Internships in San Jose, Costa Rica

Spend a semester or academic year in the lively capital of San José with AIFS Abroad! You’ll earn up to 20 credits per semester from Universidad Veritas through various courses and internship opportunities. Courses are taught in English and Spanish. No previous Spanish language study is required for most programs. Universidad Veritas offers an internship program and volunteer opportunities that’ll help you make the most of your semester abroad. Their Spanish Language and Internship Program welcomes students with an advanced level of Spanish and a minimum of 2 years of college-level Spanish. It combines a 4-week Spanish language course with a 12-week internship placement within local companies or NGOs based on your major. You’ll also enjoy cultural and social activities, including: • Costa Rican cooking classes • Visits to local museums and historical sites • A 3-day trip to Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and Monteverde Cloud Forest • A 3-day trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park • Day trip to Poás Volcano, Doka Coffee Estate, and Sarchi artisans Optional excursions include a 2-day trip hiking and rafting in Sarapiquí.

Do your international internship with Maximo Nivel - get international work experience in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. - Education (K-12) - Special Education - Micro-Business - Hospitality & Tourism - Human Rights - Medical Please take note of these qualifications: - Interns should be fluent in English. - Spanish language skills are only required for Micro-Business and Medical internships. - Interns should be enrolled or have completed a Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. - Medical interns must present proof of their medical training. Since 2003, Maximo Nivel has been a leader in educational travel and study abroad. Our work-study-travel programs host more than 4,000 people per year. We are a professional, ethical, and hard-working organization that is completely dedicated to providing a great experience to every participant, student, traveler, and client! Every day, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best internship, education, and cultural experiences in Latin America along with top-notch client service and great home base facilities. Live it!

A year-round circulation of tropical and warm weather has made Costa Rica one of the world’s few remaining natural utopias. The country’s untouched beaches, majestic mountains and volcanoes, gorgeous waterfalls, and prolific rainforests are home to more than 500,000 native species. AIP’s award-winning international internship program ensures you meet your career goals and career aspirations as a result of a customized placement tailored to your needs and desires. Interning in Costa Rica allows you to grow your professional network of business contacts as well as expose you to an international work environment. AIP partners with a wide range of companies, from multinational corporations to rapidly growing startups and charitable NGOs, giving the assurance there is a placement opportunity available for anyone! Our experienced placement team makes sure to accommodate your needs. Apply today and take advantage of this incredible internship opportunity in Costa Rica!

Build your leadership, youth development, and project management skills as you lead young volunteers on the trip of a lifetime. This versatile internship could benefit a career in adventure tourism, education, or project management. You’ll work with an organization that organizes service-orientated expeditions to exotic destinations where young people can develop life skills, confidence, and global awareness. These trips include volunteer projects for causes related to community development and sustainability. They’re designed to inspire and empower young people to become global leaders on a mission towards a fairer, greener world. Your role as an intern will be to guide and support volunteers on their expedition. You’ll be responsible for ensuring volunteers deliver the project aims as well as monitoring and coaching them to help with their personal development.

Institute for Global Studies' conservation biology projects are some of the most essential and interesting options we offer. The exciting part is realizing immediate results and knowing that every hour you spend is increasing biodiversity. IGS works with nonprofits and indigenous groups that are committed to a particular place and seeing it prosper. While on the project, you will learn about the six interlinked stages in the systematic planning approach: - Compile data on the biodiversity of the planning region - Identify conservation goals for the planning region - Review existing conservation areas - Select additional conservation areas - Implement conservation actions - Maintain the required values of conservation areas

Costa Rica is home to extraordinary biodiversity, with rainforests, coral reefs, mangroves, and coastlines that support countless species. This Marine and Environmental Conservation Cohort Internship in Costa Rica is a 4-week program (January 4 – 31, 2026) designed for students, graduates, and nature enthusiasts who want to make a real difference in protecting these ecosystems. Set in one of the world’s most eco-conscious countries, the program combines hands-on conservation work with opportunities to understand how communities and nature thrive together. As a cohort-based program, you’ll participate alongside a group of like-minded peers, building connections with fellow conservation enthusiasts from around the world. Together, you’ll contribute to projects such as sea turtle conservation, coral reef restoration, and sustainable coastal initiatives, while also enjoying structured learning, group excursions, and cultural immersion. This shared journey not only strengthens your professional skills but also creates a supportive environment where lasting friendships and networks are formed.

Join the Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica, a renowned wildlife organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of local animals. The center includes an on-site hospital and comfortable living quarters for volunteers. The enclosures, surrounded by nature, provide a habitat-like environment for the animals as they recover. As a volunteer, you'll work in a team to provide care for over 100 animals – including sloths, birds, and monkeys – in a sanctuary nestled in nature's lap. You'll take on a hands-on role that involves tasks like preparing food, feeding animals, maintaining clean enclosures, and assisting the on-site vet when possible. You'll also take part in educational community projects, raising awareness about wildlife conservation.

CIS Abroad Study and Intern Abroad programs are some of the most affordable, comprehensive program packages available. We also don't cut any corners by offering everything you would expect from an overseas program: tuition, housing, support, insurance, excursions, social and cultural activities, and airport pick-up – all considered the core of our package. Some programs also include all or most meals, extensive off-site orientations/excursions, transportation passes, and more. Whether you want to study for a year, semester, or summer, intern for a month to a year, or take an intensive foreign language course for a couple of weeks, CIS Abroad has the perfect program for you at the best value! "You're Going Places with CIS Abroad!"

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 155,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back; it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Sign-up for our medical volunteering programs abroad if you are a medical or healthcare student who is aspiring for a medical career but needs real-time training and mentoring. You don’t necessarily have to have a medical degree, as requirements are different for each program. There are even pre-med volunteer abroad programs specifically for school leavers who are considering studying medicine in the future. We also offer customised placements for those seeking medical electives or medical internships abroad. Most of our medical electives abroad placement require that you spend 5-7 hours at our partner hospital or clinic as an observer of the daily routines of medical staff. You will be assigned a doctor or a department who will mentor you and may call upon you to assist with basic tasks such as taking vitals and treating minor wounds under the supervision of the local doctors. Our medical electives are offered in developing countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru and Costa Rica.

Dental internship placements occur in both private and public clinics, including some that specialize in orthodontics and other dental fields. Interns work alongside local professionals and support staff, assisting with patient consultations and treatments. Please note that tasks vary depending on the clinic's specific needs. It’s essential to set realistic expectations, as there are limitations to hands-on work in the dental field abroad. In some cases, interns may primarily shadow professionals rather than provide independent patient care, particularly if their qualifications are from a country other than their own. Project Tasks: Observe and support patient consultations. Assist with teeth cleanings and routine check-ups. Help with processing, reporting, and interpreting test results. Educate patients on the basics of dental hygiene and healthy habits. Clean and prepare dental instruments and materials for use. Assist with reception duties, including scheduling and paperwork. Organize and maintain patient records.

Would you like to participate in valuable forest conservation research in the cloud forest of Costa Rica? This intern opportunity permits participants to work side by side with international and local biologists passionate about protecting the roughly 280 hectares of wild land and all of the species that call it home. During your minimum 10-week stay as a research intern or 12 weeks as an independent researcher, your classroom will be the cloud forest. You will have access to the reserve’s laboratory and library. In addition, you will assist researchers with existing long-term fauna studies and reforestation efforts while learning and sharpening field research competencies. If you like to pursue independent research at the reserve, you will have professional and technological support from our resident biologists.