25 trees will be planted on your behalf for every experience purchased, via our partnership with One Tree Planted.
See more at onetreeplanted.org
Overview
This placement is very much what you make it. Obviously, the level of your involvement will depend on your experience and knowledge. You must be flexible to the needs of the centre. There are also monkeys, sloths, caimans and other animals in the immediate area - you will see more wildlife here than in the national parks! The project is located in a quiet, remote area accessible only by boat. There is limited electricity in the evenings, provided by solar panels. Your time at the project will be spent patrolling for sea turtles laying their eggs, rebuilding defenses to protect from the ocean or perhaps establishing a hatchery. This is hands-on work and often includes maintenance and improvements to the accommodation, clearing paths and beach cleaning. Patrols are led by an experienced patrol leader walking a sector of the beach searching for nesting females. Once a turtle is encountered the leader, with the aid of the volunteers, will collect information; the length and width of the turtle, nest location and its dimensions and the number of eggs laid. The eggs will be carefully removed by the group leader and relocated to the hatchery. Turtles are sensitive to light, so only red light is permitted on patrols.
Tasks
- Night beach patrols
- Collecting biometric data from nesting turtles
- Day/night hatchery duties
- Beach cleaning
- Relocating of nests
- Nest Monitoring
- Hatchling liberation
- General maintenance
- Reforestation work – collecting/sorting of seeds, planting saplings
- Basic construction work, building hatcheries for example
Objectives
The overriding aim is to protect sea turtles and eggs whilst learning more about these magnificent creatures alongside a dedicated marine biologist.
Impact
Volunteer experiences have a direct and positive impact on local communities by injecting money into the local economy through the purchase of food, transportation, and tourism activities. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the comunity and make a difference in the world. Depending on the type of volunteer experience you are interested in, your time can be spent improving educational resources and opportunities, providing medical services to underserved communities, or promoting environmental conservation and sustainable farming techniques.
1% of gross sales will be donated to 1% for the Planet-approved charities via our partnership with 1% for the Planet.
See more at onepercentfortheplanet.org
Location
Limon, Costa Rica
The Turtle Sanctuary Biologist Internship project is located near Bataan in the Limon Province of Costa Rica. It is a beautiful and isolated beach only accessible by boat, which will be arranged by the project itself. The rescue centre’s atmosphere is international, with professionals and students from various organizations assisting in projects involving monkeys, crocodiles and turtles. You will stay on the island all week, but the boat goes into town on the weekends.
Itinerary
Saturday - Arrival
We will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to a hostel for the night, the following day you will take a taxi, bus and then a boat to our location.
Monday - Friday
Your schedule will be flexible, but you should be prepared to be active for 4-8 hours a day.
There are normally two nightly patrols at 11pm or 3am depending on the tides, you will spend around 4 hours patrolling depending on the number of turtles found with a short break at each end of the beach. Be prepared to go with the flow! Whilst some of the work may be hard it is incredibly rewarding and in the most amazing setting. It may take you a while to acclimatize to the conditions, we recommend that you remember to drink plenty of water, you may find it useful to bring rehydration sachets, stay in the shade during your breaks, wear plenty of sunscreen and don’t overdo it.
Saturday - Departure
Take a bus from Esparza directly to SJO Airport (2 hours). Buses depart every hour for earliest flights on Saturday afternoon.
Inclusions
- Shared Accomodation
- All meals included
- Free beverages
- Arrival Transfer (included with 2 wk+ trips)
- Departure Transfer
Options
More Information
Requirements
- minimum age18
- minimum english levelBasic
- CRB RequiredOn signup
- passport copy requiredOn signup
- resume copy requiredYes
Other Requirements
- You must be interested in the work and ready to get your hands dirty!
Food
Three meals a day are included during your stay. The meals will mainly be traditional Costa Rican food. Most meals will include either fish, chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarians can be catered for.
Accommodation
Accommodation is simple, but comfortable. Bedding is included. There are showers and flushing toilets. Sea breezes keep the rooms comfortable at night. The atmosphere is international, with professionals and students from various organizations assisting in projects involving monkeys, crocodiles and turtles.Cancellation Policy
Bookings can be amended and cancelled 30 days before the program start date without any costs. Bookings that are cancelled less than 30 days before the program start date will be charged the first week of the booking.
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