Sea Turtle Rehabilitation in Costa Rica.

Help sea turtles in the beautiful waters off the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Our partner organization helps sea turtles through conservation, research, sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation. This organization is composed of an expert network of biologists, managers, community leaders and educators who are committed to the recovery and sustainable management of sea turtle populations that are dangerously low in number. Their project in the Osa Peninsula offers volunteers a unique opportunity to help with a scientific study involving Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Volunteers assist with in-water research that is conducted by the research team to assess the threats that sea turtles are exposed to in the area. Turtles are carefully captured and tagged, and samples collected before the turtles are released once again into the ocean. Their facility also houses a Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre where sick and injured turtles are cared for and eventually returned to the wild. When not participating in the turtle research and rehabilitation aspects of the project, volunteers help restore lost habitat through a mangrove restoration program. Osa Peninsula hosts a large variety of tropical ecosystems, providing habitats to animals like scarlet macaws, monkeys, sloths, wild cats and other wildlife. The beaches, mangroves and estuaries are home to sea turtles, dolphins, and at certain times even whales and whale sharks!

Includes: Airport pick up and drop off (from the closest airport), accommodation, meals, on-site training, donation to Placement Partner, AEI Travel Manual, Partner Organization’s volunteer handbook, Placement Partner t-shirt, $10 Credit in our Zazzle store (towards the purchase of recycled water bottles, reusable bags, etc), American and Canadian clients get 50% off at the online AEI IceBreaker store, Emergency support while at Placement, Carbon credits to offset 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, Premium Individual Travel Insurance (up to $500, 000 USD in emergency medical coverage), Travel discounts (through automatic membership to a volunteer only travel discount program), 24/7 Travel and emergency assistance. Are you thinking of fundraising for a portion, or all your fees? Many of our clients have been very successful with their fundraising efforts. To learn more about their successful fundraising projects and see how you can fund raise for your experience, please visit our fundraising page!

Excludes: Flights, Entry visa costs, International and domestic airport taxes, Immunizations and medications. Note: The rabies vaccine is not required for this Experience however, if volunteers are interested in becoming rabies vaccinated, the average cost is $600- $1000 in North America.

Accommodation: Volunteers will be picked up from the local airport, it is a short flight away from San Jose! While in Osa, volunteers stay in shared cabins at the location of the project or with families, a short bike ride away. Accommodation is comfortable but simple. Electricity is available at this location, however cell phone signal is limited. While there is no internet access on-site, an internet café is available in a nearby town that is just a short bus ride away. There is also no air conditioning other than the cool breeze from the sea!  Three delicious Costa-rican meals will be provided for you each day. Coffee, water and fresh juice is always flowing.

Volunteer activities: Standard volunteer activities include hands-on work with sea turtles, caring for any turtles at the rehabilitation centre - including cleaning and feeding, helping to set the nets, assisting with the research project and the collection of data, and planting mangrove trees to restore lost habitat. Medical volunteer activities are available at the Osa Peninsula project through the research program and rehabilitation program. Duties will vary depending on the cases that are in care. Are you nervous about travel and your safety? It's okay, travelling and volunteering can be overwhelming, that is why we exist! To help you travel safe, volunteer smartly and get back home in one piece. To read more about how we help you stay safe, please read our Guide to Safety.

This is an ongoing program with operations every day of the year. There are no specific start or end dates. We work with you and your schedule so you can serve this community and help animals when you are available. Prepare to stay in volunteer housing in San Jose for your first night and have your second day in Costa Rica a travel day to Osa. This is an extra $45 and does not include meals.

Classification of Placement: Medical: Entry and Advanced. Standard: Entry and Advanced.

All classifications of volunteers are needed by this Placement partner and we encourage you to apply no matter your skill or experience level. However, if you are looking for a Placement to use your specific skills, the professionals who would be most beneficial to this placement would be volunteers with experience in: veterinary medicine, fundraising and construction.

Want to read reviews by our alumni? Check out Go OverseasFacebook and Volunteer Forever.

Want to see more pictures? Check out other client and alumni photos: social social social

OAVTThis is an official pre-approved OAVT Partnership. All participants are eligible for a minimum of 5 Continuing Education credits.
Trip Cost
length of stay
Price (IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
2 weeks $ 2285
3 weeks $ 2860
4 weeks $ 3435
Groups of 5 or more: 10% off individual fees.