Surf and Save the Turtles in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Nicoya Peninsula

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: multiple start dates year round

Description: If you are looking for a beach break then these projects on the beautiful Pacific coast need you on board. You will be learning to surf and helping to conserve the local sea turtle population during two sun-kissed weeks. You'll be living on the beach coupling surfing lessons and supervised surf practice with patrolling the beaches and preparing turtle hatcheries. Providing you can swim, love the outdoors and have a passion for working with animals you will make a big difference and a lot of friends!

*Project details:
Wow! These projects provide you with the best of Costa Rica in the shape of turtle conservation and surfing lessons. Situated on the beautiful beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula, you can pack a truly wonderful experience into 2 short weeks.

Working with a Costa Rican NGO, the municipal government and a local surf school, you take an active part in vital efforts to conserve the Olive Ridley, Black, Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles. All this, combined with daily surfing lessons or practice, adds up to a rewarding and fun project.

*Why the project needs volunteers:
Turtles are under threat in Costa Rica and volunteers are really needed to help out with conservation efforts. This is your opportunity to play a part in an ongoing struggle to save a remarkable piece of Costa Rica's heritage. Turtle poaching is very common in Costa Rica and before the conservation projects started up the poaching rate was over 95% however this has now decrease to 10% but volunteers are needed to continue protecting these marvellous creatures.

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

Highlights:
* Living the beach life - just a dream for most people!
* Playing your part in helping to preserve these wonderful creatures
* Making new friends - Costa Ricans are rightly famous for their outgoing and friendly nature

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
You need to love the outdoors, be enthusiastic and like working with animals. You do not need to be able to surf but you must be a good swimmer to do this project. A fun and positive attitude comes in handy too! The work and lessons are hard work be prepared to fall asleep exhausted each day.

Your role as a volunteer:
Your day will be filled with a combination of surfing lessons, supervised surf practice and also turtle conservation. You could get involved with night beach patrolling, research gathering and preparing turtle hatcheries. There will also be daytime activities such as beach cleaning, camp maintenance, hatchery duty, manual labour from building hatcheries to construction work to maintain the facilities at the camp. You will work 6 days a week and have one day off a week to be arranged with the project.

Cost in US$: USD 1,425.00 for 1 week, USD 220.00 for every week thereafter

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: 17-80

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

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Year Founded: 1994