Volunteer: Environmental Research Project in Costa Rica

Location & Duration

A small village on the Caribbean mountain slopes close to Limón in Costa Rica. Minimum duration: 3 weeks.

First 3 weeks: ₡830. Each additional week: ₡210. All fees cover food, accommodation, pre‑departure and in‑country support, orientation and all project‑related activities. Flights, travel insurance, personal spending, visas and vaccinations are not included.

• Work closely with staff experienced in forest conservation, agroforestry, agronomy, participatory community development, social entrepreneurship, and marketing/communications.

• agroforestry, agricultural economics, biodiversity, sustainable development, research, community development, economic development, social entrepreneurship, climate change, indigenous groups, new product development, women's empowerment

This opportunity is designed to give you the contacts and experience to help further your career. You are not replacing any member of staff, but helping alongside them, while learning new skills.

Costa Rica is one of the most bio‑diverse regions in the world, with an abundance of flora and fauna that is becoming rare. This project works to map the lowland rainforest area, which is essential for its protection.

The goal of this project is to study the environment, thus improving research skills and sharing results with the wider scientific community. By reinforcing knowledge we promote environmental conservation and sustainability. Our main goals are biodiversity, reforestation and sustainable living.

If you wish to join our long‑term research (inventory) on the biodiversity of our private reserve, we welcome you. Research options are open at all levels of expertise and experience. In addition to long‑term research you can conduct your own research topic; we will supervise and guide your methodology.

The project is located between an Indigenous reserve and National Park Barbilla. Some parts are heavily logged, but much remains pristine and needs study and protection. Our goal is to identify where conservation efforts should be focused.

Breakfast at 7 a.m. Each day starts at 8 a.m. with a trip into the jungle to accumulate data, conduct research and other agreed projects. Some days you will stay on site to work in the organic vegetable garden, build a tree nursery, investigate collected bugs, make an inventory of butterflies, or, for example, make chocolate from the cacao you collected.

Lunch at 12:30 p.m.; afternoon usually spent processing data, analyzing trap‑camera videos, determining collected dung‑beetles or frog pictures, writing up research or working in the garden. Dinner at 5 p.m.; after dinner you can chat with other students in the community house, play cards, read a book, watch a documentary, chill in a hammock or go to sleep. Quiet is expected by 9 p.m. and lights out at 6 p.m. During the weekend there will be time to relax in the hammock, play soccer at the local field, plan a trip to the waterfalls or the beach.