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Orphan Care Internship in Costa Rica

by: Roots Interns

4 (1)VerifiedSince 2016

Embark on an enriching journey in Costa Rica through an orphan care internship where you can make a meaningful difference. Immerse yourself in wildlife conservation efforts amidst the stunning landscapes of this biodiverse paradise. Join this orphan care internship in Costa Rica and play a vital role in the efforts to rehabilitate and nurture orphaned wildlife. Set amidst the lush rainforests and thriving ecosystems of Costa Rica, you’ll closely interact with a diverse range of animals, benefiting from the Puntarenas province’s 6.5% share of the world's biodiversity. Guided by experienced professionals, you’ll acquire invaluable expertise in animal care, protocol development, and wildlife rehabilitation programs, all while contributing to conservation initiatives in this biodiverse region. Throughout your internship, you’ll be integral in providing constant care, feeding, and enrichment opportunities for the resident animals. Whether nourishing the animals, managing daily tasks, establishing species-specific protocols, or administering medical treatments, you’ll gain hands-on experience and deepen your understanding of wildlife conservation and welfare.

Program Highlights

Cultivate international expertise in the nonprofit sector

Acquire hands-on skills in orphan care and rehabilitation

Make a significant impact through wildlife conservation efforts

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of living and working in Costa Rica.

Quick Details

Locations:
  • Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Starts At: $300-600
Availability
Year(s) Offered: Year RoundDuration:
  • 9-12 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
Age Requirement: 21+
Types & Subjects
Fields:
  • Animal Sciences
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
Causes:
  • Animal Welfare
  • Conservation
  • Veterinary Science
  • Wildlife
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni
See all program details
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Awards

Innovative New Program, Intern Abroad Winner 2022Innovative New Program – Intern Abroad Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

4

Total Reviews

1

Orphan Care Internship

September 16, 2025by: Bolton
4

I would defiantly recommend this internship for people who have a passion for animal care and rewilding. It was an amazing experience that taught me so much. It was rewarding whilst also providing time to explore Costa Rica as a tourist.

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Types and Subjects

  • Fields
  • Animal Sciences
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
  • Causes
  • Animal Welfare
  • Conservation
  • Veterinary Science
  • Wildlife

Availability

Years Offered: Year Round

Duration:
  • 9-12 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
Intern Duration:
  • 1-3 Months

Age Requirement

21+

Guidelines

Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni

This Program is also open to Solo

Starts At

$300-600

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Wifi Costs
  • Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Weekend Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
  • In-Country Orientation
  • Academic Advising
  • Assistance Booking Travel
  • Academic Credit
  • Letter of Recommendation

Accommodation Options

  • Apartment/Flat
  • Dormitory
  • Guest House

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • University Freshman (1st Year)
  • University Sophomore (2nd Year)
  • University Junior (3rd Year)
  • University Senior (4th Year)
  • University 5th Year or More
  • Some college credit, no degree
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Master’s degree
  • Professional degree
  • Doctorate degree

Application Procedures

  • Resume
  • Online Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it required to be studying an animal care degree?

Although it is recommended to be engaged in an animal related degree or some kind, it is not necessary to apply for this program. If you are not studying/or have completed a related degree, it is necessary to have relevant practical experience working with animals.

Do I need to apply for a visa to visit Costa Rica?

Most nationalities do not require a visa to travel to Costa Rica. Double check with the nearest embassy in your home country to up-to-date visa requirements.

Will I have direct contact with animals at the sanctuary?

During this internship, you will have the opportunity to work directly with animals. It is important to conduct yourself in a respectful and professional manner at all times when interacting with the animals at the sanctuary.

Roots Interns

Roots Interns

4Verified

Ready to Learn More?

Embark on an enriching journey in Costa Rica through an orphan care internship where you can make a meaningful difference. Immerse yourself in wildlife conservation efforts amidst the stunning landscapes of this biodiverse paradise. Join this orphan care internship in Costa Rica and play a vital role in the efforts to rehabilitate and nurture orphaned wildlife. Set amidst the lush rainforests and thriving ecosystems of Costa Rica, you’ll closely interact with a diverse range of animals, benefiting from the Puntarenas province’s 6.5% share of the world's biodiversity. Guided by experienced professionals, you’ll acquire invaluable expertise in animal care, protocol development, and wildlife rehabilitation programs, all while contributing to conservation initiatives in this biodiverse reg...

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