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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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If you are looking for a beach break then these projects on the beautiful Pacific coast need you on board. You will be learning to surf and helping to conserve the local sea turtle population during two sun-kissed weeks. You’ll be living on the beach coupling surfing lessons and supervised surf practice with patrolling the beaches and preparing turtle hatcheries. Providing you can swim, love the outdoors and have a passion for working with animals you will make a big difference and a lot of friends!
Fancy learning some Spanish to give you a good start in country? Why not add on two weeks Spanish Language school before you start your volunteering. Call us now to find out more.
You will be met at the airport by a member of our friendly i-to-i Costa Rica team, and taken to the Alajuela Backpackers hostel, where you’ll be spending your first 2 nights in Costa Rica. If you arrive before 6:30pm a tasty welcome dinner is provided, and the rest of your time is yours to spend as you chose – exploring Alajuela’s bars and shops, getting to know your fellow volunteers or catching up on some sleep!
At 8:30am a member of the in-country team will pick you up from the hostel and take you to the i-to-i office for orientation. This will give you a good insight into Costa Rica - the culture, things to do and see, what to do in case of an emergency and much more! It can also be a good way to meet other i-to-i travellers and ask any questions you may have. You’ll then be given some lunch and will have the afternoon free to explore or relax.
Early to rise! Today you’ll transfer to the area of Matapalo or Buena Vista which will be your base for your stay in Costa Rica. The transfer from Alajuela hostel is approximately 5 to 6 hours, and will normally be on public transport. If the orientation finishes early enough the previous day, you could transfer that same day, but we try to avoid you arriving at night.
Later that day you’ll settle into your new home and unpack. Where possible, one of the team will take you to meet the project staff and get you introduced and settled in. Take the time to get to know everyone and how things work – it’s your quickest route to getting the most out of your trip.
Your days will be filled with a combination of surfing lessons, supervised surf practice and turtle conservation. You could get involved with night beach patrolling, research gathering and preparing turtle hatcheries. There will also be daytime activities such as beach cleaning, camp maintenance, hatchery duty, manual labour ranging from building hatcheries to construction work to maintain the facilities at the camp.
You will work 6 days a week and have one day off a week to be arranged with the project. If you’re staying for one week, you’ll be working through the five days you are on the project. Those staying for two weeks will have one day off during the project. This time is yours to explore your surroundings and to perhaps try something new and exciting, or just to chill out and make the most of your free time in Costa Rica.
You can easily arrange excursions locally. In Matapalo there are horse back tours to visiting waterfalls and the jungle area and there is also a yoga retreat in the area to totally unwind. Also close by is the surfers town of Dominical – here you can go zip lining, party in one of the many bars, or catch the perfect waves and chill on the beach – it’s a hard life hey?
In Buenavista the closest toen is the surf heaven of Samara. You can also kayak over to nearby Isla Chora, horseride up to Carrillos beach or visit a nearby animal rescue centre. Also available locally are zip lining tours and even fly in a microlight plane!!
It’s time to bid a fond farewell to your new friends and head back to the airport or off for further adventures! Return transfer is not included, but the in-country team are there to help and advise you if you need them.
We also offer one free night in the hostel, Alajuela Backpackers, before departure if you require (if your flight leaves early Sunday morning, you can stay in Alajuela on the Saturday night). Alajuela Backpackers also offers transfers back to the airport.
Both the projects in Buenavista and Matapalo are run by ASVO – the Costa Rican Volunteers association. The main aims and goals of the projects are to protect nesting female turtles and their eggs from illegal poachers, by relocating the nest to a safe hatchery and guarding the eggs until they hatch. They aim to release as many baby turtles into the ocean to boost the declining populations of the Olive Ridley sea turtle. They involve local people, as well as school children in an aim to create awareness about the threats to the turtles.
There’s no point in lying about it, you’ll be taking part in some physically demanding work! You’ll be testing your body in a combination of surfing during the day then beach patrolling at night, walking long distances on beaches lit only by the moon. But when you see your first turtle or catch your first wave, it makes it all worthwhile! Nobody ever got anything without a little hard work but you’ll have plenty of down time to catch up on your sleep.
