The Volunteer Programme
The aim of the project is to help protect and preserve a few natural nesting sites that do not hold an official category of protection from the Costa Rican Government. Four different species of sea turtles frequent the Pacific coast of Costa Rica - Lora (olive ridley), Negra (green turtle), Carey (hasbith) and Baula (leatherback turtle).
These species are in danger of extinction as a result of various human activities such as infrastructure development, light pollution, transportation of vehicles and the capture of adult males and female turtles. This means it is increasingly important to help conserve nesting sites crucial to the continued existence of the turtles.
Volunteer Activities and Objectives
During your time as a volunteer you will undertake various activities such as those listed. These activities may depend on the beach you are located at:
- Helping to construct a hatchery
- Describing the nesting dynamics of the female sea turtles that arrive to the beach enabling their protection for the next season
- Protecting and closely monitoring the recovered nests in the hatchery
- Patrolling the beach to look for sea turtles and their nests either during the day or the night, taking turns of two or four hours. During the high season, the patrols could last longer, up to four or five hours
- Moving nests to the hatchery
- Marking turtles that are nesting, trying to build a nest or returning to the ocean
- Searching for marked turtles and gathering data
- Collecting the eggs you find on the beach, and taking them directly to the hatchery (“vivero”) for their protection
- Collecting information on the whole process by monitoring the hatchery and keeping track of every event
- Release
“neonatos” (little sea turtles) from the hatchery, taking them to the beach and into the ocean
- Helping with the maintenance of the facilities of the project (the shelter), and being in charge of keeping the beach clean (during the day)
- Planting trees in different areas of the beach and town
- Helping to extract and pack the eggs that are sold lawfully (only 1% of all the eggs laid)
You will be assigned to one of two locations. If you are travelling with a friend don’t forget to let us know so that we can ensure you will be based at the same location.
What’s Included in the Programme
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All project related transport
- Accommodation and all meals during the project
- 24/7 emergency assistance, and full on-site support
What’s Not Included in the Programme
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Excursions
- Personal expenditure
Prices and Durations
Pacific Turtle Conservation - 2 weeks $1,119
Pacific Turtle Conservation - 4 weeks $1,749
Pacific Turtle Conservation - 6 weeks $2,449
Pacific Turtle Conservation (2 weeks) + Language (2 weeks) $1,909
Pacific Turtle Conservation (2 weeks) + Language (4 weeks) $2,699
Pacific Turtle Conservation (4 weeks) + Language (2 weeks) $2,549
Pacific Turtle Conservation (4 weeks) + Language (4 weeks) $3,339
