You will be volunteering in the small beach town of Punta Banco, located on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. This gorgeous, remote area is nestled between virgin rain forests and beautiful black sand beaches. This town has a population of about 200 people, and has become a desired destination for tropical nature lovers.

Our partner organization has been involved at Punta Banco since 1995, when they determined that from 150-300 sea turtles nest there each season. Included in this group are the olive ridley turtle, the rare Eastern Pacific green turtle, and the hawksbills turtle. Unfortunately, turtle eggs are often poached to eat or to sell and turtles are captured by unregulated fishing, two factors which have caused all of these species to become endangered.

As a volunteer on the Sea Turtle Project, you will be working with our partners and the local community to monitor turtle nesting activity and help protect the hatchlings. Volunteers will be assisting in the tagging, nesting, monitoring, and releasing of the turtles. With the help of volunteers and local residents, over 50,000 turtles have been protected and released into the sea, and poaching rates have dropped from almost 100% to about 20%.

Volunteers in Costa Rica will not only help repopulate the Pacific sea turtles, but will also be participating in important research to understand these animals. You will become part of the small Punta Banco community, whose members truly appreciate the help and presence of volunteers in their town.

Orientation:
Upon arrival in San José, our partner organization will pick you up and take you to a local hotel. The next day, they will transport you via bus to Punta Banco. Upon arrival, you will be shown your accommodations and be given a meal that evening. The next day, you will be given a beach-walking and turtle-tagging schedule, as well as in-depth training on how to handle the turtles appropriately.

Transportation:
You will be provided with transporation for the following:

Airport pickup
Delivery to San José hotel for the first night
Transportation from hotel to bus station in San Jos é
Pick-up at bus station upon -Return to San José and delivery to hotel
Delivery to airport on day of departure

Accommodations:
You will be staying at the Research Station and cabins. The Station is a 2-floor building with 4 shared bedrooms, shared bathrooms, a balcony, and large communal room. When the station fills up, the nearby cabins are also used. Bedding is provided and sheets are changed every 5 days. Volunteers are expected to participate in the daily tasks of Station maintenance.

Volunteers who prefer family-style accommodations and an added cultural element to their trip might be interested in a homestay, where locals open up their homes and their hearts to volunteers. Most of these families speak only Spanish, so it can be a great place for you to practice your language skills.

Meals:
You will be served 3 meals per day. Meals include rice, beans, tortillas, salads, chicken, fish, pork, beef, tacos, potatoes, pastas, soups, pancakes, cereals, breads, milk, sandwiches, locally made cheese, peanut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh-squeezed juices. Vegetarians should have no problems with the diet in Punta Banco. Those who follow a vegan diet should note that tofu is not readily available in Costa Rica, especially in Punta Banco.

Activities:
Punta Banco has the limitless natural beauty typical of a costal Costa Rican town. Situated between lush rainforests and black sand beaches, Punta Banco offers volunteers the opportunity to experience both coastal and inland Costa Rica. The area is home to an extraordinary array of natural treasures, and a day in the rainforest will allow you to see monkeys, tropical birds, lizards, and frogs. The small town of Punta Banco also offers some amenities such as mini-marts and a few simple restaurants.

During your free time, you are welcome to do the following:

Visit tide pools
Relax on the beach
Hike in the rainforest
Go horseback riding
Surf

In-country support:
You will be working side-by-side with staff members who live on-site at this project. The project staff is happy to help you during your time at the Sea Turtle Project.