Can I Volunteer for a Day in Costa Rica?

Can you volunteer for a day in Costa Rica? Maybe, maybe not! Get the 411 HERE! ☆ Are you interested in exploring the paradise beaches of Costa Rica, but don’t want to get so attached to the sloths as to ever leave again? Great news: volunteering in Costa Rica is not a life-long commitment. More accurately: there are plenty of short-and-sweet term volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica in whatever field of study you want to play in.

Volunteer for a day in Costa Rica? Sure—but you’ll want to stay much, much longer.

While long-term volunteer opportunities are great for cultural immersion, there are perks to short-term volunteer positions: days fly by in the wink of an eye, boredom doesn’t exist, greater flexibility in placement. As there is no time to linger, the carpe diem spirit is strong as days are maximized with opportunities and events. Short-term volunteer placements also tend to be more project-based (build a school, plant 1,000 trees, clean a national park), so there is the satisfaction of seeing an entire mission play out.

When it comes to short-term volunteer opportunities within long-term projects (re-growing land, increasing literacy, helping with elderly and youth), it is important to keep your eye on the long-term goal, contribute the skills that you possess, and know your contribution in the final picture. You can’t teach a child to read in one week, but your alphabet jingle will become a big part of their journey. Similarly, it’s difficult to rebuild an entire forest in two days, but the trees that you do plant become forever rooted in the rainforest ecosystem forever.

The Ticos are great at hospitality, so you’re bound to find a new friend and family network faster than the steepest canopy zipline. Minimum time commitments are up to you, with programs starting at just one day—but do keep in mind that there are surf waves, soccer matches, and guaro to experience, so add in some time for the staples of pura vida.

Ready to explore latino utopia while making the world a better place? Then check out these short term volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica:

6 short term volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica

1. Sea Turtle Conservation with GoEco

As beach erosion and human pollution is destroying valuable turtle nesting grounds, GoEco is jumping in to save the leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles off the endangered list. Conservation programs start at two-weeks placements, with the first week in an immersive school to better understand the language and culture of the country. Afterwards, volunteers are placed with a host family.

Work with sea turtles includes night patrols, nurturing eggs, releasing sea turtles, marine conservation education, and helping out with local environmental development projects. GoEco is one of the best volunteer organizations worldwide, so if you’re keen on spending quality time with the waves and getting the biggest cultural component possible on your short trip to Costa Rica, check out these great turtle initiatives!

2. Choose-Your-Own-Adventure with International Volunteer HQ

With over 40 programs across the globe, over ten years of experience, 18,000 annual participants, and thousands of top ratings, IVHQ is a household name in the volunteer realm. Programs start at just one week, with openings available on a year-round basis in San Jose, the Central Highlands, Manuel Antonio, and coastal areas.

There are 12 different fields of work (healthcare, construction, sea turtles…) and both dorm and homestay options available, so work can be personalized to fit all needs and interests. Furthermore, stellar consultation aid, airport transfers, home-cooked meals, and Spanish language lessons are offered—and a welcome drink is probably even thrown in! If you’re looking for flexibility and ease of administration, just fill out an online form, pack a pair of flip-flops, and jump into a meaningful volunteer experience without any of the travel hassles.

3. Spring Break Projects with Kaya

Kaya’s tagline of “responsible travel” extends into Costa Rica with a short-term volunteer program over Spring Break. Based in San Jose, the days that you spend as a volunteer in Costa Rica will be filled with little ones in the capital’s children’s homes, community, and day care centers.

Whether you are working with abandoned children waiting to get matched with a supportive family, poor children in need of feeding and education programs, or troubled teenagers in need of counselling assistance, there are many youngsters looking for their new best friend.

As a bonus, Spanish, dance, and cooking classes are offered to create a social atmosphere with both other volunteers and locals. The little time you will dedicate to San Jose’s children will come back ten-fold in the form of little smiles, new confidence, and the knowledge that you changed peoples’ lives for the better while on Team Volunteer Costa Rica!

4. Pick-Your-Project with Love Volunteers

As one of the most affordable, supportive, and professional volunteer organizations, Love Volunteers takes pride in cultural immersion and supporting local communities through their work. Costa Rica volunteer opportunities start at just one week, with positions available in construction, conservation, environment, teaching, and community-based projects.

With locations in San Jose, Matapalo, Jaco, Buenavista, and the Puntarenas province, there are plenty of chances to get off the beaten jungle path and connect with smaller groups of native residents. This not only lets you snap photos of hidden gems, make meaningful personal connections, and spot the tapir, but it adds a new depth of compassion and appreciation for the Tico culture.

5. Music Volunteering with Performing Arts Abroad

If you’re more into salsa beats than turtle eggs, Performing Arts Abroad has some caliente rhythms for you and is one of the most fun Costa Rica volunteer opportunities! Starting at one-week time commitments, there are numerous opportunities to bring music to the youth in San Jose’s music schools, daycare centers, after-school programs, orphanages, and government-sponsored educational programs.

In addition, there are Spanish language and Latin dance classes available every day, weekly cooking sessions, and weekends are encouraged to be spent exploring nearby travel hot spots. For those who feel more at home in the city and have a passion for instruments, PAA’s foot-tapping volunteer programs let you connect with local children through the universal language of music.

6. Jaguar Conservation with GVI

With 21 worldwide locations and over 20 years of certified experience, GVI’s volunteer programs focus on creating global citizens, making long-term positive impacts, and offering high-quality sustainable development initiatives. In Costa Rica, GVI offers programs starting at two weeks in the heart of Tortuguero National Park (although do be aware that the permit for turtle research takes a month to process and the permit for jaguar research takes two to three months, so apply in advance!).

There’s pre-departure orientation and hands-on training offered before jungle adventures really kick off, but then you’ll be tracking jaguars and their prey, setting up remote cameras, and conducting genetic research on these kings of the jungle. There’s also a healthy dose of bird watching, canoe explorations, beach walks among hatching turtles, and biodiversity studies through field (er, jungle?) experience. Weekends are reserved for rainforest and canopy tours and white water rafting, just in case if befriending jaguars doesn’t get your heart rate up fast enough.

[Find & Compare Volunteer Opportunities in Costa Rica]

Next steps to volunteer in Costa Rica

Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should volunteer in Costa Rica is paramount. Have a short list of locations that sound ideal for your goals and skills (i.e. if you don't have experience working with animals, you might reconsider volunteering with sea turtles). Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
Pick your project. We outlined a few common causes that international volunteers support above. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which project would best benefit from your time and energy.
Choose from the best volunteer abroad programs in Costa Rica. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right volunteer program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Be sure to raise a little extra money to donate to the organization that you'll be working with. Learning how to fund your volunteer abroad adventure is essential prior to your travels!
Get prepared! Preparing to volunteer abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days until departure dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.

Volunteer for a day in Costa Rica—or longer!

colorful surfboards lined up against a fence

Volunteer for a day in Costa Rica and then be on your way. Better make time for the waves, though!

Whether your heart wants to take care of baby Ticos, your hands are itching to build a neighborhood playground, or your conscience needs some beach days to rehabilitate baby turtles, there are plenty of reasons to volunteer for a day in Costa Rica. As one of the safest, happiest, and most welcoming countries in the world, this little nation is brimming with philanthropy prospects to up their social and environmental standards even more.

In a world in which life seems to get increasingly busy, short-term volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica are a great way to show some altruism, sample a new culture, and shake up the mundane routine back home for a few days. And who knows how much influence this drop of meaningful travel will have? Maybe you’ll be so hooked that you’ll come back for longer next time!