With coasts on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, thousands of acres of rainforests and national parks, and a warm, laid-back culture, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise. The lifestyle in this Central American nation is known as "Pura Vida," or the pure life. The term reflects the country's limitless natural beauty and the famously positive attitude of its people. Costa Rica is known around the world for its immense tracts of protected rainforest, where you can see monkeys, opossums, tapirs, tropical birds, and hundreds of species of exotic plants. On the coasts, the country is blessed with long stretches of sandy beaches and some of the most famous surfing spots in the world.
Program Location: Monteverde
Orchids, bromeliads, vines, and mosses crawl and wind around towering trees in the veritable cathedral of green that is the Monteverde Cloud Forest. A wide variety of altitudes and climates—creating eight distinct ecological zones—makes the Monteverde Reserve one of the most biodiverse and scenically stunning of Costa Rica’s conservation gems. The reserve protects over 400 species of bird and more than 100 species of mammal, including many rare and endangered animals. Our service learning program in Monteverde is located on a private biological reserve with a small-scale farming operation, botanical garden, classrooms, and a biological laboratory.
Why Volunteer in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has managed to avoid political drama in recent history and the government has consistently protected the land's natural beauty. However, the nation has not been able to avoid environmental damage entirely. As a primarily agricultural country, much of its rainforest has been cleared for cattle ranching and farming, causing nearly irreparable soil erosion and the loss of vital plant species and wildlife. Illegal poaching and unregulated water pollution are also constant threats to marine life.
Our partner organizations in Costa Rica seek to curb the destruction of native wildlife and preserve one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world. In Monteverde, they have formed an educational and research facility to conserve this fascinating cloud forest and educate locals and foreigners about its importance.
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