Help host volunteers at our marine turtle conservation program in San José, Costa Rica

Costa Rica

updated

Favourited 2811 times

Host rating
Feedback
39
Last activity
21/08/2019
Reply rate
91.7 %
Average reply time:
within 9 days
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Description
We offer a non profit turtle conservation program based on an very isolated island on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica whose aim is the protection of sea turtles with the help of volunteers.

We are NOT looking for turtle volunteers as we have enough of these already. We are looking for help/support hosting volunteers.

As a Workaway volunteer you will enter into a non-paying work exchange and will incur no fees.
Type of help
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Other
Help in the house
Animal care
Helping with Tourists
Charity work
Language practice
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
After volunteering you can hike, sunbathe on the beach, read a book in a hammock, play several board/card games, play soccer or volleyball, make friends with co- volunteers/world travellers and of course learn Spanish. Be prepared to learn all about marine turtle conservation.
Help
General day to day help with the running of a busy volunteer program.

Duties include:

Kitchen Support
Housekeeping
Animal Care
Liaising between volunteers and trainers and transport personnel.

We have availability for our BUSIEST period of turtles, hatchlings and volunteers so are looking for all singing and dancing, confident individuals with heaps of common sense that like to help.

Please only apply if you are available for the exact dates.

Availability
A - 30 May to 11 July FILLED
B. 10 June to 18 July FILLED
C. 18 July to 26 August FILLED
Languages spoken
English
Accommodation
You will lodge in a dormitory style beach cabin that sleeps up to 4 people.

Besides the local & international meals three times a day, there is tea and coffee. Furthermore we have our own fresh water source.
What else ...
We operate in a very isolated location with no electricity, roads, shops and little contact from the outside world so expect to be on the island for the duration of your volunteering period.

When we/you are confident that you are competent with all the hosting tasks we can, if you so wish, organise for you to participate with turtle work.

Conditions are quite basic and we are surrounded by dense jungle. If you don't like creepy crawlies or are afraid of the dark this opportunity isn't for you.

Please let us know what you feel you could bring to this opportunity. When contacting us use the words Ready To Support' as your subject in order show us you have fully read and understood that this is NOT a turtle conservation volunteer opportunity. Enquiries in English please.

Reading volunteers feedback should give you a good overview of how we work.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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Feedback left by and about host (39)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)

Cultural exchange:
(5.0)

Communication:
(5.0)

06/08/2019

Left by Workawayer (Hazel) for host

Being a part of this project gave me exactly what I was looking for; a simple life out of civilization exposed the best version of me. When I decided to be a part of this project, I didn't expect the huge amount of good life lessons I got. From the community itself protecting wild sea life, to the friends I found.

The job is easy and fun, my… read more

(Excellent )

05/08/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Oscar)

Oscar was a wonderful and welcomed addition to our place. He followed daily tasks and assisted with the odd jobs around the project with an open and positive attitude. Thoughtful with volunteers, locals and nature as a whole. Oscar's support and efforts were a blessing to have . Thank you for all the hard work, good conversations and fun days we… read more

(Excellent )

15/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Oscar) for host

Once in a life time experience.
I truly most say that I dind't expect that a place would change the way I see things so drastically.
I can only add up to what the other workawyers have said about the proyect, is everything they describe and more!
I stayed here for 6 weeks and I dind't feel time at all, the simple life style that you get to live… read more

(Excellent )

16/06/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Laura)

Ah, Miss Alice. Her help and contribution to us here was beyond measure. Such a creative and beautiful person. Strong willed and endlessly helpful. Confident and capable in trying situations. Adaptive, supportive, and bright. No job presented was too big or too much. Alice takes on responsibilities with understanding and care to detail. She will… read more

(Excellent )

16/06/2019

Left by Workawayer (Laura) for host

Some places feel destined to make you cry when you have to leave.

I spent two month between the jungle and the ocean, not missing society at all; except my Spotify music. Fortunately Jess’ music taste is awesome and we rocked the kitchen. Because of her and Malin, I never had a day without laughing, exchanging dance moves, and of course cooking… read more

(Excellent )

11/06/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Malin)

What a little beam of sunshine Malin is! Hosting her for almost 2 months was a wonderful experience! I was never disappointed or lacking assistance. Malin is smart and willing to help on all accounts needed. Friendly and never without a smile. Reliable and eager to learn. Malin was a wonderful addition to the project. And with out saying, would be… read more

(Excellent )

