Quick Facts
Program code
CR-WN116
Category
Volunteer Work, Nature Protection, Eco Volunteering
Country
Costa Rica
Location
Puntarenas, close to Jaco Beach
Program start
Year round on any day, except Sunday
Minimum duration
2 weeks
Minimum age
18 years, maximum 35 years
Contact us
Happy to help you
(+1) 954 762 7607
(+56) 9 7516 9816
(+49) 7735 425 339
skype: chileinside
8 am - 4 pm EST
Project details
Take an active part in cleaning our beaches and oceans from plastic and other types of garbage. Volunteers are the engine of this fantastic eco volunteer project as with their enthusiasm and love for the environment they help to achieve the project’s goal of significantly reducing plastic pollution on the coastlines and the ocean.
This meaningful Volunteer program takes place in Costa Rica. The country’s name means “Rich Coast” and any visitor who has been to Costa Rica knows why. Costa Rica is sandwiched between the Caribbean coast and the Pacific cost and has countless of dream beaches, from calm coves to crashing surf, palm-tree-backed beaches to rocky coastlines. But even this paradise is not spared from man-made problems: Plastic and other trash is a major issue along Costa Rica’s beaches.
Every single day of the year, approximately 8 million pieces of trash find their way into our oceans, and is washed up along the coastline around the world. This not only spoils the beautiful sight of the beaches, but also is very harmful for the local wildlife and sensitive marine ecosystems.
This volunteer program has been working very hard since its inception back in 2018 to protect the country’s unique marine flora and fauna. Become a volunteer in Costa Rica with us to keep this important movement going.
Beach clean-ups are the cornerstone of the organization’s work as daily expeditions take place in different locations of the country to collect the most plastic and trash possible from beaches and rivers. Volunteers from all over the world support the mission to clean the coastlines from plastic pollution while having an awesome time doing it.
Did you know that a vanishingly small proportion of only 9% of all plastic in the world is recycled? The rest of it usually ends up in oceans or goes into landfills. So, this is where our volunteer program makes a huge difference. The collected trash is not transported to landfills but sorted for upcycling purposes. Upcycling products range from concrete pavers and cement blocks to composite wood products and even asphalt. It is a win-win, as the plastic that is incorporated to these products reduces the amount of raw materials needed.
One of the newest milestone projects are Artificial Reefs that are installed just offshore in a local marine reserve. These structures are specifically designed to promote coral growth. They also offer protection for fish and other marine species. Volunteers get hands-on experience constructing these artificial reefs and can observe them in the nearby ocean waters. This project is quite new but has had amazing results with fish and corals populating the spheres.
Tasks
Volunteers take an active role in beach clean-up expeditions, but they will not only participate in beach clean-ups, but also in the recycling process, classifying plastic for recycling and reusing, community & social projects, upkeep (washing equipment, painting, maintenance chores), planting trees, watching documentaries, releasing turtles (in turtle season), building artificial reefs just to name a few.
The work schedule may change from Monday to Friday as the working hours depend on factors like weather, the tides, and current needs.
Typically, the work starts at 7 am (as it is usual in Costa Rica) and ends in the early afternoon. Weekends are off unless there are corporate clean-ups where the volunteers are asked to help.
Walking the beaches every day can be tiring sometimes, so volunteers can also help in several ecological projects that are run by the organization, such as a butterfly farm, a hydroponic garden, or maintaining the trails for birdwatching like sign elaboration and painting.
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, weather, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
Accommodation
Volunteers can be sure to have a great time in Costa Rica while making a difference, giving back to the environment, and helping clean the beaches. They live in the volunteer house at the volunteer camp which is situated within a beautiful resort right on the beach.
The place is surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine lush rainforest and three dream beaches. Volunteers are allowed to use the resort’s facilities like hiking trails, several swimming pools, hot tubs, beautiful gardens, restaurants, minimarkets and even activities offered by the resort.
The camp can accommodate up to 12 volunteers in shared dormitories.* Bathrooms have hot water and are also shared. Three meals per day are provided by the resort’s restaurant. If volunteers are on an expedition lunch will be served on the beach. Good internet access is available at the camp.
*Note: The volunteer camp is currently being expanded to be able to accommodate even more motivated volunteers soon.
Note: In Latin America, especially in remote areas where many of our volunteer projects take place, the cellular or internet connection is not always reliable and fast.
Location
The volunteer camp is located in the heart of the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, very close to Jaco Beach and only about 1.5 hours from San José. The camp is surrounded by evergreen nature, amazing beaches, close to rivers and waterfalls. This region is known for its sustainable practices.
Jaco Beach is a popular vacation destination with visitors from all over the world. It is known for very good surfing spots, dream beaches and a laid-back lifestyle. It is an ideal place for volunteering while enjoying the country’s natural beauty and “pura vida” life.
There are a lot of activities that volunteers can do in their spare time. To name just a few: snorkeling, bird watching tours, hiking, kayaking, beach volleyball, mini golf, beach soccer, yoga, tennis, table games, ping pong, visits to waterfalls, canopy/zip line, boat tours, surfing lessons, and so on….
*Activities may involve an extra cost.
Language skills
In our Wildlife & Nature projects, our volunteers get along well with English language skills.
For optimal program preparation and cultural integration in the destination country, we recommend participating in a Spanish course in Costa Rica (optional).
You can book your Spanish course in Costa Rica directly with us!
Requirements
- English skills. Basic Spanish skills (book your Spanish course in Costa Rica!)
- Minimum age 18 years
- Application at least 4 weeks before the desired start of the program. Read more about our application process here.
- Completion of a foreign travel health insurance (get your travel insurance here!)
Pre-departure and in-country support
Before arrival, our experienced team will be at your disposal to assist you throughout the booking process and travel planning. With the booking confirmation you will receive our 24-hour emergency number, so that you can reach us 24/7 in case of emergency.
In addition to the assistance given by our office staff, you will be supported by our partner organization in Costa Rica located in Samara as well as the volunteer coordinator on-site.
Costs & Services
Our volunteer work in beach clean-up expeditions includes:
- Shared room in Volunteer House
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Access to hiking trails, swimming pools, hot tubs, beautiful gardens, restaurants, minimarkets and even free activities offered by the resort where the volunteer camp is located
- Advice from our experienced staff
- On-going support via WhatsApp, phone or mail
- Elaboration of your application profile in Spanish
- Your placement in the volunteer project
- Pre-departure information
- Packing list
- Country handbook
- Intercultural guide
- On-site volunteer coordinator
- 24/7 emergency number
- Advice on travel insurance
- Certificate of participation
Costs
Application fee: US$ 150
Program fee: US$ 800 (minimum stay 2 weeks)
Each additional week: US$ 350
Each additional week from week 4 on: US$ 315
Additionally, you can book:
Our tips (experience more + see more = save $$)
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All our stay abroad programs can be combined with each other: So, you can combine different volunteer projects in the same country or in different countries, or you mix Working Holiday with volunteer work or Farm Stay with Working Holiday ...and so on …
Your creativity knows no limits. The longer your stay abroad in Latin America, the greater the discount you get from South America Inside. Below you can see how much you can save:
If you need assistance in putting together your personal experience abroad, then please contact us. Our experienced staff will help you to set up your tailor-made stay abroad.
Volunteer Guide
Find valuable information about volunteering abroad in our program guides. Find out about all the benefits, possibilities and challenges, that a stay abroad offers you. Read more about the great opportunities that South America Inside has at your disposal.
Browse through our section Reading Matter!