Rainforest Exploration and Biodiversity in Costa Rica

Overview

On this program, you will be joining a team of international participants stationed on base camp in the Tortuguero National Park. You will be participating in important research on wildlife species including Jaguars, Aquatic Birds, Sea Turtles, and more. You will be observing and interacting with the various species in their natural habitat, noting their behaviours, how they interact with others, and where they fit into the bigger picture of the Costa Rican habitat. This research is crucial to the local community and also aides conservation efforts by the Costa Rican government, who are working actively to preserve forests and national parks in the region.

Taking part with a GVI program shows you are committed to your own professional and personal development. This program will provide you with a range of transferable and practical skills, as well as providing you the sufficient training required in order to gain experience in the fields of both research and wildlife conservation. This program is the perfect stepping stone for a career in conservation and will set you up to pursue your dreams in the field should you wish to do so!

Highlights
The Rainforest Exploration and Biodiversity program will provide you with a lifetime of memories, including:
- Meeting new friends from all over the world, who also have a passion for conservation;
- Calling the Costa Rican National Park your adventure-filled home during your stay;
- Being exposed to remarkable coastal environments and its noteworthy flora;
- Interacting with various notable bird species, sea turtles, monkeys, birds and amphibians, to name a few; and
- Gaining practical experience in the field, setting you up for a career in conservation should you wish to pursue employment after.

Program Details

Project Life

This program starts out as an adventure from the minute you arrive, where you’ll be transported on the green canals via canoe or boat, immersing yourself in the authentic beauty of Tortuguero Caribbean rainforest. Seclusion is the name of the game, as travelling like this is the only way to or from base camp! Working with the base team in Jalova, you will receive extensive training upon your arrival, ensuring you are fully equipped to get the most out of your time spent in the region.

The base is small but comfortable, providing the perfect opportunity to get to know an connect with your fellow participants, who will likely be from a range of diverse backgrounds. Camp duties are rotated evenly and you will work together with the team to ensure that the area is kept clean and tidy for the duration of your stay.

GVI prides itself in working towards creating more global citizens in the world. Global citizens are people who display a passion for sustainable development, making a concerted effort to not only participate in, but also help spread the word about conservation and community development in all their interactions following the completion of the program. Sounds good? Sounds great!

Project Details

The rainforest exploration and biodiversity research program provides you with a hands-on opportunity to source, log and analyse long-term trend data, as well as conducting various assessment surveys in specifically defined habitat areas in Jalova. You may also be asked to participate with additional research in the conservation field over and above the specific focus on the promotion of biodiversity in the region. This could possibly include the study of jaguar behaviour, predation of sea turtles, as well as monitoring jaguars and other wildlife found in the area. Turtle nesting studies will also be conducted, but this is limited to the relevant time of the year when this takes place. No two days are going to be the same and TNP provides for an entertaining experience regardless of the type of work you will be conducting on any given day for the duration of the course.

How This Program Makes a Difference
GVI works closely with the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET), and partners with world-renowned organisations such as Sea Turtle Conservancy and Panthera, providing data and collaborate on conservation efforts in Tortuguero. GVI program participants allows for more areas to be surveyed in greater detail, expanding the wealth of knowledge available to improve and build on current conservation efforts all over the world.

Jalova's short, mid, and long-term objectives:
All of GVI’s programs have short, mid and long-term objectives that are directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This enables us to report on our collaborative impact across the world in a streamlined manner, measuring which UN SDGs we are making a substantial contribution to. Furthermore, this will help our local partners and communities measure and visualize their contribution to the UN SDGs.

Upon arrival to base, you will be educated about the history of the UN SDGs. You will learn about the specific goals of your location, the long, mid and short term objectives, as well as gain clarification on how your involvement contributes to these goals on a bigger scale.

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as active global citizens after completion of your program, helping to fulfil our mission of building a global network of people united by their passion to make a difference.

In terms of the long-term objectives you will be contributing to in Jalova, these are the most prominent to keep in mind:
- Assisting to increase the scientific knowledge of Tortuguero National Park;
- Helping to increase awareness of GVI’s work in Jalova, as well as promoting the ecological value of the National Park;
- Building local capacity to support long-term conservation efforts, assisting with sustainable community development in Costa Rica;
- Continuing to raise awareness of environmental issues amongst all volunteers and visitors.

What's Included

What's Not Included

Exploration

Volunteering with GVI not only allows you to participate on programs assisting endangered ecosystems, but also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your downtime, or further afield either before or after your program. Many decide to travel after completing a program, solidifying the lifetime friendships established on program.

Our long term field staff are a great source of advice and are here to help you make the most of your time abroad. Remember to ask about discounts on local activities and side trips through your association with GVI.

See below, where our Jalova field teams have helped us put together the following information on trips and travel options in Costa Rica.

Optional Side Trips
Given your isolated location, a lot of your down time will be spent on base. The rainforest is not exactly a place to go wandering! There are however still possibilities to travel in the immediate area, to make sure you make the most of your time in Costa Rica. These include a visit to Tortuguero Village, where you can browse through souvenir shops, visit the local bakery and experience what life is like in the local community.

Longer term participants, who will have the opportunity to take longer weekend breaks, the opportunity exists to head off base and further explore the Caribbean region of Costa Rica. Hiking, snorkelling, fishing, or canopy and zipline tours are just some of the activities that are available for you to book in the area. For something a bit more physically intense, you could raft on the white waters of the famous Pacuare River (on class III to IV rapids) over the course of one or two day trips. If the more adventurous activities are not for you, you could always explore the option a relaxing day in the laid back Caribbean village too.

Further Travelling Opportunities
Costa Rica is an amazing country with an abundance of travel opportunities further afield. The following is just a snapshot of the many possibilities you can explore. Feel free to reach out to GVI’s support team to learn more about the opportunities available to you.
- Admire the famous and active Volcan Arenal from a distance and relax in the natural hot springs;
- Surf the Salsa Brava – a hotspot of the Caribbean for the advanced surfer;
- Ride horseback on the beach in Puerto Viejo or simply enjoy miles and miles of beautiful beaches sun kissed by palm trees;
- Spot migratory raptor birds in the Talamanca Mountains;
- Visit indigenous villages to learn more about their amazing culture;
- Discover the cloud forest at Monteverde;
- Visit the hummingbird gallery;
- Enjoy the locally made ice cream and other fresh dairy products;
- Walk among the treetops on the hanging bridges;
- Enjoy the organised wildlife tours of Braulio Carrillo National Park;
- Travel across the country to discover the beautiful Pacific Coast with its hidden white sand beaches;
- Visit Volcan Irazu and discover coffee farms on the way back to San Jose.