South Caribbean Sea Turtle Program

Gandoca
This leatherback project is one of the few in the world to show an increase in nesting since the start. Accommodations here include camping or home stays with local families. The beach is the southernmost on the Caribbean coast, located in the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Work consists of nightly four-hour beach patrols or six-hour hatchery shifts; six day per week work week. The location is remote and food is simple and either included in the price or a kitchen is provided. The minimum stay is one week.

Playa Negra
This project, which is supported by EcoTeach and run by ANAI, began last year with great success. With a limited crew, poaching was cut significantly and the investigation showed higher than expected nestings and may be the most important hawksbill beach in the country, though the dominant specie is the leatherback. This project is located near the town of Puerto Viejo de Limón, so there is more infrastructure than other projects. The work will be four-hour shifts with possible hatchery duty. Lodging will be simple but comfortable and kitchens are available for cooking. The minimum stay is one week.

Finca Lomas

A private nature reserve and a crop experimentation site, this farm is designed to benefit the Talamancan and Central American regions by providing seeds and planting material for crop diversification for local farmers´ agroforestry systems. It serves as a learning opportunity for volunteers, and is a living example of nature conservation in the lowland humid tropics. The site is remote, located near the town of Gandoca.

Much of the work on Finca Lomas involves restoration of the plantations and improvement of the grounds and living facilities. Work for the volunteers includes helping with upkeep of the plants in the farm, recovering crops from overgrowth and weeds, maintenance of cacao and other fruit trees: pruning, controlling diseases, harvesting, etc, helping with building and maintenance of houses, and developing and carrying out personal projects planned in cooperation with ANAI directors. Minimum stay is 6 weeks long and the farm runs year-round.

Raptor Migration Study

This work includes tracking the seasonal migration of raptors and hawks over Talamanca. Our main site is a hill within the Kekoldi Indian Reserve but we are developing more sites throughout Talamanca. They have counted over one million raptors in migration, which is a record matched only by two other places in the world.

The birding volunteers are a mixture of trained experts and volunteers. Most volunteers live at the El Cruce office in Hone Creek, which is close to the town of Puerto Viejo. The bird conservation project will be expanding, with new volunteer projects in the making. The season runs from late February to late May in the spring and mid-August to mid-December in the fall.

Office Internships

Every year, a small number of administrative internships are offered. Professionals with skills in fields like economy, business administration, accounting, agriculture, and forest management work as staff, and in the process develop new skills and experiences. These volunteers typically come for 8-12 months. There is no fee involved. Housing is normally provided, both in San Jose and in the field. Basic work expenses are covered. Volunteers cover their own food, transportation and other personal expenses. Let us know if you're interested in these positions.