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Bring your inspiration and energy to help with our little lodge in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Costa Rica
Last activity : 29 Apr 2025

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Last replied
28 Apr 2025
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2025

Min stay requested: 1 month or more

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Description
After traveling the world for years, we finally found our home in Santa Teresa, a place that has drawn us back for the past 14 years. Inspired by the magic of this place, we’ve launched a new project – a cozy boutique share house and villas designed for those who want to immerse themselves in nature, surf, yoga, and the vibrant ocean life. Last year, we also opened a new house exclusively for women – Casa Jaguar, our Chicas House, where we create a supportive and empowering environment for women to connect, relax, and thrive.

We are Tule & Uky, two people, who passionate about creating a unique space where guests can truly connect with the wild beauty of this place and embrace a lifestyle centered around nature and adventure. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to be part of this exciting journey!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Santa Teresa is one of those magical places you often hear about, and for good reason. It’s a perfect blend of stunning nature, vibrant wildlife, a multicultural vibe, and one of the most consistent surf beach breaks in the world. The lifestyle here is incredibly laid-back, offering you the chance to dive into surfing, explore the local culture and nature, practice yoga, or simply unwind on the beach with a good book. Whatever you’re into, Santa Teresa has a way of making you feel right at home.
Help
We’re not just looking for anyone to join us as a volunteer – and definitely not someone who’s only here for a free place to stay. We want people who are truly passionate about the Salty Enthusiasts lifestyle, who love being part of a community, and who are eager to take care of our hostel and guests with good energy, positivity, and a real sense of responsibility.

Right now, we’re looking for two kinds of volunteers:
1. Reception & Guest Care – You’ll be the face of the hostel, welcoming guests, helping with daily tasks, and ensuring everyone has an unforgettable experience. Part of your role will also be managing the bookings in our system, making sure all details are correct and up to date, and double-checking that everything is in order for our guests' stay.
2. Maintenance – If you’re handy with repairs, enjoy gardening, painting, or just keeping things running smoothly, we’d love to have you on board.

We’re after good people with a great vibe – and if you’re a creative soul or a photographer, that’s even better! You could help us with marketing, social media, and all things creative to make the place even more special.

You’ll work 24 hours a week, split over 4 days. We offer two shifts: the morning shift from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, and the afternoon shift from 2 pm to 8 pm. The rest of your time is all yours – explore, surf, and soak in the beauty of Santa Teresa.

A minimum stay of 6 weeks is required, and we expect a positive attitude, energy, and a sense of responsibility. If you’re ready for an adventure and want to be part of something amazing, we’d love to hear from you!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
You’ll have a room in a shared house with 4 bedrooms, a shared bathroom, including a big outdoor kitchen and common areas like a porch and garden. There are also 2 outdoor showers and additional bathrooms for your convenience.

Where you’ll sleep depends on the number of volunteers at the time. If you’re staying in the volunteer room, it may be shared with another volunteer. However, if you’re a female volunteer, you may be placed in one of our dorms, depending on the situation.

Our property is in the heart of Santa Teresa, just 60 meters from the path leading to the beach. It’s a 3-minute walk to a beautiful, quiet bay and right next to some of the best surf in town. Surrounded by lush gardens filled with flowers, trees, and vibrant vegetation, this is the perfect place to get creative and unwind.
What else ...
The Santa Teresa area is full of amazing things to do, from beautiful waterfalls and peaceful walks on quiet, empty beaches to exciting wildlife adventures. You can enjoy all kinds of ocean activities like aqua yoga, scuba diving, fishing, and more. The nature here changes in incredible ways with the seasons, giving you the chance to see everything from monkeys and lizards to whales and baby turtles hatching. Our place is calm and relaxing, and we’re looking for people who enjoy that same peaceful vibe. Come and experience it for yourself!
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two

Host ref number: 978126263797

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Feedback (14)

24 Apr 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Mattes)

Mattes has been amazing helper!!! always welcome back and truly a pleasure to have here with us!!!!
safe travels brother and all the best.

(Excellent )

15 Feb 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Caitlin)

Caitlin did an amazing job here and helped us with so many things always welcome back and truly a pleasure having her in.
Safe travels back home and all the best.

(Excellent )

16 Dec 2024

Left by Workawayer (Chloe & Marie) for host

Lisez ce commentaire jusqu’à la fin avant de vous engager !

