The Turtle Conservation Project
Journey to a secluded beach on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
and help ensure the survival of the green sea turtle. These majestic
animals face massive threats to their nesting grounds from
hunting, pollution and development. Spend a week helping to
patrol the beach, building a hatchery, and guaranteeing that the
turtles make it through another nesting season.
Prepare by Day for Turtles at Night
During the morning, you’ll work on the beach clearing away
plants, logs, and other debris so the turtles have a place to
lay their eggs. Help design and construct a hatchery, which
involves fencing off an area, digging and sifting through sand,
clearing driftwood, and making grids for the new turtle nests.
You’ll also help build environmentally friendly containment
units for the baby turtles. At night, you’ll patrol the beach for
turtle nests. If you’re lucky, you’ll stumble across one of the
huge 140-pound mother turtles in the midst of laying her eggs.
Upon locating a nest, you’ll carefully transport the eggs to the
hatchery, where you’ll learn to mark the location of the nest
and the time you found it. With the help and protection
provided by volunteers like you, 95 percent of these eggs will
hatch into healthy baby turtles that will head out to sea.
Turtles and Beyond
During your free time, you can play Frisbee, volleyball, or
soccer on the beach, or grab a book and head for one of the
hammocks at the rustic bunkhouse. There will also be trips to
the nearby beach towns of Esterillos and Jaco for swimming,
pizza, and shopping. You may also spend a day working on
exciting environmental or community service projects in the
neighboring villages. Take some time to explore Costa Rica’s
lush tropical rainforests and warm oceans during exciting
optional activities. Zip line through a rainforest alive with the
sounds of monkeys, birds, and many other creatures native to
the region, or head to the beach and learn how to catch waves
during a surf lesson on Costa Rica’s spectacular coast.
Life on the Beach
Your accommodation will be a large and very rustic bunkhouse
at the national park’s headquarters, which sits only a few steps
from the ocean. With an open-air lounge and several hammocks,
it is the perfect place to hang out before a night of turtle
patrolling. You’ll live and work with other volunteers, park
rangers, and Rustic Pathways staff and share meals in the
adjoining kitchen while taking in brilliant Pacific sunsets and
cool ocean breezes as you eat.
A Special Note for Turtle Students:
Although this program runs during the height of the turtle
season at Punta Judas, we cannot guarantee that every student
will see a green sea turtle. However, we can ensure that every
participant will make a significant contribution to the
conservation of this endangered species. This program is
located in a beautiful but remote location with rustic
accommodation. You must be aware that you will be
surrounded by jungle, animals and bugs. You should also be
aware that this program involves strenuous physical labor.
Make the Connection
After a week saving Costa Rica’s turtles, continue your
environmental efforts on the Amigos del Bosque: an Eco-
Service Adventure program, where you will live on a sustainable
farm and work on environmental projects at a wildlife refuge.
Or visit our Volcano and Rainforest Service Base, where
you can take part in rewarding service projects and heartpumping
adventure activities by day and relax at our
comfortable base house by night. Those who want a break
from service can join the Caribbean Adventurer program
and get a taste of the beautiful Caribbean Coast.
Questions? For more information please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com.
