• Life On Land

Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection

location
1 - 2 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Help protect endangered sea turtle species and make them be able to fight exctinction
  • Experience a different reality to yours and gain new perspectives
  • Make long lasting bonds to the other volunteers and workers at the site, as well as with the people in the community where you will be staying at.
  • Get some first hand valuable biological knowledge of sea turtle behaviour, habitat, features..
  • Discover the beautiful things that Costa Rica has: a very diverse wildlife, unique culture, historic buildings...

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Help protect the nests of the threatened turtle species that come yearly to these areas in Costa Rica, while also getting a memorable and impacting experience.

Sea turtles are important members of the local ecosystem: they maintain the dynamics of coral reefs, control the growth of other species such as jellyfish, and are also responsible for maintaining healthy seagrass beds. Unfortunately, these species, and with them their entire ecosystem, are ...

About the program

Sea turtles are important members of the local ecosystem: they maintain the dynamics of coral reefs, control the growth of other species such as jellyfish, and are also responsible for maintaining healthy seagrass beds. Unfortunately, these species, and with them their entire ecosystem, are threatened by problems such as the destruction of their nests by people who sell their eggs, construction and development at nesting sites, extreme fishing and in general the lack of awareness about them at the local level. communities near the beaches where they nest. Our main objective in this project is to collaborate in the protection of the different species of sea turtles that nest in the area, and to conserve them and their habitat. 

To achieve that goal, volunteers perform some tasks based on the needs such as:

Night tasks:
  • Monitoring of nesting sites and beaches.
  • Night surveillance of nests (this usually lasts between 4 to 6 hours, where you will be accompanied by a work group assigned by your coordinator).
  • Protecting nesting turtles
  • Recording data on the nesting turtles.
  • Conducting egg counts
  • Identifying nests
Daytime tasks:
  • Releasing offspring on the beach and collecting data.
  • Cleaning the beach
  • Building hatcheries
  • Assisting in the relocation of nests
  • Working in the site's ecological garden planting different vegetables.

Typical day

Volunteers work on this project from Monday to Friday (Monday to Friday) on the following schedule:
  • Morning shift: lasts from 9:00 to 12:00; at this time volunteers can help with maintenance activities, work in the garden and others.
  • Patrols: are carried out from 18:00 to 00:00, depending on the ...

Typical day

Volunteers work on this project from Monday to Friday (Monday to Friday) on the following schedule:
  • Morning shift: lasts from 9:00 to 12:00; at this time volunteers can help with maintenance activities, work in the garden and others.
  • Patrols: are carried out from 18:00 to 00:00, depending on the number of turtles arriving at the beach and the tides at that time.

Free-time activities

Costa Rica is a country with great biodiversity in flora and fauna. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has well known provinces and unique characteristics such as:
  • Lemon
  • Puntarenas
  • Guanacaste
  • And its capital San José.
In these places you can find a wide array of activities ...

Free-time activities

Costa Rica is a country with great biodiversity in flora and fauna. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has well known provinces and unique characteristics such as:
  • Lemon
  • Puntarenas
  • Guanacaste
  • And its capital San José.
In these places you can find a wide array of activities including:
  • Tours to natural parks
  • Climbing volcanoes
  • Sea turtle sightings
  • Being surrounded by nature
  • Beautiful beaches
Due to its very welcoming and friendly people, it is considered one of the happiest countries in the world.

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 Spanish (basic level) or English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

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

Other Skills

We expect our volunteers to be very communicative with others at the site, willing to do tasks, empathetic, participative, and committed to the cause of helping turtles. Additionally, volunteers must be in good physical shape, as some of the activities may require them being so.

Time Commitment

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

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Adventure Volunteer

  • Accommodation during your stay as a volunteer 
  • 3 Meals during your volunteer work.
  • 24/7 support from the Adventure Volunteer team.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of the program.
  • Orientation and induction to the program.
  • Certificate of volunteer weeks.
  • Receipt from the NGO for the program fee.
  • Guidance, advice and management in the choice of the program.

Accommodation

Volunteers will stay in a guesthouse next to the projects. In this house, you will be given the use of a bed in a shared room, the cabins are close to the nursery and in the middle of nature, you have to be aware that there are animals nearby and insects.

Food & Beverages

During your stay, you will be provided with three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). 

Meals are prepared Costa Rican style: at breakfast you can expect to be served coffee, tea, fruits, pancakes or cereals; at lunch you can expect to be served rice, beans, salads, meats, pastas, vegetables or fish; finally, during patrols pancakes and cereals are usually served. 

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.

Internet Access

Sorry, no access at the project site

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

The project is open on the times of year that turtles come nest in the area: March through August in Caribbian, from juny to december in Pacific. Volunteers must arrive on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, as this makes their induction into the program significantly easier.Volunteers arrive from anywhere in the world to Costa Rica, normally always the first night at the airport they rest a day in San Jose, after that the volunteers the next morning take the bus at the station Tracopa, at 9 am direction Quepos, once in Quepos they will meet with the coordinator who previously have been in contact.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 495€
2 weeks (max. stay) 670€
Average fees 415€/week

Program fees

415€ per week 1 - 2 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

1 - 2 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 Adventure Volunteer during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

Adventure Volunteer

Brilliant 4.7 rating (42 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2017

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Sergio

Spoken languages: Spanish, English

About the project

Support in the cooperation and creation of social and environmental projects in communities at risk of social exclusion, through international volunteering.

Meet your organization


ADVENTURE VOLUNTEER is a non-profit organization, established in 2017. We collaborate in the social and environmental field through projects of conservation and protection of the environment and animals, as well as in the social part through projects of empowerment of women, community development, functional diversity, medical or teaching.


Our team of collaborators has a deep experience in international volunteer programs.  We know all the realities of the areas where we are working, collaborating and where we have a presence. 


Our projects offer volunteers the opportunity to meet, share and participate in social and environmental projects. These projects demand educational and recreational activities that benefit communities of different cultures and customs, communities with economic difficulties and different degrees of social exclusion.

42 reviews · rating4.7

Samantha Vick rating5

2024 at Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection

Milo and his family are beyond amazing! It was an experience that I absolutely loved. The only thing I did not like is that you could walk nearly an hour into town OR take a $10 taxi every time you wanted to go into town. There were days where we went into town twice! If we were to pay for a taxi ...
Thanks to Adventure Volunteer, I was able to be a part of a crucial effort to protect turtles and their habitats. Each hatchling release night was a celebration of life and commitment to a sustainable ...
Collaborating with the turtle project in Costa Rica was like immersing yourself in a world of natural wonders. An unforgettable experience that I would recommend to all nature and conservation ...
Ariadna Sanchez rating4.4

2022 at Sea Turtle Conservation and Protection

Una experiencia única y especial. Vale la pena disfrutar de la experiencia sin duda. Aprendes mucho sobre el proyecto, las tortugas, su vida y los peligros a los que están expuestas. Repetiré sin dudarlo! ***Translation*** A unique and special experience. The experience is definitely worth ...
I experienced magical moments while releasing hatchlings into the ocean. I thank Adventure Volunteer for opening the doors to this corner of Panama full of life and ...
Contributing to sustainable development and sharing with local people allowed me to understand the importance of human connection. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to immerse themselves in the authenticity of Panama while creating a positive ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Quepos or Limon

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Contact Sergio
  Very high response rate
Spanish, English

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