Environment Volunteer, Turtles and Adventure

Sunday
Arrival and overnight at Jakera Jungle Hostel. The day is free for you to spend as you like!

Turtle Conservation Volunteering
On Monday you will head to Cirenas where you will spend 4 days in a Turtle Conservation Sanctuary engaging with Permaculture, Reforestation and activities aimed at protecting the ecosystem. In the high season (August to November), the primary focus is on Turtle Conservation, where efforts are concentrated on safeguarding the eggs and hatchlings of Olive Ridley, Green Turtle, Hawksbill and Leatherback species. This involves protecting adult female turtles and their nests from various threats, including human predators, wildlife, beach erosion and flooding caused by high rainfall. This is achieved by maintenance of infrastructure and surroundings, beach cleaning, night patrols to look for nesting female turtles (in season), transport of food and water, collection of data and releasing baby turtles into the ocean (in season) and the construction of a ‘hatchery’. Depending on the season, there may be a shift to work more in other sectors such as Permaculture.

Seasonal Support
It is important to note that although turtles nest frequently in peak nesting season (August to November), there will be times where turtle activity is very low. We still need help during most of the year for the construction and maintenance of the hatchery, critical for the upcoming season.

Caletas-Ario Mixed National Wildlife Refuge
- Maintenance and Hikes on the trails
- Bird watching
- Monitoring of Wild Fauna through camera traps
- Identification of native trees

Permaculture and Healthy Eating
- Sowing and planting
- Composting
- Biomass
- Irrigation installation for plants
- Prune fruit trees and harvesting
- Hen house

Forestry Reforestation
- Collection of seeds of native trees by dry season
- Sowing in seedbeds
- Reforestation of native tree species on and off campus

Weekend
You'll stay at the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary for 4 days, then return to Jakera Jungle Camp to enjoy the weekend.

During week 2, you'll begin an overland adventure to explore Monteverde National Park. The duration, depending on the schedule and weather, will be tailored to 4 days. Staying in picturesque Santa Elena, we delve into hikes exploring both a Cloud Forest and a Tropical Forest. Daily activities include hikes, our brand new reforestation project and optional extras like zip-lining, visiting El Tigre Waterfall, Trapiche (Coffee, Cacao, Sugarcane productions), horseback riding or bungee jumping, ranging from $50 to $90 per activity. We have two accomodation options for our groups in Monteverde, Santa Elena Hostel right in town and the other is Catleya Hostel, 20 minutes walking from town, both very cozy and secure.

Monday - Breakfast / Travel to Monteverde/ Lunch in Monteverde/ Welcome walk, Ficus tree & Sunset Hike. (The welcome walk takes about an hour and the sunset hike activity around 2 hours.)

Tuesday - Breakfast / Finca Lantana - Cloud Forest Exploration with nature guide* / Lunch /Extra activity not included (Zipline- Bungee- Horse riding)

Wednesday - Breakfast / Santa Elena Hike Cloud Forest Reserve (this is around 4 hours hike with beautiful waterfalls, jungle and incredible views/ Lunch included / Extra activity not included (Zipline- Bungee- Horse riding)

Thursday - Breakfast /Extreme Activities / Lunch / Transfer back to Jakera.

Friday plus Weekend - You will stay in Monteverde for 4 days, then return to Jakera Jungle Camp.

Cloud Forest Reforestation in Monteverde*
We have joined forces with Finca Lantana for our new project that all our volunteers will participate in. The preparation of soil, tree planting and maintenance of saplings. Our goal is to reforest this land previously clear for cattle to its original glorious cloud forest state over the coming years.

During the weekends, there are a lot of opportunities to explore the area and try out different activities. If you're into yoga, try a beach session on Sunday mornings: get up a little earlier than usual to enjoy a pre-breakfast yoga session on the beach. Yoga is very popular in this part of the world and 45 mins costs around $15. You can also try white water rafting, horse riding, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, whale watching, a jungle canopy tour etc. There is always something to do and if it all sounds to active, you can just enjoy the beach or pool.

Please note: Travel on the weekends, or any of the extra activities is at your own expense and risk. We cannot be responsible but, if anything happens, we will of course be there to assist. Please ensure that you have adequate medical insurance before you carry out any activity.