31/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (Malin) for host

I can’t even put my experience in words and I don’t really know where to start. With the amazing people I have met or Alice the most beautiful teammate I could have imagined or Jess the ,,boss“ who was always epic and I miss them so much already. I have been there for six weeks and enjoyed every single day. The others volunteers were really nice… read more

(Excellent )

11/06/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Katerina )

Kat was with us close to 2 months, and every day was a gift. The light and love she applies to her every action will not go unnoticed. We are beyond grateful for the assistance and support she brought to us here at the project. Self sufficient and astonishingly reliable. Quick to learn the daily jobs and willing to go beyond the work required. Her… read more

(Excellent )

03/06/2019

Left by Workawayer (Katerina ) for host

This was my first workaway experience and honestly I could not ask for any better!!!
It all started with a very clear communication with Robert who is the "main man" behind the project.
He answered all my questions in no time.
I also stayed in his Turtle saving hostel after my arrival to San Jose.
The hostel is very friendly,clean and quiet place… read more

(Excellent )

11/06/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jose Manuel & Marina)

I spent roughly 7 weeks with Jose. From the very beginning he proved himself to be a remarkable young man. Calm and deeply kind . His eagerness to assist with all tasks presented made life here flow smoothly. Jose possess a strong and well placed work ethic. He interacted here at the project with maturity and grace. We were very fortunate to have… read more

(Excellent )

11/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (Jose Manuel & Marina) for host

I stayed here in Feb-Apr for the beginning of the season. This was even better than I expected! I don’t have words to describe my experience, but I’ll try to do it as good as I can! Work wasn’t too hard, food is very good (you’ll be able to learn a lot about vegetarian cuisine), Toby and Vicky (the dogs) are lovely (many dogs on the beach too!),… read more

(Excellent )

13/09/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Karen)

Even though my time with Karen was brief, it was lovely. Karen's knowledge of gardening and horticulture was a blessing to the project. She helped us establish a new compost method and several small garden plots. Her passion for sustainable growing is undoubtable. Karen was remarkably adaptable and willing to help with any task at hand. I enjoyed… read more

(Excellent )

03/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host

I worked as a volunteer during April-May. (I applied as a 'last minute volunteeer')
The site is spectacular and isolated and is very removed from the normal trappings we expect from an everyday Western life. There are no luxuries!
Jess was our supervisor in the kitchen and she is an absolutely fantastic manager. She was calm, good tempered and… read more

(Excellent )

13/09/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Laura)

Having Laura as a workaway was a wonderful experience. She came to the project with not only an open mind, but also an open heart. Laura was hard working and always willing to go the extra mile. She paid close attention to detail and brought throughness and care to all of her responsibilities. Laura has a beautiful heart and showed kindness to all… read more

(Excellent )

13/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Laura) for host

I have had the most amazing experience at this project! From the moment I set foot off the boat I felt at home! Jess is one of the best people I have ever met, I enjoyed every minute working in the kitchen with here and loved how she was always smiling. I had many inspiring conversations with her.
It's crazy how quickly I adapted to sharing my… read more

(Excellent )

25/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ivan)

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share time with Ivan. Working and living along side him was an absolute pleasure. Such an creatively authentic and loving human being. Ivan brought such care to detail and thoroughness to all the jobs placed before him. His calm and clever spirt brought joy to my days. Ivan greeted even the most… read more

(Excellent )

10/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Ivan) for host

This was the kind of experience that I'll remember forever as one of the best things I ever did. Being sorrounded by nature and love from the people I met it's a gift.
In the project, everything is so organized. My favorite mentor ever, Jess, is just so competent in running the place and teaching the duties always smiling. A absolutely beautiful… read more

(Excellent )

25/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Paul)

Such a genuine outstanding young man. Authentic and caring to the core. Paul's work ethic is one to be rivled with. From day one he was egar and ready to learn. Paul's ability to retain information and daily jobs was remarkable. His humbleness and quirky sense of humor made every moment with him enjoyable. Very quickly he picked up the routine of… read more

(Excellent )

22/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Paul) for host

This was my first workaway ever and I am so lucky that I got to spend part of my travelling with all these people. First of all it's Jess that makes this place special and she is a major part why I want to come back. She brings positivity, joy and makes the best food you could wish for in the jungle. I had a blast staying in the kitchen with her… read more jamming and dancing to her music and even on really rough days she stays calm so nobody around has to worry. Besides Jess there are always so many great volounteers with a beautiful mindset so although this might be one of the most remote places I have ever been in I never felt lonely or without any good company. Therefore this place would be amazing to stay at without even having turtles or the occasional monkeys around but luckily there are and everybody is so passionate abut the wildlife and of course the turtles that it infected me aswell. I also liked my job as a workaway better than the job the volounteers had, because I got proper 8 hours of sleep each night unlike them and when I felt like I had the energy left I would go and ask Jess if I could do a patrol aswell. I wouldn't really call it a downside but you obviously don't have as much free time as the volounteers during the day as they are tired from going on patrol at night but you still have plenty of time during the day to go and enjoy the beach or the people around you ( and even more if you choose to get up at 5 each moring and enjoy the sunrise for a couple of hours before going into the kitchen).