L'expérience au sein de cette auberge a été marquée par de nombreux aspects positifs, mais aussi par plusieurs points négatifs qui ont largement terni le séjour. Parmi les éléments positifs, on peut citer la localisation idéale de l'auberge, proche de la plage, des magasins, des… read more restaurants et du supermarché, ce qui permettait une grande commodité. De plus, l'ambiance avec les autres volontaires était agréable, et les cours de yoga étaient un ajout positif à la routine quotidienne. Enfin, Ayda, la personne embauchée pour l'entretien, s'est montrée extrêmement sympathique et a fourni un travail remarquable, malgré les conditions difficiles.
Cependant, de nombreux aspects négatifs ont gâché l'expérience. Concernant l'accueil, Uky, bien que censé être une figure d'autorité, n'a jamais rencontré les volontaires et a préféré faire des leçons de morale par messages vocaux WhatsApp, ce qui semblait incohérent et contre-productif. Katha, quant à elle, nous a promis qu'elle serait disponible en cas de problèmes, mais lorsqu'il a fallu en parler, aucune solution n’a été apportée. De plus, elle ne s'intéressait pas vraiment aux volontaires et se contentait de faire des sourires et de communiquer par message plutôt que face à face. Enfin, Tule s'est montré particulièrement désagréable, arrogant et irrespectueux. Il n’a même pas pris la peine de nous présenter le lieu et s’est permis des critiques et insultes directes, tout en imposant une ambiance désagréable avec de la musique à fond et des attitudes fermées d’esprit.
En ce qui concerne l'hébergement, les conditions étaient loin d’être idéales. La chambre, petite et située près de l’entrée, était bruyante, avec des sons provenant de la route, de la musique et des conversations. De plus, les conditions de confort étaient inégales entre les volontaires, certains ayant des chambres plus agréables que d'autres. La chambre était sombre, humide et infestée de moisissures, notamment sur le bois des portes et des porte-manteaux. Cela a fini par affecter nos vêtements. Il n'y avait pas de solution rapide à ce problème, si ce n'est un changement de chambre où nous avons dû nettoyer nous-mêmes la moisissure. Les lits étaient également en mauvais état : rouillés, avec des matelas vieux et inconfortables, et un coussin moisit au début, dégageant une forte odeur de champignon. Le chien de l'auberge était constamment dans notre chambre, parfois même sur notre lit, ce qui a rendu l’expérience encore plus inconfortable.
Le travail était également un point de friction majeur. Les explications sur les tâches étaient souvent floues et incomplètes. Tandis que le travail de réception était simple, d'autres tâches comme le jardinage (ramassage des feuilles, désherbage, taille des haies, etc.) et la réparation d'objets (ampoules et cadres défectueux, même six mois après notre arrivée) étaient souvent mal expliquées et chronophages. Nous avons aussi dû nettoyer en profondeur des espaces communs et gérer l'humidité et la moisissure, avec l'utilisation de chlore pour masquer l'odeur. La charge de travail était excessive pour des volontaires, et il semblait évident que l'auberge aurait dû embaucher du personnel à temps plein. En outre, les jours de repos étaient répartis de manière irrégulière et non cumulable, rendant difficile la véritable récupération. De plus, il y avait un manque flagrant de reconnaissance, avec des remarques négatives pour des tâches accomplies sans vraiment de gratitude.
Enfin, l’état de l’auberge en soi laissait à désirer. L'humidité et la moisissure étaient omniprésentes, mais la seule réponse donnée par le propriétaire était que la maison était vieille. L’électricité et le wifi étaient instables, parfois inexistants pendant plus d’une journée. En cas de coupure d’électricité, l'eau potable était également indisponible. Les toilettes étaient cassées depuis bien avant notre arrivée et n'ont jamais été réparées. L’équipement de cuisine était vétuste, rouillé et, pour certains objets, potentiellement cancérigène, avec un choix d'ustensiles très limité. Il semblait que les problèmes étaient souvent camouflés plutôt que résolus.
En résumé, bien que l'auberge offre un cadre géographique avantageux et des interactions positives avec certains volontaires et le personnel d'entretien, les conditions d’hébergement, de travail et de gestion générale ont grandement affecté l’expérience. L'absence de prise en charge réelle des problèmes et la mauvaise gestion des ressources rendent cette expérience difficile à recommander.

