Volunteer at a biological station in Costa Rica

Volunteer at a Biological Research Station (Costa Rica)

Costa Rica

Tamandua Biological Station is located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, one of the country’s most biodiverse regions. The peninsula contains around 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and more than half of Costa Rica’s species. It also forms part of the largest continuous area of forest on the Pacific Coast of Central America.

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The biological station protects several hectares of primary forest and combines rural tourism with biological research and environmental monitoring. The site is surrounded by nature, with forest trails, waterfalls and natural pools where visitors can enjoy swimming. Several research projects are also carried out in the area, offering volunteers the chance to spend time in a rich and largely natural environment.

Tasks & Roles

Volunteer duties mainly involve helping with general maintenance around the station and assisting with customer service. There may also be opportunities to support the station’s research and biological monitoring projects, depending on current needs.

Volunteers with a good-quality camera can contribute to a species inventory project by photographing and documenting the wildlife and plants found in the area. The exact tasks, responsibilities and hours will be discussed with applicants during the application process.

Living & Getting There

Accommodation and meal arrangements will be discussed during the application process. The nearest major airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), near San José.

The most suitable way to travel from the airport to the biological station will depend on the volunteer’s circumstances and will be discussed during the application process.

What else

The project aims to combine community-based rural tourism with research, education and the protection of the surrounding biodiversity. Volunteers can therefore expect to be part of a nature-focused project in a particularly biodiverse part of Costa Rica.

The setting is best suited to people who enjoy nature and are interested in conservation, biological research or rural tourism. Those with photography skills may have the opportunity to make a direct contribution to the species inventory project.

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