Now what I think is a really important aspect of this place is that it is indeed in the middle of the jungle. Although I think Robert highlights that enough some people still don't get what that means before they come there and are dissappointed. That does not only suck for the person but for everybody around aswell. Just in general I think it is important to think about whether you would be able to live without all the small luxuries you have at home for several weeks or not. For me it wasn't a problem at all. I even enjoyed living off grid for that time a lot. Things like not being on your phone that much might even be a positive experience for you in the end.

And on the other hand the luxury of working literally on the beach, seeing really majestic leatherback turtles, being surrounded by a lot of amazing people, having two of the most lovable dogs ever as your guard dogs, and getting some time away from urban life are worth so much.

If you think about going to this special place you should be a positive person and you should want to work hard for a few hours each day and you will be rewarded with a really special time of your life you will keep in mind for a long time.

(Excellent )

02/07/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Christine Miriam)

Christine was amazing. Seriously wonderful person. Smart kind and helpful. Attentive and self-starting. ALWAYS on time and smiling. Picked up the, at times complicated, volunteering routine within days. Never once complained or brought an ounce of negativity to the kitchen. myself or co-volunteers. She is the perfect Workaway. We will miss you -… read more

(Excellent )

02/07/2018

Left by Workawayer (Christine Miriam) for host

I left the island 4 days ago and still have difficulties putting my experience into words... the sunrises over the ocean, the monkeys in the treets, turtles on the beach, amazing international volunteers , great food and so much fun (and efficiency!) in the kitchen with my fabulous co-Workaway Ivan and our wonderful "boss" Jess - I am so… read more

(Excellent )

07/04/2018

Left by Workawayer (Georg & Hugo) for host

I stayed for six months in the beginning of the turtle season and I really enjoyed my time. I helped opening up the place and getting it ready for the volunteers during the first few days and after the work mostly consisted of working in the kitchen and preparing the delicious meals.
You get to enjoy the simple life without electricity but a… read more

(Excellent )

19/03/2018

Left by Workawayer (Victoria) for host

My stay with the host is something I will never forget. It was the most bizarre yet wonderful 2 months of my life and that is no exaggeration! I met some incredible people and gained some friends for life, as well as learning a little about myself along the way.

I stayed from the beginning of July to end of August, which meant that I was helping… read more

(Excellent )

05/12/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Alice)

Due to our isolated location and sometimes adverse conditions it is often difficult to find volunteers who are up all the time. Alice was a joy to work with as not only did she bring copious amounts of humour to most situations but also a truly remarkable professional approach. Her ability to think ahead to ensure the smooth running of things was… read more

(Excellent )

14/12/2015

Left by Workawayer (Alice) for host

This was one of my best experiences volunteering and will continue to stay in my memories forever. The place itself is exactly how you would picture Costa rica, beautiful beach and wildlife surrounding you all the time. It's very isolated which for me was a huge positive aspect, as its on its own island on the Caribbean. The local community here… read more

(Excellent )

27/11/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Jade)

Jade's contribution to the project was outstanding. She completed everything to the highest level and exhibited remarkable stamina during busy periods with not one single word of complaint. She was particularly helpful handing over to the Workaway volunteer who was taking over from her by thoroughly training them in all the tasks. We really… read more

(Excellent )

28/08/2017

Left by Workawayer (Jade) for host

If you're looking to volunteer here I would 100% recommend!

Being new to workaway, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when arriving to the remote location this project is located. It was a bit scary hopping off the bus, getting into a taxi and then jumping into a little boat where we raced through canals and amazing jungle life to reach here -… read more

(Excellent )

23/05/2017

Left by host for Workawayer (Becky)

Becky brought her quirky personality and friendliness to the project. She is a very hard worker with impeccable manners and a good balance of care and respect for all. Her sometimes clarity of thought in complex situations exhibited a level of wisdom beyond her years. She applied herself entirely to all assigned tasks with much enthusiasm and… read more

(Excellent )

18/05/2017

Left by Workawayer (Becky) for host

This was my first work away experience and as a last minute workawayer I had no clue what to expect. But The experience was amazing in many ways and much better than I could have ever expected. Firstly the location of the project is beautiful with a the beach on the doorstep and nature everywhere. Also not having wifi or electricity makes it such… read more a good place to relax without any distractions and really appreciate what's around.