(Good )

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Accuracy of profile:
(4.4)

Cultural exchange:
(3.9)

Communication:
(3.8)

24 Apr 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Mattes)

Mattes has been amazing helper!!! always welcome back and truly a pleasure to have here with us!!!!
safe travels brother and all the best.

(Excellent)

15 Feb 2025

Left by host for Workawayer (Caitlin)

Caitlin did an amazing job here and helped us with so many things always welcome back and truly a pleasure having her in.
Safe travels back home and all the best.

(Excellent)

16 Dec 2024

Left by Workawayer (Chloe & Marie) for host

(Good)

4 Dec 2024

Left by Workawayer (Emma) for host

I’d like to begin by sharing that I had an overall great experience here, but I think there are some important things to note! Firstly, I had Katha as my supervisor instead of the owners - Uky and Tule. While I only had the chance to meet Tule for a week, I can see that his aggressive management style would not have fit well for me during my time… read more

(Very good)

8 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer (Avery) for host

Where do I even begin! Thank you so much Uky and Tule for an unforgettable winter.

I learned a lot throughout the past 3 months, I enjoyed seeing the transformation of the back house from all of our hard work, and learning new things about renovation (sanding, panting, varnishing etc). Some of these tasks can be very physical but very rewarding… read more

(Excellent)

8 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Gracia & Thomas) for host

Thank you Uky & Tule for the amazing past 6 weeks that flew by way too fast!! We miss the place, its amazing people and the little community already. But we will continue our trip with these new experiences!!

Feeling grateful that our paths crossed through Workaway!! We enjoyed helping out with varnishing, sanding, placing tiles for the first… read more

(Excellent)

8 Jan 2024

Left by Workawayer (Paul) for host

I recently spent 6 weeks volunteering in Santa Teresa and I want to give an honest overview of my time there. When I arrived, me and the other volunteers were working directly with Mel and Jay (two former Workawayers who came back to the team to work as managers). Working with them was great and they are one of the most loving and caring people… read more I’ve met. During our shifts (8 am to 2 pm or 2 pm to 8 pm) we mainly worked on the construction site of a new house doing tasks such as sanding, varnishing, painting or cleaning in the area. Mel and Jay always showed us the tasks they had set out for us at the beginning of the shift and let us work independently after. While they were still here, we rarely interacted with Tule (one of the owners) and later Uky (the other owner who was away for my first 4 weeks). In the following I want to list a few positive and negative experiences during my stay.

Communication and Organisation: Mel and Jay were perfectly organised and communicated very well with us. The owners (Uky and Tule) on the other hand are not very organised and communication was not great in my opinion. After Mel and Jay left, there was a lack of planning for the tasks we had to do during the shift and talking to them was always difficult. It was not easy to approach them (especially Uky) and get a plan of tasks to do and there was a general feeling that asking questions was not welcome. The constant vibe was that tasks had to be done perfectly to their expectation without exception but without asking them for their exact wishes in as little time as possible. Mistakes should never happen and the tiniest mistakes were made to feel like a disaster, threatening to be kicked out. I made three mistakes during my time (getting paint splashes on the floor and oven hob and accidentally breaking a glass) and was scrutinized for it. The paint was easily wiped away and all my mistakes were genuine but I was made aware that that cannot happen again or I will be kicked out. They were furious after the glass plate broke on me after and I was kicked out to leave the same day twice in one day. Luckily I was able to convince them to let me stay for my remaining days explaining the work I had done, but the vibe between volunteers and owners worsened after. I am fully convinced that I always did my work with the upmost effort from start to finish and even helped guests after my shift was over. I never slacked off, was late or refused to do any tasks they set me, yet my genuine mistakes were met with no understanding or sympathy. Similarly, there was no empathy when threatening to kick me out the same day knowing that I am travelling and might not have planned to spend more money on accommodation let alone on such a short notice. Two other volunteers were kicked out to leave the next day at the beginning of my time there after they arrived a few days earlier with little reason.

