Costa Rica Sea Turtle Volunteer Vacation

About the Project:

Spend 5 nights working with giant leatherback sea turtles and local researchers at Estacion Las Tortugas in Costa Rica. Patrol nesting beaches at night and relax and explore the rainforest during the day. An optional extension to the South Caribbean includes pristine beaches and indigenous reserves. Six out of the seven species of sea turtles around the world are endangered or threatened with extinction. There are hundreds of turtle nesting beaches who don't have the resources to cover long stretches of beach, so volunteers are critical to help cover these areas. In addition, the income that volunteer programs bring to conservation organizations and local communities are integral to their success over the long-term.

Costa Rica leatherback sea turtle volunteer tour

Costa Rica leatherback turtle conservation

What to Expect?

This sea turtle volunteer vacation involves patrolling a 3 miles stretch of a turtle nesting beach with a group of researchers and other volunteers. When the group finds a giant leatherback turtle, volunteers will help collect data and tag it and either hide the nest by moving it to a safe location or marking its location. Researchers collect data such as length and width of the shell, where it nested, its tag number, and its physical condition. Patrols generally last 4 hours and run from 8 pm to midnight or midnight to 4 am. There may also be shifts available in an egg hatchery, where the eggs are protected from poachers and animals. Other jobs can include maintaining the equipment, cleaning the beach of driftwood, debris, and trash, and participating in educational programs. Volunteers generally have the daytime free to visit the turtle educational center, explore the rainforest, relax, take a boat tour of nearby rivers, or get to know the other volunteers and researchers.