Traveling through Costa Rica is a surefire way to see lots of wildlife, nature, beaches and eat delicious foods. You hire a car, book some hotels or hostels in advance and read all about your itinerary in the travel guide.
But what if you REALLY want to get to know the culture? After all, Costa Rica is the land of Pura Vida!, and life moves at a slower pace here. A good way to immerse yourself in the Tico culture is by volunteering, and I don’t mean helping little old ladies cross the street.
In this article, we’ll show you what volunteering in Costa Rica looks like, what opportunities there are, and what you get out of it.
Photo by Worldpackers.com
Volunteering Opportunities
Costa Rica is a global biodiversity hotspot, with around 5% of all known animal and plant species found within its borders. Pretty impressive if you consider it’s the size of Denmark or West Virginia.
Therefore, you can find many projects focussing on animal protection or improving biodiversity, that are welcoming volunteers all year round.
Animal Protection
Saving baby sea turtles in Tortuguero National Park, taking care of jaguars and other rescued animals in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, it’s all possible when you volunteer in Costa Rica.
When volunteering with animals, expect to prepare food, general cleaning and facility maintenance, take general care of animals, etc.
Check the resources below for volunteering opportunities in animal protection:
Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center
Permaculture
Permaculture is booming in Costa Rica. Permaculture is a way of developing agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. Many ecolodges around the country use various permaculture techniques like bioconstruction, capturing and filtering their own water supply, growing their own food, etc.
When volunteering on a permaculture farm, expect to work in bioconstruction, vegetable gardens, composting, humanure, conservation, harvesting crops, etc.
These are a few projects focussing on permaculture where you can volunteer:
Does Volunteering Cost Anything?
Most projects that welcome volunteers are non-profit organizations and often don’t rely on government funding. Therefore, when you apply for a volunteering position, you often have to pay a fee.
Usually, around US$25 per day is common. For that, you will get lodging in beautiful places surrounded by nature, 3 deliciously cooked meals a day, and a life-changing working experience abroad. If you consider that Costa Rica isn’t necessarily a budget destination, this price is pretty cheap for an all-inclusive stay.
Learn Spanish While Volunteering
Like I mentioned before, volunteering in Costa Rica is a great way to get to know the local culture. On top of that, you’ll be able to learn the language!
There are plenty of Spanish courses being offered by the same institutions that offer volunteering positions. You’ll work with the animals or in the vegetable garden in the morning, and after lunch, you have a few hours of Spanish class.
Volunteering is a great way to learn Spanish, while at the same time come into contact with the Tico culture. Besides that, it’s a very affordable way to see the true Costa Rica!
Are you looking for a volunteering opportunity in Costa Rica, and this article helped you land a spot? Let us know in the comments!
- Discover everything you need to know about moving to Costa Rica while enjoying 7 relaxing days at a beachfront resort, click here.
