Costa Rica – Wildlife Sanctuary in San Jose

Eco-tourists from all around the world flock to Costa Rica because of its abundant biodiversity. Despite its relatively small size, the country is home to over 5% of the world’s plant and animal species. Costa Rica is the Spanish term for a wealthy coast. This tropical paradise offers a variety of landscapes, flora, and fauna. From forests to volcanoes, mountains to beaches, this country has much to explore.

The Spanish Immersion Week takes place in central San Jose. The wildlife sanctuary sits on the Alto de Las Palomas mountain, only 5 minutes’ drive from the center of Santa Ana and the fashionable Escazu suburb of San Jose.

The rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary in Las Palomas receives up to 1.500 cases of wild animals annually. Many animals arrive after being kept illegally as pets or electrocuted on public electric lines. The sanctuary is urban based and relatively small, yet quite active for its size. It is home to around 75 species of animals, including sloths, ocelots, macaws, toucans, crocodiles, and more. The primary aim is to help the animals recover and set them free in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, this isn’t achievable with all animals.

The sanctuary offers different animal habitats, for example aviaries, sloth gardens, monkey cages, manigordo (wildcats) cages, deer gardens, and a pond for turtles, crocodiles, alligators, and fish. The staff and volunteers have planted over a thousand trees and vegetation to create a green lung in the city for the recovering animals.

Volunteering at the sanctuary offers a chance to work with professionals and learn about animal care. With over 12 years of experience and 10,000 animals released into the wild since its inception, it is a leader in the field. The staff strives to ensure animals get a good diet, housing and fun activities through enrichment projects.

Volunteer tasks

• Preparing/cutting food and feeding animals
• Cleaning enclosures
• Offering support to animals in an emergency
• Taking part in efforts to rehabilitate and release animals
• Planting trees
• Assisting with tours of the sanctuary
• Upholding animal enclosures and property grounds
• Creating structures for animals using natural components
• Taking part in the environmental enrichment projects
• Supplying water to animals
• Plus, any other tasks that must be completed.

Example of daily volunteer schedule:

7:00am-8:30am–breakfast
8:30am-10:30am–Morning feeding of animals under supervision
10:30am-12:00md–Daily tasks
12:00md-1:00pm–Lunch and relax time
1:00pm-3:00pm-Afternoon feeding of animals under supervision
Afterwards, volunteers are free for the rest of the day! Dinner is usually ready by 6:00pm.

During the weekends, we can arrange tours for an additional cost and help you experience Costa Rica like a local!

Important notes: schedule and tasks may vary depending on the amount of volunteers and tasks required. Volunteers staying on site must follow an 08:00 pm curfew set by the program. Following this time, the volunteer coordinator may grant permission for later arrival, if requested in advance.

Internet: Internet is available during orientation week at the school and at the animal rescue center.

Laundry: During the project there is a washing machine and clothesline available. At the home stay in San Jose, they wash your clothes on a weekly basis; however, you must wash your own undergarments. Remember to bring biodegradable detergents.

Accommodations: In San Jose, you will stay with a host family, which is a short bus ride away from the language school if you are doing the Spanish week. They will provide you with a comfortable, basic private room in their home. As a volunteer, you will stay in a comfortable house on the sanctuary grounds. Volunteers will share a room with bunk beds and curtains for privacy, including personal light and electric plug. The house has a nice common area with a couch and TV, kitchen, bathroom with hot water, and storage lockers.

Food: During the Spanish week, breakfast & dinner is provided at the homestay. At the volunteer project, you will receive three meals per day. Vegetarian and vegan food is available as well. Other dietary options need to be requested in advance.

• GoEco Interview
• This project recommends all participants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
• Minimum age of 18
• Physically fit
• Love and respect for animals
• Flexible and open-minded to do all kinds of chores, depending on the project needs
• Adaptability to the weather in Costa Rica (tropical climate – high temperatures and humidity during the rainy season)
• All volunteers coming from South America or Africa must have a yellow fever vaccination certification in order to enter Costa Rica

Families are welcome! 

Families with kids aged 8+ are welcome to join the volunteer program. The local team will provide suitable training and volunteer tasks. As a family, you need to upgrade to a hotel nearby. Hotel costs can range from $60-$200 for a private room per night, depending on the hotel level. We will provide suitable options following the application interview.

Tour options

Exploring Costa Rica is optional both before and after your volunteer placement, as well as on weekends. You can go sightseeing alone or join a tour. These are some of the popular activities you can reserve early with us:

• Arenal Volcano and hot springs, one day (transportation, lunch & dinner & entrance to springs)
• Doka coffee plantation, Poas Volcano & La Paz waterfalls (transportation & lunch)
• Irazu volcano, Orosi valley & Lankester gardens (transportation, tour & lunch)
• Sun & white sand beaches (Carara National Park, Punta Leona: includes breakfast, lunch, transportation)
• Manuel Antonio National Park, lovely beach on Pacific coast (includes transportation, breakfast, lunch).
• White river rafting (includes transportation, breakfast & lunch)