Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center

Join one of the top wildlife rescue centers in Costa Rica, focused on the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned animals, including sloths, opossums, monkeys, and birds. GoEco volunteers assist with Sloth rehabilitation by feeding, cleaning enclosures, and providing enrichment as part of the Sloth Care Team.

Program Highlights:

Gain hands-on experience in wildlife care, conservation and rehabilitation
Help prepare food and care for 150+ animals
GoEco volunteers join a team that is dedicated to caring for and rehabilitating Sloths.
Enjoy weekly volunteer activities such as yoga, movie nights, karaoke and dance classes.
Meet like-minded volunteers from around the world

Your schedule at a glance:

Arrival day, Sunday: Private airport pickup and transfer to the rescue center at any time. Settle in your new home and meet the volunteers.

Monday: Volunteer orientation

Monday – Sunday: Meaningful volunteer work at the rescue center during the day, followed by organized fun activities for volunteers in the evening.

Departure day, Sunday: A shuttle returns to the airport at specific times throughout the day. If your flight falls outside of these scheduled times, you can arrange a private drop-off at any hour for an additional fee.

Remaining Weeks: Following weeks will have a similar schedule of volunteering Monday to Sunday and one day off per week. Departure is on a Sunday.

Location of the Project: Guacima District in the Alajuela Canton, just a short drive from the Juan Santamaría International Airport.

Project length: Minimum 2 weeks – Maximum 12 weeks

Arrival Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)

Volunteer Work: Wildlife care and conservation

Age: Min 18

Number of Volunteers: Up to 100

Important Note: Arrival and departure days are on a Sunday.

What’s Included

Accommodations: Multiple volunteer housing options from 4 to 8 people per room with a shared bathroom.

Food: 3 delicious and healthy meals per day prepared by our private chefs (we also cater to vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and all allergies).

Airport Transfers: We provide a private airport pickup on arrival at any hour, and a departure shared shuttle at the end of your stay at scheduled times.

Orientation: We provide a full orientation on the first Monday. Welcome package which includes a volunteer t-shirt, carry bag, beach towel, pillowcase, water bottle and a hat or coffee mug.

Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), private airport drop off upon request, travel health insurance, tours and excursions, personal expenses.

Location

Costa Rica is one of the world’s most popular ecotourism destinations, because of its incredible biodiversity. Scientists estimate that Costa Rica may contain as much as 5% of the earth’s plant and animal species! Costa Rica translates to “rich coast” in Spanish for its diverse landscapes, which include rainforests, tropical and temperate forests, volcanoes, beaches, high mountains and marshy lowlands.

The Wildlife Rescue Center is in Alajuela on a 10 acre farm, just a short drive from the Juan Santamaría International Airport.

Volunteer Work

Costa Rica is a well-known destination for sustainable and nature tourism. Yet, its diverse wildlife is still under many threats. These include habitat loss because of development, electrocutions, dog and cat attacks, and illegal pet trading.

We work with one of the best wildlife organizations in Costa Rica. They dedicate themselves to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of local animals.

As a volunteer, you will help the local staff treat sick, injured and orphaned animals. Their primary goal is to release animals back to the wild when possible. Your volunteer tasks will include:

Preparing food for over 150 animals
Cleaning and upkeep of animal enclosures
Feeding the animals
Building and implementing new animal toys (animal enrichment)
Washing utensils & cleaning the kitchen where food is prepared
Placing fresh water in the bird cages
Providing a caring environment for the animals and checking for injuries
Facility maintenance chores: repairing, cleaning, planting, installing, building, painting, reforesting, etc.
Taking part in educational community projects
Weekly enrichment projects for the animals
We encourage volunteers to advance their own individual projects. If you identify potential for a special project, we will work with you to transform your idea into action.

Sloth Team: All GoEco Volunteers who join this program are placed into the Sloth Team after an orientation and an educational sloth course. The tasks on this team are just for sloths and include preparing food, feeding, cleaning their enclosures, creating enrichments and sloth babysitting.

Living Arrangements

Internet icon Internet: WiFi is available

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry service is available

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteer housing includes multiple room options accommodating 4 to 8 people, with shared bathrooms. The rooms are basic and rustic, designed for adventure rather than comfort.

Food icon Food: 3 delicious and healthy meals per day prepared by our private chefs (we also cater to vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free diets and all allergies).

Requirements

This program is most appropriate for individuals aged 18 to 30, given its group-oriented dynamic and modest, shared accommodations.
Minimum age of 18
Physically fit
Love and respect for animals
Flexible and open-minded to do all kinds of chores, depending on project needs
Adaptability to the weather in Costa Rica (tropical climate – high temperatures and humidity during the rainy season)
All volunteers coming from South America or Africa must have a yellow fever vaccination certification in order to enter Costa Rica

Travel Highlights

As a volunteer, you can join daily night activities, including Zumba lessons, karaoke, night walks, bonfires, trivia, movie night and much more…

The program offers weekly tours to various tourist destinations across the country for an additional fee. Some of the options include:

Jaco Beach where you can ride ATV’s and Canopy Tours (zip lines),
Manuel Antonio National Park where you can tour the rainforest or relax on the beach,
Monterverde Cloud Forest where you can enjoy the hanging bridges,
Arenal Volcano where you can submerge yourself in the warm, beautiful hot springs.

🌿 Volunteer Across Costa Rica with GoEco
GoEco offers a network of meaningful volunteer opportunities across Costa Rica, allowing you to combine multiple programs and explore new regions after your time at the Sloth & Wildlife Rescue Center.
🚌 GoEco will help with all travel arrangements for a smooth, stress-free experience!

🔹 Pacific Coast–Sea Turtle Conservation
Protect endangered sea turtles on some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches. Join night patrols, monitor nests, and assist with hatchling releases.
🐢 Between July and December, you may witness the arribada — a monthly mass nesting event where thousands of turtles arrive at once.
🚌 Located on the Nicoya Peninsula, around 6–7 hours from San José by public bus or private transfer.

🔹 San José & Monteverde–Organic Coffee Farming
Start with an orientation in San José, then travel to the lush cloud forests of Monteverde. Volunteer on a sustainable coffee farm, assisting with planting, harvesting (in season), and eco-friendly agricultural practices.
🚌 Located around 4–5 hours by bus from San José, included in the program.

🔹 San José–Teaching & Social Work
Begin with an orientation in San José and support local education and community development projects. Assist in schools, childcare centers, or social outreach programs. This program also offers the opportunity to learn Spanish and meet volunteers from around the world, making it a great social and cultural experience.
🚌 Based in San José, just 30 minutes from the Sloth & Wildlife Rescue Center.