Our 2007 project in Costa de Oro is from July 15 to December 15.
Costa de Oro is a small beach town located on the north-central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Costa de Oro translates to “Golden Coast” and adequately described this beautiful project site.
Sea turtles nest along the 5km stretch of white sand beach, principally between July and December of each year. The olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is the most common turtle, although it is also possible to observe the sporadic nesting of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles. These and all sea turtles are listed as endangered species.
Members of the community work as field assistants and provide food for project participants, thus generating incomes and facilitating interaction between project staff and locals. Environmental education activities are undertaken in the community and at the nearby school of Jabilla.
Project Site
The area is home to extraordinary natural beauty and one can easily find various species of migratory and resident birds, iguanas, lizards, parrots, frogs and of course turtles. Just a few of the activities available include hiking to the estuary, birding at nearby wetlands, visiting mangroves, swinging in a hammock, reading and surfing.
The project site is not located in a highly visited tourist area and project participants are often the only non-locals in town. 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 team
Two researchers, who are either advanced students or recent graduates in biology or a related field, coordinate all project activities. Community members, who know the beaches and turtles maybe better than anyone, are trained as "Beach Monitors" and assist in nightly patrols and data gathering. Finally, volunteers such as you provide sufficient personnel to patrol the beach and ensure the protection of the highest number of nests.
Participants come from all over the world to assist with PRETOMA´s conservation efforts and stay in Costa de Oro 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. 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. You pair up and walk the 5km stretch of beach searching for nesting turtles. When a turtle is found, it is tagged, measured, and the newly laid eggs are transferred to a nearby hatchery where the eggs are reburied and monitored until they hatch. When the eggs hatch, hatching rates are recorded and the baby turtles are released into the sea under cover of night.
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 (beaches, wetlands, etc.), interact with other project members and the friendly community members, or simply relax.
Diet
Food in Costa Rica is simple and access to a large variety of items is difficult in Costa de Oro. Meals are prepared by a cook from the community and served at the station house. Meals often include rice and beans as well as tortillas, salads, chicken, fish, pork, beef, pastas, soups, pancakes, cereals, sandwiches, cheese, fruits, veggies and juices. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at 9:00am, 1:00pm and 6:00pm, respectively.
Vegetarians should have no problems with the diet in Costa de Oro. Those who follow a vegan diet should note that tofu is not readily available in Costa Rica, especially in Costa de Oro.
Climate
It often rains at Costa de Oro, 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 the nearby town of San Francisco de Coyote, where internet is also available.
Health and Welfare
There is a health clinic in the town of San Francisco de Coyote, about 8km from Costa de Oro. Volunteers are advised to bring a well stocked traveler's first-aid kit.
Volunteers often arrange to get traveler's insurance for their time with the project.
At present we only have one lodging option in Costa de Oro, which is the project station house. We hope to develop further relationships within the community as the season progresses and be able to provide more options soon. The station house is a rustic two floor building, with 2 shared bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a large communal space below.
Prices:
PRETOMA is a non-profit organization. All funds generated are used to sustain PRETOMA's various sea turtle nesting beach conservation projects.
The following rates are per person for the station house (includes 3 meals per day):
There are several payment methods available, you can pay with check, money order, banker's draft or bank wire. Click on the payment method link above for specific information on each option. You can also pay with cash or travelers cheques upon your arrival, but unless we are picking you up at the airport you will need to make you way to our office in Tibas (Northern San Jose) to drop off the payment prior to heading to the project site.
How to get to Costa de Oro
The bus leaves from the San Carlos bus station in downtown San José (the capital of Costa Rica) at 6am. This bus goes to a town near the coast called Jicaral. At Jicaral, one transfers to another bus labeled Bejuco, which arrives at the entrance to Costa de Oro by mid-afternoon. Get off the bus and walk about 1km into the town of Costa de Oro.
Travel Assistance
If you would like, PRETOMA can handle all your travel and accommodations in Costa Rica such as hotel first and last night in San Jose, airport pick-ups and deliveries, tickets to and from Costa de Oro. When using our travel assistance all flights should be booked to arrive and depart from Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Travel assistance:
Airport pick-up;
1st night in San Jose at Hotel Rincon de San Jose;
Delivery from hotel to bus station in San Jose for bus to San Francisco de Coyote;
Transportation to the project site from San Francisco de Coyote and return;
Pick-up at bus station and delivery to hotel;
Costs of transportation;
Last night in San Jose at Hotel Rincon de San Jose;
Delivery to airport on day of departure.
Travel assistance is US$300 per person.
Note: per person rates are lower when traveling in a group of 2 or more.
What to Bring
Good-quality poncho or rain jacket
Alarm clock (battery powered).
Waterproof wristwatch.
Flashlight, LED head lamps are ideal, with rechargeable batteries (we have chargers).
Quick drying clothing for a warm tropical climate (cotton takes a long time to dry) that you are not worried about ruining.
Sturdy shoes for walking the beach at night (water shoes/booties work great for the beach walks) and hiking in the area (bulky hiking boots are not necessary).
Sandals.
Swimsuit.
First-aid kit.
Insect repellant.
Mosquito netting is recommended.
Bath towel.
Easy-to-pack hammock.
Waterproof sunscreen (the rays are powerful).
Sunglasses.
Camera.
Things to share with local kids are welcomed.
International calling card.
Photo copy of passport.
Forms of entertainment: books, games, music, guitar, paints, surfing equipment, etc.
Wish List
Many items utilized within our projects, both for work and play, are expensive and hard to get in Costa Rica. Participants that are willing to bring and donate any of the below items would be assisting our efforts significantly:
Latex Gloves
First-aid Kits / Items
Waterproof Headlamps and Flashlights
Rechargeable Batteries
Waterproof (write in the rain) Notebooks
Rain Gear
Mosquito Netting
Backpacks (small with lots of pockets)
Insect Repellant
hammocks
GPS
Cameras
Anything Else You Think Would Help
For more information please send an email to Please also send a copy of your message to
Gracias!
Photos courtesy of Alexander Gaos and Janos Csernoch
Two researchers, who are either advanced students or recent graduates in biology or a related field, coordinate all project activities. Community members, who know the beaches and turtles maybe better than anyone, are trained as "Beach Monitors" and assist in nightly patrols and data gathering. Finally, volunteers such as you provide sufficient personnel to patrol the beach and ensure the protection of the highest number of nests.
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 (beaches, wetlands, etc.), interact with other project members and the friendly community members, or simply relax. 
Communication
