Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Volunteer Programme, Costa Rica

Project Costs

The programme runs from a Monday to a Sunday (13 nights). The cost for 2 weeks is £650, 3 weeks is £930, 4 weeks is £1210. Every additional week after 2 weeks costs £280 and you can stay up to 12 weeks in duration.

This cost includes private (or shared with another volunteer), clean and simple room in a homestay or research station (depending on availability), three meals a day, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, equipment (for patrols), guide during the volunteering, backup and support. Airfare and transportation to the project, lodging in San Jose, travel/medical insurance and personal expenses are not included in the cost. It is mandatory for you to take out travel and medical insurance for the duration of the project.

You can join for 2 to 12 weeks on any of the dates below throughout the year, starting on a Monday and finishing on a Sunday. As weekends are free time, we suggest arriving on a Monday and leaving on a Sunday if you wanted to travel after the project is finished for example, but if there is an Arribada, then volunteers work over the weekends too.

Please email victoria.mcneil@workingabroad.com for any questions about dates and costs. Groups are also welcome.

Payment Terms

To secure your placement on the project, you will need to complete and submit the application form with your application payment of £250 (included in the total project costs listed above). If for some reason your application is not accepted, we will reimburse this payment fully. However for those who are accepted, you will be required to pay the remaining balance 1 month before arrival.

Once we have confirmed your place, you will receive an information package on the programme background and scientific objectives, your role as a volunteer, the work you will do, suggested items to bring, how to travel there and information you need to provide, such as background/police check, medical letter etc. You will also need to sign an affidavit, waiver/release of liability form before arrival.

In addition, all volunteers will be required to pay a 100 USD cash deposit for 3 keys given to you at the start for your accommodation, main gates etc, which will be given back to you upon safe return of the keys when you leave the project.

Project Dates