Wildlife Rescue
Costa Rica

The project provides a safe haven for over 50 animals including sloths, monkeys, birds and anteaters, and rescues a number of new animals each week.

The aim for newly rescued animals is that are treated in the on-site clinic and then quickly returned to the wild when they are healthy again. Human interaction is minimised to help them rehabilitate safely to the wild and only a small clinical team looks after these animals.

For those animals which are too badly injured or not able to be released for other reasons, they are provided with a permanent home at the sanctuary and this is where you will be helping.

You will assist in a variety of tasks helping the animals in the sanctuary, including:

• Preparing food
• Providing food and water for the animals
• Cleaning and maintaining the enclosures
• Maintenance work around the sanctuary – this is physical work and there is always lots to be done!

There is no direct contact with the animals, in order to give them as much natural freedom as possible and protect the safety of both volunteers and animals. You can learn more about the project and volunteer role here.

Typical day 

During your first few days you will have a tour the centre and be introduced to the local team who you will be working alongside. During your tour you will be introduced to the animals that live in the sanctuary and learn more about their background, why they have been rescued and the care they receive.

You will volunteer for 6 days per week from around 8am to 3pm. There is a lunch break and breaks throughout the day. Your day off each week depends on the work rota and there is lots of free time activities you can get involved in.

Other volunteers

There are usually 5-8 volunteers (with a maximum of 20), numbers vary throughout the year. Volunteers work alongside interns and local staff including animal keepers.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

You will be working alongside the local team which is made up of local and international staff including biologists, veterinary staff and animal keepers.

“Without the help of passionate volunteers interested in protecting Costa Rica’s wildlife we cannot function to our fullest - there are simply not enough hours in the day to care for our precious animals. Hardworking volunteers are what keep our operation running smoothly and efficiently.” Victoria, Volunteer Coordinator

Volunteers live on site just a 5 minute walk from the rescue centre next to the tropical forest. There are two accommodation options, the volunteer house and private cottages. 

The volunteer house has shared rooms and bathrooms. There is also a kitchen, living area, a balcony and a TV.

There are three cottages on site and these are a private accommodation option ideal for families, couples and solo travellers who prefer to have their own space. They consist of a bedroom and bathroom and have coffee making facilities and air conditioning. They also have a balcony area with seating. 

There are communal areas where all volunteers can relax with WIFI access, and an equipped kitchen and dining area. There is a swimming pool on site which all volunteers are welcome to use, or you can read a book on one of the sun loungers.

Meals

All main meals are included and will be provided throughout your placement.

Here are typical examples of the food you will have: 

• Breakfast – bread, toast, cereals, spreads and fresh fruit 
• Lunch and dinner – rice, beans, pasta, vegetables and salads

Vegetarians and vegans are welcomed and can be catered for.

The tap water in Costa Rica is safe to drink and can be kept cool in the fridge. 

You will need to fly into San Jose (SJO). We can arrange for you to be met on arrival and have a private transfer to the project, which takes about 3 hours.

Location and free time

The project is located in a rural location in the heart of the tropical forest in the region of Quepos, about 30 minutes from the popular destination of Manuel Antonio National Park which is famous for its stunning beaches and abundance of wildlife. The local area is sparsely populated and provides a tranquil environment to live in. It’s great to experience living in the rainforest hearing and seeing the sounds and sights that come with it!

Volunteers have evenings free and normally relax at the centre or sometimes arrange a trip into the local town to enjoy the bars and restaurants. Volunteers have one day off per week and there are lots of activities to get involved in, or you could spend your free time by the pool!

There is so much to do in the area, including snorkelling, catamaran trips, whale watching (seasonal), canopy tours / zip-lining, horse riding, surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking and much more! These activities are best booked locally once you are in Costa Rica.

Climate 

The Puntarenas Province has a tropical climate meaning that it’s generally hot and humid all year round with average temperatures ranging between 25-28˚C. But due to the humidity (approximately 80-100%) it can feel much warmer! 

There can be tropical rain showers at any time of year but the main rainy season is from August to October. Temperatures continually rise during the dry season of December to April, reaching their peak in April. The remainder of the year is categorised as the ‘shoulder’ season, where you can expect warm temperatures and some rainfall.

Travelling in Costa Rica before or after your placement

Popular activities in Costa Rica that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Visit the spectacular Arenal Volcano and relax in a hot spring
• See incredible biodiversity and birdlife in Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Explore Tortuguero National Park and see the abundance of bird and wildlife
• Relax on one of Costa Rica’s stunning beaches on either the Pacific or Caribbean coastline

For more information on Costa Rica and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our Costa Rica country page. This also features all our other Costa Rica volunteering projects as you might like to consider combining this project with one of the others we offer to make a trip of a lifetime!

Jan 

“I am really enjoying this placement.  The founder is super friendly and the two zoo keepers (Kaylor and Janka) have been so helpful, positive and just generally fun that I have had a great experience.”

Beatriz

"Everything is great! I'm in love with Costa Rica and very happy with the program."

Claire 

“Volunteering at the Wildlife Rescue project in Costa Rica is a fantastic experience. You will work with a great team of people who share your passion for wildlife and nature. 

The work is quite physically demanding, especially in the hot climate but it is so rewarding. I have so many wonderful memories of my time in Costa Rica that I will treasure forever. I very much enjoyed my experience working on this project. It was lovely to see how well the animals are cared for by the hard working and dedicated local team, interns and volunteers.”

Charlie 

“My experience was fantastic. I was at the project for 4 weeks and it was life changing for me. The people there are really friendly and welcoming, I have made friends that I hope to stay in contact with for a long time. The best part obviously was the animals, we were taking care of the permanent residents of the sanctuary such as the parrots, sloths, monkeys and kinkajous. 

We spent most days feeding, cleaning and maintaining enclosures, as well as doing maintenance around the sanctuary and coming up with enrichment ideas. The work was fairly physically demanding, however it was rewarding knowing that you were making a difference to the lives of the animals.”

Sara 

“Everyone was very helpful at every step of the volunteering placement process. From the day I arrived, I knew I wouldn't want to leave! The staff, interns, and other volunteers were all very nice and welcoming. Working at the sanctuary was very rewarding and helped me learn a lot about wildlife rescue and the native animals of Costa Rica. 

The location was beautiful; it was a great place to house the sanctuary animals as well as the wild animals in the area. This experience helped me confirm my career path and inspired me to pursue wildlife veterinary medicine. I enjoyed every day at the sanctuary and I found it very difficult to leave.”

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