Ostional

Our project at Ostional will run from June 2 to December 10, 2008.

For many, witnessing a single nesting sea turtle is a miraculous experience.  For those who live in Ostional, witnessing thousands of nesting turtles on a single beach over the span of several days is a regular occurrence.  How many “thousands of turtles,” you ask?  Volunteer with PRETOMA at Ostional to help us determine that ever so elusive number.

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge is situated on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.  World-famous for its olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) “arribadas,” this site is one of the most important nesting beaches for these sea turtles in the world.  “Arribadas,” Spanish for “arrivals,” are known to occur on only a handful of beaches worldwide, including two in Costa Rica and other countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico, Suriname, and India.  Ostional hosts one of the largest arribadas globally, yet we still don’t have an accurate count of how many turtles nest there during the nesting season.  Roldán Valverde, professor at Southeastern Louisiana University, has developed a method to accurately estimate the size of each arribada, and has begun implementing this tactic in Costa Rica, Mexico and India – the locations of the largest arribadas – and by participating with PRETOMA at Ostional, you can be a part of this ground-breaking research!

Arribadas at Ostional occur year-round, and depend much on the cycle of the moon, yet it is impossible to accurately predict exactly when they will occur.  The largest arribadas occur in the rainy season, from September to November, yet smaller events occur monthly throughout the year. 

Please note:  Arribadas are virtually impossible to predict, and we cannot guarantee that a volunteer will experience this phenomenon during their stay.  This is especially true for those that stay for only one or two weeks.  For this reason, the recommended stay at Ostional is at least one month. 

Project Site 

Ostional is located on the central Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  It is located just north of the town of Nosara, and within the greater Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the beaches of Ostional, Guiones and Nosara.  In town, there are several small restaurants (“sodas”) and markets (“pulperías” or “mini-supers”), but many supplies will need to be bought in nearby Nosara. 
Living conditions are simple and volunteers should be prepared to live under these same conditions. Participants should also be aware that people in these communities have different cultures and standards of living than those one might be used to, it is important to have an open mind, be adaptable and bring a positive attitude.
The area is home to extraordinary natural beauty. Volunteers can spot monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, iguanas, lizards, parrots, frogs and, of course, turtles. Just a few of the activities available include hiking and exploring the natural landscape, visiting mangroves, swinging in a hammock, reading and surfing.

The Team

Two researchers, who are either advanced students or graduates in biology or a related field, coordinate all project activities.  Volunteers provide sufficient personnel to patrol the beach and complete project methodology in counting olive ridley arribadas. 
Participants come from all over the world to assist with PRETOMA´s conservation efforts and stay in Ostional anywhere from one week to five months.  We recommend a minimum stay of 2 weeks to really get to know the project and community members of Ostional, and one month to increase the chances of viewing an arribada. Working in such a tight knit and unique situation, team members often forge strong bonds with one another, leading to friendships that last a lifetime!

Day in the Life

Turtles lay their nests on the beach after dark, and thus much of the project work is done during 3-6 hour shifts at night.  Our project at Ostional will function slightly differently from other nesting beach projects, due to the unusual circumstances caused by olive ridley arribadas.  The primary goal of our project is to count the number of nesting turtles during each event and assess the hatching success of nests laid on Ostional beach.  Under the instruction of the Scientific and Volunteer coordinators, volunteers will set up transects on the beach during each event to count and estimate the entire arribada population.


Aside from working directly with turtles, it is possible to teach and interact with eager youngsters as well as interested locals about turtles and the protection program. Community support and involvement is integral to the success of the program. During free time you can experience the local environment: the long deserted beaches, and of course the friendly Ostional community members who are always willing to help you polish up on your Spanish or give a surfing lesson.

Diet

Food in Costa Rica is simple and access to a large variety of items is difficult in Ostional.  Meals in homestays often include rice and beans, other common items include tortillas, salads, chicken, fish, pork, beef, pastas, soups, pancakes, cereals, sandwiches, cheese, fruits, veggies and fresh-squeezed juices.
Vegetarians should have no problems with the diet in Ostional.  Those who follow a vegan diet should note that tofu is not readily available in Costa Rica, especially in Ostional.

Climate

The rainy season in Ostional runs from June to November, coinciding with the largest arribadas.  During this time, it is often rainy, but there are more than plenty of sunny days. Daytime temperatures range from the mid-70's when overcast to mid-90's when the sun is out. The weather can change very rapidly. Rain storms can pop up out of nowhere and disappear as suddenly as they arrived. Humidity can be very high and cotton clothes should be avoided because they dry slowly.

Communication

It's a good idea to get an international calling card that you can use from any phone as there is a public phone in Ostional.  There is no internet available in Ostional at this time.

Health and Welfare

There is a small health clinic in the nearby town of Nosara, approximately 15 minutes from Ostional.  Basic medical supplies can also be bought in Nosara.  Transportation can be difficult, but it is often possible to catch a ride with a local making the trip, and taxis are always an option.

Lodging Options:

In Ostional this year, we are offering homestay placements to volunteers during the duration of their time at the project.  Homestays will be scattered throughout the community, but the entire town is walkable.  These offer participants the opportunity to interact closely with the local community members and be totally immersed in Costa Rican culture.  Your host family will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner and are willing to schedule meal times according to your preference.  Our homestay families welcome volunteers from all over the world and the ability to speak Spanish, although helpful, is definitely not a necessity. 
Due to limited availability, some volunteers may be placed in the MINAE (Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment) field station, which is located right on the beach with very comfortable living arrangements.  It is important to remember that people living in these coastal communities live and eat simple and participants will do the same.  However, wherever you decide to stay, you will be part of the PRETOMA team and work with other participants from around the world and locals in the community and will be trained on the protection and monitoring of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Join us in Ostional!

Download our participation form here.  Forms can be submitted to Volunteer Manager Joyce McCalla at voluntarios@tortugamarina.org to secure your participation.

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ahutchinson@tortugamarina.org.  Please copy all correspondence to voluntarios@tortugamarina.org.