Volunteer Programs in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

The TFT Costa Rica: Spanish Language Immersion & Service program is an incredible three-week experience that combines learning, service, and adventure. The daily Spanish classes are interactive and fun, helping everyone improve their language skills quickly. The teachers are patient and encouraging, and we had many chances to practice speaking Spanish in real-life situations with locals. One of the best parts of the program was the community service projects. We worked together on meaningful activities that helped local communities, which made the experience feel rewarding and purposeful. Between classes and service, we also got to explore Costa Rica’s beautiful landscapes—rainforests, beaches, and volcanoes. Instead of homestays, we stayed in comfortable hotels throughout the trip, which made it easy to relax after busy days. The accommodations were clean, safe, and well-organized. The group leaders were friendly and supportive, always making sure everyone felt comfortable and included. Overall, this 21-day program was an unforgettable adventure. It improved my Spanish, taught me about Costa Rican culture, and allowed me to make great friends. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to learn, travel, and make a positive impact while exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Travel for Teens Costa Rica Animal Rescue Service was a life-changing experience that exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I felt a strong sense of camaraderie and friendship that continues even after the trip. Engaging with exotic animals sparked a deep passion for veterinary medicine within me, fueling my aspirations for future volunteer work in Costa Rica. However, this journey meant more than just volunteering; it allowed me to fully immerse myself in the vibrant Costa Rican culture, embark on thrilling day trips, bask in the surreal beaches, and create lasting connections with my fellow teenage volunteers. Beyond the volunteering aspect, the trip was brimming with unforgettable moments. Exploring Panama and its picturesque islands, delving into the intricacies of cocoa farming and crafting chocolate from scratch, and visiting the BriBri tribe left an indelible mark on my heart. Witnessing the daily life of the BriBri people provided a unique perspective, enriching my understanding of diverse lifestyles. Above all, the trip felt like a voyage with close friends I had known for years, fostering an environment of mutual support and adventure. Travel for Teens Costa Rica Animal Rescue Service has undoubtedly left an indelible imprint, igniting within me a desire to continue exploring and contributing to the world in meaningful ways.

I went on the “Costa Rica Animal Rescue Service” trip. This was my first trip with TFT and I was one of the younger teens on the trip so I was definitely nervous. I am a relatively shy person and with random teens I just met this was way out of my comfort zone. But I knew I wanted to do it and I am so glad that I was able to convince myself because it was truly a trip I will never forget. Of course I loved going to a different country, all the amazing sites, the great adventures (my first time white water rafting and ziplining), and being able to be around animals all day. But, to me what made me love it even more and stood out to me were the little details, the friends I made, the counselors, and of course the food I had. Every single person on the trip was so nice, and I made friends that made the journey that much better. The counselors were always there for me and I felt like I could talk to them about anything. One of the greatest things was, I got to experience something different everyday and that made me see the world in such a new way. Whether that was trying a new food, hanging with the animals, or going on some crazy adventure that I would have never thought I could do amazed me. I cannot recommend this trip enough, not only did it get me out of my comfort zone and made me see myself in a whole different way but it also gave me experiences and life lessons that I will forever keep.

The time I spent in Costa Rica with travel for teens truly altered the way I view the world. It was an incredible experience with some amazing people. I went to Costa Rica alone but I came back with a group of amazing friends and a lifetime of experiences. To say that the trip was incredible is an understatement. I've been to many countries and none of them had the type of beauty Costa Rica had. I vividly remember on the 6th day of our trip when we went to a new hotel and I saw the view of our hotel balcony. It was unforgettable. My jaw very well dropped. Being able to help at the rescue centers was something I am so thankful for. Those poor animals go through a great deal and Travel for Teens making this a helping opportunity is so kind. This is a trip my family would never think about going on with their own prerogative, but Travel for Teens made it possible for me to do it on my own, and gain a new perspective of living in the process. "experiential docet" experience teaches, as they say in latin. This trip holds extremely deep meaning to me and I will remember it for every day of the rest of my life. I cant thank Travel for Teens enough for making this possible.