The Accommodation: They held true to their promise and I was in a private room for my whole 6 weeks, but due to poor planning and foresight I had to move rooms 6 times, once in the morning with no prior notice. There is a mould problem in the rooms I stayed in due to the high humidity in Costa Rica with the “volunteer room” being the worst. After previous volunteers complained about it, we had to sand off the mould from the wall and seal it to better the conditions. The state improved, but I still had to keep the door open most of the time to not have too much humidity/mould build up. Mind you, this is common in Costa Rica, but complaining to the owners about it was not well received and I stopped talking to them due to fear of being kicked out. The final room I stayed in had a lot of mould spots on the ceiling which previous guests complained about and I wiped them off using bleach to make it liveable for the time I was there. Overall there were constant discussions about which volunteer stays where.

The work: As mentioned the work was mainly on the construction, but I did enjoy it for most of the time. It was physically exhausting sometimes, especially in the heat, but I did not mind that. Apart from the mentioned lack of planning and expectations of perfectionism without allowing mistakes, I did enjoy the time during work hours. We were allowed to listen to music while working on the construction site. Some tasks were not the best (e.g. sanding off the mould, cleaning a maggot infested fridge) but as it was only for 6h, 4 days a week I think it was a fair deal. You do get fairly dirty so it is good to bring work clothes that you can throw away after.

The hostel: The hostel is a cozy and great place and especially the girls dorm is probably the nicest dorm I have ever seen. There is attention to detail with a few issues here and there but I would recommend the hostel to other travellers. The shared bathroom I used was nice and cleaned daily, the only issue was the toilet that was blocked/had issues flushing during my whole 6 weeks there. At one point this got so bad that my room flooded, soaking a lot of my things and electronics in toilet water. The toilet was still not fixed by the time I left and we volunteers often had to unclog the toilet at night for guests (this was not mandated by the owners but we did share the same common spaces with the guests)

Host/Volunteer Atmosphere: As I mentioned before, the atmosphere between me as a volunteers and the hosts was not the best. I did not feel appreciated and was under the constant fear of behaving or saying the wrong thing towards the hosts and consequently getting kicked out the next day. They did have the occasional social event for the whole team where we had dinner together that they bought and prepared which was very nice and I am thankful for.

Overall I would still recommend the hostel to other, but you have to be aware to not come for the work or the time with hosts. I did have an amazing time with the other volunteers and despite Santa Teresa being expensive, it is a very nice beach town with great sunsets. I also have to mention that I felt that Tule was making a lot of effort towards being more empathetic and welcoming at the end of my stay and I did get along great with him during that time. I do hope that both hosts continue to make an effort towards the volunteers and try to be more empathetic to our situation as we do pay for our plane ticket and food to come to a different country and are not just cheap, disposable labour.

I do still want to thank them all for having me in Santa Teresa and wish them all the best for the future.

(Good)

16 Oct 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Dorian & Jessy)

Dorian and Jessy were a pleasure to host! They helped us with reception work by taking online reservations and checking in/out guests. They also helped with cleaning, gardening and painting projects. They are both very kind, friendly and willing to help! Thank you for everything guys - wishing you safe & happy travels!

(Excellent)

22 Jun 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Victoria)

Tory was amazing and a pleasure having here with us!!! Hard worker and always on top.

(Excellent)

15 May 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Christine)

This two are hard workers , always with good vibes and very focused in all the jobs, to be fare more Tini & Tizi, they are always welcome back to Santa Teresa, you will make no mistake by having them in your property.
Wishing you all the best in your travels and for more new experiences.
Thank you for your time with us!!!

(Very good)

16 Jan 2023

Left by Workawayer (Christine) for host

Dear Tule, Uky, Elisa and Sofi!!!
Thank you so much for the incredible 8 weeks we had the opportunity to stay at your place!
We fell in love with the surf town Santa Teresa and the hostel became a second home to us.
From either 8am-2pm or 2pm-8pm we worked four days per week where we got well introduced to the reception work including to check… read more

(Excellent)

29 Aug 2022

Left by Workawayer (Lauren) for host

We discussed multiple times (both in our request and in video meetings) how we would like our own bed. We were then told we were expected to share a queen bed for the month. The bed wasn't the issue, Uky was gaslighting us into thinking we didn't ask for that and it was our fault, because there wasn't any written proof we could throw at him. He… read more

(Negative)

30 Jul 2022

Left by host for Workawayer (Lauren)

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(Negative)

12 Sep 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah & Corinne)

Where do we begin? It was so wonderful to host Sarah and Corinne for their 9 week stay. They are incredibly thoughtful, hardworking and respectful. Their strong connection as cousins truly shows beyond as best friends, team mates and soul sisters. From the moment we met them their personalities glowed!

