• Life On Land
  • Life Below Water

Work in a National Park

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Immerse yourself in the captivating biodiversity of Costa Rica and discover its unique natural wonders
  • Indulge in ultimate relaxation as you unwind on the pristine, dreamy beaches of Costa Rica
  • Enhance your Spanish language skills through immersive experiences and interactions with locals
  • Embrace the authentic "tico" lifestyle of Costa Rica and immerse yourself in the rich culture and traditions
  • Delight in the year-round pleasant climate, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica in every season

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Help preserve Costa Rica's breathtaking nature, protect local wildlife and educate day visitors. Enjoy dream beaches, deep forest and Costa Rican PURA VIDA! 🇨🇷

Although Costa Rica is a very small country, the vegetation and wildlife are extremely diverse. The national parks system was established to protect the country's unique nature and biodiversity since the beginning of the environmental conservation movement. Costa Rica is known for its extensive ...

About the program

Although Costa Rica is a very small country, the vegetation and wildlife are extremely diverse. The national parks system was established to protect the country's unique nature and biodiversity since the beginning of the environmental conservation movement. Costa Rica is known for its extensive eco-tourism industry, making the country's national parks world-famous travel destinations. The parks are dispersed throughout the country and offer a huge range of attractions, such as beautiful beaches, volcanoes, mountain ranges, rain and cloud forests, lagoons, rivers, waterfalls, and many different exotic animals. Most parks have a very diverse eco-system and unique flora and fauna. They are important refuges for endangered species. The species that make up Costa Rica's wildlife include a variety of mammals, beautiful birds, fish, and reptiles. Among the wild animals there are howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, pumas, deer, squirrels, coati, peccary, marvelous butterflies, frogs, iguanas, toucans, and parrots. Furthermore, you can find a vast variety of water birds and about 70 different types of reptiles, like snakes and lizards. Sea turtles are the main attraction of many of the coastal national parks. In the areas that are open for day visitors, the parks offer outdoor activities like hiking, horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, canopying, and more.

The Placement

The volunteer project is carried out in one of the first nature reserves created in Costa Rica back in 1963. It is a true symbol of environmental conservation. It is located in Puntarenas province, right on the edge of the Nicoya Peninsula. The project is dedicated to protecting and preserving Costa Rican wildlife, native forest, and the marine ecosystem. It consists of 1,373 hectares of wild and marine conservation areas. The Reserve only has the 5% of the total territory open for tourists. Their contributions represent the main way to sustain the Park financially. This reserve protects semi dry tropical forest. About 140 different species of trees have been identified inside the park. There is also a considerable variety of mammals in the park. Predominant among these and very easily spotted by visitors are the howler monkey and the white-face monkeys. Very abundant and easily seen are the white-nosed coati and the white-tailed deer. Also present, but harder to spot are the margay and the coyote. The greatest wealth in fauna is in the abundant marine birds, marine mammals including orcas, different kinds of fish, crabs and mollusks found in the shore waters of the offshore islands. Worth mentioning is the healthy population of brown boobies and pelicans found in the island, and the plentiful conch found on the park's waters.

Note: If you are looking for a Sea Turtle project (protecting sea turtles), please reach out to us, so that we can orientate you on the best project. Although in this project you might be able to see sea turtles in their natural habitat, this is not a pure sea turtle project.

The Location

The National Park where you will be doing your Eco Volunteering is located at the southern tip of the beautiful Nicoya peninsula. This is one of the most fascinating areas of Costa Rica. Dense forests with lush vegetation, a rich flora & fauna, dream beaches and small, idyllic fishing villages characterize the landscape. 

San José, the country's capital is about 300 km, but due to the road conditions this will take at least a 5-hour drive. In any case, the long drive it worth it! Within the park itself, you will have plenty of possibilities to walk and hike. It is a rewarding feeling to see and hear the wildlife, be it different kinds of monkeys, exotic birds or other animals. Not only is the park is a real paradise but also the nearby beaches. Some of the beaches include Montezuma, Mal Pais, or even Santa Teresa. All three attract tourists from all over the world for their great surfing spots or just relaxing. In Montezuma and Santa Teresa, you can find restaurants, bars, as well as tour operators offering different kinds of outdoor activities. 

