Costa Rica Turtle and Surf

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks and 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: First Monday of every month

Description: The aim of the project is to help protect and preserve a few natural nesting sites that do not hold an official category of protection from the Costa Rican Government. Four different species of sea turtles frequent the Pacific coast of Costa Rica - Lora (olive ridley), Negra (green turtle), Carey (hasbith) and Baula (leatherback turtle).

These species are in danger of extinction as a result of various human activities such as infrastructure development, light pollution, transportation of vehicles and the capture of adult males and female turtles. This means it is increasingly important to help conserve nesting sites crucial to the continued existence of the turtles.

Volunteer Activities and Objectives
During your time as a volunteer you will undertake various activities such as those listed. These activities may depend on the beach you are located at:

- Helping to construct a hatchery
- Describing the nesting dynamics of the female sea turtles that arrive to the beach enabling their protection for the next season
- Protecting and closely monitoring the recovered nests in the hatchery
- Patrolling the beach to look for sea turtles and their nests either during the day or the night, taking turns of two or four hours. During the high season, the patrols could last longer, up to four or five hours.
- Moving nests to the hatchery
- Marking turtles that are nesting, trying to build a nest or returning to the ocean
- Searching for marked turtles and gathering data
- Collecting the eggs you find on the beach, and taking them directly to the hatchery ("vivero") for their protection
- Collecting information on the whole process by monitoring the hatchery and keeping track of every event
- Release "neonatos" (little sea turtles) from the hatchery, taking them to the beach and into the ocean
- Helping with the maintenance of the facilities of the project (the shelter), and being in charge of keeping the beach clean (during the day)
- Planting trees in different areas of the beach and town
- Helping to extract and pack the eggs that are sold lawfully (only 1% of all the eggs laid)
- You will be assigned to one of three locations. If you are traveling with a friend don't forget to let us know so that we can ensure you will be based at the same location.

Surf Lessons
At all of the locations you will have the chance either to practice the sport or learn it while volunteering in the programme. For the first week you will have a two-hour lesson per day for four days (one hour of instruction and one hour follow up.) The second week you will have a two-hour practice every day with the instructors. Classes take place in the morning between 8am and 10am. The schedule is flexible due to the tides, weather and the arrivadas - the large numbers of turtles arriving at the beach - on these occasions you will go to another beach to surf.

Highlights: Orientation

On Monday you will have a comprehensive orientation meeting in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. This will cover all essential topics such as banks and money, transport, places to see, safety precautions and work ethics. In this first meeting, you will also have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you wish. In the afternoon there will be time for a salsa class and an opportunity to use the school's facilities. Tuesday morning will be an early start, as you will travel to the project location to begin your volunteer experience.
Project Support

Throughout your stay you will have the support and guidance of a volunteer work co-ordinator and their team. They will be able to help you with any questions you may have or advice you may need. In addition, you are also able to contact our staff 24 hours a day should you need to, via our emergency contact number.
Accommodation and Meals

Ostional - You will be staying with host families located within two to six blocks from the project site, so you will be able to walk to the project daily. You will be provided with your own room, a clean bed, a shared bathroom and three meals a day.

Buena Vista - The accommodation at the project is rustic and very basic but comfortable with a great, relaxed atmosphere. There will be no electricity, however a shower and a bathroom are available. An on-site cook will prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for you while at the project. Meals will mainly consist of rice, beans, pasta, meat, cereals and a variety of vegetables and seasonal fruits.

Matapalo - Our facilities offer space for up to 20 volunteers at any given time. You will be lodged in rustic accommodation with electricity, fans and shared bathrooms. The station is located less than 0.5km from a supermarket, Internet access and restaurants serving local and international food.
Free Time

You will have free time at all of the locations although this will vary slightly depending on where you are based. During your free time you can go to the beach, chill out in the cabin, read a book and play card games.

During your free time in Buena Vista you are able to leave the project and could take the chance to go into Samara, which is the closest town, and spend time there enjoying the beautiful beach. In Samara you will also find all basic services including the Internet, public phone, banks, etc. There are also tour companies that offer daily activities such as kayaking, wildlife trips and many more. However, you must return to the project by dinnertime.

In Ostional, members of the community will put together an activity for volunteers every weekend as a distraction from the routine schedule. Activities would include things like horse riding, trips to the river and other beaches nearby, shopping trips to Nosara, Latin music dancing, Spanish, surfing and cooking lessons. The cost for such activities is included as part of your programme. Other tours or activities not listed are available at an additional cost. There are also bus and taxi services available to you from Ostional.

You will have one free day each week in Matapalo. There are small villages and towns an hour or so by foot away from the project site where you will find a pulperia or mini market, telephone and internet service, supermarkets, restaurants and bars.

Cost in US$: from 1,229

Experience Required: no

Age Range: Minimum 18 years

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement:

Real Gap offer over 350 projects and travel options in over 35 countries over 6 continents. So whether you are interested in volunteering, community work, conservation, paid work overseas, teaching English, learning a new skill, adventure travel or sports and expeditions, you will find what you are looking for with Real Gap.

Not only about we passionate about responsible travel, we are pretty keen on making sure you have a good time too! Our travel advisors have traversed the globe and taken their own gap years, so they can give you all the advice you need to plan yours. You will also get support from both our on-site and office staff who understand the needs and expectations of Real Gap travelers.

Year Founded: 2005