Sea Turtle Volunteering for Teenagers in Costa Rica

Now Open: July 2026 Dates!

Join a group of international volunteers aged 15–17 on a two-week program in Costa Rica, where sea turtle conservation work is combined with cultural discovery and outdoor adventure. The journey begins in San José before continuing to Arenal and the Nicoya Peninsula, with activities ranging from sea turtle protection and reforestation projects to community initiatives in environmental education. Beyond volunteering, you’ll explore Costa Rica’s remarkable landscapes on river safaris and night walks, visit volcanoes and waterfalls. This carefully designed itinerary offers teens the chance to contribute to environmental efforts while experiencing the country’s biodiversity and culture in a fun and memorable way.

Program Highlights:

Families stay connected through real-time WhatsApp updates, photos, and messages from the on-site coordinator.
Meet your local coordinator and fellow teen travelers in an online meet-and-greet three weeks before the adventure begins
Take part in sea turtle protection, reforestation, and permaculture projects.
Visit Costa Rica’s natural highlights
Share dinner and stories with a local family.
Float along the Peñas Blancas River to spot monkeys, sloths, and birds.
Join a tortilla-making class and enjoy a home-cooked lunch.
Support environmental education and local community initiatives.
Join guided night walks to see Costa Rica’s iconic frogs and other nocturnal wildlife.
Stay in hotels and a coastal eco-station dedicated to sustainability

Your Schedule at a Glance (Two-week commitment):

Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrive in San José! Airport pickup and private transfer to Las Orquídeas Hotel (or similar). Settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner with your group.
Day 2 (Thursday): Travel to Arenal/La Fortuna. In the evening, join the Frog & Cultural Exchange Night Tour in La Tigra, including a rainforest night walk and traditional dinner with a local family.
Day 3 (Friday): Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River and tortilla-making class with a home-cooked lunch. Free afternoon in La Fortuna.
Day 4 (Saturday): Private transfer to your new home at the coastal eco-station in Nicoya Peninsula. Lunch en route (Matambú) and group dinner at the coastal eco-station.
Days 5–11 (Sunday–Saturday): Volunteer at the coastal eco-station, focusing on sea turtle conservation through beach patrols, nest monitoring, and hatchling releases. Between patrols, support reforestation, permaculture, and community initiatives while enjoying group activities and shared meals in a peaceful coastal setting.
Day 12 (Sunday): Return to San José. Check into Las Orquídeas Hotel and gather for a farewell dinner.
Day 13 (Monday): Private transfer to SJO International Airport for your flight home.

Note: The schedule is flexible, subject to weather conditions and local considerations, ensuring a dynamic and memorable experience.

Note for Parents: This itinerary is designed specifically for teenage volunteers, offering a higher level of supervision throughout the program. GoEco also offers the convenience of flight booking services to assist in coordinating participants’ travel arrangements after registration and approval.

Location of the Project: Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Project length: 2 weeks (13 days / 12 nights)

Arrival Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)

Volunteer Work: Sea turtle protection, reforestation, permaculture, environmental education, and community projects.

Age: Designed for teens aged 15-17

Number of Volunteers: Minimum 6 participants, accompanied full-time by a local group leader and GoEco chaperone.

What’s Included

Accommodations: Various locations around Costa Rica. Includes hostels and volunteer houses. All destinations provide shared single-gender dorm rooms with other teen participants only.

Food: Three meals per day, except lunch on specific tour days or arrival and departure days.

Airport Transfers: Round trip airport transfers are included on the arrival day and departure day.

Tours: Tours, guides and transfers as stated in the itinerary.

Orientation: Volunteers will meet online before traveling for a video orientation with the local tour leader. Upon arrival, they will receive an area orientation and a program orientation on their first day of volunteering.

Support: Teen groups are supported by a designated, experienced local field team who accompany and chaperone their itinerary and remain in contact with parents throughout the expedition. Participants receive comprehensive pre-departure travel guidance, a video meeting orientation before traveling, and access to GoEco’s 24/7 emergency hotline.

What’s not Included

Flights
Visas (if required)
Travel health insurance
Personal expenses (snacks, souvenirs)
Meals on specific tour days, some meals on arrival and departure days.

Location

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, offering a unique mix of rainforests, volcanoes, and tropical beaches. The capital city, San José, blends tradition with modern life through markets, plazas, and local cuisine. In the Arenal region, you’ll find the dramatic Arenal Volcano, lush forests, and rivers rich with wildlife. The Nicoya Peninsula, where the conservation station is based, is known as one of the world’s Blue Zones, where people live longer, healthier lives. Here, coastal forests meet the Pacific Ocean, creating the perfect setting for conservation and learning. Volunteers live close to nature, surrounded by wildlife, and experience a slower rhythm of daily life. The area is also home to vibrant sunsets, small rural towns, and stunning beaches. This combination of natural wonders and cultural richness makes it an inspiring place to live and volunteer.

Volunteer Work

About the Program

This program partners with a conservation research station on the Nicoya Peninsula that focuses on biodiversity protection, sustainable living, and community engagement. The station runs projects in sea turtle protection, reforestation, permaculture, environmental education, and community development. Volunteers gain hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful environmental and social initiatives.

