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| Sea
Turtle Rescue Project, South Details |
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 You
will be volunteering in the small beach town of Punta
Banco, located on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
This gorgeous, remote area is nestled between virgin rain
forests and beautiful black sand beaches. This town has
a population of about 200 people, and has become a desired
destination for tropical nature lovers.
Our partner organization has been involved at Punta Banco
since 1995, when they determined that from 150-300 sea
turtles nest there each season. Included in this group
are the olive ridley turtle, the rare Eastern Pacific
green turtle, and the hawksbills turtle. Unfortunately,
turtle eggs are often poached to eat or to sell and turtles
are captured by unregulated fishing, two factors which
have caused all of these species to become endangered.
As a volunteer on the Sea Turtle Project, you will be
working with our partners and the local community to monitor
turtle nesting activity and help protect the hatchlings.
Volunteers will be assisting in the tagging, nesting,
monitoring, and releasing of the turtles. With the help
of volunteers and local residents, over 50,000 turtles
have been protected and released into the sea, and poaching
rates have dropped from almost 100% to about 20%.
 Volunteers
in Costa Rica will not only help repopulate the Pacific
sea turtles, but will also be participating in important
research to understand these animals. You will become
part of the small Punta Banco community, whose members
truly appreciate the help and presence of volunteers in
their town.
Orientation:
Upon arrival in San José, our partner organization
will pick you up and take you to a local hotel. The next
day, they will transport you via bus to Punta Banco. Upon
arrival, you will be shown your accommodations and be
given a meal that evening. The next day, you will be given
a beach-walking and turtle-tagging schedule, as well as
in-depth training on how to handle the turtles appropriately.
Transportation:
You will be provided with transporation for the following:
 Airport
pickup
Delivery
to San José hotel for the first night
Transportation
from hotel to bus station in San José
Pick-up
at bus station upon -Return to San José and delivery
to hotel
Delivery
to airport on day of departure
Accommodations:
You will be staying at the Research Station and cabins.
The Station is a 2-floor building with 4 shared bedrooms,
shared bathrooms, a balcony, and large communal room.
When the station fills up, the nearby cabins are also
used. Bedding is provided and sheets are changed every
5 days. Volunteers are expected to participate in the
daily tasks of Station maintenance.
Volunteers who prefer family-style accommodations and
an added cultural element to their trip might be interested
in a homestay, where locals open up their homes and their
hearts to volunteers. Most of these families speak only
Spanish, so it can be a great place for you to practice
your language skills.
Meals:
You will be served 3 meals per day. Meals include
rice, beans, tortillas, salads, chicken, fish, pork, beef,
tacos, potatoes, pastas, soups, pancakes, cereals, breads,
milk, sandwiches, locally made cheese, peanut butter,
fresh fruits and vegetables, and fresh-squeezed juices.
Vegetarians should have no problems with the diet in Punta
Banco. Those who follow a vegan diet should note that
tofu is not readily available in Costa Rica, especially
in Punta Banco.
Activities:
Punta Banco has the limitless natural beauty typical of
a costal Costa Rican town. Situated between lush rainforests
and black sand beaches, Punta Banco offers volunteers
the opportunity to experience both coastal and inland
Costa Rica. The area is home to an extraordinary array
of natural treasures, and a day in the rainforest will
allow you to see monkeys, tropical birds, lizards, and
frogs. The small town of Punta Banco also offers some
amenities such as mini-marts and a few simple restaurants.
During your free time, you are welcome to do the following:
Visit
tide pools
Relax
on the beach
Hike
in the rainforest
Go
horseback riding
Surf
In-country
support:
You will be working side-by-side with staff members
who live on-site at this project. The project staff is
happy to help you during your time at the Sea Turtle Project. |
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Volunteer
Adventures - 915 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80246
Phone: 1-888-825-3454 or 303-777-7783 Fax: 303-777-7246 UK Toll
Free: 0800-028-8051 |
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