Around the world, and especially in Costa Rica, volunteering is widespread. Every year hundreds, if not thousands of volunteers come to help protect the flora and fauna of this beautiful country. Costa Rica is a very popular destination for volunteers which can be traced back to various reasons: Costa Rica is simply a lovely country containing plenty of highlights within relatively small space. For example, within one day you can travel from the Pacific coast through the central highlands to the Caribbean side, all the while experiencing three completely different climatic areas and ecosystems. Costa Rica is also relatively safe (compared to other destination countries), has beautiful weather throughout the year, and kind welcoming people. Volunteers not only learn a new culture and language, but there are a wide variety of activities to learn about and participate in.
Many national parks in Costa Rica offer the opportunity to help conserve nature and keep tourism sustainable. Volunteers’ tasks can include providing tourists with information, improving path and beach signage, planting trees or maintaining existing facilities.
Turtle projects are very popular in Costa Rica
Another very popular work is animal care – either in rescue centers or in turtle conservation programs. Animal rescue centres are widespread in Costa Rica, helping injured wild animals and educating the public on the struggle of these animals in consequence of human development and the accompanying destruction of natural habitat. Turtle conservation projects can be found alongside both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts. Volunteers do night and morning patrols on the beach and absolve their sentry at the hatchery where turtle eggs are taken to in order to save them from poachers.
Volunteers can also enroll in programs supporting the development of sustainable rural tourism. For example, some eco-lodges offer trainees education about low-impact tourism by working with them! Or how about helping at one of the many organic and even self-sustainable farms in Costa Rica? Participating in these programs, one can learn a lot about how to grow plants without pesticides, how to treat animals with respect, and how to live sustainably so that your ecological footprint won’t be bigger than absolutely necessary.
There is a multitude of opportunities to serve the environment, learn about the principles of nature, and learn about what you can do in your everyday life in order to make a bigger world difference. On top of all of these opportunities, volunteers have the chance get to know the locals and people from around the world, and as they get pushed to their limits through adventure, work, and education, they might even get to know themselves better as well.
Rural Tourism Project Playa HermOSA
course, not only volunteers from abroad have the chance to enroll in projects like this – locals are just as welcome! And you don’t necessarily have to take a year off (although you might feel like it once having dipped into volunteer life), there are plenty of organizations that could use volunteers for projects lasting a few days or a few weeks.
Just take a bit of your time and spend it for a greener world – it will benefit you, too.
Volunteering at Costa Ballena:
- Wild Animal Rescue Center and Organic Farming Combo Program in Uvita
- “Workaway” Projects in Uvita
- “HelpXChange” Projects in Costa Rica
More articles about volunteering:
Article written by Eva-Maria Angerl
