Lodging, Food and Travel
Interns stay on-site in a purpose-built, spacious house that consists of two bedrooms with bunk beds (4 people to a room). There are two bathrooms with showers and plenty of hot water.
The house has a communal kitchen with a large dining table gas cooker, fridge freezer, microwave and plenty of storage space. The house has a dedicated laundry with a large capacity washing machine and dryer.
The programme is fully catered. Breakfast is self-service and taken in the house whilst lunch and dinner come from the sanctuary restaurant.
Breakfast: Eggs, bread, fruit, cereal, milk, tea and coffee are provided for interns to prepare their own breakfast.
Lunch and Dinner: Interns can select from a special menu that includes dishes such as quesadillas, veggie burgers and fries, spaghetti, burritos or a typical Costa Rican Casado.
Vegetarians, vegans and any special diets will gladly be accommodated on request. Food can also be purchased a la carte from the restaurant. There is also an ice-cream shop, a snack shop, and a small outdoor café in the sanctuary where you can enjoy freshly made juice pops or fantastic coffee.
WIFI is available 24 hours a day in the volunteer accommodation, restaurant and at various sites throughout the Lifetime Care Sanctuary.
Medical Information
We strongly recommend that you receive an updated tetanus vaccine or booster before your trip. We do not require volunteers and interns to be rabies vaccinated, but it is a precaution you may wish to take at your own discretion. In general, be sure to check with the CDC website for all current recommendations regarding shots and vaccinations.
Getting to the Centre
The project offers a pick-up and drop-off service for all interns within a 30-minute radius of the sanctuary for the cost of 30 USD one way arrival and 20 USD one way departure. This includes collection and returns to San Jose International airport (or your accommodation) at the start and the end of your internship. Transfers to and from the Road to Freedom Internship are £80 GB pounds one way and happen on Thursday mornings (so you will prob need to spend Wednesday night there if you are heading out or you may spend Thurs night on your return if you are flying out on a Friday). Please ask for details on how to arrange this. An additional night at the rescue centre after/before transfers with lunch and dinner is £60. Transfers to/from the Waves of Change internship involve a full day travelling by bus and boat, or a domestic flight and then boat (remote location on the Osa Peninsula) – pls enquire for more details.
Visa
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica for visits under 90 days, however, you must have a current valid passport and a return ticket to exit Costa Rica within the 90-day tourist visa window. We can provide support for visa renewals if interns are going to stay beyond 90 days. All incoming tourists must complete an entry health form.
Free Time
Many of the staff are bi- or trilingual so there is ample opportunity to improve your Spanish if you wanted to practice whilst you are there. There is also an on-site cinema so weekly movie nights are guaranteed and with direct access to Costa Rica’s largest animal sanctuary, night walks always reveal something interesting as we have many wild animals living alongside our sanctuary residents.