The people in Costa Rica are friendly and relaxed, and live according to the motto "Pura Vida" - "pure life". In Costa Rica you can learn to enjoy life to the fullest! In addition, the "Ticos" speak a clear and slow Spanish, so that it is easy to understand them.

Typical day

The weekly schedule will be posted each week so the volunteers are notified ahead of time. Activities vary each week. The following schedule is general.

  • 6.30 am: Breakfast
  • 8.00 - 11.45 am: Morning shift 
  • 12.00 pm: Lunch
  • 1.30 - 3.45 pm: Afternoon shift 
  • 3.45 pm: Afternoon tea
  • 6.30 pm: Dinner

The weekends ...

Typical day

The weekly schedule will be posted each week so the volunteers are notified ahead of time. Activities vary each week. The following schedule is general.

  • 6.30 am: Breakfast
  • 8.00 - 11.45 am: Morning shift 
  • 12.00 pm: Lunch
  • 1.30 - 3.45 pm: Afternoon shift 
  • 3.45 pm: Afternoon tea
  • 6.30 pm: Dinner

The weekends are off for volunteers to enjoy the beaches, explore the breathtaking nature and rich culture of Costa Rica, visit Montezuma or Santa Teresa, go surfing or just chill with a book. 

The main interest of the volunteer program is to involve volunteers in conservation and protection of natural resources, carrying out maintenance work, eco tourism, monitoring, environmental education, labeling, and the like to ensure perpetuity for future generations. Among the work areas are:

Beach clean-up and Recycling
Two of the most important activities are the “Beach Clean-up and recycling" because of the positive impact that these have on our oceans. To protect the oceans and its animals from plastic, it is critical to at least contribute to maintaining the reserve as clean as possible. The activities are focused on recovering both the beaches from the reserve and also the ones in the surrounding areas. After collecting the trash, volunteers head to the recycle Station where they learn about the classification of solid waste. This represents a key contribution to the local town.

Environmental education and community
There is an environmental and community program, where volunteers have the opportunity to teach sustainability at the community school to co-create awareness with the local population of the nearest towns. Moreover, the program involves other activities like workshops, research, and community activities.

Construction and Maintenance
These activities are related to the necessities of the park, trails, and public areas, as well as the volunteer house. This kind of work is one of the most important within the reserve. Its objective is to repair those places on the trail that are in poor condition due to erosion, landslides, fallen trees, branches, etc. It includes working in all green areas such as the tourism office, the ranger’s house, the volunteer house, workshops, and main roads. 

Monitoring and Research
The park has a monitoring and research area where the volunteers have the opportunity to watch wildlife in the forest and learn about their behavior and specificities. Volunteers will have the chance to visit the second station that is of great interest for researching species that are at risk of extinction.

Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.

Free-time activities

Volunteers can enjoy various activities during their free time. The beaches in Cabuya, Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Manzanillo are all different and absolutely beautiful. 

Activities such as surfing, canopying, zip lining, ATV rides,  horseback riding, mangrove tours, fishing, diving, boating, and so ...

Free-time activities

Volunteers can enjoy various activities during their free time. The beaches in Cabuya, Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Manzanillo are all different and absolutely beautiful. 

Activities such as surfing, canopying, zip lining, ATV rides,  horseback riding, mangrove tours, fishing, diving, boating, and so much more are all available for the volunteer’s enjoyment in the towns close by during days off. In addition, you can explore the amazing nature of Costa Rica and take in its breathtaking views.

Weekends are the perfect time to enjoy an exciting hike through Costa Rican nature since the main attractions of Costa Rica is its system of national parks and protected areas, which cover around 25% of the national territory, in order to protect the rich variety of flora and fauna, which is estimated to contain 5% of the world's biodiversity in less than 0.1% of the planet's land mass. In addition, Costa Rica has countless amazing beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean Ocean. 

