Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• North Western Region: 
Nicoya Peninsula
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Puntarenas,  Cartago

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: multiple dates year round

Description: Be part of it with i-to-i!
Our goal is to achieve 400yrs of combined volunteering all over the world by the end of 2008.

So far we have achieved 325yrs which when broken down means we achieved the following:

- Over 5500 children cared for on our community projects around the world
- A minimum of 13,000 children and adults taught English in schools and community centres
- Hundreds of animals protected including Turtles, Pandas, Elephants, Monkeys and more
- At least 80 homes and structures built for families and communities in need
- More than 8000 trees planted which are enough trees to offset the CO2 emissions of over 2,000 cars

Interested in beautiful beaches and preserving our flappy-friends?

This is an ideal project if you want to play an important role in preserving an endangered species and gaining an insight into marine biology. Leatherback turtles are critically endangered (i.e. over 80% of the population lost in the last 10 years!), so you'll receive specific training which will enable you to help with research and data collection. You could be working on one of two specialized marine turtle conservation projects where you can get involved in clearing beaches in preparation for the nesting season, as well as regular beach patrols. This is a great opportunity to help safeguard the existence of these fascinating animals, whilst spending lots of time on the sun-kissed beaches of Costa Rica's pristine coastline.

Find out more about i-to-i, watch their short video here: http://video.i-to-i.com/site-videos/video.html

Highlights: What were the highlights of your trip that you couldn't wait to tell your friends about?

"Every time we released baby turtles was quite special, as was seeing adult turtles on the beach. Racing poachers along the beach and beating them to the turtle was exciting, and the Beach Olympics were hilarious. Watching the police shoot at a poacher then fall over a fence as they chased after him was like something out of a low-budget film, but we saw it happen over lunch! There were too many highlights- I loved pretty much everything about the trip." (Fiona Fowler)

Where you are located will depend on the time of year, the Turtle seasons are on the Caribbean coast mid March to July and on the pacific coast July to December. We work alongside research organizations and you will be assisting in vital research and conservation work to reduce the deaths of these creatures.

Qualifications: Volunteers must enjoy the outdoors and be happy without any luxuries. Volunteers must be prepared to get involved in any activities required and be prepared for some physically hard work, including night patrols and work during the day, which can get tiring! Please note there is no guarantee that volunteers will see any turtles but it is more than likely you will come into contact with them during the placement.

Cost in US$: USD 1095.00 for 1 week, USD 385.00 for every week thereafter

Before you depart we offer:
- detailed information on your project and country
- fundraising advice and support
- visa instructions
- vaccination recommendations
- advice on health, safety & culture shock
- contact details to pass along to your family

When you arrive we provide:
- pick-up from the airport on the designated arrival date
- welcome orientation
- accommodation and meals
- well-researched, quality placement
- support of in-country i-to-i team
- comprehensive insurance

You will always have:
- access to our emergency support team 24/7
- assistance of the global i-to-i staff
- guidance and advice from experienced i-to-i travelers

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: If you are interested in immersing yourself in another culture while giving your time to a worthy cause, then you are a typical i-to-i volunteer. We invite you to join the i-to-i community of dedicated volunteers aged 18-80 who are working on community development, building, teaching, and conservation projects across the globe. Together, we make a lasting impact that changes lives and helps preserve the planet through hundreds of worthwhile projects around the world.

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 4+

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994