Costa Rica

Situated in Central America, Costa Rica borders the countries of Nicaragua and Panama. It boasts stunning coastlines of the Pacific and Caribbean oceans and is a hub of tropical climates, rainforests, volcanoes, rivers, waterfalls and mountains.

Despite its many attractions, Costa Rica is a little-known country that's not at the forefront of most people's minds when it comes to considering a gap year or career break volunteering project, but for those who do choose it, it provides an unforgettable experience.

Nearly a third of Costa Rica is protected in one form or another and more than 13% is national park. It is home to many exotic species, including sea turtles, caymans, sloths and monkeys and around 850 bird species. Costa Rica is well known for its beautiful beaches and tropical reefs, which offer great diving and snorkelling. Inland, there's white-water rafting, horse riding and lots more to enjoy.

We're looking for volunteers in Costa Rica for one to six months in the following areas:

Conservation Projects

• Rainforest conservation.
• Turtle conservation.
• Ecological farm promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural methods.

Teaching and Medical Projects

• Medical placement in the Caribbean town of Cahuita.
• English teaching placement in a remote community along the river Savegre.
• English teaching placements on the Pacific and Caribbean coast.

General Information

• 	Costa Rica volunteers are not usually required to speak Spanish but in order to integrate with Costa Ricans it is important to have some knowledge of it. We expect you to put every effort into learning Spanish and you will get much more out of your project if you can communicate properly with the community. When you sign up with Outreach International you will receive a comprehensive Spanish CD course. This will provide you with approximately fifty hours of tuition and will take you from being a complete beginner to a reasonable standard. Once you arrive in Costa Rica you will follow a one-week intensive course in learning Spanish. "I'm really enjoying myself. My Spanish is really coming along as, although tired, I talk with the family at least 2 hours a night all in Spanish and its great. I mean where else can you have a Spanish lesson whilst the humming bird is taking nectar right next to you? Or where the vultures circle above you and the toucans don't leave you enough time to take their picture?!!! Its beautiful here and the teachers are lovely, 2 days ago one of my teachers took me into Turriabla for 3 hours of lessons so that I could do some hands on (or should i say voice on!) learning! it was great, we went round the market where I learnt about the fruits etc" Victoria Hirst. Medical Project. Costa Rica

  Language Training

• 	Javier Cano (our coordinator) is particularly keen that Costa Rica volunteers should have the opportunity to travel in Costa Rica and beyond during or at the end of their stay. For those interested in expeditions, white water rafting, scuba diving, surfing, horse-riding are available in numerous places. There are thousands of kilometres of coast, spanning both the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans. Travel in Costa Rica is easy and inexpensive, with a great bus network covering the whole country. Javier is a qualified trekking and canoeing guide and would be delighted to help you plan weekend trips. As an Outreach International volunteer, you will receive good discounts at our recommended travel agents.

  Travel & Expeditions

• 	There are no rules about time off for Costa Rica volunteers, but in most cases weekends are free and many volunteers choose to travel after their projects. All projects are linked to initiatives involving Costa Rican staff, so volunteers will quickly adapt to the Costa Rican style of working. The key here is to be flexible and to use initiative. Outreach International demands a serious commitment from all volunteers, but at the same time recognises that the nature of voluntary work demands a flexible approach, and we definitely want volunteers to have an enjoyable as well as a rewarding time. Outreach International works in particular areas of Costa Rica; volunteers will in most cases have regular contact with other Outreach International volunteers in nearby projects.

  Time Off & Volunteer Interaction

• 	Javier Cano is the Outreach International Costa Rica representative, based in San Jose. He will meet you at the airport, give you a comprehensive briefing and support you throughout your stay. He has been with since 2004. "Javier has been more than helpful. He has spent the last few days showing me around, settling me in. Cool guy. He has organised for us to go white water rafting next weekend." Laurel Struthers. Costa Rica gap year medical volunteer Outreach International attaches great importance to back up and support, but at the same time does not want to over-monitor or supervise you. We recognise that for gap year volunteers in particular this is an important time of independence and adaptation, and we want to give you the freedom to develop your role in the project in your own way. You can request official certification from Outreach International acknowledging your contribution to the volunteer project as a record of your work and a possible advancement to career development. Our projects are all recognised by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Outreach International will also be able to provide you with certification and with references for future employers upon completion of your placement.

  Support from Outreach International

• 	Accommodation will be with a family or in a volunteer house, depending on your chosen project. Outreach International put considerable effort into providing the best possible accommodation. If you stay with a family then your meals will be prepared for you, otherwise your accommodation is self-catering with kitchen facilities available. "One of the best things about my time in Costa Rica was my host family. I lived with a mother, Rosario, and three of her grown up children (Wendy, Andrea and Sergio.) They were so lovely to me right from the day I arrived and made me feel very at home. They helped me with my Spanish and to find my feet in San Jose. I very much enjoyed living with them and they are now all great friends. They showed me how to cook some traditional Costa Rican food and I also cooked them some English meals. It was nice because I also went on a couple of day trips at the weekends with them." Charlotte Felton. Costa Rica gap year street children project.

  Food & Accommodation

• 	All Costa Rica volunteers travelling and working with Outreach International will have full insurance to cover personal accident, medical and emergency travel expenses and personal liability during volunteer project activities. Our policy is very comprehensive. It gives you unlimited medical cover, public liability cover and baggage cover. The cost of insurance is included in the overall project cost. Once in Costa Rica, the Outreach International field office will assist you with any health or accident problems that may arise. The UK office will inform you as part of their preparation package of what immunisations and medication are needed for your stay in Costa Rica.

  Health & Insurance

• 	Outreach International will organise and book your flights, but they must be paid for separately. We will organise all project-related travel in Costa Rica. You will be granted a 90 day visa on arrival in Costa Rica. Advice will be given to those staying on for more than 90 days. You will be met be met at the airport by our Outreach International representative and taken to a guest house in the capital San Jose. All travel directly associated with the volunteer project placement will be covered by your overall project cost and detailed to you by our co-ordinator. Recreational and post-placement travel is additional to the overall project cost. Flights are usually arranged by Wexas Travel who are both ABTA and ATOL bonded. For details see: www.wexas.com. However you are more than welcome to book your own flight providing it arrives at a time that is agreed with Outreach International.

  Flights, Visas & Project-related Travel

• 	An important part of the UK office support is to advise volunteers how to raise money. You will be invited to a fundraising awareness day in Somerset and be provided with an information pack full of ideas about fundraising activities. Please refer to our costs page. These costs include full insurance, all project-related travel, the Learn Spanish CD course and intensive Spanish language course in Costa Rica, food, accommodation, support and documentation for your visa application (volunteers staying longer than three months may be asked to pay a visa extension charge,) and comprehensive in-country support. The insurance covers baggage, personal accident, medical, emergency travel, personal and public liability. Costa Rica volunteers normally have weekends free. We encourage you to travel and explore as much of Costa Rica as possible. You should budget approximately £35 for a good weekend away or £150 per month for personal spending money.

  Spending Money & Cost