Volunteer vacations Costa Rica are usually one-to-four week trips that allow you to travel with the goal of contributing your time, labor and skills to a worthy cause. A volunteer vacation can be a great way to get to know the “real” area that you’re visiting, as opposed to just the touristy parts, and will give you the chance to make a difference in the world at the same time. If you’re considering a volunteer vacation, traveling to Costa Rica can be a good start. Here are a few of the volunteer vacation projects that you may be able to choose from when traveling to Costa Rica.
- Teaching projects. If you have the desire to help people of all ages learn the English language, you’re in luck. The government of Costa Rica has deemed English skills a priority for their country, so there is a great demand for English lessons at all levels. Volunteers could work with students ranging from kindergarten age to adulthood, mostly in rural communities and districts. You do not need teaching qualifications to participate in this project, nor will you be expected to create your own classes. Instead, you’ll be following an established curriculum as you work in conjunction with other teachers and volunteers.
- Working with children. If you have a special affinity for children, you might enjoy working in an orphanage or a special needs school. In an orphanage, you might work to help the children develop their English skills, provide needed supervision, and also provide companionship for the children. Limited staffing means that the children spend a significant part of their day left to their own amusement, so you would provide both extended educational support and emotional support. In a special needs school, you would be working with children who have various disabilities, assisting the teacher to provide these children with the one-on-one attention that they need.
- Conservation and animal rescue. If you’re a nature lover, you may appreciate the opportunity to work in an animal rescue center or an environmental conservation center. You may help rehabilitate injured reptiles, mammals or birds by assisting with cleaning trails and cages, feeding animals, and observing and recording animal behavior. Environmental conservation may consist of cleaning trails and making new ones. Both animal and environmental conservation projects will require you to assist in educating the community about conservation and environmental concerns, and encouraging local efforts towards conservation and sustainability.
G Adventures (formerly Gap Adventures,) has a 15 day Volunteer Costa Rica trip from just $1,049. You spend 5 days volunteering on a sea turtle project to ensure these endangered creatures are around for years to come. There is also lots of time for adventure including hiking and whitewater rafting.
There are plenty of different varieties of volunteer projects to choose from in Costa Rica, so you should have no difficulty choosing one that suits your particular skills and interests. This is a chance for you to have an exciting vacation, experience the real, everyday culture of Costa Rica, and leave with the knowledge that you made a positive difference in the lives of many.
