Volunteer in Costa Rica / General information for volunteers

CHANGE LIVES AND VOLUNTEER IN COSTA RICA 2011 - 2012

Costa Rica Volunteer in one of the most exotic places on earth, helping endangered sea turtles along Costa Rica's unrivalled Pacific and Caribbean beaches. Relax and enjoy the long sleepy siestas and leave your worries behind. Far from the hustle and bustle of city life this project is perfect for nature and animal lovers, or those in search of an adventure.

Volunteer on this project and you can help to ensure the continued existence of these rare and wondrous creatures. Volunteers assist in the nightly beach patrols, the collection of eggs for the hatchery and the release of newly born turtles back into the sea.

Highlights
Volunteer on some of the best beaches in Central America Get up close to natures endangered creatures Meet volunteers from all over the world!

Need some advice? Call us today: 01603

627 007

| www.originalvolunteers.co.uk |

2011 Original Volunteers Ltd. Company Registration No. 6917187 in England and Wales - ATOL Protected Number 9644

Volunteer in Costa Rica / General information for volunteers

Food
Costa Rica is a self-catering project but meals are often provided for volunteers who staying with local families. Most sea turtles projects offer a communal kitchen where volunteers share the cooking and washing up, a great way to make friends. At quieter times you may even be invited by project staff or local families to share meals.

Getting around
Costa Rica is one of the richest nations in Central America and offers a high standard of modern services and infrastructure. Many businesses from cafes to shops cater well for their English speaking visitors and many people speak good English. In fact, because of this many wealthy Americans have second homes in Costa Rica and spend their winters there. There is also a well established public transport system that runs throughout the country and most Costa Ricans and tourists travel by bus easily.

Your role as a Volunteer

Volunteers can take part in a range of duties from beach patrols to hatchery monitoring and beach conservation during their stay. The beach patrols take place at night with volunteers going in groups, in search of nesting female turtles. Volunteers will have the opportunity to help collect the eggs during the patrols, transfer them to the hatchery and re-bury them. Once hatched, the volunteers assist in releasing the hatchlings back into the water. There are sometimes periods where there are no nesting female turtles and volunteers to help in other areas of the project or local community. This could involve maintenance of project facilities, beach cleaning or helping with the collection of research material. Volunteers who choose to stay for longer periods are more likely to experience the various stages of the hatching process.

Free time
Swimming, surfing and snorkelling are all favourites amongst volunteers and can be enjoyed right on your doorstep. Longer trips and other activities can be enjoyed at the weekend or at the end of your volunteering experience. Costa Rica is around twice the size of Wales and with volcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, National Parks and 6% of the World's biodiversity all crammed in, you will never be short of things to do and see. White water rafting, horse back riding, and hiking are just a few of the activities you could take part in at the weekends. The project staff and your fellow volunteers will be able to make suggestions and help you to arrange trips.

Local facilities
Turtle conservation projects are often located in rural nature reserves and so the facilities in the local area will be fairly limited. Often a village shop and public phone will be in close proximity to the project. Larger shops, internet facilities and a selection of cafes and restaurants can all be reached by bus in the nearest town..

Skills and experience

No experience is required when helping in Costa Rica. In order to get the most out of your stay we recommend that volunteers have a basic knowledge of Spanish.

Overview On arrival
All volunteers are met on arrival in San Jose where they will be transferred to a hostel or home stay for a one or two night stay before moving to the coast. Arrival days Saturday and Sunday, An orientation and briefing on all of the available projects will also be provided by the project organisers. Departure for the sea turtle projects is usually on Mondays.

Health
There is a very good health service in Costa Rica and the co-ordinator will be able to help you with your transfer should you need to go to hospital or to see a doctor during your stay. Medical/travel insurance should cover most basic medical needs.

Local support
In-country co-ordinators, along with your local host if staying with a family during home-stay will be available if you need any assistance or help. All volunteers live together, so fellow volunteers that have been in Costa Rica awhile, are a great form of informal support to new volunteers.

Accommodation included
In Costa Rica, accommodation is provided. Volunteers usually stay together in cabin/camping-like accommodation with basic facilities. Locations can be beautiful but home comforts can be limited due to project budgets and the beachside locations. Home-stays are also available for any volunteer wishing to soak up the Costa Rican way of life

Need some advice? Call us today: 01603

627 007

| www.originalvolunteers.co.uk |

2011 Original Volunteers Ltd. Company Registration No. 6917187 in England and Wales - ATOL Protected Number 9644

Volunteer in Costa Rica / General information for volunteers

What to take
Once you have applied and registered with Original Volunteers, you will receive an Information Pack via email that will have further details on the project in Costa Rica; in this email there will be a list of items to take.

Not on your own

Although some volunteers travel with friends, the larger majority travel alone. It is possible to get in contact with other volunteers before you travel, and a lot of people tend to do this. Some volunteers even plan to travel together and set this up themselves before they depart.

How to apply
It is quick an easy to register with Original Volunteers. You can either do it online via our website www.originalvolunteers.co.uk or you can call us on 01603 627 007 and register over the phone. It costs 125 to register and this registration lasts a whole year; which means you can go to as many placements as you want within that year without having to pay the 125 again. The registration fee also instantly books and reserves your place in any month you choose. We are very flexible however and you can always change your mind. Just let us know if dates change and spaces permitting we will put you on another list.

Fast Facts Project Information

Project Duration: Min 2 weeks - Max 12 weeks Project Costs: 100 one off pick up, overnight stay, orientation and ongoing support, 80 per week project fee covers project accommodation. Location of project: Pacific or Caribbean coast Activities: Collecting eggs, releasing hatchlings, beach Conservation and monitoring the hatchery Working Hours: Varied Monday-Friday with night patrols taking place between 8pm-3am and daytime hatchery work Getting to the project: Airport pick-up and transfer to the project is automatically arranged for all volunteers once flights have been received and is included in the one off fee. Requirements: Minimum age 18

When to pay for this project

Volunteers pay the one-off fee before departure and accommodation is payable on arrival.

Things that you will need to organise yourself

Flights to San Jose Travel Insurance Food

What's Included
Accommodation: Volunteers stay together in rustic accommodation or with host families via home-stay Airport Pickup: Airport pick up is provided. Training: During your stay you will be trained on the job informally via in-country orientation

What's not included

Flights Insurance Return Airport transfer Local Transport around Costa Rica Meals

Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a small country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The capital and largest city of Costa Rica is San Jose, set in a fertile valley located almost in the very centre of the country. 25% of the country's land area is made up of protected national parks, the largest percentage in the word and 1.5 million tourists visit Costa Rica every year. The primary language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish. Costa Rica has a tropical climate with two main seasons, the wet and the dry.

Need some advice? Call us today: 01603

627 007

| www.originalvolunteers.co.uk |

2011 Original Volunteers Ltd. Company Registration No. 6917187 in England and Wales - ATOL Protected Number 9644