Costa Rica is the perfect place to combine volunteer work with tourism, enjoy activities like:

  • Adventure sport
  • Dream beaches
  • Ecotourism
  • Local culture
  • Bird / wildlife watching
  • Visits to unique National Parks
  • Rural tourism
  • Sightseeing and history in San José

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)

Education Requirements

at High School level

Required Documents

volunteer questionnaire

Nationality Restrictions

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

Time Commitment

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

What's Included

What's Included

Services by South America Inside

  • Shared room in Volunteer House
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Airport pick-up in San José with 2 overnight stays in San José (single room, breakfast & dinner)
  • Transfer from San José accommodation to bus terminal for journey to project site *
  • Advice from our experienced staff
  • On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
  • Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
  • Your placement in the volunteer project
  • Pre-departure information
  • Packing list
  • Country handbook
  • Intercultural guide
  • Welcome meeting in San José
  • On-site volunteer coordinator
  • 24/7 emergency number
  • Advice on travel insurance
  • Certificate of participation
*the costs for the bus from San José to the project site are not included.

Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

There is an airport pick-up service that will take you to the place of your overnight stay in San José, typically a local host family. The following day you will have program introduction with our friendly team in San José. On the next day, you will be brought to the bus station where you start your journey to the volunteer project (bus ticket not included).

Strictly spoken it is 2 nights and 1 full day. On the arrival day flights usually arrive in the afternoon or evening. The next day you will have the introduction with our staff and the following day very early in the morning you will continue your trip to the national park.

Accommodation

The accommodation in the national parks in Costa Rica is in shared dormitories in the volunteer house. The volunteer house is also the place where volunteers get to know each other, can chill and relax and just spend a good time together. 

  • There are shared bathrooms available, a kitchen and a common area. 
  • Each of the rooms has bunk beds.
  • There are showers and toilets with running water. It is important to mention that volunteers are asked to keep showers short and use water sparingly.
  • The library has books in various languages and there is a take-a-book leave-a-book system. 
  • A lookout treehouse is available for the volunteer’s relaxation. 
  • The project site has WIFI Internet.

Food & Beverages

Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner every day) is included. Meals are prepared by our friendly local cooks. Any dietary restrictions such as allergies and vegetarian/vegan diets can be accommodated for - please inform us in advance.

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

The volunteer work can be joined throughout the year. The start and end date can be set flexible, according to your availability and travel plans. Ask our experienced staff to coordinate your participation in this meaningful volunteer project.

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

Program fees

2 weeks (min. stay) 1,108€
3 weeks 1,397€
4 weeks 1,685€
5 weeks 1,973€
6 weeks 2,262€
7 weeks 2,550€
8 weeks 2,838€
9 weeks 3,127€
10 weeks 3,415€
11 weeks 3,703€
12 weeks 3,991€
24 weeks (max. stay) 7,451€
Average fees 431€/week

Program fees

431€ per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

2 - 24 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 South America Inside during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

South America Inside

Perfect 4.6 rating (128 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2003

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Marion

Spoken languages: German, English, Spanish

About the project

South America Inside promotes intercultural, linguistic and educational exchanges. Its volunteer programs are addressed to students, professionals and retirees.

Meet your organization

South America Inside is an intercultural management agency, founded back in 2003, which specializes in the promotion of programs abroad, language travel and educational programs throughout Latin America.

Since 2007, to enrich the experience of our global-minded clients and to provide them with even more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding their program offerings throughout South and Central America.

Working together with some of the best language schools in Latin America, South America Inside provides high quality language courses in almost every Latin American country.

Thanks to a professional team of motivated and friendly staff, South America Inside has been very successful over the past several years and have been able to establish an outstanding network of what we call "Insider Contacts." To enrich the experience of their clients and to provide them with more possibilities, South America Inside has been expanding our program offerings throughout Central and South America, in addition to our well-established Chilean programs.

Volunteer Work

Do you dream of staying abroad while doing something positive? Are you looking for a unique experience that will leave a mark on your life? Then a Volunteer Work program in South America or Central America is perfect for you!

With South America Inside you can combine an adventure abroad with social commitment, and create lasting memories in Latin America. Support the protection of endangered species; help a local community construct new homes; give new hope to impoverished children.

The possibilities to lend a hand are diverse, as there are the many places where help is needed. We have classified our volunteer projects in different areas so you can easily find the one (or more!) projects that best match your needs and interests.

