Description

Accommodations:
Sarapiqui Outdoor Center lodging is located in the rain-forest just 90 min from San Jose or Arenal Volcano (La Fortuna) Rio Sarapiqui, providing ample opportunity to enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna of Costa Rica. The house is an rustic structure a hammock lounge and recreation area, enclosed bedrooms for the volunteers, potable water, indoor cold-water showers (which often feel pretty good after a day in the Costa Rican sun), and indoor toilets. The shared kitchen has an outdoor wood grill and an indoor propane stove. We do have electricity at the house.

Transportation:
The bus stop is just a half a mile from the house making it easy to acquire transportation to and from other areas of Costa Rica. Transportation to San José costs less than 2500 colones one way. But at La Virgen your can just walk anywhere from the house

Services:
Sarapiqui Outdoor Center staff can help you to improve your white water kayaking or rafting skills as a thank-you for your help. Having grown up in Costa Rica, the staff is also very knowledgeable of tourist and non-tourist destinations and can help you plan your Costa Rican experiences often providing you with contacts and recommendations.

Our needs:
We are most often in need of help with the greeting and organizing our guests and trips, teaching English, website and graphic design, landscaping, and sustainable living experience. Artists are also in demand as we have a variety of fun mural and company image projects we would love to complete.

Length of stay:
Of course we would like to have our volunteers come and stay with us for a few months, 2-3 is preferred, but we understand that sometimes that amount of time in one location is not possible. If you have skills that we are in need of, we can also accommodate individuals with as little as one week available.

Internet and Computer connection:
We can use the one at the shop planning your time to it.

What we expect:
We want all our volunteers to have a safe and enjoyable time while staying with us. We ask that you have a true desire to enjoy the outdoors and nature, are honest and considerate to others, be respectful of the land and animals, and are ready to embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle. The Pura Vida lifestyle is the “simple life” and means making an effort to enjoy each and every day and not allow the little things to stress you out. (laid back?)

What to bring:
Please be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp, a reading lamp if you enjoy late night reading, a rain jacket, water shoes and a sense of humor. If you are prone to mosquito and bug bites, you may want to bring bug repellant and a mosquito net.

Weather and such:
There are approximately 12 hours of daylight per day starting at 5:30-5:45am to 5:30pm.
The weather in Costa Rica varies by time of the year.

Highlights

The company is located near the small town of La Virgen. It is a great place to expand your Spanish language skills and explore Costa Rican culture. La Virgen flora and fauna are stunning; this is an excellent place also for those interested in exploring or studying the rainforest. There are many biological study centers in the area for those interested.

Qualifications

Qualifications depend on the position in the company. River Guide - all guides must have Basic First Aid certification, Swift Water Rescue certification, experience guiding rafts in class III whitewater, excellent communication skills, a basic knowledge of Spanish is desired and experience working in a rafting company is also preferred. The company also has positions for those individuals with computer skill and website experience. Flash web page design skills are in demand here at the Costa Rica Outdoors as well. A valid drivers license is also requested.

Intern Types

• Business Admin, Management
• Tourism
• Web Design
• Landscape Architecture

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

no cost for internship

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

3 months to 1 year

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Sarapiqui Outdoor Center's Mission Statement

To provide the best quality service to all who visit Sarapiqui Outdoor Center, or a memorable and life lasting experience in Costa Rica

Year Founded

1990