Oyster does not include the cost of transfers to/from the project in our price, as we have found that many families choose to hire a car or do some more travelling before/after their time on the project.

We can however book you a transfer package from San Jose airport to the project if you would prefer this. For the transfer package, you must fly into San Jose on a Monday, and fly out of San Jose on a Wednesday:

The cost of the transfer package is £325 return per person (children under 12 go free). This includes:

• Arrival day to San Jose: Monday. Transfer from the airport to guest house in San Jose
• Arrival day to project: Tuesday. Collection from guesthouse. Coach transfer from San Jose to project site
• Departure day from project:  Tuesday. Coach transfer from project site to San Jose. Overnight in guest house
• Departure day from San Jose: Wednesday. Transfer from guest house to airport

We are also very happy to arrange private transfers from major tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Please refer to our price list below. These prices are based on the price of a car for up to four people – depending on how much luggage the group has:

Many people are now looking into family volunteering holidays and those who have taken part in the past have been incredibly passionate about getting their children to experience making a genuine contribution to conservation.

Family holidays abroad have changed in recent years with climate change becoming such an important factor in our modern lives. The sad fact is that the turtle populations around the world are plummeting and your turtle conservation work really makes a difference.

The location of this project is so beautiful and safe that families have loved exploring the local area, getting to know the locals and enjoying a wholly different way of life.

• Beach patrols: Beach patrols take place at night time, as this is when the turtles come out to nest. Patrols usually last up to 3 hours- they include walking up and down the beach looking for turtles and nests, recording data, taking the eggs to the hatchery and releasing baby turtles into the sea.
• Hatchery monitoring: You will spend about 2 hours per day monitoring the hatchery when eggs have been deposited, and this can be in the daytime or the night time. The hatchery is checked regularly at the peak of nesting time and you may be asked to be included in the rota.
• Writing up data / cleaning equipment: You will spend some time each day writing up the data collected on the previous night’s beach patrol, and cleaning down the buckets, gloves and other items used on the patrols.
• Nap time: Most people find that they like to take a nap at some point during the day. As your night’s will be slightly disrupted with the beach patrols, it is good to get in some extra sleep during the day.
• Free time: Meals are served three times a day, and in between these you can explore the coastline, the rainforest, chill out in a hammock with a book and drink fresh coconut juice straight from the coconut. Village communities are centred round the football pitch, so there is plenty of opportunity to get involved with local games. You will find that you live a very laid back Tico lifestyle. Local trips can be arranged in advance of the day you want to travel. Sponsor a turtle or a nest and paint a personal sign – the team will give you updates on your hatchling date or if your turtle returns to nest again! Please note the ocean on this coast is strong and there are often riptides. Perfect for surfing but we recommend you go no deeper than waist height when standing. There are no lifeguards as this is not a tourist beach.

Whilst late-availability is possible, we would advise booking as soon as you can to guarantee your ideal dates. Our projects are very popular and spaces can fill up several months in advance.

• We have always found that kids make the best volunteers – full of enthusiasm and curiosity!
• If you and your family are keen to learn more, throw yourselves into things and make the most of this experience then it is definitely for you.
• Flexibility, a positive attitude and initiative go a long way to making this an unforgettable family volunteer holiday.
• Kids that enjoy using up access energy on long and adventurous beach patrols
• You will find that you are roughing it a bit more than you would at home –  the accommodation is basic but comfortable – and you shouldn’t be expecting a kids menu.
• This all contributes to the absolute charm of the location, meaning that you are really living like a local.

The number of turtles that are born and that survive is on the decline. At the beach sites where turtle eggs are protected in hatcheries, approximately 80% of the eggs hatch and make it to the sea. In sites where there is no hatchery, maybe 15% of the eggs will hatch and make it to the sea. In beach sites with no protection whatsoever, the survival rate is even less. The difference here is quite staggering.

Turtle eggs, once laid, are at risk from all sorts of factors. Nests are endangered by racoons, coati, termites and skunks, and if it manages to make it to fruition, the baby turtle’s effort to reach the sea is often scuppered by vultures and crabs! Volunteering on the beaches in Costa Rica means that you can help increase the number of turtles hatching and hence prevent a beautiful species from becoming extinct.

This project is open to people from all walks of life, and as such you should expect to be with a group of volunteers of all ages. We cannot guarantee that there will be other families there at the same time as you. If you are the only family the project will still run with the fantastic research team – this private one on one experience can be very special and bespoke!

Turtles are greatly endangered around the world, and as such this project is created with their conservation and preservation in mind. There are several regulations in place to ensure that the preservation of the turtles is at the forefront:

• When patrolling the beaches at night and a nesting turtle is seen, volunteers must remain quiet and only use the red lamp on their head torches.
• When working around the nesting turtles, volunteers should remain quiet and conduct the research quickly and efficiently without disrupting the nesting turtle
• Eggs are transported from the site where they were laid to a protected hatchery to ensure greater hatching success rates
• On hatching, baby turtles are kept together in one space until they are all hatched to preserve their energy.
• Baby turtles are taken close to the edge of the sea for release. They must walk at least the final 20 metres to sea independently of volunteers so that their muscles strengthen and their navigation is improved
• Volunteers will not interfere with the baby turtles’ progress towards the sea.
• You are not permitted to touch adult turtles unless you are collecting data
• Babies must be handled with gloves

Oyster assesses projects carefully to ensure that they offer high standards of animal welfare and environmental practice. We also check that volunteers understand key points of good practice before working with animals. To find out more, see our animal welfare policy.

