LIFE IN COSTA RICA
Situated within Central American territory, Costa Rica boasts an abundance of pristine coastlines along both the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica is best known for its beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, and immense biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of this country is made up of protected jungle, rich with wildlife including howler and spider monkeys, keel-billed toucans and a variety of other exotic birds. If that isn't enough to attract you to this incredible country, there are endless amounts of rain forest hikes and brisk high-altitude trails, rushing white-water rapids and world-class surfing. It is safe to say that Costa Rica is full of outdoor adventures just waiting to be had. National parks allow visitors to glimpse the seething life of the tropical rain forest, simmering volcanoes and cloud forests which offer otherworldly vistas. Along the coast, there are endless areas that offer reliable surf for beginners all the way up to experts. Blue Morpho butterflies’ flit amid orchid-festooned trees, while colourful tropical fish, sharks, rays, dolphins and whales thrive offshore.
MAKE YOUR NEXT VOLUNTEER TRIP COUNT BY BECOMing PART OF A WORTHWHILE CAUSE and joining our team IN COSTA RICA TODAY!
ISSUES FACING COSTA RICA
Like several other countries in our world, decades of deforestation have left a dramatic path of destruction across parts of Costa Rica and is one of the main problems facing this country. One of the biggest challenges that result of high rates of deforestation is marine and wildlife conservation. It is difficult to create programs that protect both land and ocean mammals and to pressure on the government to have them switch focus to assist with funding for conservation efforts. One population of species that have declined rapidly is our oceans precious Sea Turtles. Prior to the initiation of this particular program in 2001, it was estimated that 98% of Green Turtles were being killed for their meat and almost every single nest of all three different species of turtles were poached on the beaches in this country.
how you CAN HELP
If you have a strong desire and are passionate about getting involved in Marine Conservation efforts, then this is the perfect placement for you. On this program, you will become part of a team that's making leaps and bounds for the sea turtles that arrive on the beaches in this country. Every year, Leather back, Green and Hawks bill turtles come to the beaches of Costa Rica, to lay their eggs from March to October. During this period of time, poachers often try to steal the turtles and their eggs to sell on the black market for profit. As illegal as this practice is in in Costa Rica, it still exists. Poaching is a major factor that contributes to the depletion of the endangered sea turtle populations. It is hard to enforce without the help of the local community’s participation and volunteers like you.
ESSENTIAL COUNTRY INFORMATION:
CAPITAL CITY: San Jose
TIME ZONE: UTC -06:00
POPULATION: 4.33 Million
LITERACY PERCENT: 96
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 79
CURRENCY: Costa Rican Colon (CRC)
RELIGION: Roman Catholic, Evangelical
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S): Spanish, English
WEATHER AND CLIMATE: The climate in this country has an average temperature of 21-27 °C / 70-81 °F. Due to its proximity to the equator, it has no real summer or winter. The dry season starts in November/ December and usually lasts until the end of April. The vegetation is less lush during this season. The rainy season is from May to November. This is the best season to travel to Costa Rica. The season is characterized by almost daily rains, mainly in the middle of the afternoon. During this period, the vegetation is beautiful and lush. The Atlantic side gets more rain than on the Pacific, except in July and August where the opposite is the case (this period is called the "little summer" in the Caribbean).
SEA TURTLE MARINE CONSERVATION PROGRAM
SUSTAINABILITY, DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION & ELIMINATION OF POACHING
Location: East Coast (Caribbean region)
This community development-based program was established in 2001 and was designed to protect sea turtles and provide them with a safe area to lay their eggs where they would not be harmed or killed by poachers. Another vision of this program was to find ways to initiate sustainable development and provide a viable alternative economy in the surrounding area and for the people in the local community. Since this program has been running, poaching has been drastically reduced to approximately 38%. In addition to saving an estimated 10,000 neonates annually, this program also helps to economically support about one third of the local village’s population. This program is a true grassroots project and the dedicated team have been successful not only at redefining the cultural importance of turtle conservation but have also been able to provide education to the importance of marine conservation to those living in the area. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the generous help and support of volunteers. This program values the contribution volunteers make and the organization is extremely grateful for the large-scale impact that can be accomplished by those who want to help make a difference. This program welcomes individuals as well as groups of volunteers from all over the world that have a need, want, and desire to be able to help protect sea turtles, and give back and provide support to a local community. Volunteers are essential to the success of the program. As a volunteer, you will be provided with a wonderful opportunity to help protect these endangered species. It is an exciting opportunity to help a local village that is rallying around its sea turtle population and to be able to contribute to the growth and success of this grassroots conservation program and share your stories with others.
