Wildlife Conservation Program in Costa Rica

Flight to Liberia Costa Rica
We offer a chaperoned flight to Costa Rica from South Florida. Based on enrollment, participants from the New York area may also have a chaperoned flight. Final flight details are determined in the spring. For our many travelers from outside these areas, you can choose to connect to the chaperoned flight, or reserve a flight arriving & departing within our flight parameters. Our staff will greet you as you come through customs and immigration.

Return Flight Home from Liberia Costa Rica
We offer a chaperoned flight back to South Florida. Depending on the geographic group makeup, the chaperoned flight will return to South Florida, New York, or both. For our many travelers from outside these areas, you may choose to join the chaperoned flight and arrange transfers (if required) at suitable times after the group has cleared customs and immigration in the USA; or you may fly from Liberia to your home city and our leaders help you to check-in and remain in the airport until flights in designated times have departed.

Where We Stay
We carefully select clean and comfortable accommodations with the needs of our students in mind. While our volunteer programs do not stay at luxury resorts, we do know that a good night’s rest, in your own bed, is key to performing your service hours well and having enough energy to enjoy the day’s activities. For this reason, and also to maintain the close group bond and to uphold the quality of this program, we do not offer any homestays.

Meals & New Cuisines
Eating well while away from home is an important part of a summer’s success. We understand how it helps our travelers feel secure, happy and looking forward to their day. Part of your travel experience will be immersing yourself in the local cuisine and culture, so please bring with you an open mind and a willingness to try new things. For example, Costa Rican traditional cuisine offers plenty of rice, beans, meat dishes and tons of fresh fruit, but don’t worry, they also have North American style options on the menu.

We have satisfied the choosiest of eaters and gladly accommodate most special dietary requests including vegetarian, food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and kosher style. We welcome discussing your individual requirements with you and have extensive experience in this area.

Drinking Water
It’s generally okay to drink tap water in Costa Rica, except for a few select areas. As a precaution, we will provide purified drinking water in large containers so that travelers can fill up their reusable water bottles as needed.

Community Service in Camaronal Beach
Camaronal Wildlife Refuge Conservation Project
This program is designed for teens who are passionate about wildlife and conservation and requires no prior experience. You will work alongside local park rangers at the government-protected Camaronal Wildlife Refuge on the North Pacific coast in the Guanacaste Province, making a direct impact on the local sea turtle population.
Throughout the program, you will engage in meaningful conservation work and educational sessions to learn about sea turtle biology, habitat threats, and global biodiversity. Your main areas of work include:
Night Walks: Partnering with park rangers during high tide to patrol the beach. Witness nesting turtles coming ashore, laying eggs, and returning to the ocean, and assist with relocating nests to the hatchery when necessary.
Hatchery Work: Maintaining the hatchery by airing, raking, and cleaning the sand, and ensuring fences remain secure to protect developing nests.
Beach Clean-ups: Clearing garbage, driftwood, and other obstacles from the shoreline to ensure a safe path for nesting turtles.
Refuge Support: Assisting with various other daily conservation tasks required at the wildlife refuge.
Beyond conservation, this experience builds essential leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while fostering a deep responsibility for protecting our planet’s precious wildlife.

Vaccinations
We recommend you follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and consult with your physician for current immunizations and medication required for travelers to Costa Rica. These recommendations may change from time to time. We will send you detailed information in March (or upon enrollment if later) regarding the current recommendations for this itinerary.

Laundry
You will only need one week’s worth of clothing as outlined in the packing list that will be sent to you prior to departure. Every week you will drop off your laundry at a local wash and fold service and then pick it up clean, folded and ready to go.

Please contact us with any questions. We are happy to hear from you!

Included in your program tuition is all lodging, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, recreation & entertainment listed, airport transfers in designated times, gratuities & taxes.

Not included is transportation to and from the program and personal spending money for snacks, souvenirs, laundry and the application fee. We also make available optional travel insurance that is not included, but highly recommended.