The work away experience itself was also amazing, ranging from prepping food, making bread/pancakes, cleaning the dorms, raking the garden and even walking the dog. Robert was very good at tailoring the jobs he needed doing to our personalities and always asked which jobs I enjoyed doing. I particularly enjoyed learning how to make interesting and tasty meals with no electricity and a limited amount of food resources- as the project is on an island so there is access to less foods than on land. I have learnt a lot from the experience and Robert does a fantastic job at supplying tasty and filling meals for the volunteers on the turtle conservation project. I can happily say that I was never left hungry whilst volunteering on this project. There's never a dull day in the kitchen and it's nice to see the smiles on the volunteers faces when they see a nicely presented plate of food at the meal times and when they return there plates gleaming with compliments.

Another plus of this experience was getting to hang out with other volunteers- the project has a constant flow of volunteers from all around the world and they are all interesting in there unique ways. I also enjoyed chilling and chatting with Robert and other workaway volunteers, usually whilst chilling on the hamocks on an evening. I feel like I've left the project with a clearer more educated mind.

Last but not least, another perk of the project was that I was fortunate enough to go on a few turtle patrols- this was an added bonus, which I was very grateful for as I didn't expect to be given this opportunity as a workaway volunteer rather than a paying volunteer. Seeing a turtle and being part of helping to save her eggs from poachers was magical.

All in all my experience was great and it flew by :) I would recommend this work away to anyone who wants to better there kitchen skills, loves nature and wants to take a break from the fast pace of general life. Brilliant- thanks for everything Robert :)

(Excellent )

23/10/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Karina)

Karina was a last minute volunteer and boy were we lucky to get her. Due to it being the end of the season the duties required of her were a lttile different to those we advertise. She embraced this change with enthusiasm and got stuck in with gusto. Karina applied herself 100% to everything that was asked of her and did everything with a smile.… read more

(Excellent )

26/09/2016

Left by Workawayer (Karina) for host

The workaway experience was absolutly great!
I loved everything about it, learning about cooking in an off grid place, without a fridge was such a great thing to learn about creativity in vegetarian cooking.
The place is sooo nice, i love the fact that it was far away from everything, with the beach right in front, and a sky at night with a… read more

(Excellent )

23/10/2016

Left by host for Workawayer (Rosie)

Rosie's friendly and humorous nature made it a pleasure to work alongside. She brought a lot of cooking knowledge and experience and applied it generously.
Due to her easy going and fun personality she was liked and got along with everyone.
A great addition for any hosts seeking a responsible and reliable volunteer.

(Excellent )

27/09/2016

Left by Workawayer (Rosie) for host

I spent 2 months here and had an amazing experience. The project is in the jungle with the beach right in front so you can always hear the sound of the waves as well all the jungle sounds. The nature is diverse and beautiful and there were often monkeys in the trees and huge iguanas to watch while I had my morning coffee.
As a person who loves to… read more

(Excellent )

09/07/2015

Left by Workawayer (Brandi) for host

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Negative )

06/07/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Brandi)

(No show)

07/07/2015

Left by Workawayer (Jaime) for host

Words can not express the experience I had volunteering here. I've only been gone for 5 days and I'm pretty sad that I didn't extend my stay here (I've been there for a month and a week). Robert is absolutely funny and pleasant to work with. I actually liken Robert to be a bit of a mentor. He's actually motivated me to search for more in life and… read more

(Excellent )

06/07/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Sara)

(No show)

02/06/2015

Left by host for Workawayer (Andrew)

Andrew has been an outstanding support to our organisation. He constantly surpassed expectations and proved himself to be extremely reliable and diligent. Evidence of his integrity was demonstrated right up to the very last minute of his volunteering period of 12 weeks in very adverse conditions. A great addition to any program seeking a quick… read more

(Excellent )

10/05/2015

Left by Workawayer (Andrew) for host

Robert is my first workaway host and he has set the bar HIGH! Always pleasant and understanding when asking for help, he let's you know what he wants done and is never overbearing about it. You can also expect some serious laughs when in the kitchen and some deep philosophical insights if your interested. The project is BEAUTIFUL and the location… read more

(Excellent )

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Host ref number: 322277497687

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