Costa Rica Turtle and Surf

As a volunteer on this trip you will be based at one of two turtle conservation centres in Costa Rica. You will be helping to protect and preserve some of the few remaining natural nesting sites of four turtle species that currently receive no official protection from the Costa Rican government. 

These species are currently in danger of extinction as a result of various human activities such as infrastructure development, pollution and the capture of adult turtles. This is not just an important environmental project for you to get involved in, it is also an incredible experience to be working so closely with these beautiful creatures.

The Costa Rica surfing and turtle conservation programme may not have a set itinerary, however our travel advisers are always on hand to answer any questions you may have about this trip. 

You will be based at one of two locations dependent on the project needs at the time. 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:

• Buena Vista, located 3km from Samara, Guanacaste

• Playa Matapalo, about one hour from Quepos in the province of Puntarenas 

Depending on which beach you are based at, your turtle conservation volunteer duties may include anything from helping to construct and maintain hatcheries, monitoring laying females and nest sites, observing and collecting information, and releasing baby turtles back into the wild. 

Hatchery duty takes place in two-hour shifts and night patrols can last for around three hours and sometimes more.

At both locations in Costa Rica you will be able to take advantage of your surroundings and fit some surfing in around the conservation programme. This is a great opportunity for beginners to learn to surf or for more experiences surfers to practice their skills and have some fun in the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. Each week you will have two hours of surf lessons along with two hours of practice time.

As a volunteer on this programme you will be playing a vital role in helping to preserve this species and prevent the decline in population further. During your time as a volunteer you will undertake various activities such as those listed.

These activities may depend on which 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 (baby sea turtles) from the hatchery, taking them to the beach and releasing them near 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
• You will be assigned to one of the 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.

Please note that hatchery duty takes place in two-hour shifts and night patrols can last for around three hours and sometime even more. At both locations, work can take place during the day and also at night. 

At both of the locations you will have the chance either to practice the sport or learn it while volunteering on the programme. Each week you will have two hours of surf lessons along with two hours of practice, if you are already able to surf and do not require lessons then you will be able to use the lesson time for practice.

Please Note that there is a time limit for surfing each day, which coincides with the work of your project. You will need to be flexible according to the daily demands of the programme. If you are travelling with somebody else, then it is important that you advise of this prior to departure so that we can make sure that you placed at the same location.