At the turtle project, volunteers assist a Costa Rican biologist with their work at the beach.

Volunteers help with studies and protection work of the sea turtles and with the sustainable egg harvesting programs. Volunteers live in one of three beach locations around Costa Rica and must be prepared to work hard. Living conditions are basic and volunteers work shifts (days and nights).

Volunteer activities vary at different times of the year but general work includes;

• beach patrols
• building hatcheries to keep eggs away from predators
• beach cleaning
• turtle count
• tagging sea turtles
• locating nesting females
• work with local staff to harvest eggs

While we do accept volunteers for one week on the turtle program, because the sites are located six hours from our base where we have orientation and the program takes longer to settle into, we recommend staying for a minimum of two weeks or choosing one of our other placements in and around San Jose for one week. A surcharge of US$5 per day is added to the program fees to cover costs associated with running the program. 

Cost & How to Apply

• This program is offered as part of a structured package with prices starting from US$250 (1 week) to US$3640 (24 weeks)
  Included in this price is placements, in-country 24/7 support, information pack, airport pick up, orientation, program supervision, meals and accommodation for the duration of your stay
• If you are thinking about booking this program on the application there is a section "Have you been referred by an Ambassador or Partner?". Here you can type code: ONEWORLD365 and you will be entered into a monthly draw to win a full refund of your registration fee

Start Dates

Programs start on each Monday of every month

Requirements

- Volunteers must be over 18 years of age at the beginning of the program.
Ÿ- Volunteers participating in the Healthcare program must have appropriate training and certification, to be presented to IVHQ partner staff on arrival to the program.
Ÿ- Volunteers must provide a criminal background check* to IVHQ’s partner organization upon arrival in San Jose.