Learn Spanish & Volunteer

The schedule order may be subject to change according to tide, weather and volunteer work specifics

Each day Monday to Friday there will be 2 x 45 minute Spanish lessons (usually between 09:00-11:00). Tuition is delivered by accredited and licensed teachers and on day one you will receive a short test to establish your level and objectives. These lessons will be tailored to suit all levels from beginner to intermediate and are designed to help you interact and immerse with the local community and enjoy being in a Spanish speaking country.

Beach Conservation - here we work alongside the ‘Santa Teresa Lifeguards’. Having seen the amazing beaches of Santa Teresa, and adjoining Playa Hermosa and Playa Carmen, the recreational opportunities are clear. However, beaches need to be maintained to keep them clear of debris that not only looks unsightly but can cause harm to people and wildlife. Initially we receive briefing and training from the Lifeguards as we set out our group objectives. Work includes promoting Lifeguard issues with regard to beach safety and etiquette (through signage, presentations and speaking to visitors), preparing beaches with the Lifeguards at the start of each day and organising clean ups with focus on recycling. Formed in response to water and beach pollution, this government-backed initiative aims to reward communities that adhere to their guidelines on conservation practice. By awarding the Blue Flag, the communities gain international recognition for their beach and can attract more tourists and investment.

Tropical Forest - our main focus is the forests most important resource - water! You will be helping with the maintenance and supply of our tree nursery; planting carefully selected saplings, gathered seeds and ongoing support of recently planted trees to ensure their success. We support the local ‘Waterkeepers’ who patrol the river systems of Santa Teresa and neighbouring tropical forest resources by helping to report any contamination, clear forest debris and litter from streams before it is washed out to sea and can cause further damage to wildlife, and by maintaining walking/hiking trails that allow visitors to access this beautiful area. It is also a great opportunity to learn about the biodiversity of flora and fauna in this special part of the world.

Jakera Club
Community work with the kids of Santa Teresa elementary school. Here we will team up and work hand in hand with Santa Teresa school kids hosting extra curriculum activities. Our activities will be run by the volunteers, and activities will include Sports, Arts & Crafts, English classes, environmental awareness activities and social awareness activities.

We will also organise and run out-of school activities (sometimes on weekends), for the kids to appreciate entirely new experiences and adventures, including; organised sea safety, beach and kids surf classes, nature and turtle conservation activities, sports games and arts and crafts.

Turtle conservation volunteer placement at ASVO Montezuma or ASVO Buena Vista depending on seasonal requirements.
You will be placed on a turtle related conservation project. Depending on the time of year and requirements this will either be a placement at ASVO Montezuma (down the coast one hour drive from Santa Teresa) or ASVO Buena Vista (directly north about 4 hours drive from Santa Teresa).
You’ll be protecting the eggs and hatchlings of Olive Ridley, Black Turtle, Hawksbill and Leatherback species, who visit local ‘semi intensive’ nesting beaches at night to nest. The principle objective of the project is to protect adult female turtles that frequent beaches along this coastline, and their nests, from human predators and wildlife, natural events such as beach erosion and flooding due to high amounts of rainfall in nesting season. 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’. You will work between 6-10 hours per day.

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

We would like you to enjoy Nicoya Peninsula - an area of outstanding natural beauty - so each Wednesday we will explore our surroundings on foot. The first is a 2 hour ‘jungle river trek’ along a river that runs by Jakera Jungle Surf Camp and into the lush tropical forest that surrounds us. You will quickly find yourself ‘lost’ and wondering which direction the seemingly nearby beach is. The second Wednesday we hike from ‘beach to waterfall’ to discover a multitude of waterfalls and rivers that tumble and twist through the rainforest and out into the Pacific Ocean. This hike helps us to understand how the whole eco system works. There is a huge range of flora including trees with specific medicinal applications. We begin to understand the beauty of this truly diverse location.The last hike in Week 4 is a bit flexible and depends on the weather and how much of the area the volunteers have already explored.

During the weekends, there are a lot of opportunuties to expore the area and try out different activities.
Beach Yoga - Every Sunday morning, getting 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, there is always something to do and if it all sounds to active, you can just enjoy the beach or pool.

Please note
Travel at the weekend, or any of these 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.

Police Clearance Certificate

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.

Our projects range from 1 week up to approx. 30 weeks. Projects have a specified minimum stay, then it’s up to you how long you can commit. In our experience the longer you stay the more you will gain, as your understanding of the project broadens and you take on more responsibilities.