“I Planned 4 Weeks in Costa Rica. I Stayed for 10. Here’s What Happened.”
Naya was fresh out of high school, not feeling college, and looking for something more purposeful before settling into a career. She found our partner Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica – and what started as a short trip turned into a 10-week adventure she never saw coming.
“I wanted to do something bigger and more purposeful before I settled down for a career. Volunteering felt like the perfect option – and when I found the sloth rescue, I thought, that’s a really cool rescue to go to.”
The Reality Check Nobody Warns You About
“The first couple of weeks on any wildlife program are a lot. Feeding schedules, food prep, animal routines – it all lands at once. Naya’s advice to future volunteers is refreshingly honest:
“Don’t expect to be great at everything immediately. It’s a lot of info dumping at once, but the more you do it, the better you’ll become at it.”
What She Actually Got Out of It
Naya’s goal was simple – work with as many animals as possible. The rescue centre delivered. Microchipping, wildlife releases, birds, opossums, sloths, and even a bioluminescence trip made the cut.
She admitted going in with cautious optimism, having been let down by high expectations before. That changed quickly.
“It definitely exceeded my expectations. I broke the cycle of disappointment.”
What’s Next
Naya has already booked two wildlife programs in South Africa with GoEco – and she’s ready for the contrast.
“It’s so cool to go from sloths and birds to tigers, cheetahs and crocodiles. My GoEco journey has only just started.”
And we can’t wait to have her back.
Explore the Sloth and Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica or our wildlife programs in South Africa.