They worked on a wide variety of tasks and… read more

(Excellent)

9 Sep 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Leonie)

Leonie stayed with us for 7 wonderful weeks. She is quiet, independent and has a good work ethic. She is very honest and open, she is funny and overall great company to be around. We shared travel stories, sweet treats and best of all she loved our dogs.

She helped us with a wide variety of projects including general maintenance (sanding wood,… read more

(Excellent)

2 Sep 2021

Left by Workawayer (Leonie) for host

I stayed at the place about 7 weeks and had the best time! I met uky only briefly and was working with the managers ( former Workawayers). My work mostly consisted of checking in the guests & general maintenance ( like weeding, painting, tinting and sanding wood, raking and keeping the space tidy).

The work was fair and working with Melanie and… read more

(Excellent)

23 Feb 2021

Left by host for Workawayer (Jason & Melanie)

Ok I’m going to try to explain a little bit of our experience with this two super nice people.
Mel and Jay stayed 3 weeks with us helping with all kinds of missions really.
From the very beginning we loved them. They were so respectful, friendly and easy to communicate.
Along with landscaping and general labour they were sharp on any tasks we… read more

(Excellent)

7 Feb 2021

Left by Workawayer (Jason & Melanie) for host

We stayed in Santa Teresa with Tule and Uky for 3 weeks. They are lovely hosts, very approachable, easy going and laid back. Tule showed us the best rock pools at low tide and shared a surf session with Jay. Uky kindly brought us to the weekend organic market. When Mel fell ill they were both extremely caring in letting her rest and get… read more

(Excellent)

18 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Lisa & Nora) for host

Staying at Ukys and Tules place was a real pleasure!
We came here to have a relaxed and calm time and this was the perfect place to get it.
Surrounded by nature, it's a huge property (with coconut trees!) and super close to the beach. We've never seen such a beautiful, quiet beach before! In Santa Teresa you have the best conditions for having… read more

(Excellent)

10 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Mar) for host

I ve been there 10 days with Uki, 2 more volunteers and my daughter. Uki is great guy, accomodation very nice and confortable. Uki and Tule's house is the good way to enjoy santa teresa's paradise! They even lend u surfboard and yoga mat!! Uki see u soon :blush::blush::blush:

(Excellent)

5 Nov 2018

Left by Workawayer (Frida & Anna Sophia) for host

We had an unforgettable time at Tule and Uky’s place in Santa Teresa. They immediately made us feel like home. The work was totally fine, we did a lot of painting and had the possibility to bring in our ideas and to be creative. Besides of the work, we spent a lot of time with them, which we really enjoyed and what made the time so special! We are… read more

(Excellent)

1 Nov 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Frida & Anna Sophia)

Frida and Anna were super nice. Good people, easy going, good work ethics, nice to chat with. All good with this girls. At the begging when they contacted me I was a bit afraid because they are both young, and we had bad experiences before with really young people, but both of them kick my prejudices away big time. They way better than many other… read more

(Excellent)

2 Sep 2018

Left by Workawayer (Sam & Mariona) for host

We stayed with Tule and Uky for a month and it was hard to say goodbye! Location is awesome (close to surf beach) and the atmosphere was always friendly and fun. We did quite a lot of sanding, painting, carpentery and landscaping.

Muchas gracias chicos

Pura vida!

(Excellent)

3 Aug 2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Fedeland)

We had a great time with Federica and Vittorio, they were all we needed and more. Independent, responsable, super easy going, nice to hang out with, they were definitely a plus over here. Super good people. We recommend both of them for anybody. Guys can do all sort of things, and never lose the spirit.
Thanks for everything guys, you are always… read more

(Excellent)

31 Jul 2018

Left by Workawayer (Fedeland) for host

We spend two weeks with Tule and Uki two nice and funny Argentinean guys, they are starting them project and there is a lot of work to do but their enthusiasm and good vibes will make the time fly, santa Teresa is a small paradise for surfers the beach is really close to the property and you will have a lot of time to enjoy it and at the end of… read more

(Excellent)

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Bring your inspiration and energy to help with our little lodge in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

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Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

How many Workawayers can stay?

Feedback (14)

Photos

Feedback