Volunteer in Costa Rica

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Volunteer and Intern in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Map

Costa Rica, located in the heart of Latin America, is a varied mix of landscapes and cultures. Its fine range of attractions includes volcanoes, tropical rainforests, magnificent waterfalls, and beautiful sandy beaches. Costa Rica is an environmental wonderland. It is renowned for its biodiversity and many national parks while boasting an array of wildlife, from crocodiles and monkeys to whales and dolphins.

Volunteers in Costa Rica

Costa Ricans – commonly called Ticos – are well known for their friendly hospitality. For over 60 years Costa Rica has been without an army and, unlike many neighboring countries, peace and stability has lasted. Time and effort has been dedicated to sustaining the wildlife and improving the standards of living.

While Costa Rica now leads the way in terms of ecotourism, many Costa Ricans still live in very basic conditions. The growth of tourism in the country has lead to an increased demand for English speakers.

Our projects are available for anyone interested in volunteering in the developing world - whether you are on a gap year, a summer placement, or a career break.

Volunteer Work and Internships in Costa Rica

Volunteering in Costa Rica

Projects Abroad in Costa Rica offers opportunities in Teaching, Care, Sports, Journalism, Medicine & Healthcare, and Learning Spanish. Most of these projects are based in or near the town of Liberia, in northwestern Costa Rica. Additionally, Medicine projects and some Care placements are based in the lively university city of Heredia, just outside the capital, San Jose. We also have a Conservation & Environment project where volunteers are based in Barra Honda National Park, about two hours from Liberia.

In Liberia and Heredia, you’ll live with a local host family who will make sure you have a great experience in their hometown. Liberia is just four hours from the cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica, San José, under two hours from the Nicaraguan border, and less than an hour from an enviable choice of Pacific beaches. The larger city of Heredia is closer to San Jose and benefits from excellent transportation links all over Costa Rica. Situated in a green valley surrounded by hills and volcanoes, it is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding coffee plantations, volcanoes, and national parks.

The Conservation & Environment placement is located at Barra Honda National Park. Volunteers are involved in a wide variety of projects including studies of mammals and butterflies within the park, trail maintenance and mapping the numerous caves for which the park is famous.

The international volunteer projects we offer in Costa Rica allow you to experience the true essence of this beautiful country and give you a wonderful opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Costa Rican community life.

Volunteer Vacations and Voluntourism in Costa Rica

Liberia is a friendly small town that is full of colorful, colonial-style, clay-built houses. Life centers on a large main plaza and a pedestrian area, fringed with coconut palms. Throughout the year there are several local fiestas often with horse shows, rodeos, and roving marimba bands. From Liberia it’s very easy to visit neighboring Nicaragua or explore Costa Rica further.

Traveling in Costa Rica

Volunteers and interns living in Heredia are situated in the heart of Costa Rica’s coffee-growing country, the Central Valley. With its large student population and close proximity to the exciting capital city of San Jose, Heredia has an active cultural and social scene and has plenty to offer to keep you entertained. Its central location means that Heredia is perfectly placed for exploring the rest of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is a rugged and mountainous place with numerous national parks and volcanoes within easy reach of both Liberia and Heredia, if you’re looking for activities on your days off. From Liberia you can travel to the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, Santa Rosa National Park, and Guanacaste National Park, a Word Heritage Site. From Heredia you can easily reach the impressive Poas and Irazu volcanoes.

But you’re too never far from the coast in Costa Rica. You’ll be spoiled with choices for the number of idyllic beaches to go to and will have plenty of opportunities for water based activities like surfing, swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving in your time off on both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. The laid back life of Costa Rica is infectious and you will find it hard to leave.