Description

We have several volunteering options in national reserves in the tropical Guanacaste Province and Volcanic Arenal.

***Barra Honda National Park is located in the Province of Guanacaste about 15 miles northeast of the city of Nicoya. Barra Honda is a very unique park in Costa Rica where you'll find deep, subterranean caverns. Though there are other parks in Costa Rica where you'll find caverns, Barra Honda is unique because of the types of formations found here. Barra Honda is also famous for having the best views in the whole Province of Guanacaste.

Right now only the Terciopelo cavern is open to the public. Its conditions are perfect for decent and experimentation. It's ideal for adventure tourism, yet it's relatively undiscovered. They are currently receiving over 2,000 visitors to the park each year.

Volunteers at Barra Honda will assist with trail maintenance, tourist assistance, fire control, sign creation and maintenance, environmental education, building maintenance and construction or general cleaning and maintenance. The staff provide comfortable lodge-style accommodations, as well as three meals daily. Basically, what you're asked to do is to help out with whatever the park needs for help at that time.

Our three main projects we need volunteer help with are currently:
*Butterfly Research - capturing butterflies, building traps, identifying and categorizing them.
*Bat Research - capturing and labeling them, and observing their behavior.
*Motion sensor cameras - installing cameras in the park which capture pictures of wildlife, as well as classifying the pictures.

***As a volunteer at the Ostional Sea Turtle Project in Costa Rica, you will be working to protect sea turtles on a beach in a National Wildlife Reserve of Ostional in the province of Guanacaste.
Part of the activities being carried out include night patrols to eliminate illegal looting protecting baby turtles, building of a hatchery, beach cleanup and general maintenance work on the facilities. We also need help doing research projects. Due to staffing shortages volunteer support is critical!

Ostional is one of the top choices worldwide for those looking to help sea turtles. This beautiful national park is currently short-handed despite being one of only 2 areas in Costa Rica where turtles arrive every day.

About once a month we also see something called "arribada" which is when turtles arrive in a masse - usually about 3 000 turtles in a matter of 3 nights, but sometimes as many as 10 000 turtles. Protection of turtles and a volunteer help is essential during "arribadas.
Please have a look at our web site where you will find not just more information about this project, but also description of other projects of our foundation, photos, reviews and also application information.

Highlights

Life-changing experiences, unrestricted glimpses of the Costa Rica most visitors don't know, and a way to have a positive and lasting impact on a community are all major components of a volunteer vacation with Tropical Adventures.

Live among locals, learn from them and share talents that can make a difference in a society often forgotten. Take advantage of the Spanish immersion program to enhance communication during the project work.

The vacation is not all work; plenty of play is available as well. Build bridges, literally and figuratively, and return home fulfilling a community's hopes and feeling fulfilled.

Qualifications

We are seeking volunteers who have the ability to impact the community in a positive way. Prospective volunteers should be physically fit, have a good work ethic, a friendly attitude and be willing to immerse themselves in another culture.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

One week starting at USD 995

Program Fees Include:

* Airport Pick-Up & Drop-Off
* Transportation to & from Project
* Lodging
* 3 Meals Per Day
* Volunteer Project Placement
* Project Training
* In-Country Support
* Medical Insurance
* Country Information and Orientation
* Assistance with Planning Excursions and Activities
* Reference letter or evidence of volunteer service hours
* 24 hour in-country emergency service
* Travel Insurance
* Tropical Adventures T-shirt

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

We are seeking volunteers who have the ability to impact the community in a positive way. Prospective volunteers should be physically fit, have a good work ethic, a friendly attitude and be willing to immerse themselves in another culture.

Age Range

16+ unless with guardian.

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview

Typically The Application Process Time is

24 hours

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Tropical Adventures Foundation's Mission Statement

The Tropical Adventures Foundation is a resource for empowering individuals and communities inside and outside of Costa Rica. Our goals are to: Support the inherent value of the individual, reduce poverty and injustice, help communities achieve sustainable growth, create safe environments, promote international learning and cooperation and foster personal and worldwide peace. Every community around the world faces the fundamental challenge to create social and economic systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We meet this challenge by supporting and encouraging initiatives by those living and working closest to where the problems are located. We promote collaboration among diverse individuals, nonprofit organizations, government and businesses from the local area and around the world, as well as from every level of society. Our experience shows such activities help build common understanding, bring forward and reinforce the inherent value of the individual, strengthen a sense of local and worldwide community, and ultimately enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.

Year Founded

2005