Enthusiastic, hard working and down to earth people are welcomed at this project. You must enjoy the outdoor life, and be prepared to live without luxuries (but it’s surprising how quickly you find you can live without your hair straighteners!). You must be prepared to live in close quarters with others of all ages and nationalities. Both projects are in isolated locations, giving you the chance to get back to basics and appreciate the natural beauty of coastal Costa Rica.
Turtles are under threat in Costa Rica and volunteers are really needed to help out with conservation efforts. This is your opportunity to play a part in an ongoing struggle to save a remarkable piece of Costa Rica's heritage. Turtle poaching is very common in Costa Rica and before the conservation projects started up the poaching rate was over 95% This has now decreased to 10% but volunteers are needed to continue protecting these marvelous creatures. Not only will your efforts impact on the turtles conservation immediately, but through assisting with the research your work will continue to help these creatures survival well beyond your stay.
Your day will be filled with a combination of surfing lessons (you will receive 2 hours of formal lessons per week), supervised surf practice and also turtle conservation. Each week you will get 2 hours of surfing practice time, which for those who are new to surfing is plenty enough time trying to ride the waves – you’ll be drained and aching by the end!
For the conservation work; you could get involved with night beach patrolling (a 4 hour shift commences depending on tide times), research gathering and preparing turtle hatcheries. There will also be daytime activities such as beach cleaning, camp maintenance, hatchery duty (shifts lasting from 2 to 6 hours), manual labour from building hatcheries to construction work to maintain the facilities at the camp. Be willing to get stuck in, small things like general maintenance are important to the camp, always think of the bigger picture!
You will work 6 days a week and have one day off a week to be arranged with the project. You will be able to visit nearby towns on your day off, where you can access the internet, visit the local shops, enjoy a cold beer or nice meal. Underwater explorers can indulge in some diving or snorkelling and those more comfortable on dry land can take a horse riding trip, visit to a stunning National Park or just chill out as they please.
Whilst taking part in the turtle project, you’ll need to wear dark clothes on the night patrols and avoid wearing mosquito repellent and perfumes as they deter the turtles. We’d recommend you looking into alternative methods of mosquito repellent though (such as wrist bands) as there are plenty of mosquitoes in the area who come out to play at night. You should bring clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty, and a swimsuit or two is of course a must!
Please note that it is prohibited to drink alcohol whilst on the project premises and whilst at work.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement ishas minimal costs; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
You will arrive on the Arrival Date - Sunday and will be met at the airport on that day. You will be taken to the Ala juela Backpackers (see address below) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight. Dinner is provided on Sunday at 6.30pm if you are arriving in before this time. The hostel is within walking distance from the main shops and access to internet if you wish to have a wander.
The Alajuela Backpackers is located a short distance from bars, restaurants and banks.
Alajuela Backpackers Hostel
Esquina suroeste del Parque de Niños
Alajuela Centro
Alajuela
Costa Rica
Central America
Your orientation will take place the next morning and will introduce you to life in Costa Rica as well as important information about staying healthy and safe and information getting to your project. This is your chance to ask any questions of the team before work. You will be given lunch at the office and then the afternoon to rest or explore Alajuela.
You will stay at this accommodation again on the Monday night before transferring to your permanent accommodation on the Tuesday. This will also be the first day that you meet your project and depending on your arrival time will start working as a volunteer.
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
If you are arriving before your designated arrival date, we can arrange for an extra meet and greet service for you. For an extra supplement we will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your orientation accommodation. One additional night a
The cost of this Early Pick-up service is US$ 46.00
Both project sites offer basic accommodation. The house at Buenavista is actually on the beach, whilst at Matapalo, the volunteer accommodation is nesting amoungst the lush tropical trees just a 30 second walk to the beach. Bedrooms and bathrooms are shared and everyone will be living closely alongside each other.
In both Buenavista and Matapalo you’ll have the extreme luxury of a bunk bed. You’ll need to pack your own sheets or sleeping bag and a pillow (in Buenavista and Matapalo) plus an extra blanket (in Matapalo only) as room service is unsurprisingly not included. However, whilst the accommodation is beautifully basic the locations are basically beautiful and you’ll soon realize that forgoing the luxuries of home-life for a while is more than worth it to live day and night in secluded paradise.
