Volunteering

Wild jungles. Epic adventures.

Wildlife Expedition in Costa Rica

Contribute to rainforest conservation while living in the heart of the jungle surrounded by Caribbean beaches.

Durations: 2 - 12 weeks
Fieldwork hours35 hrs of fieldwork per week
Participant ratio1:6 staff to participant ratio
GVI experiencesIncludes GVI Experiences
Book with confidence
Travel flexibility, because life happens! Modify your booking, even up to 48 hours before departure. T&Cs apply.

Program information

Join us in the heart of the wild Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve on the beautiful Caribbean coast. Travel to Costa Rica and live in the jungle, touring the local area, and working to monitor species like ocelots, mantled howler monkeys and the keel-billed toucan. Have the adventure of a lifetime with fellow nature lovers from around the world.

Overview
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
What's included
Life on Base
Experiences
New
Free time & Cultural Immersion
Speak to Alumni
Parent Info
Arrivals & Flights
Your Impact
Publications
Our Ethics
Program Ethics
Qualifications & Training Options
Support & Safety

Program overview

Elusive wild cats. Rare reptiles. Sea turtles and flamboyant birds. Home-brewed coffee. Costa Rican wildlife monitoring. Yoga. Night hikes. Relaxed living. Hands-on conservation. Game nights. Jungle and beach vibes. A group of like-minded people. Excited yet? This is the ultimate Costa Rican wildlife adventure.

This wildlife expedition on Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast is the essence of remote exploration. It’s the perfect destination if you have a great sense of adventure, a passion for hands-on conservation work, love wildlife tracking or bird watching, and are looking to immerse yourself in one of the most biodiverse rainforests on Earth.

Live in the middle of the jungle surrounded by the natural beauty of Caribbean beaches. Hike the jungle trails with friends to conduct biodiversity surveys. Check camera traps for footage of elusive wild cats, look out for species like howler monkeys and red-eyed tree frogs, and explore remote streams searching for rare reptiles and amphibians. You’ll also monitor migratory raptors during peak seasons, contributing to local conservation strategies.

This is your chance to build personal and professional skills. You’ll participate in interactive training sessions to master practical techniques in wildlife monitoring and species identification, and immerse yourself in meaningful experiences that enhance your cultural connection. Learn to make traditional chocolate from cacao beans with Bribri family members, practice your Spanish skills with native speakers, and unwind with jungle stargazing, reflecting on your conservation journey.

Highlights

 

 

Experience the rainforest
Experience the rainforest
Live in a protected indigenous reserve, surrounded by abundant wildlife species like jungle cats, monkeys, tropical birds, birds of prey and reptiles.
Learn survey techniques
Learn survey techniques
Learn biodiversity survey techniques for animals in the species-rich Costa Rican rainforest, gaining hands-on field experience.
Be part of the real deal
Be part of the real deal
Contribute to ongoing environmental projects that address critical challenges aligned to the global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Join ethical initiatives
Join ethical initiatives
Work with local conservation partners and qualified professionals to ensure your efforts are highly ethical, meaningful and sustainable.
Experience unreal adventures
Experience unreal adventures
Venture outside typical travel itineraries to get exclusive access to extraordinary remote habitats, rare species and unique ecosystems.
Make friends for life
Make friends for life
Share epic experiences with like-minded, passionate changemakers from all over the globe.
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
Enjoy a hassle-free, safe trip
With expert staff and 24/7 support at every step – you can relax and enjoy the experience stress-free.
Take a break
Take a break
Disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature, yourself and your purpose.

Activities

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.

 

Monitor wild jungle cats
Monitor wild jungle cats
Contribute to research by setting up and checking camera traps to monitor the behaviour of wild cats like pumas, ocelots and jaguarundis.
Reptile and amphibian conservation
Reptile and amphibian conservation
Assist in biodiversity studies focused on reptiles and amphibians, including the eyelash palm pitviper, fer-de-lance and red-eyed tree frog.
Survey migratory/forest birds
Survey migratory/forest birds
Assist with research on hawks, kites, vultures and falcons. You’ll also help identify and capture data on forest birds like toucans and trogons.
Fieldwork training
Fieldwork training
Learn how to identify species, collect data and monitor individual animals. You will also receive health and safety training and training on the ethics of conversation work.
Biodiversity surveys
Biodiversity surveys
Conduct forest biodiversity surveys focused on key plant, insect, bird, mammal and reptile species.

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Population ecology
  • Species identification
  • Survey research
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Volunteering

Partners

Some of the partners we work with on base.

Kekoldi Indigenous Family

Program details

 
Included in your program, at no extra cost.

Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.

Offered once a month, expand your adventure with GVI Experiences. These are just some of the activities offered on your program!
Traditional chocolate workshop
Traditional chocolate workshop
Waterfall hike
Waterfall hike
Moth and butterfly trapping
Moth and butterfly trapping
Sunrise in the rainforest
Sunrise in the rainforest
Conversational Spanish class
Conversational Spanish class
Stargaze in the jungle
Stargaze in the jungle
Wildlife photography workshop
Wildlife photography workshop
Yoga in the rainforest
Yoga in the rainforest
Connect with our alumni
Want to connect with some of our past participants about their adventures? Get in touch with hundreds of friendly ambassadors all over the world who would be more than happy to answer any questions.
Connect with us
Open Day Image
Join our Virtual Open Day!

Zoom webinar : Tuesday 15 July 2025 18:00 BST | 13:00 EDT

Join our open days to also get the chance to chat with our alumni. Sign up to book your spot now. We have limited availability.
Sign up for free
Testimonial bg
Testimonial bg

Want to live a wilder life? Talk to us!

During office hours, we'll get back to you within a few minutes.

By submitting this form, I consent to contact via phone and email, as per GVI’s Privacy Policy.

You might also be interested in these programs