Volunteers need to be flexible and keep an open mind concerning their placements as situations can arise beyond our control which could require you to be placed at a different project than the one you have initially chosen. We will of course always do our utmost to fulfill your initial wishes but do remember that where you are going is quite different from where you are coming and as such one should be prepared for things not always going according to plan.

Volunteering and intercultural travel share a common trait: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This program is designed for proactive individuals and groups that are prepared to adapt to the local environment and its current needs. Naturally, the scheduling and activities of our program are subject to change. Alterations in activities are mainly due to changes in local conditions, which we believe is part of what makes overseas programs the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that they are.

Jakera Jungle Camp
Nestled in the breathtaking Santa Teresa on Costa Rica's northwest Pacific coast, Jakera's Jungle Camp offers an peaceful retreat in this renowned destination, ranking among the top 10 global surf spots. Santa Teresa's lively beach town unfolds with surf shops, cafes and nightspots for every taste and budget. Our Jungle Paradise, complete with a refreshing pool amid a rich tropical forest teeming with wildlife, is ready to welcome you for an unforgettable experience.

Our accommodation consists of single-sex dorms with bunk beds (single, twin and double rooms available upon request for a supplement), along with separate toilet and shower facilities featuring hot and cold water.

There is a laundry service in the local town for getting your clothes washed at a very reasonable price. Wifi is available for free.

Cirenas
You will be based at Cirenas for 4 days. Sleeping arrangements are separated into groups by gender. Accommodation is in a nice wooden house with 6 rooms, each with a couple of bunks up to 4 per room, a maximum of 16 guests. Open air showers and toilets, all rustic but clean and nice. Sheets, pillows, and mosquito nets are provided and all the rooms have fans. All 3 meals are served up at the main lodge and are good healthy Costa Rican dishes. There is no WiFi at Cirenas. Your stay at the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary for 4 days, you'll return to the Jakera Jungle Camp to enjoy the weekend.

Monteverde
You'll stay in shared dorm in Monteverde for 4 days, then you will return to the Camp. While in Monteverde, breakfast and lunch are provided while dinner is available in town (at own cost).

You can either get to the project on your own, or make your arrival smoother by booking a transfer or an arrival package.

Transfer to Santa Teresa if not booking pre-night with Jakera
If you choose this option it includes a transfer from San Jose (accommodation not booked with Jakera) to Santa Teresa. It will be very early, so we recommend the arrival package.

Arrival Package
This includes an airport transfer on Saturday, 1 night’s accommodation in San Jose and a transfer the following day by shuttle and ferry to Santa Teresa departing from your hotel in San Jose at 06:40 am. We create a WhatsApp chat group privious days to your arrival, so we can garantee your safety at all times.

Departure Transfer
Shuttle buses can be booked locally for a transfer back from Santa Teresa to San Jose airport. The journey takes approximately 5½-6 hours. Alternatively, a domestic flight can be booked from Cobano to San Jose, the domestic flight is a 10-minute walk from the international airport.

Jakera Jungle Camp
Breakfast, lunch, and brunch on weekends are included. Our camp exclusively serves organic meals sourced from local farmers and fishermen, with garden-fresh garnishes. While our menu is mostly vegetarian, we also offer locally sourced meat and fish. Each meal includes, tea, coffee and natural soft drinks (beers and sodas not included). Enjoy popular choices like salads, soups, tortillas, sweet plantains and local dishes.

There is a kitchen at the camp where you can make your own food. You will need to help with cleaning dishes and keep your room and public areas tidy.

There are also social nights arranged at camp - pizza night, burger night, Mexican night, etc. where dinner costs approximately USD 15 (not included).

Cirenas
While at the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary, all three meals are provided during your stay.

Monteverde
While in Monteverde, breakfast and lunch are provided while dinner is available in town (at own cost).

ARRIVAL TRANSFER & LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
1) Transfer to Santa Teresa if not booking pre-night with Jakera
If you choose this option it includes a transfer from San Jose (accommodation not booked with Jakera) to Santa Teresa. It will be very early, you need to let Jakera know where the customer is staying if they haven’t booked the arrival package. We recommend the arrival package.

2) Arrival Package
This includes an airport transfer on Saturday, 1 night’s accommodation in San Jose and a transfer the following day by shuttle and ferry to Santa Teresa departing from your hotel in San Jose at 06:40.

3) Other Transportation
If required your customer can book and pay for a departure transfer locally.