Programme Details
Option One: Cahuita National Park (May to October)
Cahuita is an unspoiled travel destination with a gentle, laid-back unhurried feel to it. The project is located at the north entrance of Cahuita National Park, on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast in the province of Limón. The province is of vital importance to the national economy and ecology as it boasts the largest port in the country and contains a variety of the country’s ecologically most important and diverse tropical forest ecosystems. The area is also amazingly culturally diverse.
The area is rich with wildlife and you may see up to three species of monkey, sloths, crocodiles, caimans, anteaters and around 400 species of birds. Cahuita is also the only place on the Costa Rican Caribbean coast where you can find healthy coral reefs and the beaches are bordered by lush vegetation.
The area that volunteers work extends from Cahuita National Park to the Hone Creek River Mouth - a total 14kms for the beach patrol. Three species of turtles nest on this beach: the Leatherback sea turtle, and to a lesser extent the Green and Hawksbill sea turtles. Cahuita experiences more problems with poachers than Gandoca, and as a result, the hatchery is kept under lock and key in a secure cages environment on the beach. It has to be monitored 24 hours a day and all nests must be relocated as soon as they are found.
For your day off you may want to spend time enjoying the national park and its wildlife, alternatively you can take the 6km walk up the beach to Cahuita town. The beach town of Puerto Viejo is also only a short bus trip away and it boasts great beaches, surf and nightlife.
Option Two: Gandoca (February to July)
Gandoca beach is also located on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast in the province of Limón. This region represents around 5% of the national territory and is one of the biologically richest areas of the planet with over 2% of the entire world's biodiversity and its cultural heritage is equally rich.
The Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge is located in a relatively inaccessible area of the country. Diverse ecosystems (beach, mangrove swamp, coral reef and tropical rain forest) are concentrated within this incredible area.
What’s Included in the Programme
- All accommodation
- Meals during project – breakfast and dinner
- Detailed orientation on arrival
- Airport pick up
- Return transfer to project location
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Tour advice in Costa Rica
What’s Not Included in the Programme
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals in San Jose
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenditure
- Extra excursions
Prices & Durations
Caribbean Turtle Conservation - 2 weeks £549
Caribbean Turtle Conservation - 4 weeks £999
Caribbean Turtle Conservation - 6 weeks £1,439
Caribbean Turtle Conservation (2 weeks) + Language (2 weeks) £999
Caribbean Turtle Conservation (2 weeks) + Language (4 weeks) £1,429
Caribbean Turtle Conservation (4 weeks) + Language (2 weeks) £1,429
Caribbean Turtle Conservation (4 weeks) + Language (4 weeks) £1,869
