25 trees will be planted on your behalf for every experience purchased, via our partnership with One Tree Planted.
See more at onetreeplanted.org
Overview
With the farming placement, depending on the farm, you may have the opportunity of staying on the farm rather than with other participants in town, although you will not be far away. This placement will vary depending on the season. You will be based with one farm, but may spend time at others to experience different aspects of rural life, such as cheese or honey production. Many farms have a wide variety of livestock and crops, and several projects on the go at any time, so be willing to get your hands dirty! If there are opportunities to take part in rural development or agronomy projects during your stay, we will make sure that you are involved.
Objectives
- The main aim is for you to get in depth experience of Costa Rican agriculture and rural life. You will be involved in the heart of the community, gaining a unique insight into traditional and more modern, green, farming methods. The second objective is to assist local farmers and provide valuable cultural interchange - if you have farming experience or an agronomy background, please share your knowledge.
Impact
Volunteer experiences have a direct and positive impact on local communities by injecting money into the local economy through the purchase of food, transportation, and tourism activities. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the comunity and make a difference in the world. Depending on the type of volunteer experience you are interested in, your time can be spent improving educational resources and opportunities, providing medical services to underserved communities, or promoting environmental conservation and sustainable farming techniques.
1% of gross sales will be donated to 1% for the Planet-approved charities via our partnership with 1% for the Planet.
See more at onepercentfortheplanet.org
Location
Esparza, Costa Rica
Esparza is a medium-sized agricultural town nestled amongst the mountains above Rio Barranca, in the Central Pacific Coast area of Costa Rica. The area was first settled by the Chorotega and Huetar peoples. The Chorotega people fled from Mexico 1,500 years ago and brought their traditions with them. This is a possible reason why there are Mexican words which jump several countries and turn up again in Costa Rica.
Itinerary
Saturday / Sunday - Arrival
We will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to our center. Saturday arrivals need to book one extra night at our accommodation.
Monday to Friday
Your schedule will be flexible, but you should be prepared to be active for 3-8 hours. You will have lunch on the farm and can expect to be occupied from early in the morning until as late as 17:30, depending on what is needed at the time. Some days will be tough, while others will be relatively relaxed, and activity will depend on the season.
Saturday - Departure
Take a bus from Esparza directly to SJO Airport (2 hours). Buses depart every hour for earliest flights on Saturday afternoon.
Inclusions
- Shared Accomodation
- All meals included
- Free beverages
- Wifi in public areas
- Arrival Transfer (included with 2 wk+ trips)
- Departure Transfer
Options
More Information
Requirements
- minimum age18
- minimum english levelBasic
- CRB RequiredOn signup
- passport copy requiredNo
- resume copy requiredYes
Other Requirements
- Casual dress is appropriate during your time on the project. Please also bring rough clothes in case we are able to assist in light construction work.
- Sturdy boots and long trousers are advisable for farm work and a sun hat is highly recommended.
- Rabies vaccinations are recommended.
Food
Three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends) are included during your stay. The meals will mainly be a mix of traditional and modern Costa Rican food, so you may experience the Costa Rican take on foods you will be familiar with. Most meals will include either fish, chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarians can be catered for.
Accommodation
Your new home will be one of two newly built eco houses in our centre in Esparza: Jaguar House and Toucan House.
The two houses sleep up to 22 people. Most rooms have bunk beds and are shared on a single gender. One room in each house has a bunk bed with a double bed below, single above, suitable for couples or small families, if needed. (Private rooms can be obtained at additional cost; this must be arranged before arriving for your program).
All doors are lockable, but as rooms are shared, and we carry out regular cleaning, we recommend that you don't lock your rooms.
There is also a large dining hall/games room/communal area shared by both houses, with free WiFi, and table tennis, and a large garden of tropical plants, including coconut palm, papaya, banana, and citrus
Cancellation Policy
Bookings can be amended and cancelled 30 days before the program start date without any costs. Bookings that are cancelled less than 30 days before the program start date will be charged the first week of the booking.
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