Over the summer, I was fortunate enough to travel with TFT on the "Costa Rica Spanish Language Immersion" trip. In 22 days, I was able to make amazing friends that I am still in touch with, go on incredible adventures (repelling down a waterfall, watching the sunrise from the beach, riding a catamaran, going snorkeling, surfing, and more), make amazing memories, take Spanish lessons that taught me so much more about the language than anything I've covered in school, participate in fun community service that I enjoyed doing, and so much more. I was not only able to learn more about myself, but also about other cultures. Adding on to that, the staff were so kind and fun. I genuinely had the most amazing time and can't wait to go on another TFT trip. I will never stop rewatching videos, looking at pictures, and missing the whole experience. Thank you for everything!

This past summer I had the opportunity to travel on the "Costa Rica Spanish Language and Immersion (22 Days)" trip with TFT. This experience was the most eye opening and life changing adventure I have ever been on. From the Spanish lessons to the volunteer work to relaxing on the beach, I have never been so overwhelmed with joy. This trip allowed me to see the world through a different and more exciting lens. In addition to the amazing culture we explored, I was able to become friends with other travelers that I am still in contact with months later. I constantly find myself scrolling back in my camera roll and going through pictures from the trip and they never fail to make me smile and reminisce. It is impossible to put into words how eternally grateful I am for Costa Rica and the memories I will carry with me forever, all thanks to TFT.

Traveling with a group, especially a group of strangers, is never easy, but with Travel For Teens my experience in Costa Rica was unforgettable. I started looking for a summer camp a few months ago when travel limitations were still enforced due to COVID. When I was actually able to participate in a camp and step foot in another country, it felt surreal. I was in Costa Rica with the TFT Animal Rescue program volunteering at the Jaguar Rescue Center (JRC). From hard work tasks like cleaning enclosures to smile worthy tasks like sitting and watching a baby sloth, I did it all. At times the work we did was exhausting, but never unbearable because the thought of our work helping so many animals was always in the back of our minds. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed working with the animals at the JRC, I also loved our weekend activities – surfing, white water rafting, chocolate making, touring the BriBri community, and lots of swimming. The warm water, silky smooth sand, and new friends made me look forward to our water activities everyday. My experience with TFT wouldn’t have been the same without my amazing counselors, Jenna and Aaron. They deserve the biggest praise. I am so glad I went on this trip and definitely recommend it to anybody interested in experiencing all that Costa Rica has to offer.

Here is my trip review for the summer of 2021 to Costa Rica! Where to begin! I'll start on pre-departure. Travel for Teens has been excellent in aiding people complete their paperwork/sign ups for trips including me. I had many questions and they helped me fully comprehend what I needed in order to make my trip happen. They are also very prepared and have everything covered for a minor that is traveling alone outside their state/country. I was unable to complete my payment by the deadline but because I was communicating with the awesome understanding staff I was able to pay off my balance after the deadline free of charge. Before your trip, information about the other teens in your group will be emailed to you. One of the people in mine emailed us and got our Instagrams so we got to connect before our trip. During the trip they also use the "Whatsapp" app for communication between your group. I actually really loved the people on my trip because we had good chemistry and rarely had problems, our trip leaders were literally THE BEST and if we had anything at all to tell them they were very supportive and expressed how this trip was for us and if they could do anything to make it better they were there to listen and help. We called them our temporary mom and dad but we really were like a family by the end of the trip. A couple times during the trip we had complications with arrivals and activities but they were solved and made up for. Many people might see the price of the trip and get disencouraged like I once did. After experiencing one I'm proud to confidently say it's worth it 100%. The costs covered the living space, activities, volunteering, travel(other than flying) and food. The reason I included volunteering was because at the Jaguar Rescue Center they take their work very seriously and require you to pay in order to be able to volunteer for them to guarantee only the most reliable people to help them, plus all the profit they make goes back into the center and the animals. I went on the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Service and it was an amazing experience that many don't get to do. Especially people under 18. The "Jaguar Rescue Center" only takes volunteers over the age of 18 but have exceptions for this one unique trip that only Travel for Teens offers. On my trip we collected a total of 80 hours of volunteer rain or shine and let me tell you it was no easy job. Like I said the staff take it really seriously so you have to be dedicated to pushing through hard labor in order to care for these animals. At the center there were insects, snakes, birds, monkeys, otters, rats, felines, sloths, deers, turtles, a porcupine (my favorite) and an alligator but they take in any animal brought or found. On our first day we had a tour and for the next three weeks on the weekdays we were working. During my time volunteering there I cleaned the enclosures of sloths, monkeys, horses, rats, macaws and a porcupine top to bottom and replaced their "enrichment" (trees, branches, leaves, flowers;etc). To get enrichment we were supplied with machetes and had access to the jungle to collect it. I also painted parts of wood that they needed to update the center. I did laundry, dishes, cleaned the pathway for the classic tour and on my last 2 days went all the way and collected ocean water for a sea turtle by myself from the beach to the center which was 700 feet one way so 1,400 feet there and back and went back and forth a good 5-7 times carrying a barrel filled with water. On a volunteer day we would have to be up and ready by 6 am for breakfast in order start our work by 7. We would work for 6 hours then have lunch at 1. The rest of the day we would choose between relaxing at our hotel while others ventured out into the "town" just to explore or to buy stuff or we would go to the beach. For weekends we would have fun activities planned. We went ziplining that ended with an educational tour on the jungle and animals inside of it, surfing, went to a chocolate museum where we took a tour and made chocolate, visited a native tribe (Bribri) where they educated us on their sovereignty and made us lunch while we got to make more chocolate and even hot chocolate, white water rafting and horseback riding. Unfortunately our day trip to Panama Dolphin Bay was canceled due to covid and restrictions at the border but everyone was reimbursed. Since me and another girl on the trip were vegan we had limited options but our trip leaders were good at making sure to accomodate for our needs, same went for my severe allergies to nuts and bees. The place we stayed was lowkey and perfect walking distance to the beach and venders. We all had separate rooms adjacent to one another with roommates. Cleaned daily. Each one had 2 little rocking chairs outside of each room and towards the back had a small pool. Leaving was so sad because no one wanted to leave but departures were very easy and we had no complications at the airport. For parents during the trip the trip leaders email them daily about a summary of the day and what's next along with uploading photos taken with a canon on waldo (photo viewing site). Next year in late January I will be going to NYC to visit people from my trip! Overall I would rate my trip a 10/10!!!! I can't wait for my next one.

