities

Your camp is not far away from Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. For longer trips you should save your free days and make a journey at the end of your project time. There are:

  • amazing volcanos to visit
  • more National Parks like Monteverde, Rincón de la Vieja, and others. 
  • canopy or kayaking or ...

Free-time activities

Your camp is not far away from Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. For longer trips you should save your free days and make a journey at the end of your project time. There are:

  • amazing volcanos to visit
  • more National Parks like Monteverde, Rincón de la Vieja, and others. 
  • canopy or kayaking or rafting or tree climbing tours

... so much to do and see in Costa Rica! :-)


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 17 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 17 years old on the program start date.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Required Documents

Copy of health insurance (valid in Costa Rica)

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

If you are 17 years old, then you have to bring the written allowance of your parents - we provide a form for this!

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by first hand Costa Rica

Program fees include: 

  • accommodation
  • three meals per day

We organize the journey to the project and we also do hostel reservations in San José if needed (mostly it is needed!) - and, if you will combine projects, we will also organize the transportation between the projects. 

You will have to pay the cost for the pickup and the transport.

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

You will be picked up at the airport by our driver with a sign with your name and you will directly get in contact with your German, English, Spanish speaking coordinator via phone. 

The driver will drive you to the reserved hostel (if necessary), give you the bus ticket (he will buy a ticket in advance to reserve you a seat in the bus), pick you up at the hostel the day of your journey to the project and bring you to the bus. 

The cost will be around 70 US$ plus the hostel night (13-15 US$ (dorm) and 40 US$ (single/double room).
You will be picked up from the bus by a taxi (ordered from the camp) waiting for you to bring you to the project.

Accommodation

You will be living with other volunteers in a volunteer house. See pictures.

Food & Beverages

Your food - breakfast, lunch, dinner - will be prepared in the camp and consists of the typical costarican cuisine: rice, beans, vegetables, meat and fruit.

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

This program is available from June until January/February. 

It starts every Monday

Please arrive at least one day before the programs starts.

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

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 786€
3 weeks 1,010€
4 weeks 1,233€
8 weeks 2,126€
12 weeks (max. stay) 3,019€
Average fees 322€/week

Program fees

322€ per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 17 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

2 - 12 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 first hand Costa Rica during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

first hand Costa Rica

Fantastic 4.5 rating (99 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2006

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Sofia

Spoken languages: Spanish, English, French, German

About the project

We offer you to immerse in the daily life of costarican families and work routines of teaching and conservation projects. These new found knowledges teach you a lot.

Meet your organization

In 1994 we at first hand moved to Costa Rica and everything started when my son went to a little elementary school near Sámara: 11 children, 6 degrees, one classroom and one teacher. We started bringing volunteers to this little school and 'poco a poco' other schools addressed us with interest of having volunteers and families offered themselves for having volunteers in their house.

Since then a lot has changed and developed at first hand – we started many new teaching programs and conservation projects all over the country – but one thing is still the same: we have a very personal and very close contact to all of our schools, guestfamilies and projects. We live in Costa Rica and we will be there when you need us!

First hand offers volunteer opportunities in schools, kindergarten, music schools, turtle camps, animal reserves, macaw stations, farms and in the rainforest.

We, the agency for volunteer work first hand, are in direct contact with schools and environmental conservation projects planning, organizing and joining our volunteers during this unforgettable and worthy experience!

We have 20 years experience of living in Costa Rica and feel commited to the people, comunitary help and sustainable ecological development. Through the 'Asociación Intercambio Cultural ALEGRIA - AICA', a non-profit organization, we have been promoting intercultural exchange in all areas of artistic expression and organizing festivals and benefit events. 

First hand offers projects almost everywhere in Costa Rica. San Jose, Islita, Buena Vista, Manzanillo, Drake Bay, Mata Palo...just to name a few!

Our Vision

first hand wants to contribute to a sustainable development and mutual respect by intercultural exchange and learning from each other.

Why volunteering with first hand?

Your contribution makes the difference in educating children, preserving marine turtles or other animals and protecting the rainforests of Costa Rica. You live and work with locals and you get to learn the real life of Costaricans. Every day you deal directly with opinions, lifestyles and routines of a different culture. These new found knowledges teach you more about yourself! You learn or improve your spanish skills. Language is the key to understanding the values of a different culture. Work experiences in foreign countries are indispensable in times of globalization. A volunteer based commitment will open many doors for you.

About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a little tropical paradise between two oceans. Hardly any other country has such an abundance of plants and animals on such a small terrain. 25% of it's area is protected by national parks. Active volcanos, hot springs, rain and cloud forests, mountain rivers, spectacular waterfalls, subterranean caves, coral reefs, mangroves, amazing caribbean and pacific beaches and a fascinating animal world invite you to discover and enjoy.

Costa Rica has the oldest democracy in Latin America, a working social system, responsable environmental laws and is the only country in the world that has no army. The relaxed 'pura vida' lifestyle of the 'ticos' and their hospitality towards visitors make it one of the safest top destinations in Latin America.

99 reviews · rating4.5

Julia Roth rating4.8

2022 at Save Turtles and Sloths

It really was an unforgettable time, lots fun and I met many nice people there. What we experienced while working was incredibly interesting and exiting. In our free time, too, we visited many different, great places or went to the sea. A wonderful ...
Hana Horvathova rating4.6

2022 at Save Turtles and Sloths

I joined the turtles and sloths project in Matapalo through First Hand, it was an amazing experience overall. I have been at the project during the rainy season which I still recommend highly. First Hand has shown great support during the onboarding period before the start of the project and later ...
Paula rating4.6

2016 at Save Turtles and Sloths

In the project, which lies directly on the coast of the Pacific, I was only for a very short time. Nevertheless, I was lucky and during this time I could find an egg-laying turtle during one of my patrols and accompany a nest with hatching turtles to the sea. The conditions at the camp are really ...
Beate Flatjord rating4.8

2024 at Animal Rescue & Release Center

Working with animals at the rescue center. Get to work close with the animals. Cleaning enclosures, feding and a lot of other differente tasks. Really fun to get to see the animals up close and work with them. Also a lot of nice and fun people. Fun activities and things to see on your free ...
Laurence Bouchayer rating4.4

2024 at Save Turtles in Montezuma

I had a great time in ASVO. Such an experience. You should communicate more about the conditions there, night shifts and very basics conditions of staying in the house. ..
Bianca Reis rating4.6

2023 at Animal Rescue & Release Center

I had a great time at the Animal Rescue Center in Puerto Viejo. I worked five days per week and had two days off. Every day there are three different tasks you can do, such as cleaning the enclosure, feeding the animals etc. You will work with many animals like sloths, baby monkeys, birds, macaws. ..

Location


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Spanish, English, French, German

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