Turtle Conservation Project in Costa Rica

Volunteer in Costa Rica with Green Life Volunteers

Green Life Volunteers is a registered non-profit organization or association in Costa Rica. We just earn enough to cover operational expenses, like payments for office space, employee services, and basic organizational costs. We work hard to provide volunteers with an amazing experience, with a lot of hours thrown into administration, logistics, phone calls, Skyping, emailing, and so forth. The minimal fee to cover the basic operational needs will be covered through the higher program fee required in the first week.

We have excellent projects throughout Costa Rica, which are a result of many years of collaboration and research. The projects we collaborate with are in actual need of help and have experience working with volunteers. This guarantees that you will have a great time and an awesome experience. The projects are always run by local members of the community, non-profit, and with a benefit for people, nature, or animals.

The guest families have been handpicked by local staff, and all of them have years of experience hosting foreigners and volunteers. They are always happy to welcome you, and they will be your family away from home.

Do you love wildlife conservation? Would you like to live and work on a beautiful Costa Rican beach? Then become a volunteer on our amazing Turtle Conservation projects! We offer project locations throughout Costa Rica, and depending on the season, we will place you in a project where you'll be able to help out the most.

We collaborate with Costa Rican turtle conservation organizations with years of experience with volunteers and sea turtle conservation. They are in urgent need of more help!  Turtle eggs are being poached in Costa Rica and sold illegally on the black market. There are also many other natural dangers for the turtles, like stray dogs or wild animals digging up the nests. With your help, more baby turtles will make it into the ocean and have the chance to fight for survival and mature into fully grown adults. 

An ideal volunteer on this project has a passion for animal conservation and biology, enjoys physical labor, and loves being outdoors! You don’t have to speak Spanish for this project, as project staff and other volunteers speak English. You need to be willing to walk the beaches for hours during patrols, but also sit still for hours watching the hatchery. 

Green Life Volunteers

Sales Wolves

Green Life Volunteers is a Costa Rican volunteer organization that places volunteers in different projects around the country. Almost all our projects are run by Costa Rican nonprofit organizations. We focus on conservation, sustainability, and development project. We hope to improve sustainable development in communities of Costa Rica by helping children and adults to learn English and other languages, and by helping at organic and sustainable farms and supporting dog and animal rescue. Our staff have been working in the Costa Rican volunteer and tourism industry for many years. We are knowledgable about almost anything that can be done and can be seen in Costa Rica, and we can help volunteers organize their stay, their transport, and their free time.

Green Life Volunteers is a Costa Rican volunteer organization that places volunteers in different projects around the country. Almost all our projects are run by Costa Rican nonprofit organizations. We focus on conservation, sustainability, and development project. We hope to improve sustainable development in communities of Costa Rica by helping children and adults to learn English and other lang...

Great experience with Green Life

Green Life - Costa Rica volunteer program

Volunteering at the animal sanctuary

Costa Rica

Volunteer Abroad

Overall, I had a great experience working with Green Life Volunteers and Kuemar Organization. Upon confirming my stay, I received an informational packet from Green Life that had helpful details regarding transportation (from the airport, to the work site), a hostel recommendation for my traveling days, and set some expectations for the volunteer experience. Upon arrival, workers at the site explained to me the typical work schedule and details about the work we would be doing. The workers had so much knowledge and were sure to explain to me why we did certain tasks, answered any questions I had, and really got me involved with the work (filling out documentation, digging in nests, relocating nests). I learned so much about their conservation efforts and the research that is being done. This volunteering experience was also a great opportunity to practice my Spanish, learn about the area, and to meet volunteers from other parts of the world. 

Unfortunately, I started to get sick while I was there and had to make the decision to leave early, but the workers at Green Life and Kuemar responded exactly as I would have hoped—offered to reach out to a physician they know, asked if they could assist in any way, and ultimately, were very understanding of my decision to go home. 

Aside from the work, I had a pleasant experience in the recommended hostel and received quick responses from Green Life anytime I reached out.

