Are you an eco-adventurer? If your idea of the perfect trip is getting up close and personal with the natural world, you will want to check out Costa Rica. From the lush jungles to the colorful coral reefs, this region is one of the earth's most distinctive ecosystems. Misty cloud forests, black sand beaches, thick rainforests and rushing river rapids offer outdoor activities for active travelers as well as nature enthusiasts. A dazzling array of creatures, including monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, jaguars, sea turtles and poison dart frogs. These are just a few examples of the wildlife that lives in Costa Rica's many natural parks. It is widely known for its proliferation of wildlife refuges and the diversity of its animals and plants. This creates opportunities for nature-loving travelers to volunteer in one of the many eco-programs in one of the Costa Rican destinations promoting these standards.
On one of the many beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, eco volunteers can come to be a part and support the sea turtles. They are currently struggling to survive as a result of human poachers and the erosion of the nesting sites. You could do this through an organization like Earthwatch where you would be in Guanacaste. Responsibilities would include tasks like monitoring nesting leatherback turtles, measuring and tagging each of them, recording nest locations and counting the eggs to help researchers determine exactly what factors are influencing nesting success for this critically endangered species. For fun when there is recreational time, you can go for a swim in the ocean or their pool, have a snack at a beach side restaurant, touring the mangrove statuary, take a sailboat cruise or just enjoy the beach. While volunteering you can meet and bond with other like-minded people from all over the globe.
If social work is more your thing, you can get involved with the local communities of San Jose in Costa Rica. San Jose is the capital and is characterized by its lush green mountains, cloud forests, volcanoes and valleys. Volunteering can be done by joining a social work project through the organization GO Eco which would allow you to help children or the elderly. Participants would get to choose what project they would be most interested in assisting with. Some options include, but are not limited to: teaching arts and crafts, teaching a language, teaching computer skills, playing sport and outdoor games, helping out with light chores for day-to-day chores of the homes and helping in the improvement and embellishment of the facilities of the projects.
For eco travelers who are interested in organic and sustainable farming volunteers can find plenty of opportunities to help out in Costa Rica. You could go through the organization IFRE Volunteers Abroad to donate your time sporting a coffee plantation project. Partnered with the local cooperative, Coopeatenas, volunteers would work directly alongside farmers, helping to set up new systems of agriculture and possibly conducting interviews and surveys. The bulk of the time would be spent physically at the farm, picking coffee, learning and sharing information about organic practices.
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