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2 Reviews
90%Overall
Rating
Program Description
Wildlife Conservation Expedition in Costa Rica
Description
Take part in this wildlife conservation expedition and be an active member of GVI's research team in the Costa Rican rainforest. Work on a variety of long-term terrestrial, marine conservation and community education projects. Help conduct turtle population surveys, jaguar predation surveys, jaguar and other mammal camera trapping, and mammal and bird studies. You can also teach English and environmental education in the local communities.
Ratings and Reviews
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
Sea turtles, tapirs and cows oh my!
80%Overall
Rating
19 of 37 people found this review helpful
Wildlife Expedition in Costa Rica
100%Overall
Rating
In April 2011 I went to Tortuguero National Park to take part on a wildlife expedition with GVI. The base was incredible; set on the edge of the rainforest, miles of private beach to enjoy in between surveys and great food.
The mammals, reptiles, amphibians and reptiles we saw were fantastic; snakes, toucans, parrots, sea turtles and jaguars. Yes I saw four jaguars. Not just fleeting glances, but full on clear views with time to take pictures. We worked surveying leatherback and green turtles in the night, birds on the canals in the mornings and mammals and reptiles in the afternoons so there was a good variety of work.
The program was well organised, with knowledgeable passionate staff. Survey and free time was well balanced with plenty of hammocks for volunteers to relax in the heat of the day.
If I really do have to pick one negative, then it would be the thin mattresses on the beds, as I hadn’t necessarily expected a bed at all this really is stretching!
I went to Costa Rica because I was looking for addition experience with wildlife conservation as well as an opportunity to see a new place and meet new people. I had an absolutely amazing time. I had to opportunity to work hands on with wildlife and new make friends. My highlights were having a Green Turtle shower me with sand while I tried to measure her, watching hatchlings running down the beach at night, and seeing tapirs on the edge of the canal. Having the base camp situated next to a deserted beach was also a bonus! The only thing I really didn't expect were the bovine beach invaders (who knew cows like the wade in the ocean??) and the iguanas who liked to live in the rafter of the dorms. They seemed totally harmless until they peed on your bed!!!!