Caribbean Coast!

Hi Natsuco,

The areas that come to mind are:

1. Tortuguero. THere are many, many volunteering opportunities for nature and marine life conservation. Cheap accomodations in the village ($5 USD for bare bones dorm, $7 USD for clean private room per person)

2. Cahuita. A fun funky Caribe community - good live music and dancing, beautiful beaches, gorgeous jungle. There is a National Park next to the village which probably accepts volunteers. The National Park is beautiful.

Photos and details and recommended budget accomodations are on my travelblog if you are interested. We were just there in May.
Kay and Franks Trip to Central America

Cheers,
Kay

There is an organization of volunteers that assists the national parks rangers to maintain and protect the environment here in Costa Rica. My brother-in-law has worked with this group for many years. They accept volunteers for various projects located throughout Costa Rica, protecting baby turtles etc.

ASVO

They have rustic facilities you can lodge in and provide basic food each day. I recommend you bring enough cash to get around in buses and get your own food when you can...

#1 suggest some great options.

If you check the FAQ, there are a few other orgs-volunteer and non profits that will be happy to put you to work and you can help out in many ways from Turtle nesting areas that need protection north of Limon, to education and ecology research in the Talamancas.

In addition to Playa Cahuita, the Ganduca-Manzanillo refuge at the end of the road, also has marine biologist research and nature research at various times of the year, inquire at Aquamor in Manzanillo, or also next door at the Refuge administration office.

Pt Viejo has a hostel that offers a nice social atmosphere, slightly a party scene depending on crowd and weekend, at Rocking J's on the south end of town on the ocean, both dorm and camping shelter is offered,

Also, as head south of PV, the beaches are really rugged and raw and just as nice any you will encounter in CR, that also have many types of cabinas depending on your needs, and time of year.

A word of warning, there is random crime against tourist on this coast, mainly muggung for cash, and most likely on desolate sections of beach and road, and normally by crackhead wigged out, as drugs such as cocaine are the culprit, due to the fact the Colombians run and refuel along the coast to inland connections further north in Honduras and Guatemala, the entire Miskito coast has some degree of this operation. Limon itself can be a pretty rough crowd, with dock workers, ship hands, and plantation workers, and drug dealers all mixing for a toxic party of troublemakers, so be warned, its not for everyone, especially at night, this port town has the worst reputation in the country, deservedly or not, a traveler here should use caution.

Personally, this entire coast is my favorite, as the cuisine is the best in the country, a spicy afro caribe mix and the culture is a huge contrast to the western pacific gringo infested beaches and developments, the towns of Cahuita and Pt Viejo offer great music scene, a funky vibe you cant help but relax to, and the beaches are stunning almost 5 minutes you walk, not to mention there is little if any active development, due to the protections in place and refuges at each end of the entire area.

Here is another link to the area: Enjoy!

http://www.greencoast.com</a>

Hi,

there are a few links on my blog that you might find useful. Look under voluntary links. Also before you or any one else goes to La Tortuga Feliz,which is a project near Limon, I would recommend that you read my blog post about that too. "Turtles are us..."

www.thegoldenpathblog.com<BR><BR>good luck

Cath

RVA - no advertising! Plus this thread is more than 4 years old. :-/