Volunteering

Volunteer in Costa Rica

Get involved in a cause that matters to you, learn spanish and get immersed in the Costa Rican culture

Whether this is the first time you volunteer or you already have in the past, we will help you find a cause that you believe in that you can contribute to. You will meet other like-minded people, have an impact on the lives of many ticos and help preserve the fauna and flora that makes Costa Rica such a beautiful country. Though you will not receive any money for your efforts, you will get much more in return. Whether it is new friendships, skills that you will be able to apply in your everyday life or a sense of belonging to the greater picture, you will come out of the experience a new person.

We have contacts with local and international organisations of all sizes, in most regions of Costa Rica. You will participate in activities like

Health care

Work in hospitals, clinics and health care centers

Social work

Work to improve economic and gender inequalities

Environmental volunteering in Costa Rica

Environmental protection

Work in national parks, zoos and turtle preservation sites

Child care

Help children in orphanages and at school kitchens

Education

Teach english in primary schools and high schools

Care of the elderly

Assist in nursing homes for elderly people

Volunteering programs are available for durations of 4 weeks up to a whole year, and can be started at any time of the year as long as you register 3 months before the desired date.

To offer you an integrated experience and increase what you take out of your trip, all volunteers must attend a 4-week spanish course. We will also take care of finding an appropriate accommodation for you and help you discover what Costa Rica has to offer with our weekend trips.

Accommodation

A great way to learn spanish and get immersed in the Costa Rican culture is to live with a host family. You will form strong bonds with locals, adults and children alike, eat typical meals and get insight on the best spots to visit during your stay. If you feel like being independent, you can also rent a room in a house, getting access to the amenities and having some support from your house-mates. Finally, if you’d rather have your own space you can also get your own fully furnished appartment.

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Spanish classes

Speaking the language is essential to having a successful internship as it will allow you to better understand your colleagues get your points accross, as well as open up doors to work across all of Latin America and Spain. It will also improve your relationships with your host family and any friends you will meet along the way. Our mandatory 4-week courses will kick-start your spanish speaking and writing skills and set you up for success.

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Recreational activities

We will give you tips about the best restaurants, cafés, movie theaters, etc. so that you can have fun during your free time. We can also set you up with organized recreational activities including

Sports

Salsa dancing

Music lessons

Yoga

Cooking

Spanish conversation

Guided tours

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America. With its access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans patched with white and black beaches, its dozens of protected national parks as well as its diverse fauna and flora, it is the perfect destination to get away from the big city life and learn to embrace a slower, calmer way of life. We offer dozens of weekend trips and expeditions, from a half day to 3 days, so you can explore Costa Rica on your time off.

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What else is included?

Airport pickup

Support from our staff on-site

2-day Introduction in San José

Application for visa extension

Transportation to your accommodation

Certificate at the end of your stay

What isn’t included

Airfare to and from Costa Rica

Vaccinations

Passport and visa fees

Return trip to San José

Personal expenses

Health and travel insurance

Hotel in San Jose if necesary

What others have to say

We are very pleased that we have made our teaching practice in Costa Rica. The whole family was very nice to us. The team of ICIES was always one hundred percent reliable, they were always there when we needed help. The internship in the private school was a lot of fun. We hope that the students got a positive impression from the Germans and the German language. Costa Rica is incredibly beautiful; in the 6 weeks we were there, we saw and experienced many things, from beautiful beaches to volcanoes to several national parks. It was just all there! We hope to see you again soon.

Michael and Larissa

Germany

If you are looking for an internship, apartment or the like, just contact Maria Elena Gamboa from ICIES. She offers an extremely competitive, reliable service. I can only recommend it. I was very happy because everything went smoothly and I finally got a job which I had looked for.
Forget the well-known online job placements for which you pay for an internship position for half a year up to 7000 €.

Dominic

Switzerland

I was looking for a hospital internship for my medical studies in Costa Rica. By chance, I found ICIES’s offer over the internet contacted them. They helped me find an accommodation near the hospital in Ciudad Quesada and helped me get accustomed to the culture and traditions of Costa Rica in my free time. They gave me many valuable travel tips, for tours like rafting and canopy, and I got to know their warm family, with whom I felt like home. Costa Rica was an unforgettable experience. I can only recommend it!

Baharak

Switzerland

I was looking for accommodation and an internship in Costa Rica for my 20 year old daughter, Anne. I found help with Maria of ICIES. My daughter was thrilled and spent an exciting time in Costa Rica from June to September. She attended a 4-week language course and an internship at an internationally operating travel agency.
Housed in an apartment, my daughter was in Mary’s family. They took very good care of her, especially at the beginning when she was still unsure.
Thank you Maria!

Ute

Germany