My son and husband participated in the Green Life’s biological research station volunteer program during the Christmas holidays. I cannot express our gratitude for the excellent experience they had. They are both naturalists and animal enthusiasts. They had a wonderful time and learned a lot from the experts there. The center was professional, well organized, and the people were very friendly. The administration by Green Life Volunteer’s central office was also outstanding. If you’re looking for a volunteer project involving animals and nature, this is the perfect place.

volunteering at the wildlife sanctuary was truly an educational and amazing experience. The work they are doing there with rehabilitating the hurt animals is truly amazing. It definitely took us a couple days to get settled in but wouldn’t have want to miss it for the world. Everybody was so friendly, flexible and accommodating. One of my favorite parts was rehabilitating the baby sloths, which definitely made other tasks such as cage cleaning worth it! To everyone who is part of this project, thank you so much for letting me be part of it and please keep up the amazing work as i am sure its making a great positive difference to costa rica’s wildlife:)

Amazing time at wildlife rescue center Costa rica

My friend and I volunteered at the animal rescue center project coordinated by green life volunteers for 2 weeks and it was amazing! We found the project very well organized and Janina the coordinator we were in touch with was super responsive in answering all our questions and really reassuring. We were picked up at the airport by a private driver and brought directly to the center. The rooms were very clean and the house was comfortable to live in. The volunteers and coordinators there were very welcoming. The work consisted in cutting fruits and vegetables for the animals, feeding the animals, cleaning their cages, doing some enrichment activities for the animals that will be released, and other tasks. The workday is quite long and hard but it was nice to see that we were greatly helping out and the contact with the animals is worth it! You get to see firsthand the amazing wildlife of Costa Rica and learn so much about all these different animals. My friend and I are not the most passionate about animals but the experience was very unique and enriching. We loved practicing our Spanish with the local staff and learning about Costa Rican culture. We had two days off a week which allowed to see wonderful places in costa rica and it was a good break from the hard work. Vanessa and Laura who own the sanctuary are also very responsive, there to help with any problem and very nice! Overall this was a very positive experience that I would recommend for any animal lovers or for people who want to learn more about Costa Rica’s spectacular wildlife. Lara Melloul (19 years old)

Very nice experience of reforestation project in the Osa Peninsula

My boyfriend and I took part in the reforestation project of Green Life Volunteering last November for about 10 days and it was an amazing experience!! We ended up in Rancho Quemado, a small village in the Corcobado National Park, where we helped a biologist and some local volunteers of the Monitoreo Biologico Comunitario association in their every day duties.It was interesting to see the many activities that are going on and we were happy to help out for whatever it was necessary to do at that moment: working at the tree nursery and planting trees, bird/mammals/tree monitoring in the forest, organizing a festival for the wild boar protection program and many others... Despite the fact that it was less reforestation than we expected, it was a really nice experience. The people were welcoming and we had the chance to see up close the amazing nature of Costa Rica (flora and fauna).
Janina, the coordinator of Green Life Volunteering, was really helpful for organizing everything about our stay, and patient to answer to our questions! :)

Volunteer work in a veterinary practice in Costa Rica

Last May I travelled to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica to volunteer in the veterinary practice OSAVET for two month.
I had a wonderful time there and would never forget all these great memories and all these lovely people I met. Especially the vet and his family were incredibly kind and welcomed me heartily. From the first day working there I really felt at home.
At first I could help holding the animals, cleaning the tables and the instruments or taking care about the dogs and cats in the kennels who had to stay overnight. Then the vet also showed me how to take the temperature, clean ears, cut the claws and weigh the animals and after some days I could already receive the patients by myself and “prepare” them before the vet came for the examination. Three times I participated at castration campaigns and helped out with washing and preparing the right instruments for female or male dogs/cats, helping to prepare and inject the antibiotics, disinfecting, holding the instruments during the surgery etc.
The vet was always very patient and responded to all my questions generously. What I really appreciated was, that he let me do lots of things by myself and encouraged not to be scared trying it. I really thank him for that and for everything he taught me!
During my stay I lived in a guest family and had my private room. My guest mother was very nice and so generous: I could use everything I wanted (e.g washing machine, kitchen and she permitted me to take food out of the fridge whenever I was hungry).
In general I can say that it really was a great experience; an enormous thank you to Janina who organized everything for me so well and welcomed me in this beautiful country.
Thank you to everybody who made my stay so worthwhile and unforgettable!!

