The information in the gapyear.com placement database is provided by each individual company. Gapyear.com claims no responsibility for inaccurate, misleading or libellious information. Please ensure that you check all details with the specific organisation before booking or accepting placement.

GYC3440 - Ecology Conservation Country: Costa Rica Cost: £995.00 Please note: £125.00 per week Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food, kit and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance or visas      Duration: 4 weeks (4 - 12 weeks) Company Rep Nearby: All the time 0845 344 7592 or

 

	This placement would suit... someone who likes the outdoors as you’ll be seeing plenty of it, and be happy living without luxuries as you’ll be moving around and staying in various types of accommodation. There are a range of activities in which to become involved and they are all really important to the project so you’ll need to give them your best. Discover the archetypal tropical paradise and help protect its wonderful habitat. On this conservation project you rotate between a variety of national parks, wildlife reserves and community-based eco-tourism projects. At national parks, you can patrol with park rangers, construct trails or help with general maintenance. At the eco-tourism projects you can build and maintain trails, help out with organic farming or work with the local community on education programmes. Project details: There are a variety of projects located around the country including national parks and community based eco-tourism projects. With the majority of the conservation projects we work alongside a local NGO that was founded in 1989 and are dedicated to volunteer work in protected wilderness areas. Why the project needs volunteers: One hundred years ago 14% of the world's surface was rainforest, now this is about 7%. In Costa Rica the remaining tropical forest is disappearing by at least 520 square kms per year. However, about one-quarter of the country is under some form of official protection with the help of many volunteers each year. Your role as a volunteer: As a volunteer in the national parks you could be involved in maintenance work, reforestation, community farming initiatives, and clearing trails amongst others. You will work 6 days a week and have one day off throughout the week to be decided with the project host. Where the project is based: You will be in one or more of the many national parks in Costa Rica, including Barra Honda, Ballena National Marine Park, Tortuguero, Carara Biological Reserve, Cabo Blanco Absolute, Gandoca Manzanillo. You will be in very basic accommodation and must be prepared to have no running or hot water, basic food and no electricity. You will not have access to internet or international telephone but will be able to get to a local town for these during weekends. You will need to arrive into San Jose Santa Maria (SJO) airport on your arrival date. "Fernando, Marcela, Nicki, Gustavo and the entire i-to-i team were wonderful. They made us feel right at home." Chris: Ecology Conservation in Costa Rica 0845 344 7592 i-to-i: We pride ourselves in a high level of service to ensure that all our gap year travellers get the most our of their meaningful travel. With Teaching, Community Development, Conservation, Sports, Media and Health placements in 24 countries, we can offer you the meaningful gap year that you want.