Senior Citizens 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.

Maximo Nivel is a locally based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Volunteer abroad—get involved, make an impact, and learn to serve by working on local projects: - Working with Kids - Teaching English - Conservation - Construction - Animal Care - Eco-Agriculture - Medical and Healthcare To qualify: - Volunteers must be 18+ years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. - We require background checks from our volunteers. - Come with a great attitude and a willingness to pitch in. Since 2003, Maximo Nivel has been a leader in educational travel and study abroad. Our work-study-travel programs host more than 4,000 people per year. We are a professional, ethical, and hard-working organization that is completely dedicated to providing a great experience to every participant, student, traveler, and client! Every day, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best volunteer, education, and cultural experiences in Latin America, along with top-notch client service and great home-based facilities. Live it!

Make a positive impact by assisting disadvantaged communities in San Jose, Costa Rica. This unique and affordable volunteering abroad program allows you to provide educational enrichment for underprivileged children. During your stay, you'll have the opportunity to learn Spanish, volunteer in social programs for children, and explore the beauty of Costa Rica in your free time. You'll contribute to the well-being of children, gain skills in childcare and teaching, and improve your Spanish language skills. This program is open to participants of all ages, including families. Teens aged 16-17 can join solo with parental consent. Other requirements include: - Police clearance - Basic level of English and/or Spanish - Open-minded and flexible attitude - Creative and highly independent - Experience working with children

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.

World Endeavors offers exciting programs that allow participants to experience Costa Rica while contributing meaningfully to the community. Volunteers can choose from various projects, including teaching, orphanage assistance, environmental conservation, wildlife conservation, and community development. World Endeavors volunteers live in Atenas, a small, relatively prosperous farming town in the central highlands of Costa Rica where coffee, sugarcane, and fruit are grown. Life here revolves around family and community, and the nightlife consists mostly of family gatherings, barbecues, and shared meals. Residents can often be found browsing the colorful farmer’s market for fresh produce, enjoying a cup of local coffee at a café, or strolling in the park in the city center. Atenas is renowned for its climate, which keeps the city warm in the daytime and cool at night. Public pools and hiking trails make Atenas an appealing destination for those who wish to spend time outdoors, and the town’s location, less than an hour from the capital of San José and the international airport, makes it easily accessible for arriving volunteers.

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.

Spend a semester or academic year in the lively capital of San José with AIFS Abroad! You’ll earn up to 20 credits per semester from Universidad Veritas through various courses and internship opportunities. Courses are taught in English and Spanish. No previous Spanish language study is required for most programs. Universidad Veritas offers an internship program and volunteer opportunities that’ll help you make the most of your semester abroad. Their Spanish Language and Internship Program welcomes students with an advanced level of Spanish and a minimum of 2 years of college-level Spanish. It combines a 4-week Spanish language course with a 12-week internship placement within local companies or NGOs based on your major. You’ll also enjoy cultural and social activities, including: • Costa Rican cooking classes • Visits to local museums and historical sites • A 3-day trip to Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and Monteverde Cloud Forest • A 3-day trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park • Day trip to Poás Volcano, Doka Coffee Estate, and Sarchi artisans Optional excursions include a 2-day trip hiking and rafting in Sarapiquí.

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.

Study Spanish and volunteer in one of a variety of projects in Costa Rica with The National Registration Center for Study Abroad. Volunteers spend 20 hours per week for two or more weeks in 50-minute group Spanish classes with a maximum of five students. Although volunteers may enroll for as many weeks as they desire, beginner Spanish learners need to study for four to 12 weeks, while intermediate and advanced learners need to put in about two to 12 weeks. After spending at least one week in Spanish classes, volunteers will work on a placement for a minimum of two weeks. In San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, they can contribute to projects at national parks, orphanages, retirement centers, drug rehabilitation institutions, special education schools, hospitals, and museums. Recycling and English teaching positions are also available.

Get the chance to experience Costa Rica from the perspective of locals rather than just a tourist by joining our volunteer programs. Placements are based in and around San Jose, the country’s capital and largest city. Here, you can spend weekdays making a difference in a local community and the weekends enjoying various adventure activities. Volunteering Journeys offers the following: - Medical programs at leading clinics and hospitals - Sea turtle conservation, which mainly involves rehabilitation and releasing - English teaching at local schools - Animal and wildlife care at local shelters - Women’s empowerment centered around local initiatives and education - NGO placements, with tasks ranging from teaching to renovations - Family volunteering program in areas like community development, teaching, and conservation Costa Rica boasts a naturally diverse environment but still faces development issues such as domestic violence, poverty, lack of quality education, and poaching. As a volunteer, you will help the local people address these challenges. The minimum commitment for our programs is two or four weeks, depending on the project.

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 and immerse in the nation’s “Pura Vida” lifestyle while exploring unspoiled rainforests and basking in the peaceful atmosphere (with the Costa Rican army abolished in 1948). Costa Rica is renowned around the world for its biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, eco-tourism, and warm culture. Local people are friendly and eager to lend a hand, even a home, in times of need. Slow down and appreciate a different pace of life; you’ll feel at home in this family-oriented culture. United Planet is the US and Canadian member of the International Cultural Youth Exchange or ICYE. As a volunteer in Costa Rica, you will be hosted by ACI, ICYE’s Costa Rican partner organization. As an international non-profit, ACI has promoted cross-cultural exchange between young people all over the world since 1967.

Volunteering with ICYE UK is a transformational experience with real impact. Our ethical programmes promote peace, intercultural awareness and equality of opportunity, encouraging young people from around the world to live, learn and work together. UK residents can apply now to join us on our six or 12-month placements starting in either January or August, and work with locally run NGOs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on impactful projects that matter, such as: - Human rights projects - Women’s empowerment projects - Supporting people with compromised health and/or disabilities - Environmental and wildlife conservation - Sustainable agriculture projects - Providing education, care, and support for children from under-resourced communities - Sports, art, or cultural projects - Community development programmes - And many more Additionally, short-term placements of 3 to 5 months with flexible start dates are available in some of our partner countries. Whether you join us on our long-term or short-term programme, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and language, learn, grow, and make an impact! Get in touch to find out more!