In such a short time, people have become so close to my heart.
and to be able to share all the experiences with them was absolutely wonderful. So
we can still talk about it together many years from now and reminisce.
indulge!
Pia traveled with us to Costa Rica for 2 months and experienced the Pura Vida there. She first supported the Turtle Protection Project in Samara and then the Wildlife Rescue Project in Cabuya. In her projects, Pia realized how important the help of volunteers in animal protection projects is and how much responsibility is involved. On her very first night, she was able to accompany baby turtles safely into the sea and got a first impression of what can be achieved.
When I was at school, I had the opportunity to give a presentation about Costa Rica, which sparked my interest in the country. I made the decision to volunteer there very quickly. However, the preparation time went smoothly as I always had a contact person at my side. My anticipation was therefore immediately 1000% as I boarded the plane just 6 weeks after making the decision.
When I arrived in Samara, I was first properly grounded in the accommodation there - which in my opinion was the best start to my adventure! The accommodation has everything you need, such as a kitchen, showers, toilets, a common room and a large dormitory for all the volunteers. However, there is only limited electricity, which is used for the lights in the evening and for charging headlamps and cell phones - so there is no WiFi, but that wasn't a problem for us because you can enjoy the breathtaking nature so much more!
The days on which we work have always been the same in terms of set-up: everyone starts together at 07:00 with breakfast. The first stage of work then takes place from 09:00 to 11:00. At around 13:00, we then have lunch together before taking a "lunch break". Due to the heat, we then take a break until 3 pm before the next stage of work starts at 5 pm. We then have dinner together at 6 p.m./9 p.m. and the people responsible for the night shifts (3 shifts from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., 2 hours each) and the companions for the morning patrol are determined.
The different tasks in the work stages vary from day to day. These can be crafting, housekeeping, beach cleaning or similar. However, this is always discussed in the evening for the next day and written down in a kind of timetable. We also decide which volunteer will help cook a particular meal. Every week we have 1.5 days off, which we can organize as we wish. In summary, everyone works hand in hand to achieve the goal of conserving the turtle species and having a great time together in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful places in the world!
The Wildlife Rescue Project is run by many coaches who create a shift schedule for each week. There are always two shifts every day: An early shift (06:00 - 13:00) and a late shift (12:00 - 19:30). Of course, there are also breaks for meals during each shift. Depending on how long you are on the project, you can reach different levels of responsibility. As I was only there for four weeks, I worked at level one. You can roughly divide the work in Level One into the categories Animal Care and Upkeep. In Animal Care, we are responsible for feeding, preparing the food and cleaning the enclosures. In Upkeep, we always work on different tasks that have been communicated to us by the coaches. These can be small repairs, tidying up or preventative work such as snake security on the food supplies. Every volunteer has one day off a week and two days off every four weeks. These can be spent as you wish, be it relaxing by the pool and listening to the parrots or going on a boat trip with the others.
In our free time, we were mostly out and about with the group of volunteers. As I had one day off in each of my projects, I chose my excursion destinations close to our project. For example, we went on a day trip to the Belen waterfalls, which were absolutely magical. We spent most of our free time in the nearest towns and visited the sodas and weekly markets there.
In general, the people there are very friendly and helpful. Even if there were some difficulties with the language, the other person was always keen to help. The musical and culinary culture is also very welcoming, be it in a soda or a more exclusive café. What's more, the people there are so relaxed and easy-going that I would definitely like to learn something from them in the future.
There were so many wonderful moments on my trip that I can hardly decide. Here are my top 3:
1. the first night in which we were allowed to accompany 22 baby turtles directly into the wide world of the sea under a clear starry sky.
2. a boat tour where we tried rafting, saw a natural jacuzzi and were provided with fresh fruit. The highlight of the tour was when we were accompanied by dolphins into the sunset. Simply magical!
3. the friendships that were made during this time. In such a short time, the people have grown so close to my heart and being able to share all the experiences with them was absolutely wonderful. We will still be able to talk about it together in years to come and reminisce!
The accommodation in Sámara and Cabuya was very different. In Cabuya, everything was more spacious, larger and more centrally located. Here, too, there were showers, toilets, a kitchen including fridges for the volunteers, but also a kitchen for the cook, as well as a washing machine, an air-conditioned area for treating the animals and a dormitory for the volunteers with shared rooms for 4-6 people each.
As there is also a hotel on the site, which has no influence on your project, there is also electricity and Wi-Fi available at all times.
I personally haven't had any experiences with unsafe or uncomfortable situations. Most of the time I was out and about in groups (both small and large). We also hitchhiked here, which I wouldn't have dared to do on my own. However, when I was traveling alone on foot, both in Samara and San José, I felt safe. However, I always carried my valuables in a fanny pack, because you should never be careless.
A stay abroad enriches your life in so many ways. During this time (especially in the first camp without the internet), you take so much more time for yourself and your surroundings. You learn to get along with lots of different people in a small space. In general, you realize how few things you actually need, be it a PC, TV, a huge selection of clothes, make-up and how much nature and great surroundings you are satisfied with. I'm proud of myself for daring to go on the trip alone and enjoying it to the full.
Especially for projects with animals, you should have a certain closeness to nature, interest and empathy towards animals. In addition, animal care should not be compared with that in Germany. However, the best possible care is given to the animals here too. You are also given responsibility in the projects, which you should be aware of.
Sophia, founder of Wanderworld Travel
Lisa, Coordinator & Participant Support
Amanda, Support and advice before departure
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