VOLUNTEER PROGRAM COSTA RICA
Visit the tropical paradise of the mountain rainforest of the Costa Rica wilderness and help us protect it as a volunteer.
The Green Life volunteer program in Costa Rica deals with the protection of rainforest and endangered species of animals in the form of monitoring using camera trails and direct field patrol activities. You will have great knowledge, adventure, but also relaxation and a lot of information. We also cooperate with national parks and surrounding reserves.
Experience the mountainous, foggy, rainforest firsthand.
PROGRAM COST: 890 Eur (980 USD)
WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PROGRAM?
Our organization does not receive any subsidies and grants.
For this reason, you have to pay for the program.
AVAILABLE DATES
PRICE 890€ (980 USD)
PRICE INCLUDES:
- meals throughout the program (excluding restaurants)
- accommodations
- expeditions to the forest
- expedition to the natural blue river
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- international transport (airplane)
- local transport (from the airport to the reservation and back)*
- transport to one of the national parks *
- transportation to the Blue Life project*
- insurance
- in the case of visiting a restaurant (exceptionally), meals in restaurants are not included in the price, the volunteer pays for himself
- participation in monitoring on the Ship ($60)
TERMS 2023
9 September – 29 September 2023 (max 12/ occupied 0)
16 December 2023 – 5 January 2024 (max 12/ occupied 0)
20 January – 9 February 2024 (max 12/ occupied 1)
16.2. – 3.3. 2024 (max 12/ FULL)
*transportation is not included in the price due to the unstable number of volunteers. We always try to provide the most reasonable and cheapest transport option that is shared among the given number of volunteers.
*there is no problem to arrive for a shorter or longer time, everything is by arrangement
If you are interested in participating, contact us at dobrovolnik@pralesdetem.cz and after confirming your participation by email, fill out the electronic application and pay a deposit of €200 (the deposit is non-refundable) to the account of Justice for Nature, z.s. 2602004454/2010 (IBAN: CZ7420100000002602004454, SWIFT: FIOBCZPPXXX)
Please include COSTA RICA VOLUNTEER PROGRAM and your name in the note.
10% discount for JFN Club members, just state your card number in the notes section of the application. The card number must match your name under which the membership name is registered. More about the JFN club here.
PROGRAM
The volunteer program is mainly audiovisual monitoring using trail cameras, which takes place in the Green Life Reserve and in the reservations of La Marta and El Copal. Since December 2021, we are also launching monitoring in Tapanti national park. Another activity is field patrols to protect the fauna and flora of our reserve, or to maintain and create sightseeing trails. The program also includes volunteering, kitchen duty and other necessary daily activities. There are days off of course. The program is enriched by a visit to the thermal baths in Orosi, where we relax after a demanding forest stay.
GREEN LIFE
RESERVE AND BASE CAMP
At an altitude of 1200 m.a.s.l. on the border of NP Tapanti, our private reserve Green Life II is spread over an area of 154.5 ha of primeval forest, where a volunteer base is built, which hosts several volunteer programs during the year.
BLUE LIFE
BASE CAMP
In the bay of Santa Elena, the Blue Life ocean education center has grown up, focusing on the monitoring and protection of marine mammals and the underwater world.
LOOOKING BACK AT THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
WHERE AM I GOING TO BE?
GREEN LIFE
BLUE LIFE
MORE INFO
GOOD TO KNOW:
Despite the fact that Costa Rica is a small country, it has an incredible wealth of natural wealth, not only on land, but also at sea. Rainforest, volcanoes, misty mountain forest, mountains with the highest mountain Cerro Chirripó at an altitude of 3820 m above sea level. mangrove forests, coastal ecosystems and, of course, breathtaking underwater life. You can meet various species of birds from hummingbirds, toucans, icterid, but you can also meet tapirs, sloths, anteater, aguts, peccary pigs, 4 species of monkeys and, of course, the king of the country, the jaguar and not only him.
Aware of its natural wealth, Costa Rica has bet on conservation through environmental education, abolishment of the army, and the creation of a peaceful community. The ubiquitous slogan PURA VIDA (simply life/clean life) is just proof of this.
