Costa Rica

DESTINATIONS

HOW TO APPLY

Original Volunteers

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Your experience

Although there are many different areas of work available to volunteers the main two areas are:

Assisting at a girl’s refuge : organising Art/craft activities, teaching English and helping with daily chores.

Assisting at a free day nursery : looking after the children aged between newborn and 7 years old, changing nappies and playing, helping with meals.

Volunteers usually spend their free time in many different ways: visiting the volcanoes, visiting secluded paradise islands and beaches, exploring the jungle canopies by zip wire or visiting national parks and conservation projects throughout the country. Activities can be arranged easily on arrival from as little as £30 for a full day’s exploration from dawn to dusk.

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Getting there:

18yrs+ on arrival

Small hilly suburb of San Jose with good local facilities (ie shops, banking, cafes etc)

Volunteers live with local families

Provided

Variable depending on project. Average minimum commitment usually 3 hours on 3/4 days Monday-Friday.

Coordinator speaks English for out of hours advice but staff at projects may not speak English-If you don’t speak Spanish - bring a phrase book, lots of smiles and be ready to mime!

Classes can be arranged on arrival.

4 weeks

No later than 1 week before intended arrival

£56 per week

Extra may be needed for local transport, excursions and Spanish lessons according to preferences.

Airport pick- up service: £10

Flight to San Jose (either of the two airports).

At a glance

How this programme works

Pick-up from San Jose airport and transfer to family home stay not far from a local coordinator

On arrival orientation and briefing is provided on all the projects currently available. Volunteers live with families (often sharing with another volunteer or two) and spend most of their free time with the family getting to know typical Costa Rican life, language and customs.

Once introduced to your chosen place of work you will make your own way (or with another volunteer when present) most days between Monday and Friday. Weekends free (and occasional days off midweek according to schedule) to explore this small but diverse tropical country either on your own or using organised excursions arranged by the coordinator.

We consider this project ideal if you

Want the challenge of being submersed in a completely different culture

Want to get ‘stuck in’ amongst local people with the opportunity to gain self confidence and develop new skills.

Want to improve your Spanish or learn some Spanish from scratch and use it whilst volunteering(classes can be arranged on arrival).

Enjoy or want to make friends with local people rather than only between the volunteers

Want to get to know the people and way of life a little before travelling in the region.

Costa Rica at a glance

Costa Rica is a tiny Central American country straddling two seas: the Caribbean and the Pacific. The dynamic landscape of Costa Rica boasts a range of active volcanoes, mountain cloud forests, lowland tropical jungle, savannah grasslands, mangrove swamps and wild volcanic beaches. Trees laden with orchids are home to quetzals and over fifty species of hummingbird.

There is a sophisticated, conservation-minded tourist infrastructure with a well-developed network of national parks. Peaceful, democratic Costa Rica is the ideal destination for independent travellers looking for a spot of adventure.

Climate: Sub-tropical

Time difference from UK: -6hrs GMT

Volunteer Stories

Climate:

Festivlas:

Time difference from UK: -5hrs GMT

Placement overview

This is your chance to make a real difference in an incredible country not far from some of Costa Rica’s best beaches and where voluntary assistance is appreciated.

Costa Rica Volunteers needed in paradise

Usual commitment:

Can I stay

Longer ?

Orientation:

On site project support:

Out of hours:

4 weeks

Local staff only

English speaking coordinator

San Jose

Time difference I GMT -6hrs