Project Summary

The turtle project on the Pacific coast like other coastal-marine resource conservation projects has been developed in response to the urgent necessity to protect the few natural nesting sites that do not hold any official category of protection from the Government.

The volunteer work in National Parks appears to solve the problems related to lack of personnel and budget cutbacks that the Ministry of Environment has to face everyday; therefore, the volunteers play a crucial role in the conservation efforts: without volunteers, these efforts would be lost.

The Buenavista initiative consists of four core objectives:

• :: Analyze and collect data on the nesting dynamics of the female sea turtles that arrive on the beach, in order to predict their nesting behavior for the following year.
• :: Protect and closely monitor nesting sites and to recover nests within known breeding grounds.
• :: To transfer the information generated to the local authorities and local communities in order to suggest a plan for regulating and protecting the beach and raising awareness of areas that need to be protected.
• :: Initiate fund raising events in order to generate funds and resources to construct a conservation station in Buenavista.

At a Glance

Minimum Program Length:	2 weeks
Start Date:	Every Monday
Arrival Date:	2 days prior to your Start Date (Saturday)
Minimum Age:	18 years old
Volunteer Gender:	Male and Female
Accommodation:	Volunteers will be living in very basic conditions. They will be housed in a two-floor home; the kitchen and living area are on the first floor, and the dormitories are on the second floor. There are functional sanitary services and showers. There is no electricity, but there is telephone.
Food:	Meals are provided 3 times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and consists of traditional Costa Rican cuisine such as rice, beans, basic grains, pastas, meats, vegetables and fruits. Vegetarians can be accommodated.
Pick-up Info:	A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival location and guide you to your accommodation and project placement.
Project Schedule:	Depending on the type of work that you are performing, your hours can vary between 4-6 hours in the morning, afternoon or night. Patrolling activities will typically be performed at night while research is conducted during the day. We must stress that sometimes the work can be very physically demanding and the emphasis of the project is strongly (and happily) on conservation.

Your role as a Volunteer

Your daily tasks will involve the following:

• :: Construction of the breeding grounds
• :: Beach signaling
• :: Patrol walks to protect nests, females and for data collection purposes (Biometry, marking, etc.)
• :: Transfer of nests and monitoring of the breeding grounds
• :: Registry of breeding ground information
• :: Liberation of newborn turtles
• :: Nest exhumation

Project Location

The sea turtle conservation project of Playa Buenavista is situated in the northeastern Pacific coast in the Guanacaste province. It is located about 3.5 kilometers north from the town of Samara. Playa Samara is considered to be one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches. The town is located on the edge of 7km stretch of pristine white sand beach. There are many rural villages surrounding the horse shoe shaped cove with many small islands that rise out of the turquoise ocean.

The town's life revolves around the soccer field that lies in the middle of Samara, which is how traditional Costa Rican towns are typically laid out. The Guanacaste province is home to farming communities and villages that have managed to escape over-development and retain traditional Costa Rican culture and traditions. As a result, Guanacaste is one of best the places to be if you want to experience traditional Costa Rica's culture first-hand.

Suggested Skills and Interests

The turtle conservation projects are designed to allow our volunteers to have hands-on experience in marine turtle conservation. No prior knowledge or experience in turtle conservation is necessary. Volunteers should enjoy manual work and working with wildlife and be prepared to work unusual hours as turtle nesting typically occurs during the night.

Suggested Donations & Resources

Please contact our main office in Samara, Costa Rica to inquire about the proper type of donation for this project.

Flashlight, batteries, hiking shoes, sun block, repellent, rain clothes, hat or cap, books and a mosquito net. Most people do not take pills against Malaria, but if you want to ensure your safety and health, you should take them.