Volunteer Vacations in the Costa Rican Rainforest
The Road Less Traveled Rainforest Village Experience
Costa Rica is a cultural and natural paradise, but most travelers only see its impersonal and touristy side. Globe Aware's Costa Rica volunteer travel programs offer a unique opportunity to help small communities improve their well being and create a sustainable future in ecologically important areas.
Service Vacations: Volunteer Work Projects in Costa Rica
A decade ago, the government set aside land for the spectacular Carara Rainforest Reserve. The reserve borders a tiny village where volunteers are immersed. Although the villagers love their natural paradise, they have struggled to make ends meet as much of their farmland was taken over by the national park. They hope to create sustainable community-based tourism, and Globe Aware volunteers will work on community development projects to help them reach this goal. Volunteer vacation work projects are determined based on the community's needs at the time of your trip as well as prior group progress.
Globe Aware volunteer vacations to Costa Rica Rainforest Village - SIGNUP NOW!
Costa Rica
Projects will vary depending on the number of volunteers, which projects were finished with the prior group, what priorities have changed, weather conditions, which supplies are available, and often the interest and fitness level of the volunteers. For these reasons, specific projects are often not fixed until the week prior to your arrival and can even change upon arrival.
Some of the projects you may be working on during your volunteer week:
- Potable water system updates – Replace cracked lines and storage tanks. Their current system is old and needs major maintenance.
- Grey water filtering system – Extend black water system by reusing filtered gray water for gardens.
- Community organic greenhouse / nursery – Generate income for locals from selling native trees and plants. Additional income from government grants to reforest using native trees.
- Community organic food garden – Provide nutritious well balanced meals to school children in schools. Supplements the basic rice and beans the government provides to the schools.
Some Completed Carara Rainforest Reserve Volunteer Work Projects:
- Built pedestrian bridges
- Buried and installed new PVC water pipe to bring new clean water source into community
- Painted school
- Built cabinas
- Planted hundreds of trees
- Built book shelves for school
- Built fence around school
- Set up First Aid center
- Made oil lamps to line public road
- Made and installed road signs to community
- Painted communal hall
- Built recycling stations
- Built waste receptacles
- Painted and installed identifying signs in rain forest
Projects will vary depending on the number of volunteers, which projects were finished with the prior group, what priorities have changed, weather conditions, which supplies are available, and often the interest and fitness level of the volunteers. For these reasons, specific projects are often not fixed until the week prior to your arrival and can even change upon arrival.
Globe Aware Volunteer Vacations to a Costa Rican Rainforest Village - Signup Now!
Meet some of Globe Aware's service vacation volunteer coordinators - click here.
Volunteer Holiday Food and Lodging
Volunteer vacationers do not live in squalor. Prior volunteers have constructed two darling "cabinas" in traditional Costa Rican style, furnished with fans & comfortable beds. These include Western-style bathrooms and showers, though the water is unheated - unlikely to be missed in the tropical climate. Volunteers are fed plenty of fresh, healthy, abundant, Costa Rican dishes. Electricity is available, though on a relatively limited basis.
Leisure Activities During Your Service Vacation
- Nature hikes
- Horse-back riding
- Cheese making
- Traditional sugar cane processing
- Bird-watching
- Incredible star gazing
- Coffee tasting
- Relaxing in a hammock
Arranging Your Volunteer Vacation Airfare
You will need to arrange to be at the meet-up point in San Jose by 12:30 on the Saturday your program begins. The program ends at 10:00 am the following Saturday and it takes approximately 4 hours to return to San Jose. The airport is one of the return drop-off stops our driver will make. Do not arrange a flight any earlier than 3:30 pm on the return trip.
Globe Aware volunteer vacations to Costa Rica Rainforest Village - SIGNUP NOW!
