Login

Select travel dates to see prices

Fantastic 4.50rating (105)

Save and Support the Turtles

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 17 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Make unforgettable experiences.
  • Enjoy the pura vida lifestyle on a breathtaking beach.
  • Simplify your life - back to basics.

Highlights

  • Make unforgettable experiences.
  • Enjoy the pura vida lifestyle on a breathtaking beach.
  • Simplify your life - back to basics.
  • Learn about marine turtles and sloths.

  • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 17+
    Singles
    Couples

    About the program

    Help protecting marine turtles from poachers and animal predators in a magnificent bay.

    About the Program

    On this breathtaking bay you protect the marine turtles that are in danger of extinction. Volunteers play a crucial role in conservation efforts! 

    Here in Buena Vista you will mainly work with Olive Ridley turtles - in Spanish these turtles are called 'loras' as they have a mouth ...

    About the program

    About the Program

    On this breathtaking bay you protect the marine turtles that are in danger of extinction. Volunteers play a crucial role in conservation efforts! 

    Here in Buena Vista you will mainly work with Olive Ridley turtles - in Spanish these turtles are called 'loras' as they have a mouth similar to a macaw. 

    During this time you will live directly in the camps under very basic conditions, sometimes without water and electricity. Your food - breakfast, lunch, dinner - will be prepared in the camp and consists of the typical costarican cuisine: rice, beans, vegetables, meat and fruit. The camp is only accessible by crossing a river, so you will not be able to leave the camp or the beach during working days. You have one day off and then you may leave the camp and the little town 'Sámara' is a 30 min walk away. In your free time during the day you can relax or read or swim or learn to surf.

    The Location

    The main project is the camp in Playa Buena Vista, 3,5 km north of Sámara, pacific coast, Guanacaste.

    Our Volunteers

    You should bring love for nature and fun of outdoor-living and also be prepared for sometimes physically demanding work and work at unusual hours as most of the turtle nesting occurs at night. 

    You also should be prepared for very simple living conditions as the camp doesn't have electricity. There are solar chargers for cameras or cellphones. You are living very close to the beaches where turtles do their nesting, so there will be no infrastructure around and there will be sand 'everywhere' ... ;-) When you will free little turtle babies for the first time then you will be rewarded for hard work and low comfort conditions!



    Typical day

    You will work between 4-6 hours every day - and you have one day free per week.

    In the mornings you will do some work in the camp like cleaning and building new breeding grounds for the eggs (viveros). Be prepared that it might be hard work to get sand from the beach to build new breeding stations. ..

    Typical day

    You will work between 4-6 hours every day - and you have one day free per week.

    In the mornings you will do some work in the camp like cleaning and building new breeding grounds for the eggs (viveros). Be prepared that it might be hard work to get sand from the beach to build new breeding stations. Also, you will be cleaning and marking the beaches. There will be some free time around the hottest time of the day for relaxing. 

    The work starts again in the afternoon: collecting data for the turtles and protecting the eggs in safe breeding grounds (viveros), freeing new born turtle babies, nest exhumations. Starting in the late evening and throughout the night there will be patrol walks on the beach to find turtles and their nests. You will go for these patrol walks in turns with other volunteers until morning.


    Free-time activities

    During the project time you will mainly relax. If you plan to go for excursions you should plan some time after your project.

    There are wonderful National Parks (Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Santa Rosa), the volcano Arenal, the caribbean side and so much more to visit!

    Free-time activities

    During the project time you will mainly relax. If you plan to go for excursions you should plan some time after your project.

    There are wonderful National Parks (Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Santa Rosa), the volcano Arenal, the caribbean side and so much more to visit!


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 17 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 17 years old on the program start date.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Required Documents

    Copy of health insurance and valid in Costa Rica

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Other Skills

    If you are 17 years old you need to bring the allowance of your parents - we provide a document for this.

    Time Commitment

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

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    We provide airport pickup, we organize the journey to the project and we also do hostel reservations in San José if needed (mostly it is needed!) - and, if you will combine projects, we will also organize the transportation between the projects. You will have to pay the cost for the pickup and the transport - around 70 US$.

    Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

    You will be picked up at the airport by our driver with a sign with your name and you will directly get in contact with your german, english, spanish speaking coordinator via phone. The driver will drive you to the reserved hostel (if necessary), give you the bus ticket (he will buy a ticket in advance to reserve you a seat in the bus), pick you up at the hostel the day of your journey to the project and bring you to the bus.
    The cost will be around 70 US$ plus the hostel night (between 13-15 US$ (dorm) and 40 US$ (single/double room).
    A Taxi will bring you to the river where the camp staff will pick you up - so, be sure to bring a backpack ... and not a suitcase! ;-)

    Accommodation

    You will be living directly in the camp in a wooden house, that is build very open to ventilation reasons, in a dorm-room in simple stock beds. You should bring ear plugs and a mosquito net. 

    Food & Beverages

    Your food - breakfast, lunch, dinner - will be prepared in the camp and consists of the typical costarican cuisine: rice, beans, vegetables, meat and fruit.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    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

    This program is available all year - but best from June until January when the turtles nest and babies hatch. The rest of the year there is maintenance work on the camp and the beach. It starts every Monday. Please arrive at least one day before the programs starts.

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

    Program Fees

    $441 per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 17 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.


    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Volunteer photos

    Location


    Meet your project coordinator

    Sofia
    105
    reviews
    4.50
    Fantastic
    2006
    Founded

    Verified

      Very high response rate
    Spoken languages: English, Spanish, French, German
    Travel safely by using Volunteer World for your communication and bookings. This way, you can benefit from the Flex Option, Refund Guarantee, and Resolution Support.

    You might also be interested in

    Contact Sofia
      Very high response rate
    English, Spanish, French, German

    Most volunteers ask about


    Do you have any more questions? Send a message to Sofia
    Please don't share personal contact details for your privacy

    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

    Book with Flex Option!

    Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs within 12 months.

    Complete Support for Every Volunteer

    This helps us run our platform and offer essential services like Comprehensive Support, Refund Guarantee, Flex Option without rebooking costs, and Price-Guarantee. This includes VAT.

    Price details