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Turtle Conservation

Placement number: 0090
Location: Costa Rica
Preferred Languages: English or Spanish
Date: All year
Minimum Period : 2 weeks

We are a non-profit organization whose dual aims are the protection of sea turtles and the improvement of the living conditions of the local inhabitants. The local inhabitants generate income by cooperating in the project; they guard beaches together with the volunteers, act as tour guides for eco tourists and assist with the various agricultural activities. By helping to generate an income for the locals, we hope to take away the necessity for them to poach the turtles and again by working in partnership with them we seek to establish an ideal environment for the turtles to lay their eggs.

The project is situated on the Caribbean beach of Costa Rica, 1 km north of the mouth of the Pacuare River. It covers 10 km of coastline and has a total surface of 800 hectares. The beach is part of the 50 km stretch between Tortuguero National Park and the harbor of Limón. The area is not only unique in every way, but is also famous as being the site where the four largest spieces of Marine turtles (Leatherback, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and the Green Turtle) come to lay their eggs.

Poachers, fishing nets and other threats are the cause of an alarming decline in turtles being born on this beach. In particular the 10 km covered by the project is in danger, for it has no protection whatsoever.

Role of Volunteer

Volunteers will patrol the beaches at night to search for nesting turtles the volunteers will then take the eggs to the hatchery where the eggs will are guarded from animals.

Learn Spanish while you volunteer

Lessons take the form of a 90 minute session, each day, of purposefully prepared, high energy, fun & intensive learning. Each lesson is followed by a group study period where students can review and practice what has been learned. Further study is expected in preparation for the next lesson.

The course is taught in English and apart from a pen, notepad, English to Spanish dictionary and a desire to learn all that is asked, is that you speak a high level of English. The course includes 16 hours of tuitions and group study. Costs are $ 80 US.

Volunteer stories

Find out what our past volunteers thought of this placement!

Elke, May 2006
" Its very important that these beautiful animals get the protection they need, and this project is the perfect way to do this. For me, volunteering here was a unique, unforgettable experience. "

Cost

US$15.00 per day provides - 3 meals a day and lodging in 6 men dorms.
Volunteers are asked to pay a one-off fee of US$20 for the 30 minute boat pick-up.

Travel

Fly internationally to San Jose then take a bus to Bataan where a pick-up will be provided.

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