You’ve always been dreaming of exploring mysterious rain forests, rushing waterfalls and active volcanoes? You want to fill your travel with true experience and help make a positive impact on the place you visit? Great news: you can do all these things as a volunteer in Costa Rica! You will find a great biodiversity, amazing beaches and surfing spots as well as experiencing what locals call “pura vida” – pure life.
Costa Rica is even considered one of the Top 5 destinations for volunteering in 2016! To give you an idea of what being a volunteer in Costa Rica is like, this guide will provide you with information about the country’s social projects as well as the costs and precautions that will occur. In addition to that, it will give you tips on how to spend your free time and places you have to see when in Costa Rica.
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[item title=”Top 6 fun facts about Costa Rica”]
- Locals call themselves Ticos and Ticas
- Like Eskimos do for snow, Costa Ricans have at least a dozen terms describing rain
- In Costa Rica you refer to your significant other as ‘media naranja’ – the other half of the orange
- The sun rises and sets at the same time at 365 days a year, due to the proximity to the equator
- At 7 am every morning, all Costa Rican radio stations play the national anthem
- When a woman is pregnant, people say she is ‘con luz’ – with light
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Social projects in Costa Rica
Before becoming a volunteer in Costa Rica, you should think about what you expect from a program and in which specific ways you could do your bit. On Volunteer World you will find lots of volunteer opportunities for different program types in Costa Rica. By clicking through the various categories, you will probably find the right program for you. If you haven’t thought about which field to work in yet, you might find the following overview helpful.
Animals
With over 500,000 plant and animal species, Costa Rica has one of the world’s highest biological density rates and represents close to 4% of the total species on earth. One of the most endangered ones is the giant leatherback sea turtle, which nests both on the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica. Get involved in protecting these amazing creatures by patrolling along the beach, guarding nests and witness the unique moments when rescued baby turtles are released into the ocean!
Nature and Environment
There are many ways for volunteers to help and protect Costa Rica’s thriving countryside. You can support the ‘guardabosques’ – the forest guards- by cleaning and maintaining forest paths and trails, observing and documenting flora and fauna as well as exotic mammals and birds in their natural habitat and taking part in the local reforestation. You could also contribute to a program as an assistant guide or translator for tourists who are interested in eco friendly tourism and untouched nature.
Health and Education
Make an impact on the Costa Rican communities as a teacher for kids from low-income families. With commitment and your own creative ideas you can help children find their way through foreign languages or teach them in lessons like arts, music, physical education and computing skills.
„This trip was above and beyond my expectations and I can’t wait to return!“ –Anna, 23 from Canada
Living costs for a volunteer in Costa Rica
Due to its high living standards, Costa Rica is one of the more expensive countries to visit in Central America so make sure to provide a certain travel budget apart from the required program fees. However, there are some tips and tricks to make traveling around Costa Rica a bit more budget-friendly. The easiest would be to always drink tap water instead of buying bottled water; it’s perfectly safe to drink in Costa Rica. Cheap food can be found at the sodas which sell local food for a good price or at Musmanni, a bakery chain which can be found all over the country and offers great pastries and lunch deals for a small amount of money.
If you are travelling around, try to avoid tourist buses, which are usually about three times the price of public transport.
The following table will give you an overview about additional cost that might be important for your trip.
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| Hotel $96.64 |
Big Mac® $3.96 |
Coca-Cola® $1.35 |
Eating out $12.56 |
Rental car $391.38 /week |
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| Hostel $10.85 |
Marlboro™ $3.82 |
Beer $2.02 |
Fuel $1.23 |
Public transport $0.48 |
Best time to volunteer in Costa Rica
Thanks to its close proximity to the Equator, Costa Rica benefits from constantly high temperatures all year round, usually between 18 and 28 degrees. However, there are two different seasons, which the locals call ‘summer’ and ‘winter’.
May – December Rainy Season (Winter)
The rainy months, termed the “green season,” start in May and run until early December.
During this time of the year, less tourists travel around Costa Rica and prices are generally cheaper, so the rain shouldn’t scare you away! The chance of having nice sunny days by the beach is still good while it’s rainy in higher areas and the rainforests.
December – April Dry Season (Summer)
The dry season usually lasts from December through April. The Caribbean coast can be a bit less predictable and it is likely to rain more throughout the whole year. The busiest travel times in Costa Rica are during Christmas and New Years, as well as the week leading up to Easter Sunday, which is known as Semana Santa, so you should maybe try and avoid these.
What precautions should I consider as a volunteer in Costa Rica?
Going abroad always includes some issues and precautions that need to be taken into account. I listed some of them that you might find helpful when travelling to Costa Rica.
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[item title=”Safety”]
- Pay attention to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
- Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
- No matter if you walk or drive a car, always pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
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[item title=”Health”]
- If you spend many hours in outside in the heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt you lost through sweating.
- Prevent bug bites by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
- Talk to your doctor about any vaccines you need when traveling to Costa Rica.
