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Help us develop our ecotourism and farm project in Drake Bay

4.5
(17 reviews)17

The experience

After years of working for hotels and tour operators in Drake Bay, we've decided to combine our experience to develop our very own ecotourism and farm project. We are building cabins, making forest trails and viewpoints, keeping farm animals and cultivating crops using organic techniques. This is an authentic cultural exchange working with a Costa Rican family in a rural area surrounded by wildlife and outstanding natural beauty.

What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

Additional fee required

Amount: US$ 25 Per day

Fee pays for: Materials for volunteer activities

Description: Volunteers donate $25 per day to help cover costs for food, accommodation and laundry.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate Spanish or Intermediate English

Over 18 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Travel insurance

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We are a small family farmstead looking for help from motivated volunteers who are happy to get their hands dirty. In return, we'll provide you with an authentic Costa Rican experience where you'll learn lots of traditional techniques and help to promote sustainable development in Drake Bay. The Ganadito beach community has become a vibrant center for ecotourism, and there are several other volunteer projects nearby, offering lots of opportunities to socialize and share experiences with other backpackers. It's a great opportunity to settle down for a few weeks and live the life of a local.

Activities & Shift

Volunteers support with a wide variety of tasks at Ceiba Ganadito. In addition, our focus on community-based tourism means we're involved in various Drake-based projects which you may have the opportunity to collaborate with as well.

Activities may include:

Gardening
Trail building & maintenance
Construction projects
Feeding chickens
Raking
Harvesting organic vegetables and herbs
Beach clean-up
& lots more!

Rules

Typical day: Starts with breakfast at 7am, then we work on the farm until lunchtime which is around 12pm. Volunteers have afternoons off. We get back together by 7pm to have dinner together and usually are in bed by 10pm.
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Accommodation & Days Off: We have a volunteer house which is a mixed dorm. For days off, we enjoy giving local recommendations for various places you can explore in the beautiful Osa Peninsula.

Arrival/Transportation: Option 1: Arrive by land from La Palma for approx. $10. Option 2: Boat from Sierpe to Drake which costs approx. $20. If you arrive by boat to Drake, a taxi to Ceiba Ganadito is approx. $30. Option 3: Fly into Drake Bay (DRK).
Volunteers are responsible for paying for any transportation costs during their stay.