This program is only available during the months of March through to September because it provides you with the best chance to be on the beaches during the busy sea turtle nesting season. As a volunteer, you may get opportunities to observe giant female sea turtles nesting on our beaches as well as witnessing the incredible sight of seeing baby turtles crawling out of their nests in the sand and making their long first journey out into the open ocean. During your time on this program, you will be working alongside our local turtle guides and your input will contribute to the ongoing scientific investigation as the turtles are measured, checked for diseases, and tagged. Daily duties may include guarding turtle nesting sites, identifying turtle tracks, counting the number of eggs, recording tag numbers and assisting with egg relocation, monitoring and guarding the hatchery, cleaning the beaches of debris, releasing and safeguarding the hatchlings on their first journey to the ocean, participating in nest exhumations, searching for nesting females to collect and relocating the eggs to a guarded hatchery if deemed necessary, as well as accompanying local guides on the nightly patrols as the presence of more people on the beach decreases the opportunity for poachers. Additional duties may include making nest baskets, keeping pests (crabs, dogs) out of the hatchery, working in our recycling center, participating in a turtle training program, teaching English, arts and crafts with the village children, or designing community improvement projects based on personal skills and interests. If you are passionate about Marine Conservation and a strong desire to contribute to not just an incredible program designed to increase the Sea Turtle population, this is the perfect program for you.
This program is ONLY available from March until September, IT is NOT offered year-round.
Sea Turtle Conservation Program Fee
-
No Homestay | Homestay
$180.00 CAD | $375.00 CAD -
No Homestay | Homestay
$260.00 CAD | $665.00 CAD -
No Homestay | Homestay
$340.00 CAD | $950.00 CAD -
No Homestay | Homestay
$425.00 CAD | $1,230.00 CAD -
No Homestay | Homestay
$80.00 CAD | $275.00 CAD
PLEASE NOTE: Program fees vary depending on whether you prefer to stay with a host family or arrange private accommodation and food.
Volunteers are required to pay a Registration Fee of $225.00 CAD, which will be added to the program fee. This fee helps to cover the registration, enrolment, administration and processing costs. To find out what’s included in the program fees, scroll down for additional details.
To convert these prices to your currency click here. Fees may vary depending on the USD exchange rate.
OUR PROGRAM FEES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Registration Fee - (refundable if you cancel your program), ongoing support from VWB staff, program marketing costs, digital information package, administration costs, travel costs to develop additional programs as well as ongoing costs to sustain programs.
Program Fee - project orientation, program supervision, accommodation (private or dormitory style) and meals during volunteer program period, in-country 24/7 volunteer support and in country administration costs. (Private transport available from San Jose, but not included).
Additional Costs to the Volunteer -visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), immunizations / vaccinations, in-country trips or tours, transfer to other areas and spending money.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Our enrolment and registration process begin by applying online. Once you have filled out and submitted the online application form, you will receive a confirmation email. To continue on in our enrolment process, all volunteers will be required to pay a Registration Fee of $225.00 CAD, which will be added to the Program Fee. This fee helps to cover the administration and processing costs. Once we receive both the registration and program fee payment, we will send you a confirmation email with the program details and encourage you to book your flight at that time. Our team will be readily available to correspond with you and answer any questions you might have from the time you apply until you reach the project. If you have any further questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us at: info@vwbinternational.org.