Incredible experience volunteering on a wildlife programme researching the distribution of spider monkeys in Costa Rica

I wanted to make sure that my contribution was helpful, and that I wasn't creating more problems rather than helping. This programme was EXACTLY what I was looking for, and loads more besides. From the moment I got in touch with Janina she was so helpful; nothing was too much trouble and she responded quickly to my numerous queries. She described in detail each project so I could make an informed decision and not choose something unsuitable. Janina also talked me through the various options I had for accommodation whilst I was there. She listened to my particular needs and found me the perfect local host family. I wanted to be a part of the community whilst I was there, not spending all my time with the other volunteers, and maybe even learn some Spanish! She even picked me up at the airport. The project itself was pretty hard work, but totally amazing. We hiked out into different parts of the jungle nearly every day, putting up audio devices to listen for spider monkeys, and possible illegal human activity, battling 40 degree heat and high humidity on day-long difficult jungle hikes. But the rewards were amazing. We explored parts of the jungle that most people aren't given access to, we saw wildlife every day, we even had some monkeys throw their poo at us (!) which we needed for our research. It was such a wonderful experience, I loved every single day, and I have definitely made friends for life. Because I arranged this through Green Life Volunteers and knew Janina, I met some other people who were running different projects in the same area who also needed some help, so I actually got to help on some other projects too whilst I was there. I only wish I could have stayed longer. 

I did a lot of research around the web and realised quickly that many overseas volunteer programmes are not what they seem. 'Voluntourism' is seen as a big money-making for some people, so you need to do a lot of research before committing to anything. I thoroughly recommend Green Life Volunteers. All the projects are genuine, and well-considered, and you will be making a real difference. The small fee which GLV charged me was nominal, just to cover admin costs. You shouldn't be asked to give much more than your time. I also paid for my food and accommodation. Be wary of any organisation which asks you for lots more money just for you to have the right to 'volunteer'. 

Incredible experience volunteering on a wildlife programme researching the distribution of spider monkeys in Costa Rica

Off-grid solar project in beautiful Osa Peninsula

My two week excursion with Green Life Volunteers exceeded my expectations. Janina's organization, enthusiasm, kindness, and humor throughout the trip united the diverse group of volunteers and allowed for a fun and engaging learning environment. Week one was spent in a classroom and workshop environment, giving everyone an opportunity to learn the technical application of solar power, as well as get hands-on to assemble panels with some of Puerto Jimenez's nicest community members. The second week was spent teaching students at a local high school and doing solar installs at two different schools—both totally rewarding experiences. I won't forget to mention the thrill of the dolphin tour, surfing, waterfall hikes, zip-lining, and bike on the beach activities. I've never seen such stunning flower, insect, and animal diversity in one place in my life! 

I highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to explore Costa Rica or build resilience in rural communities. You're guaranteed to gain knowledge on solar systems, meet the most genuine people, get postcard-perfect pictures, and make unforgettable, adventurous memories. Oh, and try some of the best coffee, chocolate, and plantains in the planet—a perfectly delicious diet to survive by, even for a vegan like me ;)

Learn about Green Life Volunteers! Browse program options, read reviews and interviews, view photos, and apply to go abroad with Green Life Volunteers.

Green Life Volunteers

About Green Life Volunteers

Green Life Volunteers Reviews

Green Life Volunteers Programs

4.75

Contact Green Life Volunteers

Which program are you interested in?

We're here to help!