Veterinary Internship in Costa Rica
Program Overview
If your heart beats for animal welfare, seize the chance to broaden your skills and enact meaningful change in their lives with this internship. Come abroad and collaborate with us to advocate for their health, happiness, and overall well-being, paving the way for a brighter future.
Immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s wonders through a veterinary internship at a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary, where you’ll explore the captivating realm of animal care and medicine. Under the guidance of experienced veterinarians, you’ll gain hands-on skills in diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating a diverse array of wildlife species, many of which are injured, abused, or disabled. Amidst the breathtaking biodiversity of Puntarenas, you’ll contribute to essential conservation efforts while enhancing your expertise in this fulfilling field.
As an intern, you’ll play a pivotal role in providing medical care and physiotherapy, conducting health assessments, administering medications, and participating in surgical procedures, all while deepening your understanding of veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation practices. You’ll leave with a wealth of practical animal health experience in Costa Rica.
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Program Highlights
What's Included
Quick Details
- 5-8 Weeks
- 9-12 Weeks
- Animal Sciences
- Social Work
- Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
- Animal Welfare
- Community Centers
- Conservation
- Social Work
- Veterinary Science
- Wildlife
- 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
Updated Jan 15, 2026
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Available Terms / Availability
- Years Offered
- Year Round
Eligible 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
Education Levels & Language
- Education
- Any/All Education Levels Accepted
Accommodation Options
- Dormitory
- Group living
- Guest House
Application Procedures
- Resume
- Online Application
Age Requirement
18-35
Duration
- 5-8 Weeks
- 9-12 Weeks
- 1-3 Months
Starts At
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all the most common questions about Roots Interns.
Will I need to speak Spanish for this internship?
No, Spanish is not required as the majority of the sanctuary staff members speak English. It would, however, be useful for community engagement work.
Where will I stay during the internship?
The organization has two volunteer houses on-site at the sanctuary in the Alturas region of Costa Rica. You’ll have all the amenities (kitchen, bathrooms, Wifi) and eat three meals a day at the sanctuary, except on weekends when you’ll cook for yourself.
Do I need a degree for this internship?
Yes, applicants need to be studying towards or have completed a veterinary related degree, such as vet med, vet nurse, or vet technician. Ideally, interns will have prior experience in wildlife care and rescue too.
Recognitions & Awards
Awards and accreditations earned by this provider
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