Overview
Wildlife Conservation Expedition in Costa Rica

Taking part in this wildlife conservation expedition gives you the chance to be an active member of GVI’s research team in the Costa Rican rainforest and work on a variety of long-term terrestrial, marine conservation and community education projects. Activities you can be involved in include: conducting turtle population and jaguar predation surveys; jaguar and other mammal camera trapping and helping with mammal and bird studies around the beach, canals and rainforest of the area.

Run in conjunction with partners such as the Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy, the expedition is involved in long-term conservation efforts. Volunteers receive continuous hands-on training on all aspects of the rainforest and coastline research.

College credit may be available for those attending this expedition. Consult GVI’s college credit page for helpful tips and advice.

Further training options are also available at this location, including long-term internships, short-term internships and GVI's unique BTEC in Biological Survey Techniques qualification. College credit may be available for those attending this expedition. Consult GVI’s college credit page for helpful tips and advice.

View Film Footage, images, blogs, stories from the field, video diaries and more at the programs media centre

The friends I made. The sense of being totally at home in the rainforest - a completely different environment than the one I usually live in! Learning new skills and absorbing new information. Walking along a beach in the pitch black with waves lapping on one side of you, a sand cliff on the other, sheet lightning flashing through the sky and the anticipation of seeing a Leatherback for the first time. One of the best and most rewarding experiences I have had!

Alice Greenland, Volunteer 2009

What Difference Does This Expedition Make?

The work carried out by GVI Costa Rica takes a holistic approach to the conservation of the area, helping to monitor every ecosystem of this incredibly diverse area: forest, canal, beach and sea. We continue to increase knowledge of jaguars and their predation of marine turtles, through active management have achieved massive reductions in marine turtle nest poaching, and help monitor populations of birds, marine turtles and large mammals. Data collected by GVI has also been used by MINAE in the latest management plan for the wildlife refuge. Our National Scholarship Program has helped several nationals gain employment in ecotourism and conservation.

Highlights

Getting the chance to go on this unique adventure in a Costa Rican National Park; enjoying life at the research station; learning about the wildlife and their habitat; seeing unique wildlife in marine and coastal rainforest environments, including sea turtles, monkeys, neo-tropical birds and amphibians; exploring the area by boat and canoe, including remote Caribbean beaches, gaining a wide variety of skills, including learning survey techniques and gaining real field experience, joining the research team to undertake turtle nesting surveys and monitor nesting sites during turtle season; participating on jaguar surveys; setting up and checking camera traps and tracking in the rainforest.

Skills And Qualifications Received

Amongst many others: First Aid & CPR training (certification optional); GPS, marine radio and camera trap use; wildlife identification skills; Tropical forest ecology; wildlife biology and conservation; time management; interpersonal skills; cooking for large groups; canoe skills. Numerous scientific techniques are taught depending on season and what work is being conducted, these can include: collection of biometric data; transect work; direct counts; incidental observations; tourist & human impact surveys; camera trapping; track identification; work with endangered and critically endangered species; and data entry.

See Requirements And Training page for more information

Location

If you are looking to go on an adventure to explore rainforests and tropical beaches seeing mesmerising terrestrial and marine wildlife, this is definitely the programme for you! The biological station is surrounded on three sides by stunning National Park rainforest and the Caribbean Sea and beach to the front, which is the largest rookery in the Western Hemisphere for the endangered green sea turtle. You will spend your time surrounded by the breathtaking scenery and wildlife of the rich canals, tropical rainforest and Caribbean beaches. There is no road access to the region, so all transportation is via canoe and motor boat, through the stunning canals and rivers surrounded by tropical rainforest and its associated wildlife.

See Life on the expedition page for more information

Field Conditions

Accommodation is pleasantly rustic and dormitory-style, in a beautiful clearing of the forest which has wildlife viewing opportunities that are second to none! All food will be prepared by the expedition team on a rotational basis, and basic but typically local food will be the staple diet. There is a generator for electricity part of the day in the main buildings, hand washing laundry facilities, and running (cold) water, which means there are flushing toilets and refreshingly cool showers.

See Life on the expedition page for more information