Volunteer in Costa Rica

Volunteering in Costa Rica is surely one of the most meaningful and sustainable ways to explore this gorgeous Central American country that is known to be one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. With Volunteering Solutions, you can choose to be a part of any program ranging from Childcare, Teaching English, Rainforest Conservation, Environment Conservation, Animal Care, and Sea Turtle Conservation, during your volunteer trip to Costa Rica. There's also a specially curated 2-Week International Voluntour Project, which combines the best of travel & volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica, apt for those who have a time crunch, yet wish to contribute towards making a difference.

In case you’re still wondering how to volunteer in Costa Rica, start choosing a program. As mentioned above, Volunteering Solutions has a wide range of opportunities, and you can choose the one that aligns with your interests and preferences. All volunteer work in Costa Rica is located across the country, mainly in regions like Alajuela, the Caribbean Rainforest, the Osa Peninsula, the Pacific Coast, Puerto Viejo, and Santa Barbara De Heredia.

If you are an animal lover who's keen to volunteer with animals in Costa Rica, you can choose to be a part of the Wildlife Conservation Program or the Animal Rescue Center Program, both of which will give you the chance to work with professional conservationists. You can also join the Turtle and Environment Conservation Program, which is one of the most popular volunteering programs in Costa Rica.

You can also choose to volunteer as a teacher in Costa Rica and help the children and youth learn English alongside other subjects. The literacy rate in Costa Rica is better than the neighboring countries, but there are several underprivileged communities, where a good teacher is required to educate the children. It'll be an incredible opportunity for those who are keen to support local communities.

High school and college students who are eager to spend some quality time with kids as volunteers in Costa Rica can choose the Childcare Volunteering Program. It'll be a delightful experience to spend time with the children (mostly belonging to low-income communities) and help them learn rhymes, numbers, alphabets, and more! You can also assist the local staff with the administration work here.

Volunteering in Costa Rica is easier than you can even imagine. All you need to do is, pick a program of your choice and decide how much time you'd want to spend, and then, simply apply for it or get in touch with the Volunteering Solutions Team.

Volunteering Solutions offers a wide range of programs in over 20 destinations worldwide. In the last 17 years, we have placed over 21,000 international volunteers across various projects and internships, helping them grow personally and professionally while making a difference to the world at large. We’ve hosted teen volunteering groups as well as gap year travelers, youth volunteers as well as family volunteering groups across various destinations.

A country with stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and incredible wildlife - Costa Rica is facing several problems due to climate change, global warming, over-tourism, etc - and now is the time when volunteers are required to support the environmental as well as animal conservation programs. We work in association with local NGOs, wildlife rescue centers, and other social welfare organizations in Costa Rica, to provide a meaningful experience to every volunteer.

We have a dedicated team that ensures that volunteers have a smooth and memorable experience, learning from their peers along the way. From the moment you inquire, through the process of clearing doubts, filling out the application, making payments, accessing the Pre-Departure Guidebook, and reaching the volunteering location followed by Program Orientation – our team supports you every step of the way. We have in-country coordinators and representatives to assist you at the project sites.

Additionally, Volunteering Solutions offers various support services, including:

• Medical and travel insurance at a nominal extra cost
• Fundraising assistance for volunteers facing financial challenges
• Weekend excursions and hikes in Costa Rica
• Local transportation and airport drop-offs for a minimal extra cost

Upon completing your project, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion, which will significantly enhance your career prospects. This experience will boost your CV/resume and expand your social network. It’s a journey you’ll cherish forever.

Volunteering Solutions also provides tailor-made projects for group volunteering (students, colleagues, or families) where people can work together and explore Costa Rica most uniquely.

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other side, the Costa Rican coastline is breathtaking, and we have our Turtle Conservation problem at one such gorgeous location - known as Osa Peninsula. Apart from that, volunteering programs in Costa Rica are available in and around regions like Alajuela, the Caribbean Rainforest, the Osa Peninsula, the Pacific Coast, Puerto Viejo, and Santa Barbara De Heredia. 

Alajuela is a popular province with an enviable natural richness. There are two active volcanoes in this region - Arenal volcano, in the City of San Carlos, and the Poás volcano, in the Central Volcanic Mountain Range. Volunteers can visit these over the weekends.

Puerto Viejo is another stunning location, offering a unique blend of ecotourism, rich culture, and a beautiful climate to work and explore. 

There are eight different programs available in Costa Rica, which are as follows:

• 2 Weeks Special Volunteer Program in Costa Rica
• Sea Turtle & Sloth Conservation Program in Costa Rica
• Wildlife & Animal Rescue Center Program in Costa Rica
• Turtle and Environment Conservation in Costa Rica
• Animal Rescue Center Program in Costa Rica
• Rainforest Conservation in Costa Rica
• Teaching English Volunteer Program in Costa Rica
• Childcare Program in Costa Rica

No matter which program you choose to be a part of, you’ll definitely have an enriching experience. Programs are available for a minimum duration of 1 week to a maximum of 6 months.

To become a volunteer in Costa Rica, you need to be:

- At least 17 years or older at the time of joining the project.

- Have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment.

- Should also be proactive and can take the initiative.

- Should be keen to work with animals, amidst nature and be ready to get your hands dirty.

- Should be open to learning, and be friendly with everyone.

Apart from that, a Criminal Background Check Report is essential for volunteers who are joining Childcare, or Teaching programs. And you should be empathic towards the animals if you want to volunteer for wildlife conservation programs.

