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.

Your Experience

This placement is unique in that it offers you a cultural homestay with a typical Costa Rican family whilst offering some very rewarding part time voluntary work . There are many different areas of work available at different times of the year . The main two projects volunteers get involved with 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.

How this program 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 which is usually not far away you will make your own way between Monday and Friday. Longer stay volunteers may be interested in joining coastal ecology projects for a couple of weeks or more which focus on beach cleaning, conservation education and cultural exchange.

Weekends are 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.

4 Time difference to UK: GMT -4hrs
Hottest month: November

Volunteers usually spend their free time in many different ways:  visiting the volcanoes, visiting secluded

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.

Costa Rica is a tiny Central American country straddling two seas: the Caribbean and the Pacific.

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