There is running water at both sites, but it is limited so you won’t be able to spend hours singing in the shower! Toilets are the Western, sitting down style that you’re used to (although you won’t be able to flush paper down there) and are shared with other volunteers. Matapalo has electricity and Buenavista now has solar panels - but at night we still only use candles a-plenty.
You will have your own storage space, but accommodations do not have lockable storage areas so if you are concerned about your valuables you could consider taking a Pac safe or similar with you.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included at both sites; expect traditional Costa Rican food such as: rice, beans, salad, some meat, poultry, pasta, etc. Thrown together by those in the know, you end up with tasty and healthy dishes you’ll love!
Both project locations are in isolated areas. You’ll be living and working on the beach and it’ll be a very laid back, relaxing atmosphere and environment. This really is an opportunity to live the simple life – no interruptions from the outside world at all!
Not far at all! Your accommodation is on site at the project so you won’t have to worry about your commute to work each morning, and will fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean and it’s wildlife. Bliss! Buenavista to civilisation takes about 45 minutes on foot so you’ll never be too far away from anything you might desperately need or somewhere to enjoy your day off. In Matapalo village there is a small convenience store which sells everything from batteries, to cold drinks and snacks. There is also a local restaurant serving great smoothies, and available internet connection.
Costa Rica, dubbed the rich coast by Columbus, was a melting pot of cultural diversity long before the Europeans came, with Mesoamerican and South American groups settling on the land. The area was not defined by one tribe or group but a mix of indigenous people. Faced with Indian resistance and tropical diseases, it took the Spanish around 60 years to colonise the country and Cartago. The central highlands was founded as a colony in 1563. The colony soon diminished in importance, however, as there was not a large Indian workforce to sustain it, it was far removed from major trading routes. Costa Rica became somewhat of a poor relation to other Spanish-seized nations despite the gradual establishment of cities in the fertile central highlands during the 1700s. Costa Rica’s status saw a turnaround in the 19th century as it gained full independence (1838) and achieved economic growth through coffee exports. Today it has a healthy economy driven by its growing industries that include tourism and electronics, and is the most affluent country in Central America.
A peace-loving and forward thinking nation, Costa Rica held its first democratic elections in 1889 and abolished its army in 1948 to invest in the country’s social and cultural needs. Despite a brief dictatorship and a six week civil war in the first half of the twentieth century, Costa Rica has achieved political stability and has managed to escape military dictatorships and violence that has befallen its neighbours.
Costa Rica is like Dr. Who’s tardis: it’s a small country but there is a vast array of species and natural beauty residing within its borders. It contains round 5 per cent of the world’s biodiversity and a quarter of the country is designated a national park or reserve. With 26 national parks, Costa Rica is renowned for its progressive approach to conservation and ecotourism. Parque Nacional Corcovado boasts the largest primary rainforest on the American Pacific coastline and is home to around 140 mammal species including the endangered Baird’s Tapir, jaguars and howler monkeys, as well as crocodiles and sharks on the coastal track of the park. The country’s turtle haven, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, lies on the Caribbean coast and its where Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback turtles lay their eggs. Getting to the park is an adventure in itself since it can only be reached by sea or air.
To get closer to the clouds, Costa Rica’s volcanoes provide the perfect vehicle. The country houses around 100 volcanoes with only a handful active. Volcán Irazú, the country’s highest volcano at over 3400m, is active and its last major eruption was in 1963. It makes for a worthwhile trek to the summit where it’s possible to see the Pacific and Caribbean on rare clear days. For night owls, the active Volcán Arenal is best viewed from afar when the sun goes down for a chance of seeing it spouting spectacular explosions of hot orange lava. The Arenal Hanging Bridges, which consist of 15 suspension bridges in front of the volcano, provide great views of the volcano and the surrounding rainforest. Close to the volcano is Laguna de Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica, often hailed as one of the best windsurfing spots in the world. White water rafting, horse back riding and fishing are also popular activities in the area.
With an abundance of wildlife, rainforests and natural wonders to choose from in Costa Rica, it is also worth exploring the acclaimed Monteverde cloud forest. Lauded for its enormous range of plant and wildlife species, it’s a full on jungle experience with muddy trails and thick clouds hovering overhead. Adding to the area’s uniqueness is the Quaker community which settled close by in a town also known as Monteverde in the 1950s.