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[item title=”Packing Essentials”]
- Make sure to pack a light jacket and rain proof clothes, especially during the green season.
- A flashlight, binoculars and good hiking/walking shoes for outdoor adventures.
- Copies of all your important documents to store in your accommodation in case of emergency.
- A basic first aid kit and insect repellent.
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Key phrases
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Hello:¡Hola!
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Goodbye: Adiós
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Thank you:Gracias/ Muchas gracias
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How to spend your free time as a volunteer in Costa Rica?
Now that you’ve learned about volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica it is time to talk about what this amazing country has to offer when it comes to free time activities. Dive straight into the rich culture, experience natural diversity and get your heart rate up with some fun outdoor adventures! Find out the must-visit natural sites and cities and consider them when planning your trip to volunteer in Costa Rica!
Natural Must-visit-places
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[item title=”Tortuguero National Park”] 
This park on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is one of the most important breeding grounds for the endangered green turtle. You will also find lots of manatees, sloths and various species of monkeys that find protection here. It’s very out of the way and hard to get to but definitely worth the visit! [/item]
[item title=”La Paz Waterfall Gardens”] 
Aside from the impressive waterfalls, you will find a bird sanctuary, hummingbirds and butterfly gardens, reptiles, big cats and many more. With a size of more than 30 football fields, the waterfall gardens are also great for long hiking tours where you can really take in the nature that surrounds you without coming across big tourist groups. [/item]
[item title=”Volcanoes”] 
The volcanoes belong to the country’s top tourist attractions. Since many of them are located in national parks you can easily combine a visit with kayaking, rafting or hiking. The Irazu Volcano is known for its astonishing green blue lake that sits in one of its craters, while there is a boiling acid lake within a crater of the Poas Volcano. [/item]
[item title=”Corcovado”] 
Corcovado National Park is situated on the outlying Osa Peninsula in south-western Costa Rica. It is a very rugged, quiet, and off the beaten path destination where you’ll find pristine jungles, dolphins, and a nice and calm alternative to the much more developed northern western coast. The peninsula is a bit hard to reach (which helps keep tourists away) but your efforts will be greatly rewarded! [/item]
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Cities& Sites
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[item title=”San José”] 
Costa Rica’s capital is located in the centre of the country, which makes it easy to fit into your travel plans. Visit one of the many museums or theaters, experience the Costa Rican nightlife and enjoy the cosmopolitan vibes somewhere in between a modern North American metropolis and the standard Central American Capital. [/item]
[item title=”Jaco”] 
In Jaco you will find a haven of beach parties and pumping nightclubs as well as people from all over the world. Surf lessons and rentals are widely available on the beaches, with sport fishing also being popular here. [/item]
[item title=”Puerto Viejo”] 
Located on the Caribbean Coast, this city is especially popular with young people and backpackers because of its great beaches, surf, and party atmosphere. The town is very lively, and you’ll find something going on every night. For those looking for a quieter place, there are many tranquil beach hotels around. [/item]
[item title=”Santa Teresa”] 
At the bottom of the Nicoya coast is the hippy backpacker town of Santa Teresa, which technically is just a beach with a road lined with eateries, surf shops, and hostels. A perfect place to just go, lay on the beach, hang out with people, and relax. [/item]
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Activities
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[item title=”Rainforest Canopies “] 
Most of the rainforest’s activity takes place in the trees, especially the highest 10%. Going on a zip-line tour through one of Costa Rica’s rainforests will allow you a unique insight into the wildlife you normally don’t get to see from the floor. [/item]
[item title=”Coffee plantations”] 
Costa Rican coffee is famous all over the world. Visit one of the many plantations to learn about the different steps in the refining process and have access to discounted coffee in the gift shops. [/item]
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Food
When you volunteer in Costa Rica, there are some typical dishes that you’ll come across and you shouldn’t be scared to try.
Casado
Also called “Comida Tipica”, it is the most common dish in Costa Rica. The main components are beans, rice with finely diced bell peppers and onions, fried plantains, a cabbage salad with tomato and carrot and a choice of meat between chicken, fish, pork or steak.
Ceviche
Ceviche is some kind of tapas and very popular in Costa Rica. It consists of fresh raw fish, mostly sea bass, which is marinated in citrus juices with finely diced herbs and veggies.
Coffee
As mentioned before, Costa Rican coffee is known to be one of the best ones in the world so if you’re a coffee lover you should try as many different types as possible!
Volunteer Requirements
- The minimum age for being a volunteer in Costa Rica is between 16 and 18
- You should speak Spanish at a basic level and basic English when teaching children
- Especially when working in health care, a health declaration is required
- Some of the projects also require a criminal background check
How to find Volunteer Opportunities in Costa Rica
Ready to start planning? Explore and compare volunteer programs in Costa Rica and find your very own volunteer opportunity on Volunteer World. This platform is all about making volunteering in Costa Rica simple and transparent. Featuring more than 500 volunteer programs and over 600 social projects in 70+ countries; Volunteer World is a one-stop resource for volunteer abroad opportunities.
