Costa Rica Leatherbacks

Hit the most beautiful parts of Costa Rica in this volunteer adventure. Start by spending several nights at a leatherback nesting beach conservation project looking for both nesting adult females! Next you group will visit an indigenous reserve and take boat rides and hike the rainforest.

Price: $1,495 per person which includes all in-country transportation, meals, lodging, activities, guides, and a donation to turtle conservation (does not include airfare).  Sign up by May 4th for a $100 discount!

Conservation Impact: $210 to conservation (15%) (including $50 to SEE Turtles).

Activity Level: Moderate, involves 4 hours of beach walking while volunteering. Read more about volunteering here.

Dates: June 4-11

Fill out the form to receive registration information.

Highlights

• Spend 2 nights at a leatherback sea turtle conservation project, helping to patrol the beach and release hatchlings;
• Relax on a white sand beach;
• Rainforest hikes; and
• Visit an iguana conservation project and a butterfly farm.

FULL ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive to the Central Valley

Our guides and bus will pick you up from the airport and take you our comfortable hotel in a country setting to get acquainted with your guides and get a restful night’s sleep before an early start. Overnight at La Condesa, outside of San Jose.

Days 2-3: Las Tortugas Sea Turtle Conservation Project

After breakfast, board your group’s private bus for a three hour ride to the Caribbean coast. Along the way, we will visit the Jardin Pierella Butterfly Farm, where you can see dozens of species of butterflies and other fascinating rainforest insects.

After a short boat ride to the research station, enjoy a turtle presentation and training. The group will spend two nights at an important leatherback sea turtle nesting beach. Your group will help monitor the beach, looking for nesting turtles, helping to collect data on the giant leatherbacks, and transplanting eggs to a protected hatchery. Learn more about volunteer activities here.

During the day, your group can sleep in, visit the turtle museum, or take a walk on the beach. Organized activities include a boat ride of the Tortuguero canals and a guided rainforest hike. Overnight for three nights at Las Tortugas Research Station.

Day 4: Cahuita

After breakfast, we will head south to the laid back surfing town of Cahuita. We will have a picnic lunch on one of the country’s most beautiful beaches, enjoy the warm water, and explore the park’s trails.

Day 5: Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve

This morning begins with a visit to Kekoldi, a nearby reserve where members of the BriBri community manage an iguana conservation project.  The tour will visit the iguanas and take a tour of the reserve's rainforest, learning about plants and trees important to the BriBri way of living.  The afternoon is free to visit nearby towns, go souvenir shopping, and have dinner on the town.

Day 6: Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

We board our bus after dinner and head inland to the Sarapiqui region.  We will check into our hotel, Selva Verde, in time to tour their rainforest reserve or take a dip in the pool.

Day 7: Return to the Central Valley

After breakfast, we will take a boat ride down the Sarapiqui River, looking for wildlife including birds, monkeys, and caiman.  Following lunch, we'll board our bus and return to La Condesa near San Jose for a celebratory final dinner.

Day 8: Return Home

We’ll return home with a new appreciation for the hard work of conservation and to share our experiences with our friends and family.