Sandwiched between the Pacific and Caribbean, Costa Rica has no shortage of fine beaches, whether white or black sand, tranquil or high spirited. On the pacific coast, Domincal is a cosy beach community and popular surfing destination with various national reserves and parks within easy travelling distance. One of the highlights on the Caribbean coast is Punta Uva which is picture postcard personified. The Nicoya Peninsula, meanwhile, is among other things, a hub for idyllic beaches from the secluded charms of Mal Pais to surfers’ paradise Santa Teresa.
If you come across random large stone spheres, these are just another of country’s unexpected and unique features. The existence of the spheres, which range from a few centimetres to 2 metres in diameter, were discovered in the 1930s and it’s not known why, what or who, but they are believed to have been made around 200BC to 1600 CE. Around 300 have been found so far in various part of the country.
It’s simple: dry, hot weather is like honey to a bee for tourists, but during the rainy season, you’ll find less crowds and usually cheaper hotel rates. To avoid the crowds and also a chance of dry weather, late April and May along with mid October to mid December are the best bet since the dry season tends to run from late December to mid April. The rain may hamper sunbathing but it doesn’t take away from the natural diversity of the country. Easter week is one of the busiest times especially in and around beach resorts. It’s hot year round with the coast boasting the hottest temperatures, averaging 89ºF (32ºC), while the highlands are relieved by cooler temperatures at night.
Like most Latin American countries, if you want to get around, bus is the way to go. Since the population is largely concentrated to the centre of the country, this is where roads and buses are most abundant. San Jose is the main departure point and depending on where you want to travel to and from, it is sometimes easier to return to San Jose to take the next leg of your journey. Buses vary from crowded old school buses to air conditioned luxury. But you get what you pay for and for long distance journeys on direct buses will get you to your destination an hour or two earlier than the cheaper corriente or normal variety that stop on demand. Buses are at their most crowded during major holidays, especially Easter, and at weekends and on Mondays and Fridays. In San José the majority of buses leave from what is commonly known as Le Coca Cola, the former site of the bottling factory and most services stop at 10pm.
Car rental is a popular option but it can be expensive and you need to be prepared to deal with unruly drivers and the occasional potholed roads. For long journeys, flying is good way to get to your destination quicker and domestic airlines like Nature Air and Sansa offer good rates and fly to cities as well as remote destinations.
Taxis are a good way to get to remote areas and around towns and cities. Agree on a fare before you set off, and for shorter journeys make sure the metre is switched on. It’s worth noting that taxi drivers tend to identify areas by landmarks rather than by address so it helps if you know what your destination is near.
The cosmopolitan bustle of capital city San José is far removed from the natural wonders of Costa Rica, but with most journeys beginning and ending in the city it’s a good place to while away a few days. Although there are few reminders of its colonial past what with skyscrapers, department stores and fast food chains dominating the city skyline, its museums, plazas and surrounding areas provide an alternative look at Costa Rican life. Museo de Jade, one of the country’s most renowned museums, offers a look at the world’s largest collection of American jade, together with various archaeological exhibits. Built in 1897, Teatro Nacional, the national theatre, is one of the city’s most striking buildings with marble staircases and gilded ceilings. For immersion in city life, the main market, Mercado Central, is good way to meet locals and find a bargain, while for people watching, head to the parks such as Parque Nacional and Parque Central.
San José is also the country’s transport hub and is the best base to explore from. Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo is a the closest national park to the city, less than an hours drive away, and amongst its lush vegetation it’s possible to capture the sight of quetzals, eagles, jaguars. You can also view the park from the comfort of cable cars and see flora and fauna that would otherwise go unseen by taking the hiking route. La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a nature park one hour from the city that features five waterfalls and a butterfly observatory. Also within striking distance of the city is one of the oldest national parks in the country, Parque Nacional Volcán Poás, with this being Costa Rica, an active volcano is the main attraction.
www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.
www.natureair.com
Airline Nature Air offers domestic flights, as well as services to Nicaragua and Panama.
www.flysansa.com
Domestic airline Sansa has flights to major and remote locations and the site also has links to domestic airlines for Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
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We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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