Natuwa is a very special place and my experience is really beyond expectations! I’ve been welcome since the beginning as if I was part of the family. Rodolfo and the team are great people dedicated to the animals and work extremely hard to give them the best life possible. The sanctuary is impeccably well looked after and everyone does their best to make you feel at home and to teach you something. Be prepared to work hard as this is no place for parties or slackers, but at the end you will feel really rewarded and part of something very special. I will miss everyone so much

In the project, which lies directly on the coast of the Pacific, I was only for a very short time. Nevertheless, I was lucky and during this time I could find an egg-laying turtle during one of my patrols and accompany a nest with hatching turtles to the sea. The conditions at the camp are really simple: so the shower under the ice-cold water was not always the best. But here, too, every day one realizes that there are more important things than this "luxury". In addition to the work, I also had free time here, which I had used, for example, to make a boat tour with other volunteers in Uvita, where we could actually see whales. The people I have known throughout the time (both other volunteers and locals) are simply incredible and have made it really difficult for me to fly back home to Germany. I could collect great experiences and impressions, which will probably accompany me all my life.

Had a wonderful time in the project and really enjoyed the monitoring, manual labor, and learning about conservation methods. The location is gorgeous and the locals are really friendly. Volunteers come from around the globe, so you'll definitely make some new friends. Luis and his team are always happy to help and will definitely show you the Pura Vida way of life. Knowing that all the work and effort you're putting into is going to benefit a variety of species, and that it will make a huge impact is very rewarding. Thanks for being a great team :)

I really love this country and the people, so definitely recommend to visit Costa Rica! The program offered me a good insight into Turtle Conservation. It was an amazing experience! Accomodation: Better than expected since they have just renovated it. Program: Tough due to night shifts and long walks but worth it. Food (!!!): Food itself was tasty and sometimes we even had meat BUT definitely waaaay too little portions! We would have needed at least four times of the amount. When we requested more food, they simply said that they don‘t have more for us. I am writing this hoping that the management will change this situation in order to encourage more people like me to stay. Conclusion: Since the shifts were quite tiring, the support from the kitchen was simply not enough. I am 1,67 m and 60kg - only that you understand my needs (normal portions!!). I would definitely have stayed longer, but this wasn‘t pleasant for me anymore.

Hello everyone! First of all, I want to thank you for the hospitality of your association, a fantastic team and always available! It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience surrounded by nature observing all the various species of animals that Costa Rica has to offer! And especially the turtles ♥ ️! I invite you at least once in your life to live these unforgettable moments. PURA VIDA❤️ see you soon!