Your Role as a Volunteer

As a participant, you’ll join supervised activities that balance conservation, community service, and environmental learning. The tasks are designed for teens and are guided by experienced staff and project coordinators. The aim is to protect coastal ecosystems, support sustainable agriculture, and assist local communities while giving volunteers practical skills and insights into conservation.

Overview of Volunteer Tasks

Sea Turtle Conservation: Patrol beaches to monitor nesting turtles, collect data, relocate nests, and release hatchlings.
Reforestation & Permaculture: Plant native trees, maintain nurseries and trails, and support sustainable agriculture practices.
Environmental Education: Assist with creating educational materials and bilingual signs for local projects.
Community Engagement: Help with recycling, composting, and small improvement projects in nearby schools or community spaces.
Research & Monitoring: Support biodiversity surveys and environmental data collection.
Site Maintenance: Contribute to daily upkeep of shared facilities and natural areas.

A Typical Day

A project day begins with breakfast at the station before setting out for morning activities such as tree planting, trail maintenance, or environmental workshops (8:00–11:30). After lunch, the afternoon session (13:00–16:00) focuses on conservation or community projects, which may include preparing materials for turtle monitoring or maintaining nesting areas along the beach. Dinner is shared as a group, and evenings are reserved for free time, group reflections, or guided night patrols to observe and protect nesting sea turtles during the season. Program coordinators and leaders are on-site throughout the day and night to provide supervision and support.

Important Note: The schedule is flexible and may vary depending on weather conditions, seasonal conservation priorities (such as turtle nesting), and community needs, ensuring that every volunteer experience is both meaningful and memorable.

Example of the volunteering itinerary:

Meals: B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner

Costa Rica 13D/12N	Meals	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Day 1: Wednesday	D	Arrival in San José; airport transfer.	Settle in; orientation and rest.	Welcome dinner with the group.
Day 2: Thursday	B/D	Transfer from San José to Arenal/La Fortuna.	Frog & Cultural Night Tour in La Tigra.	Traditional dinner with the Méndez family.
Day 3: Friday	B/L	Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River.	Tortilla-making class and lunch; free time.	Free evening at leisure.
Day 4: Saturday	B/L/D	Travel to Nicoya Peninsula; lunch en route.	Arrival and orientation at the station.	Group dinner at the station.
Day 5: Sunday	B/L/D	Sea turtle patrols and reforestation work.	Continue volunteer projects; group activities.	Dinner; night patrols during turtle nesting season.
Day 6: Monday	B/L/D	Turtle monitoring and permaculture projects.	Conservation and environmental workshops.	Dinner and free time.
Day 7: Tuesday	B/L/D	Tree planting and environmental education.	Permaculture and reforestation tasks.	Group dinner and reflection.
Day 8: Wednesday	B/L/D	Trail work and community projects.	Community and recycling projects.	Dinner and night patrols.
Day 9: Thursday	B/L/D	Biodiversity research and conservation tasks.	Ongoing conservation activities.	Dinner and free time.
Day 10: Friday	B/L/D	Reforestation and hatchery support.	Group reflection and conservation wrap-up.	Dinner and group reflection.
Day 11: Saturday	B/L/D	Final volunteer and community work.	Farewell reflection and pack-up.	Dinner and prep for return.
Day 12: Sunday	B/D	Private transfer to San José.	Relax before farewell dinner.	Farewell dinner in San José.
Day 13: Monday	B	Airport transfer and departure.

Please note that the schedule is flexible and may be subject to change.

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: Wifi is provided, however, the connection is limited in remote areas. Parents are connected with our staff 24/7.

Laundry icon Laundry: Facilities are provided

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers stay in hotels in San José and Arenal, sharing double or triple rooms with fellow volunteers. On the Nicoya Peninsula, accommodations are in shared dorms, with separate spaces for each gender.

Food icon Food: Meals are based on local Costa Rican staples such as rice, beans, vegetables, and fresh fruits. During the volunteer portion, three meals a day are provided, and cultural highlights include family dinners and a farewell meal.

Requirements

Age: between 15 and 17 years old.
Interview with GoEco Advisor, legal guardian must also join the interview.
Flexibility when booking flights, as the program will only be confirmed to run once the minimum number of participants is reached.
Basic physical fitness (activities include walking, stairs, and outdoor labor).
Openness to group living and rustic conditions, challenging conditions and diverse cultures.
Ability to work well in a group setting.
Travel insurance covering any medical expenses.
Ability to adapt to limited internet access.
Vaccinations as advised by your doctor for travel to Costa Rica
Valid passport with at least 6 months validity.
Parental consent and program waivers signed by legal guardian
Two Character Reference Letters

Travel Highlights

Frog & Cultural Exchange Night Tour in La Tigra with guided rainforest walk and traditional dinner.
Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River with a bilingual nature guide.
Tortilla-making class and home-cooked lunch in a local home.
Cultural lunch stop in Matambú en route to the volunteer site.
Farewell dinner in San José.