• August – October:  Green season. Generally high temperatures (20 – 30 degrees celsuius) with sunny mornings and wet afternoons. This is the peak time for nesting turtles, and baby turtles start to hatch from mid  August onwards at absolute earliest. Nature however decides this each year so to have a greater chance of seeing hatchlings, we recommend September onwards.
• November – December: End of the green season / beginning of the high season. Generally high temperatures (20 – 30 degrees celsius). It can always rain in Costa Rica, but there is generally a bit less of it in November and December.  You can generally see nesting turtles into December, although the majority of sightings will be the babies that you are releasing in this final month.

• There will always be a mixture of sunshine and rain. Nature cannot be guaranteed, so we would suggest booking the dates that work best for you and enjoying whatever happens!
• There is turtle activity throughout July – December, whether it be with adults or babies (or both!).
• The turtle nesting season is July – December, and mother turtles come to lay their eggs on the beach throughout this season. Sadly there are no guarantees that they come up every day however!
• Baby turtles start hatching from mid August onwards, depending when mother turtles lay their eggs

We would recommend budgeting up to £50 per person per week for drinks, treats and trips.

There are no cash machines at the project sites so you will need to have all your money with you for your stay. The closest access to an ATM is an hour away. Costa Rican Colon is not available outside the country so it is best to change some as soon as you arrive. You can also take US Dollars to spend on larger purchases – we recommend this for tours and trips.

Typically you can stay as a visitor in Costa Rica for up to 3 months, although the exact period is at the discretion of the immigration officer on arrival. If you will be flying through the USA you will need to apply for an online ESTA visa before you leave.

You should make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay plus 1 day.

You should visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out what vaccinations you will need. There are no compulsory inoculations necessary for Costa Rica but check with your doctor to make sure that your Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are all up to date. None of the project sites are in malaria risk areas, but getting anti-malarials is up to you, as there are areas in Costa Rica where malaria is found. You should follow your doctor’s advice.

Please see the Fit for Travel website or the UK government’s travel advice page for Costa Rica.

There is a mobile medical unit that comes through the villages, as well as a hospital within an hour of the project.

Costa Rica is considered to be one of the safest countries in Latin America. It is one of the few countries in the world not to have an army!  Transfers can be are included in this project, including travel to and from the airport,  which means you avoid having to negotiate San Jose. However, if you do have time to spend in San Jose, you will find a lively and buzzing city. The guesthouse included in the transfer package we offer is based close to the city centre in a very safe area. We recommend that you return to the hotel before it gets dark as street lighting is a lot more limited than you might be used to.

At your project site you will be living in a small community which is very friendly and has known and supported this project for many years. The accommodation is lovely and right next to the beach with locks on the doors. The area is beautiful and locals love to show you the area.

The small communities where you will be living have around 200 people. They are approximately 5 hours from the city of San Jose.

• Many volunteers simply enjoy chilling out in hammocks, walking the beach, swimming, surfing, helping in the local community, getting involved at the local school and playing games at the beach with the local children.
• There are opportunities to go surfing with a surf school
• Horse riding on the beach or in the jungle – your choice!
• The beaches are the perfect place for relaxation and exploration as well as protecting the turtles.
• Trips to local schools in the right season – no guarantees however as there are sporadic holiday dates and exams!
• With the amazing wildlife on your doorstep, this project feels a long way from the hustle and bustle of life in busy San Jose.
• There is a tree plantation project in town which is connected to the turtle organisation and volunteers are more than welcome to help and learn about native species
• You can do local fishing trips and mangrove tours with fisherman
• Chill out in the main office in town and make sure of the shops, cafe and bar on Sundays
• Take plenty of books, cards and a board game, writing materials, beach games, bat and ball etc as there is a good amount of free time in between project duties.
• Please note the ocean on this coast is strong and there are often riptides. Perfect for surfing but we recommend you don’t go deeper than waist height when standing. There are no lifeguards as this is not a tourist beach.

Most of the turtle activities take place at night time and in the mornings, so you will find that your days are mostly free for you to explore, relax and get involved with community projects. Top tips: take things with you that you enjoy doing in your free time and be proactive!

There is good WiFi access in all accommodation options.

Signal can be erratic on mobile phones but Wi-Fi is ok!

Costa Rica is 6 hours behind GMT (GMT -6).

In Costa Rica, American 2 pin plug sockets are used.

Supervision will be fairly intensive during the first few days, when you will receive a thorough induction and work-related training. Once you are comfortable with things, you might not always have a supervisor working alongside you, but there will always be staff and other volunteers around to help, and you will always be accompanied for any high risk activities.

Staff at Oyster’s head office and in-country will be responsible for your safety and welfare while you are at the project. This will start from the moment you are picked up from the airport until the time you are dropped back there. Before and after these times, you will be outside Oyster’s responsibility and should make sure that you act safely and avoid risk. This is also true if you choose to leave the project during your time off. We will give you plenty of guidance and advice about this.