Why with us

There are many persuasive reasons that speak in favor of South America Inside when it comes to selecting your perfect provider of language, study and volunteer travel abroad. Following, we have prepared a short summary so that you can get us to know a little better.

Our Insider benefits at a glance:

•  Regional Experience
Over one decade (established in 2003) of dedication to language, work and study travel programs in Latin America. Thanks to our long standing work and life experience in the South American continent, we know this region really well. Therefore, we can help and inform you in a professional and competent way.

•  Multifaceted Offers
Over time we have developed new programs to offer a wide array of work abroad opportunities to our clients. We have been pioneers in launching new exchange programs, as we have been the first in offering Work & Travel/Working Holiday and Farm Stays in Chile and successfully introduced these programs into the market back in 2005. Since 2012, we are the only agency to offer this type of program in Costa Rica.

•  Insider Advice
Despite living in the modern era of the internet, we know that reliable and competent advice is still an important criterion for most of us. At South America Inside, you will find the benefits of an internet provider and an independent travel agency. We will be glad to pass on our extensive knowledge and regional experience.!

•  Location
It is difficult to run programs when there is nobody “on the ground” to evaluate existing options and search for new opportunities. So, we are located in Chile, on location, and we know everything that is going on first hand. We know what it is like to live as a foreigner in South America and will be happy to assist you in making your stay unforgettable!

•  Independence
South America Inside is an independent provider of language courses, internships, volunteer work, Farm Stays and Work & Travel programs in Latin America. We neither depend financially nor structurally on any other company, language school, association or organization. Therefore, we are able to give personalized information in accordance to your needs and availability.

•  Multilingual Team

Our team is multilingual and international! We speak fluent English, Spanish and German, as well as some French and Portuguese. With our customers, we can communicate in their native language and we avoid misunderstandings with local partners by communicating in Spanish with them. You can be sure that there will be an English-speaking contact person for you before, during, and after your stay.

•  Customer Service
Excellent customer service is one of the most important goals for South America Inside, and this is evident with the positive feedback we regularly receive from our many happy clients. Emails are answered within 48 business hours and every client is treated with the same friendliness and expertise.

•  Gapless and Accurate Information flow
With South America Inside you will have one and the same contact person before, during and after your trip. With that said, we guarantee a gapless and accurate information flow and you will always be very well informed.

•  Approved Program Places
Many of our program places, especially in the area of internships and volunteer work, are designed in the way that they will be recognized by most universities, colleges or academies.

128 reviews · rating4.6

Anna W. rating5

2024 at Work in a National Park

I’m good! The National Park is a beautiful place, the food is nice too ( and they give vegetarian options for the vegetarians too ) All in all I am very ...
Tiffany T. rating5

2024 at Work in a National Park

Ich bin jetzt schon einen Monat in dem Freiwilligenprojekt im Nationalpark in Costa Rica und die Zeit ist wie im Flug vergangen. Mir gefällt es total gut hier. Obwohl wir immer nur wenige Volunteers sind (im Moment 3), macht das Arbeiten und die Ausflüge am Wochenende viel Spaß. Wir haben einen ...
Sara L. rating4.8

2024 at Work in a National Park

Everything went and is fine! I really like the people I stayed with in San Jose and ...
shelley cannon rating4.2

2024 at Work in a National Park

It was very interesting not as many animals as I would have thought. The local people were awesome . The other volunteers were all very young 20’s and from Europe. Mostly from Netherlands, Germany and Austria. It was incredibly hot and humid for me. I’m from San Diego, ...
GERALDINE QUIRKE rating3.2

2024 at Work in a National Park

When I scheduled volunteer time the indication was that there was a limited number of volunteers based on the projects/work to be done. As more and more volunteers arrived i realized that we were more valued for the money we paid than for the limited amount of work to be done. Also, I felt that ...
Sabrina Morici rating5

2023 at Work in a National Park

Hello! We both absolutely love Montezuma and The Wildlife Refuge. The work does not feel like work and the people are lovely. It already feels like home after only 4 days. We are so grateful to be here! Pura Vida, ...

Location

Americas > Central America > Costa Rica > Nicoya Peninsula

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Environment  >  Conservation Work in Costa Rica
Contact Marion
  Very high response rate
German, English, Spanish

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