COSTA RICA
SEA TURTLE INITIATIVE
Become a conservationist for Costa Rica’s sea turtles as you explore the pristine coast.
Program Overview
Learn about many of the threats sea turtles face: boat traffic, climate change, accidental catch by industrial fisheries, and pollution in their habitats. The population has declined by 90% since 1980. You’ll live and work on the rural Caribbean coast, assisting a turtle conservation organization with critical efforts to preserve the natural areas where this endangered species lives. Ensuring that the turtle population thrives for generations depends largely on our ability to educate the local community and protect the places where turtles nest. With a bit of timing and luck, you might be rewarded with the sight of turtles hatching.
On GLA’s Costa Rica: Sea Turtle Initiative™ program you will:
- Protect an endangered sea turtle nesting beach
- Assist with night patrols and visit a turtle nursery
- Soar through the rainforest canopy on a zipline adventure
- Go on a whitewater rafting expedition down the Pacuare River
- Explore a small beach town and visit the local artisans market
Program Menu
COSTA RICA
SEA TURTLE INITIATIVE
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Fly into San José, where GLA staff will greet you. We’ll then head to a nearby hotel just outside the city for our first night in Costa Rica!
Day 2: Zipline & Travel to Parismina
We’ll start early for the six-hour journey to our Home Base in Parismina, a peaceful community on the Caribbean coast. Along the way, we’ll stop for an exciting zipline tour through the cloud forest. After soaring through the jungle, we’ll continue to Parismina, which is accessible only by boat or plane. We’ll finish our trip by boat and arrive to a warm welcome from local staff before settling into our new home.
Days 3-7: Night Patrols, Beach Time, and Cultural Activities
The next 5 days are packed with adventure! During our 4-night patrols, we’ll walk the beach, ensuring we don’t disturb nesting turtles. If we find one, we’ll safeguard the area and collect eggs for the hatchery. Nights will be long, often ending around midnight. By day, we’ll explore the local flora and fauna, taste fresh coconuts, and, if lucky, spot howler monkeys and sloths. We’ll also enjoy a private boat tour through nearby river canals, participate in beach clean-ups, and swim in the Caribbean. A short ride takes us to Parismina, a peaceful town of 500 people. We’ll take a walking tour, play sports with local kids, join cooking classes, dance lessons, and visit an artisan fair. Local experts will teach us about sea turtle nesting and conservation efforts.
*Please note: Sea turtle nesting on the beaches of Costa Rica is a natural phenomenon that occurs annually throughout the spring and summer months. While every opportunity is given to maximize the chances for GLA students to witness this phenomenon in person, we unfortunately cannot control or predict the exact time a turtle will emerge to nest or baby turtles we’ll be ready to be released into the ocean, and therefore we cannot guarantee that students on any specific session will see a turtle in person. However, the service work students do on this program has a direct and lasting impact on local sea turtle conservation efforts.
Day 8: Whitewater Rafting
After a week in Parismina, we’ll head inland for an exciting whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River. For a couple of hours, we’ll navigate the rapids as a team, facing challenges together. It’s a great opportunity to explore a different ecosystem and appreciate Costa Rica’s biodiversity.
Day 9: Drive Back to Alajuela and Farewell Dinner
Our time in this beautiful, secluded location has come to an end. We’ll leave Home Base for Alajuela, stopping for one last Costa Rican lunch along the way. After returning to the hotel, we’ll have some free time before dressing up for our farewell dinner and closing ceremonies.
Day 10: Departure
It’s time to say goodbye—or hopefully, see you later!—to our new friends and Costa Rica. At San José airport, the GLA team will assist with check-in and see you off on your return flight home.
Program Map
COSTA RICA
SEA TURTLE INITIATIVE
Community Service
Each year, leatherback and green turtles come to Costa Rica’s beaches to lay their eggs. Poachers steal the turtles and their eggs to sell on the black market for profit. Although this practice is illegal in Costa Rica, it is hard to enforce without the participation of the local community. You’ll be assisting on night patrols with a nonprofit anti-poaching organization founded by community members. Prepare yourself for long, moonlit walks on the beach, searching for turtle tracks and nesting turtles. You’ll also participate in beach clean-ups, survey nesting sites, and raise community awareness.
Hands-on Learning
You’ll be fully immersed in topics centered around the animal world. Learn how critical each species is to the health of the entire ecosystem, including humans. Hear local speakers’ and community members’ perspectives on sustainable conservation efforts and begin to understand how the competing interests of the civilized and natural worlds can intersect. Visit an organic farm to learn about cultivating and sustaining local fruit trees, including cacao, vanilla and banana.
Adventure
In Costa Rica, you’ll be constantly surrounded by incredible natural wonders. Fly through the treetops of the nation’s lush interior on a thrilling zipline adventure. On the coast, cruise through a local mangrove, where you can spot sloths, monkeys and exotic birds. You’ll connect with Costa Rica’s rich coastal culture by visiting a local artisan market and participating in traditional dance and cooking workshops. Finally, embark on a whitewater rafting adventure down the Pacuare River – it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Lodging & Meals
Home Base is a rustic ecolodge nestled in the jungle, just a short walk from the Caribbean Sea. Students stay in gender-segregated rooms with roommates, enjoy delicious, home-cooked Costa Rican meals, and have shared bathrooms with cold-water showers. If you look closely, you might even spot local wildlife in the trees surrounding the Home Base!
While the Home Base offers a truly authentic experience, it’s important to note that electricity is not always consistent (there’s no AC), and students won’t have access to WiFi at the lodge. However, you’ll have scheduled tech time every few days. Embrace this unique opportunity to disconnect, unwind, and fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of your surroundings.
We encourage all students to try local cuisine, both as part of the adventure and as a way to further connect with the community. Typical Costa Rican dishes generally include rice, beans, some type of meat and a vegetable or salad. Meals will be hearty, healthy and locally-grown whenever possible, and end with fresh Caribbean fruit.
COSTA RICA
SEA TURTLE INITIATIVE
Dates & Tuition
10-Day Program
2025 Session Dates
June 22 – July 01, 2025
July 05 – July 14, 2025
July 18 – July 27, 2025
Program Details
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“GLA is an extremely important way of introducing teenagers into the adult world. I believe while not many people get the opportunity to participate in such an experience, those who do are able to get a much broader outlook on life.”
Sophia W. | Student | 2024
COSTA RICA
SEA TURTLE INITIATIVE
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