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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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Central America remains one of the last undiscovered gems of world travel so expect to see travellers flock to its shores over the next few years. This is a great chance to beat the hordes and at the same time enjoy the company of two of the sea’s cutest residents; the leatherback turtle and the manatee. You’ll start in pulsating San Jose, a town so vibrant even its name sounds like a song, before heading off to Gandoca to lend a hand on the world renowned turtle conservation project. When you’ve finished there you’ll travel to Panama to visit the manatees and compare which country’s Caribbean coast is the best, before dashing back to Costa Rica for a rousing end of trip celebration.
Please note that minimum numbers apply for this tour to run, please enquire for details.
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!
If you aren’t able to arrange a flight to get you into San on the designated arrival day then we’d recommend you fly in a day early. We can arrange an early airport pick-up for you including one night’s accommodation for an additional fee. Please call us for more information.
Please note that if you are on a flight departing from Mexico on Sunday evening (Arrival day) that arrives into San Jose at 00.10am on Monday morning, you will need to pay for a late pick up fee - please arrange this with our office in advance.
If you are on a flight departing Mexico on Saturday evening that arrives into San Jose at 00.10am on Sunday morning your airport pick up will be included however you will need to pay for an additional night’s accommodation - please arrange this with our office in advance.
As volunteers are not able to check into their rooms before 2pm on the arrival day, anyone arriving earlier than 12 midday that would like to have a room available for them will need to pay for an additional nights fee for accommodation - please arrange this with our office in advance.
Today you and the rest of your group members will be met at the Maleku hostel and then taken to the i-to-i offices for orientation. You will receive full information about tour, volunteer projects and itinerary followed by a lunch provided at the office.
At midday you will leave on public transport to go on a tour on foot around the exciting capital city of San Jose (it’s always good to tick another capital city off your wish list!) You will visit the cathedral and Central Park, the national theatre, the shopping area, the central market and final the artisan market for souvenir shopping. We’d recommend that you don’t blow all your spending money on the first full day of your trip… In the evening we head back to Alajuela for a traditional Costa Rican meal at the i-to-i hub.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
After a hearty local breakfast you will leave on public transport to the first turtle project in Gandoca on the beautiful Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The transfer will take approximately 5 hours so grab a book or just sit back and enjoy the ride. Upon arrival at project, you will be settled into your accommodation and a delicious lunch will be served. After lunch it’s time for training at the Sea Turtle research station. You’ll then be given a full orientation to the project and location, and training for working with turtles. After an evening meal, the group will start work on their first night shift.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
For the next few days you will continue your hard work at the sea turtle project. On the evening of day 9, a farewell party is organized to say goodbye to our accommodation hosts, the project staff and the turtles!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
After an early breakfast you’ll take private transport away from the project and down to the border crossing with Panama. The transfer will take approximately 1 hour. We visit Costa Rican immigration then cross the bridge which is the official border between the two countries. We then visit Panamanian immigration and get our stamps in our passports. (Please note that US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens have to pay for a tourist card at a price of $5).
After crossing the border you will all take a minibus to the docks to pick up the boat which will take you to Bocas Del Toro islands. The boat trip is approximately 1 hour long through the canals of San San wetlands. Upon arrival in the town of Bocas del Toro on the main island of Isla Colon, you’ll head straight to our hotel and have the afternoon free to explore the island and buy souvenirs.
Breakfast is included.
After breakfast you could take an optional tour by boat to see dolphins or you could go snorkeling around the coral reefs, not bad for a mornings work? We will also visit a local beach for some well earned sunbathing and beach fun. For the more adventurous there is also time if you want to take a basic one-day introductory scuba diving course. Please note that the optional activities are not included in the tour price.
In the evening there is the option of dancing away at “Ladies night” at a local bar – ladies go free, sorry guys!
Wake up to another beautiful morning! After breakfast we take the boat back to mainland Panama. You will be met in a minibus and taken to the meeting point for the next volunteer project in the San San wetlands. You will then take another boat into San San and the journey will take approximately 1 hour. Upon arrival at San San, you’ll settle into your accommodation and have lunch. In the afternoon you’ll take a stroll around the facilities.
Today you’ll get stuck in on your sea turtle project in San San Ponds, a rural area 30kms from the Panama border. Each day you’ll travel to the project and get involved a range of activities such as patrolling the beach to protect the nests, to locate and re locate any nests that are at risk and also release the hatched turtles back into the sea when they are ready. Extra activities will be offered every day – and are subject to change. These activities will include a canoe tour around the canals, manatee spotting, visit to an organic farm, cooking sessions of local food, local dance lessons, volleyball, fishing, and other cultural activities.
On the night of day 19, you’ll have a farewell party to say goodbye to the community and the project hosts.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included
After a yummy Costa Rican breakfast, you’ll take a boat trip back to town where a minibus will be waiting to take you back to the border. Please note that there is no charge to enter back in to Costa Rica. Once back in Costa Rica, we will take the public transport to our hotel in Puerto Viejo then it’s time to relax and discover the reggae parties on the beach!
Breakfast is included
Last bit of travelling on the tour, today you’re bound for San Jose, Alajuela to be specific. The journey will take approximately five hours but we’re predicting you’ll sleep on the way after that reggae party last night!
