Summary
Voluntary work at a project to protect turtle nests in Costa Rica.
Project location
Based on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste.
Length of project
From 1 week.
Group/individual basis
You will travel as a family and join a group of international volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.
Support
Help and advice from our UK office throughout. Local support from nominated staff member at the project.
Includes
- Volunteer project with turtles
- Pre-departure information covering work issues and advice about life in Costa Rica
- Accommodation throughout the project
- Meals whilst on the project
- Full orientation and induction before you begin
Not included
- Flights
- Travel and medical insurance
- Any home country transport (eg. taxis and buses)
- Transfers to / from the project site (we can arrange these for an extra fee)
Accommodation
Family accommodation in the project community. This is fairly basic but comfortable. Upgrade is possible.
Travel arrangements
Fly to San Jose (SJO) or Liberia (LIR). Transfers to the project site are not included as standard, however these can be arranged at an extra cost.
Pre-departure briefing
You will receive thorough documentation covering project expectations, preparation, health and safety, responsible travel and arrival arrangements at least 4 weeks before departure.
Medical
Vaccinations may be required. We recommend that you visit your doctor or travel nurse as soon as possible to discuss what you might need to have. Please be aware that Oyster staff are not able to give advice on your medical background or the type of vaccinations that you might need. You can get useful medical advice relating to your destination on the ‘Fit For Travel’ website – http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/.
You must inform Oyster of any pre-existing physical or mental health conditions. Oyster staff may ask for you to provide a letter from your doctor before continuing with your booking.
Insurance
You must take out a full travel insurance policy as soon as you can before departure. This must cover you for personal accident, medical, cancellation, emergency evacuation, lost luggage etc. We strongly recommend that you organise your travel insurance upon booking your place. We can introduce a policy with Global Travel Insurance to UK citizens, details of which can be found in your My Oyster account, once you have completed your booking. If you are not eligible for this insurance, please read through it to have an idea of what you need to be covered for.
Any risk factors
Costa Rica can be subject to extreme weather in the rainy season (September-November). Flooding can occur and heavy rains can cause landslides. It also has occasional earthquakes (usually insignificant). As with most tourist destinations, foreign travellers may be targeted for minor theft, so take care of your belongings. Personal attacks are still infrequent in Costa Rica, but you should maintain the same level of awareness as you would at home. You will always be accompanied by a member of staff when patrolling the beaches. In general safety standards are lower in the developing world (eg. for transport) but we give advice on staying safe and making wise choices. There are rip tides in the sea here, so do not let your children go in the sea unattended. There are dogs in the village that are friendly and used to people, but this is worth noting as some children are afraid of dogs.
Downtime
Participants will be able to travel independently during their time off, as long as they accept that they will be outside Oyster’s jurisdiction, make appropriate insurance provision and inform others. It is important to let staff know when you are due to return and keep them updated if your plans change.
Accessibility
This project could accommodate those with minor physical disabilities. Please discuss with destination manager before booking.
Financial Security
When you book with Oyster you can rest assured that your money will be protected and you will not be stranded abroad in the very unlikely event that our company becomes insolvent. If your booking includes a flight arranged by us, your whole trip will be subject to ATOL protection. If we have not booked your flight then your trip will be just as safe, since it will be insured through International Passenger Protection Ltd.
