Biological Research Volunteering in Costa Rica

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 147,000 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.

Join healthcare and medical projects, and gain practical experience in hospitals, clinics, assisted living, and other related facilities in Costa Rica. You’ll work alongside doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals. Depending on your medical experience and Spanish language skills, you’ll take on various responsibilities. These could include shadowing a doctor or nurse, assisting with general check-ups, running medical campaigns, assisting with triage and vaccinations, taking vital signs, organizing patient records, and assisting during mealtimes. This program is available all year round, with start dates every Monday. It’s designed to take place for as short as 1 week and up to 1 year. NOTE: This program qualifies for 3-4 university credits via our School of Record. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. We require background checks and proof of medical insurance.

Join the Montezuma Sea Turtle Volunteer Program in Costa Rica and contribute to the preservation of endangered hawksbill sea turtles. Based in the stunning region of Montezuma, you'll work alongside a team of international volunteers to protect nesting sites and assist hatchlings. Experience the joy of releasing baby turtles into the ocean and gain hands-on experience in sea turtle conservation on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. In your free time, enjoy the beautiful Pacific beaches of Montezuma and the vibrant local town life. To volunteer in this program, you need: - To be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 - To be at least 18 years old - Basic knowledge of Spanish knowledge; beginners need to enroll in additional weeks of Spanish lessons for an extra fee - To be physically fit: the three to four-hour night patrols and daytime monitoring require hard physical work - To be flexible and open-minded in order to carry out a variety of tasks Inquire today or visit our website for complete info about this program in Costa Rica.

Join us in Osa, Costa Rica, for an unforgettable volunteer experience where you’ll play a vital role in protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Nestled on the stunning Osa Peninsula, home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, you’ll patrol pristine beaches, safeguard turtle nests, and release hatchlings into the wild. Beyond conservation, you’ll engage with the local community, help with environmental education, and explore breathtaking rainforests, waterfalls, and vibrant wildlife. Live at the heart of nature in our rustic jungle camp and make a tangible impact while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Join our Best Seller Program! Combine immersive Spanish lessons with Surf or Yoga classes and meaningful volunteer work at our home base in beautiful Santa Teresa—one of the top surf spots in the country. Make a real impact through purposeful volunteering, help with sea turtle conservation, assist in the nursery and hatchery, join night patrols, participate in beach cleanups, and more. Cap off your experience with an unforgettable week in the lush Monteverde Rainforest, where adventure and adrenaline await!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Take part in this wildlife conservation expedition and be an active member of GVI's research team in the Costa Rican rainforest. Work on a variety of long-term terrestrial, marine conservation, and community education projects. Help conduct turtle population surveys, jaguar predation surveys, jaguar and other mammal camera trapping, and mammal and bird studies. You can also teach English and environmental education in the local communities. The Costa Rica Expedition program has had direct results including decreasing the rate of poaching marine turtles and eggs as well as increasing the understanding of jaguar predation of turtles in Tortuguero National Park.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Global Works specializes in teen service trips and educational experiences to Costa Rica for high school and middle school students. These student travel programs have been our most popular over the years for good reason. Incredible biodiversity and a welcoming culture make Costa Rica an awesome choice for a summer adventure. Global Works offers volunteer programs in different focus areas. We offer opportunities for community service, Spanish immersion, cultural exchange, pre-med and public health, wildlife, adventure travel, and a middle school-focused program to this special corner of the globe. Program Options: * Costa Rica: Service & Sand (15 days) * Costa Rica: Wildlife Adventure (17 days) * Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med & Public Health (17 days) * Costa Rica: Middle School Service Adventure (10 days)

San José, the capital city, is in the central valley of the Costa Rican rainforest. As the cultural, economic, and political center of Costa Rica, this is where most people live, work, and play. Here, you can experience a vibrant and busy Latin American metropolis while also having the rest of the country's pristine natural wonders nearby. We provide opportunities to serve dozens of local NGOs, schools, clinics, and businesses through structured programs offered all year round. Program participants can work with host organizations in a variety of fields and areas: museums, local schools, youth and disability centers, health clinics, and several others. Through service at a local organization and guided reflection-based curriculum, our goal is to help you gain a better understanding of the local language, culture, and community. Each service-learning placement is unique, so visit our website to learn more about the specific program options available. We especially recommend San José for students interested in education or working in museums.

Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise. Experience stunning beaches, lush jungles, and exotic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth! On our Sea Turtle Conservation trip, you will spend your days volunteering with one of our project partners in Costa Rica. Most of your volunteer duties happen in the afternoon and evening when the turtle hatchlings are most active. This means you can spend your mornings lounging on black sand beaches and swimming in the ocean, teeming with life. You won't just be making a difference in the lives of sea turtles in Costa Rica, but you will also live in one of the most biodiverse and nature-forward countries on Earth. You can explore the active volcanoes and mist forests of this adventurous country with travelers you meet along the way. We offer the full package for a smooth volunteer abroad experience. When you book with us, you can leave the guesswork out of organizing your travels and focus on having the trip of a lifetime.

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.

Volunteer in Costa Rica with A Broader View Volunteers, a highly rated non-profit charity organization. Volunteer placements are available throughout Costa Rica, mainly in San Jose and Escazu and the Pacific and Atlantic coastal regions. There are 19 program options available for volunteers to choose from. A Broader View can accommodate up to 30 volunteers with housing. The organization has hosted numerous university student groups, Peace Corps alternative teens, and family volunteer programs in their Costa Rica turtle programs. Customized programs can also be arranged for groups of 5 or more volunteers. A Broader View Volunteers has extensive experience working with students, teachers, and families, providing tailor-made service trips for small groups. Costa Rica, known as the "Rich Coast" in Spanish, is a popular destination that attracts over a million visitors yearly. With its year-round mild climate, relaxed visa requirements for travelers, and friendly locals, Costa Rica is an ideal place to volunteer.

Join GCAC in Costa Rica and experience service, learning, and the vibrant spirit of Pura Vida in one of Latin America’s most biodiverse regions. This immersive program combines meaningful volunteer work with exploration and cultural connection. Your primary service project will take place at the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Center, where you’ll support wildlife rehabilitation and rescue efforts. The work is hands-on and impactful, contributing directly to animal welfare and environmental care. Outside of volunteering, you’ll explore Costa Rica’s natural beauty—relaxing on beaches, hiking through lush jungles, and swimming beneath waterfalls. These adventures are part of the experience and help deepen your understanding of the country’s culture and environment. Participants can also take or audit a self-paced online course, Global Service-Learning and Citizenship, which offers insight into global and local issues. The course is available for transferable college credit and supports GCAC’s mission to develop globally aware, service-driven leaders.

This program offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rural communities surrounding San Miguel on Costa Rica's southern Nicoya Peninsula. You’ll have the chance to explore pristine beaches, mangrove forests, winding rivers, and scenic forest trails. During your time in San Miguel, you’ll work alongside a dedicated research team supporting Turtle Trax’s sea turtle conservation efforts. Your activities will include night patrols, relocating and protecting sea turtle nests, maintaining hatcheries, and assisting in the release of hatchlings. Beyond research, you’ll also engage with the local community by leading environmental education classes in schools and learning about sustainable fishing practices from local fishers. In addition to conservation work, you’ll deepen your Spanish language skills, build connections with local residents, and experience the breathtaking landscapes of the Southern Nicoya Peninsula—one of the world’s five renowned “Blue Zones.” Your journey will conclude with a visit to La Fortuna, where you’ll explore the tropical rainforest and gain insight into local conservation initiatives.