You’ll be dropped off at the Hostel Alajuela Backpackers where you spent your first night in Costa Rica – seems so long ago now doesn’t it? Have a fun last evening with everyone as you are taken out for a farewell dinner!
Breakfast and dinner is included
It’s over already! Time to head off for your next leg of your travels, wherever you’re going we hope you’ve had fun? Our team can help to arrange free transfers back to the airport or advise on onward travel plans if you’re staying in Costa Rica.
Breakfast is included
The project is based in the remote San San Wetlands area of Panama on the Caribbean coast and was founded in 2000. Its main aim is to bring the communities together in order to help conserve the area and preserve its natural resources. There are over 16,000 hectares of protected marshland in the San San Pond area and the project aims to preserve its important mangrove areas, monitor the manatees in the canals and to preserve the endangered turtle species.
San San Pond is located about 30kms from the Costa Rica - Panama border and is in a very remote area. This is your chance to get back to basics so there is no Facebook and hair straighteners will have to stay at home!
This is for anyone who loves being outdoors, living on a tropical coastline and wants to experience a unique way of life going back to basics. Most importantly though, knowing that you are helping to preserve an endangered species is a big factor in your decision to come here. You will need to be flexible due to the demands of the project and be prepared for some hard work - including long nights on beach patrols! This is not the same environment you are used to working in, and at times methods may seem a little illogical or frustrating, but go with the flow and you will have a fantastic time!
The project mainly needs help to protect the turtle nests, to locate and relocate the nests at risk and release hatched turtles into the sea. They will also appreciate help in essential maintenance tasks such as building, refurbishing and cleaning – just be prepared to get stuck into whatever is happening when you arrive.
You will be involved mainly in patrols of the beaches looking out for turtle nests and relocating those at risk, this will mainly include shifts on night patrols.
The patrols are lead by an experienced patrol leader and walk a sector of the beach searching for nesting females. Once a turtle is encountered the leader with the aid of the volunteers will collect information; the length and width of the turtle, nest location and its dimensions, and the number of eggs laid. The eggs will be carefully removed by the group leader and relocated to the hatchery. Turtles will also be tagged by the patrol leader.
Turtles are sensitive to light, if any flashlight is to be used on the beach only one with a red light is permitted. No photographs are to be taken whilst on patrols and you should also be wearing dark clothing for patrols.
You will also be involved in the monitoring of the manatee population of the marshes during the day, so you will need to catch up on your sleep when you can!
Our advice would be to be prepared to be flexible as the project may want you to get involved in other activities as required such as general maintenance. An approximate timetable for the day is 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon with night patrols lasting 4 hours or so (please note that night patrol schedules may vary).
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 is free; 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.
If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 60-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More
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 Nios
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 €30.00
Whilst on our turtle project in Gandoca, you’ll be living in a home stay with a local family which is a great chance to test your Spanish and learn more about life as a Costa Rican.
You will be staying in a two-storey house on site that has 8 bedrooms whilst in San San Ponds in Panama. The rooms are situated in front of the beach separated by some palm trees. There is a lovely balcony looking out over the ocean, and the back rooms look out over the canals – it is a beautiful location!
Both accommodations are clean but basic and perfectly suited and located to give you a real insight into local life, you’ll be surprised to find what luxuries you can live without whilst still taking a massive amount from the experience.
Bedrooms at San San Ponds are shared with space for 4 people in each room, all located on the upper floor, with a 'bodega' (or small store/ shop) on the ground floor. The water supply for showers is from a water tank that catches the rain, so in unusually dry periods water can run short; however there is a well that can also be used for bucket showers.
The accommodation is owned, maintained and operated by the project association. There is no full time electricity but a generator does come on for a couple of hours every night. You will be in a beautiful but relatively isolated area and the nearest commercial facilities about 40 minutes by boat and then 10 minutes by car. The local residents are very friendly and welcoming - this really is a 'Robinson Crusoe' kind of experience!
Food is included and you will be eating mainly Caribbean food consisting of rice, beans (there will be lots of rice and beans!), plantains, salads, some meat, fish and vegetables.
Please note whilst it may be tempting go for a swim in the sea, we advice strongly against this. The currents are fierce and there are many rip tides. To go swimming here is dangerous, and we ask you follow our advice and resist the urge to swim
As you’ll be living in an isolated area you will need to bring some entertainment with you! Music and books are a good idea however, please remember that there is no electricity, but a generator that is on for 2 hours per night.
The accommodation in Panama is in a stunning and remote location on site with the turtle project, so you can forget all about a commute!
There isn’t all that much to do in your spare time in Panama but it’s a great location in terms of getting back to basics and kicking back doing absolutely whatever you feel like in your own time. Walk along the beachfront, play cards or just sit and watch the waves for a while – it’s your choice and what a tough choice we’re giving you...
Whilst at the turtle project in Gandoca, you’ll be staying with a local home stay family which is a great way to get the most out of a short space of time in Costa Rica! They’re great fun families who make you feel at home and are so welcoming you won’t want to leave!
Oh look, its right over there! You can stumble from your accommodation to ‘work’ every day. Very nice indeed.
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 foundered 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.
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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