Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation & Volunteer Trip Overview
Did you know that the sea turtle population is declining rapidly? Six out of seven sea turtle species are going extinct, and in Costa Rica, the Pacific Leatherback population has declined 90% since 1980. Travel For Teens is committed to making a difference for this ancient species, and we invite you to join us this summer on a sea turtle conservation trip to Costa Rica!
We partner with an organization dedicated to protecting the species that frequent this area’s beaches. These turtles are at risk of extinction due to a variety of factors, including human activities. Our goal will be to monitor the turtles that nest and assist with a strategy for future marine conservation efforts. Some of your volunteer duties will include evening patrols to look for nesting turtles, collecting nest data, and even releasing baby turtles safely into the ocean!*
Our service efforts will be complemented by a variety of fun activities designed to embrace Costa Rican “pura vida,” including ziplining through lush jungle canopies and learning how to surf on Puerto Viejo’s beautiful coastline.
If you are looking for an opportunity to give back and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of Costa Rica, then this is the perfect program for you!
*Please note you will be doing service that supports the sea turtle population without handling them physically. Turtles are not guaranteed on this program.
During this program, you will:
- Earn 30+ hours of community service credit as you work with a local conservation organization to observe and care for sea turtles and help the local community with various projects
- Relax in the thermal pools, heated by the Arenal Volcano
- Zoom through the treetop canopy on an adrenaline-pumping zipline tour
- Learn to surf on Costa Rica’s incredible beaches with perfect waves
- Take a dance lesson in Puerto Viejo
- Visit the awe-inspiring La Fortuna waterfall
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM MIAMI (MIA)
On our first night, we will get to know each other with some group icebreakers and become acquainted with Costa Rican culture. The next morning we will head Pacuare, where our service project officially begins!
DAYS 2-4: PACUARE
Pacuare is a small village and the perfect place to not only start our service project but also learn what Costa Rica is all about–away from the crowds and the typical tourist path!
We will settle into our rustic accommodation, which will be a unique and immersive experience. We will meet with the team and receive an introduction to the sea turtle conservation station we will call home for the next few days. The center has accommodation for us onsite, which will allow us to participate in night patrols and be ready to spring into action if there is any nesting or hatching activity that happens during the night or early morning. Our days here will be filled with turtle conservation efforts. One day you may be helping to collect nest data, and the next you may be helping baby turtles (hatchlings) make it safely to the ocean! As turtles are wild animals, there is no guarantee of what each day may look like, but that is part of what makes this program so exciting! July is peak nesting season for turtles, so there is a very high probability that you will be able to watch a female turtle lay her eggs or witness babies hatching. Other projects may include building hatcheries, beach cleanups, tagging and measuring turtles, and anything else related to protecting these beautiful creatures.
DAYS 5-6: PUERTO VIEJO
After finishing our last morning of Sea Turtle service, we will take our private transfer to the town of Puerto Viejo. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in Costa Rica and they are the perfect starting point for our surf lessons. Long sandy beaches and warm water create an ideal environment for experienced surfers as well as beginner surfers. We will also get take a dance lesson from a local.
We will spend an afternoon joining the “Plastic Free Planet” movement and helping coastal communities eliminate single-use plastics! Since 2019, this project has partnered with local groups to organize beach cleanups and recycle plastic waste into innovative new products, including bracelets, keychains, and coasters.
DAYS 7-9: LA FORTUNA
Our final city will be La Fortuna, where we will continue our service in the mornings at the local school, painting walls, doing light maintenance, and helping the community.
In the afternoon, we’ll head out for a zip line tour stretching from mountain to mountain, reaching incredible lengths and heights, crossing canyons, going into the forests, and even sometimes in between clouds!
We will also get the chance to hike deep into the jungle to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This 210-foot ribbon of water forms natural pools that are perfect for going for a refreshing swim! In the evening we will relax our muscles at the natural hot springs formed by the volcano.
DAY 10: SAN JOSE
We’ll come full circle as we return to San Jose for one final night in Costa Rica.. You’ll have some time for last-minute souvenir shopping and exploring any places you missed the first time around. Enjoy final dinner at one of our favorite restaurants!
DAY 11: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE STATES
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do students like most about the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Service & Adventure trip?
Our environment-loving participants truly enjoy the layout of our trip! Costa Rica Sea Turtle Service & Adventure gives our participants the opportunity to explore Costa Rica’s hidden treasures while also being able to give back to the community.
Our service projects are centered towards working with local conservations, volunteering at local schools and helping maintain local beaches. This provides an immersive experience and allows students to discover all facets of life in Costa Rica!
Our environment-loving participants truly enjoy the layout of our trip! Costa Rica Sea Turtle Service & Adventure gives our participants the opportunity to explore Costa Rica’s hidden treasures while also being able to give back to the community.
Our service projects are centered towards working with local conservations, volunteering at local schools and helping maintain local beaches. This provides an immersive experience and allows students to discover all facets of life in Costa Rica!
Where do we stay on the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Service & Adventure trip?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Pacuare, our project is located in a quiet, remote area only accessible by boat. The three days we spend there, our accommodation is basic and simple. Electricity is only available from solar panels and must be used rationally. There are no plug sockets available in the cabins, all personal electronics will be charged in the office.
In Puerto Viejo, we stay in a hotel surrounded by trees where you can see monkeys, iguanas, and toucans hanging around.
In La Fortuna we stay in a hotel close to the city center where you can souvenir shop.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Pacuare, our project is located in a quiet, remote area only accessible by boat. The three days we spend there, our accommodation is basic and simple. Electricity is only available from solar panels and must be used rationally. There are no plug sockets available in the cabins, all personal electronics will be charged in the office.
In Puerto Viejo, we stay in a hotel surrounded by trees where you can see monkeys, iguanas, and toucans hanging around.
In La Fortuna we stay in a hotel close to the city center where you can souvenir shop.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
What is included in this trip?
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like in Costa Rica?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!