The minimum cost to volunteer for a week in Costa Rica is as low as 380 USD. This cost would include the following:

• Comprehensive pre-departure information
• Airport pickup from San Jose International Airport and transfer to accommodation
• Program Orientation on Day 1
• Accommodation in a volunteer house or with a host family and two meals every day
• Travel and medical insurance (available at an extra cost)
• 24-hour assistance and support from staff
• Certificate of Completion 

Although Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, you can still volunteer without speaking it (of course, knowing Spanish will be an added advantage, but that isn't all). As tourism is flourishing in the country, English is now spoken widely in most places and the locals in Costa Rica are extremely warm and friendly - so they often try and communicate in English. However, once you plan to volunteer in Costa Rica, we would suggest you to take up a Spanish language course for one week, that'll make it easier for you to build connections with the community as an international volunteer.

Learning a new language will also boost your CV/Resume and help you in your career ahead.

Like everywhere else around the world, volunteering in Costa Rica comes for a minimal fee, which also covers your airport pickup, accommodation, a 'Welcome Pack' with the information guide, a free SIM card, maps, etc. Other than that, you'll also be provided with meals, pick up and drop from the project site to your accommodation, and most importantly, there will be 24*7 in-country support.

However, you can always fundraise to pay for your meaningful volunteer trip and experience the goodness of traveling abroad to make a difference.

Before traveling to Costa Rica, please ensure you meet the following general requirements:

• Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond your expected return date.
• Ensure your passport has at least two blank visa pages for necessary stamps upon arrival and departure.
• You must have a valid return ticket to exit Costa Rica.

If you are a resident of Australia, Switzerland, the USA, or an EU country (including the UK), you can volunteer in Costa Rica on a tourist visa for up to 90 days. 

People of ANY nationality holding valid USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea or Schengen visas do not need a prior visa to enter Costa Rica. The only condition is that the visa must be valid for 3 months and should be stamped in your passport.

You can get more Visa-related information from our Program Advisor, once you apply for your chosen project. To know more about the Visa rules and regulations, check out the Official Embassy Website, here.

The best time to travel and volunteer in Costa Rica is between December and April when the weather is dry and it's usually bright and sunny.  You can also explore the rainforest and national parks without getting wet, and attend fiestas and festivals around the country.

However, volunteering programs are available throughout the year and you can choose the time and duration that suits you best.

Here's a basic packing list for Costa Rica that you can keep handy while preparing for your volunteer trip:

• Comfortable clothes, slippers, a light jacket, and a raincoat (the weather can be unpredictable!)
• Flashlight, binoculars, and good walking/hiking shoes (especially if you are volunteering for the animal conservation/ rescue center programs)
• First-aid kit, insect repellent, basic medicines

If you're volunteering for the teaching or childcare program, you can bring colors, notebooks, story books, games, etc for the kids.

Other than that, make sure that all your documents are in place.

Anyone who is compassionate to contribute towards a meaningful change, and enthusiastic enough to travel abroad on a mission trip and work for others, can volunteer in Costa Rica. Our programs are available for everyone - high school and college students, gap year travelers, people on a career break, group volunteers, family volunteers, solo travelers, and couples who wish to travel meaningfully and explore a Central American nation that oozes natural beauty and wildlife.

You can easily apply to volunteer in Costa Rica and be a part of our mission trips by following a few simple steps. Once you have decided which program you wish to join, and in which destination, you can go ahead and fill out the application form here.

You will receive a welcome email from the team, acknowledging your application. We will then send your Booking Confirmation in 7-10 working days. Once you receive your Booking Confirmation you can log into your account to view your trip details and make your final payments.

If you can’t decide which program to join, or where to travel, you can always write to us at [email protected] - and our Program Advisors will assist you.

Yes, of course. If you have just one week in hand, then you can be a part of the Teaching or Childcare, as well as the Animal Rescue Center Program or the Turtle Conservation Program. 

Other than that, we also have a 2-Week Special Short-Term Volunteering Program, which is a perfect blend of travel and volunteering. It is apt for experiential learning for students, as well as an enriching experience for backpackers and gap year travelers eager to make a positive impact while exploring Costa Rica.

Definitely, we offer long-term volunteering opportunities in Costa Rica. We believe the more time you spend at a project site, the bigger impact you can make. You can volunteer in Costa Rica for 6 months (24 weeks) and in case you wish to stay for longer, you can directly speak to our Program Advisors.

Of course, when you are traveling to a new country, it’s obvious that you’d want to explore and experience, making the most of your journey. 

Costa Rica is a paradise for beach lovers and thrill seekers, and when you're taking a volunteer trip, you should definitely take some time out to explore. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you’ll be most working from Monday to Friday, and have time to travel over the weekends.

You can take a day to explore the capital city of San Jose and visit the Museo del Oro Precolombino (Precolumbian Gold Museum), Museo de los Niños, and Catedral Metropolitana.

On a Sunday, plan a picnic at Parque Metropolitano La Sabana with your fellow volunteers and soak amidst the bliss of nature.

There are some gorgeous hiking trails around Manuel Antonio National Park that you can explore over the weekends, or visit the Arenal Volcano National Park.

There’s no dearth of things to do in Costa Rica, and the list will be endless. So, once you decide to volunteer in Costa Rica or take a gap year abroad, you can connect with our Program Advisors and they’ll assist you to plan the trip. You can also ask our country coordinator once you’re at your program location, and he can suggest more fun things to do.