Please have a look at this article that shares very interesting facts about the sea turtles population and what are the most common factors that are threatening them.

The TOP 7 Volunteer Projects in Sea Turtle Conservation

If you’ve made the decision to visit Costa Rica – good choice! Now let’s get you here as quickly as possible. Check the table below to see which airlines have routes to Costa Rica…and where to catch that direct flight.

Airlines that fly to Costa Rica

Where can you fly into in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica has two main airports. The San Jose International (or Juan Sanataria Airport), SJO, is located in Alajuela, just north of San Jose. This is the airport we here at the Reserva recommend you choose when coming to volunteer with us.

The other airport is Liberia International (Daniel Oduber Airport), LIR, which is located in the northern western part of Costa Rica. If you fly into Libera you will likely end up taking a secondary domestic flight to get to your destination in Costa Rica.

What are the domestic airlines in Costa Rica?

There are two domestic airline carriers – SANSA and Nature Air. Both offer the ability to book flights online and operate out of the San Jose (SJO) airport. If you are wanting to do more sightseeing while in Costa Rica, flying to your destination can save you a lot of time.

I am an Applied Biology student at the HAS University in the Netherlands. For our internship, we get the opportunity to do this abroad. So I was looking for an internship in Costa Rica, one of the most beautiful countries in the world because of their great biodiversity and untouched nature.

Measuring the snake’s length

Via school I came in contact with Oscar Brenes, biologist and director of Reserva Playa Tortuga. He offered me a research with snakes, investigating the (density and distribution of) snakes in the area around RPT. Besides, I take morphological measurements to see if there are major differences in morphology between species. For this, I have to catch the snakes and bring them back to the station.

The catching of snakes is not really hard, while the finding of snakes is the exact opposite of easy. To do this, I made squares in the area to investigate at daytime. At night, I am going over trails in the forests to look for the snakes. Besides, I place PVC tubes as a trap in already excisting holes where snakes can go in to sleep, whereafter I can take the PVC tube with the snake. After catching, I bring them back to Reserva Playa Tortuga to do all measurements such as length, body girth and mass.
Besides snakes, I am helping with other researches such as a mammal monitoring, sea turtles monitoring and a crocodile and caiman monitoring program. All of this work is done with the best team consisting of staff, volonteers, locals and interns. RPT provides a great work environment with good facilities.

In your free time, there is a lot to do such as visiting National Parks, going to town like Dominical or Uvita, or just go for a cooling swim in the sea or river nearby the station. On fridays and sundays, a volleyball day is organised at the beach, a great place to learn people from all over the area!

I am an Applied Biology student at HAS University in the Netherlands. As part of my education I got the privilege to do an internship abroad. I chose for Costa Rica and RPT because of the biodiversity, beautiful location and good reviews of other students.

During my time at RPT I am working on my own research and helping with other researches. The variety of this work and working in a passionated team is really stimulating and helps to gain knowledge and grow as a person.

Setting up the camera traps.

My own research is about mammals, in special the family Procyonidae. The aim of this study is to find out which type of environment (different areas within the property) each mammal species of Procyonidae prefers the most. This study includes working with camera traps and mammal walks. These mammal walks take place during the day and during the night. On these walks you look for (signs of) mammals. The camera traps are placed in different areas within the property of RPT. These areas are dense forest, open forest, open area, water area, and an old banana plantation.

First crocodile/caiman night.

Some of the other researches I am helping with is a study on snakes, a crocodile monitoring program, turtle program, etc. RPT provides a good work environment, the team consists of experienced staff, interns, and volunteers. Every time you go out for your study at least one person of the staff joins you and some of the volunteers join. When you are doing your own research they really give you the opportunity to lead the research which is a good experience. Of course will they always provide help or feedback regularly.

When you are off there are lots of interesting places to visit, this is no problem with a bus stop almost in front of the station. Sunday is your day off, this day everybody goes to the beach to play some beach volleyball. Great fun and a good way to bond with each other.

First, the backstory:  The beach hatchery and camp have already been built, in anticipation of the arriving sea turtles. Volunteers and staff are scheduled for night patrol shifts. You were on a late afternoon patrol yesterday, so you slept in your comfortable room at the Reserve’s main building…

7am: Your alarm goes off. You hit snooze.

7:09am: The alarm goes off again. Okay, okay, time to get up. You walk down to the bathrooms to take a shower and brush your teeth. After getting dressed, you grab your tablet and head into the main room.

8:30am: You are sitting in the main room, having grabbed a quick breakfast and now sipping on some fantastic Costa Rican coffee. Other volunteers come in and out, saying hello as they grab their breakfast.  You are checking your email on your tablet, and letting your friends and family know what a great time you are having.

9:00am: It’s low tide at the beach so you head off with a RPT staff member and a few other volunteers to take measurements for the erosion study that will ultimately help the

11:00am: You head back to the Reserve and help out in the Butterfly Garden. There will be a group of school children arriving in the afternoon.

12pm: Everyone gathers in the main room for a hearty “tipico” Costa Rican lunch – today it is rice, beans, veggies and fish. As everyone eats, they share stories about themselves.  People also share ideas of what you might do on your free day (waterfalls, diving, hiking, etc)  It’s a fun way to get to know your fellow volunteers.

1pm: You have a little bit of time this afternoon as you are signed up for a night patrol. You decide to take a quick nap and then meet up for the afternoon bird walk.

3:30pm: Adrian takes your group on a beach birding walk. The variety of birds you see in that hour and a half walk is amazing. You never knew birds could be so interesting!

5pm: You are back at the Reserve and grabbing a bite to eat for dinner. Then you head to your room to put on your night clothes and grab your red light headlamp for the night patrol.

6pm – 9pm: You walk the beach with several other volunteers and a RPT staff member, on the lookout for nesting turtles. As you patrol the beach, you hope that maybe tonight will be the night a nesting turtle arrives!

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