In general, the captivity of animals is not only degrading for the animal itself, but also, above all, it is not degrading to the person. Freedom and nature should be given not only to humans, but to animals above all. Therefore, a few years ago, laws were created that not only prohibit the keeping of animals in captivity but it is also a criminal offence. You will not find circuses or even zoos with exceptions that have been transformed into rescue stations. In some cases, this is a debatable device, but these are exceptional cases that arose before the laws themselves.
Despite a number of conservation laws, local people’s mentality, and education, Costa Rica is not the perfect country that doesn’t seem to need help with conservation, because it handles it perfectly. Here, too, there is widespread poaching, illegal mining or illegal trade in exotic/wild animal species, for which there is still enormous demand in the world. Even Costa Rica does not shy away from the illegal trade in animals.
So why help protect Costa Rica’s natural wealth? It is a world unique place, with approximately 4% of the world’s biodiversity on land in relatively tiny territory, and as far as the ocean is concerned, there is another phenomenon in the form of an underwater mountain system between the Coconut Islands, the Peninsula Axis and the Thermal Dome hotspot. Here, such a rich life is assumed, which corresponds to approximately 5% of the ocean biodiversity of the Earth. However, the ocean is a major question mark in Costa Rica’s nature conservation, which needs the most attention, interest, assistance and cooperation at international level. Thus, Costa Rica is a model for the whole world, it is a biological laboratory that must be maintained and supported by an example of world conservation. It is precisely the existence of such a model that is extremely important for the world’s protection of biodiversity and can be applied to other countries across the continent.
HOW TO GET TO COSTA RICA AND THEN TO US?
Those of you who have experience with flights and do not want to wait for other potential volunteers can arrange your ticket without waiting by yourself. Those of you who do not know how or do need help can be contacted by us with other volunteers and help you synchronize your departure to Costa Rica.
A volunteer flight overview will be created where you will be asked to add your contact and flight information to help us organize the transport with other volunteers.
Book a ticket to your final destination in Costa Rica, to the capital San José – Juan Santamaría International Airport.- Juan Santamaría International Airport.
You can reach the Green Life reserve by yourself via local transport, Uber, taxi, stop, on foot, etc as you see fit) or we can arrange a transport by an appointment. The price for a car/minibus depends on the number of volunteers. We always try to find the cheapest but most reasonable mode of transport. The place to get to after arriving in San José is the town of Pejibaye, or even closer to Tausito, which is closer to the reservation. Here we will pick up those who will go on their own.
CATERING
Meals will be prepared in a wooden house with a fully equipped kitchen corresponding to the forest kitchen on the gas cooker. The diet is predominantly vegan (exceptionally vegetarian). Volunteers engage in services that they agree the day before (cooking, washing dishes, etc.). We recommend your own supply of minerals and vitamins if you feel the need to replenish artificially. Energy bars may come in handy. Expect grains, legumes, cereals, vegetables and, of course, fruit.ACCOMODATION
You will be accommodated in tents that will be located near the main building. Toilets are European style with flushing, shower is available just expect cold water. Time to stiff up:).SAFETY
Costa Rica ranks among safe countries, but caution is always in order. As part of your stay on the volunteer program, you must follow the security rules for movement in the reservation, which you will learn as part of the initial training.
INSURANCE
Each participant takes care of the insurance himself and it is the duty to have it. Before departure, check the obligations to enter Costa Rica, which may change continuously due to Covid’s arrangements.
VISA
Costa Rica allows UK tourists a 3-month visa-free stay, so there is no need to deal with this. If you are coming from a different country please check the requirement on the embassy page.
WHAT TO BRING
Due to the altitude of 1100 m above sea level, expect cooler temperatures in the evening and overnight, which may fall to about 16 °C. Therefore, we recommend warmer clothes and a warmer sleeping bag for the evening. During the day, if the sun shines, the temperature is over 23-30 °C. Clothes for the field must be matched to natural darker colors (khaki, brown, green, black, etc.).- sturdy shoes, trousers, shorts, sweatshirt, waterproof jacket or raincoat, small backpack for the field, scarf or headgear (depending on time of the year), swimsuit, towel, work clothes, work gloves,
- pocket knife, headlight, water bottle, slipers, clothing for the camp,
- mat, sleeping bag, sleeping clothes, underwear, socks,
- hygiene, vitamins (magnesium, vit. C, Dologram, etc.), basic first aid kit,,
- Camera, Binoculars
