GVI: Internships in Costa Rica

I did a short-term wildlife internship with GVI at their Jalova, Costa Rica project in 2019. I researched many different organisations and decided on GVI, I loved their ethos and was glad to experience every bit of it being true. I felt in safe hands from the moment I booked, the support staff were friendly and gave lots of useful information. I was met at the airport by GVI and transfered to my hostel the day before travlling to base so I felt safe arriving on my own in a new country.

On base, the staff were excellent, very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Despite being in the remote Costa Rican jungle amongst the wild animals and with basic living conditions, I felt very safe. The opportunities to learn were second to none and we dived straight in to our duties after a solid orientation. I got to experience beautiful habitats and tonnes of wild animals in their natural environment. Contributing toward the protection and conservation of that special place was one of the best experiences of my life. If I wasn't mid-way through study then I would have undoubtedly stayed longer, I just didn't want to leave. The food was excellent and adjustments were made for any dietary requirements (vegan/gluten free etc.).

I now have a wealth of practical conservation experience and have made many friends for life, whom I see as much as possible back in the UK! I was so impressed with GVI that I have booked another trip (delayed due to Covid-19), but I am eager to work with GVI in 2020 to make the world a better place.

I absolutely loved my programme with GVI. I went on a 6 week internship to Costa Rica where I did biodiversity, jaguar and turtle surveys. I was really nervous about going on a conservation programme as I have no conservation experience at all. I didn’t need to be though as they taught me everything I needed to know. The staff were absolutely amazing and really passionate about the programme. I felt like I was part of a family during my time there and am already planning on going on another GVI programme. I was really pleased that I could see where my money was going, which was really important to me. I felt like the work we were doing was important and making an impact and I really believe in the core values of GVI as a company. I couldn’t recommend GVI enough!

My time with GVI in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica was phenomenal. I did the short-term internship in between my second and my final year of my university degree as part of my placement year and choose this program due to their very good reputation and to build my skills in conservation.

My role as an intern was to assist with the research projects which were being carried out at the biological research camp I was living at. Whilst there, there were jaguar and biodiversity projects running so I helped with the tracking and camera trapping of jaguars and biodiversity surveys of the surrounding habitat. Also, whilst on this internship I completed GVI’s biological survey technique program where I learnt how to apply conservation practise to a range of ecosystems and I also did an emergency first aid program to prepare for the realities of practising conservation in the wild. In addition, I completed the ILM endorsed leadership certificate where I had to do several presentations, assignments and attend weekly one to one sessions with my mentor.

The staff were paramount to the incredible experience as they offer a wealth of knowledge and make you feel welcome from day one in camp. Due to the remote and basic living conditions you quickly form very close friendships, unforgettable memories and meet amazing, like minded people along the way which makes the experience so wonderful.

My high expectations of this program were massively exceeded, and I wish I choose to stay for more than 8 weeks. Don’t just consider doing a GVI program, DO IT, you will not regret it at all. I can hands down say this was one of the best experiences of my life and helped give me direction to my future career plans and shaped me massively as an individual.

Pura Vida!!!

My name is Genevieve (Gen) Barrett, I was an Intern at GVI's Costa Rica Jalova Base whilst on a gap year in 2019. My time in Jalova was incredible, words cannot describe how much I value the experiences I have had in that beautiful place. Tortuguero National Park is extremely beautiful, and the wildlife there is like nothing I have ever seen before. My favourite surveys were the Bird Boats (bird watching from a canoo) and Forest Biodiversity surveys. I have learnt so much that will aid me at university and I'm my future career. I would definitely recommend this Internship to anybody interested in a career in wildlife or anybody who is just looking to learn more about the wonderful world we live in - especially Costa Rica. I assure you that you won't regret attending.

The best way to show everyone how good my experience with GVI Jalova was is to state some facts. When I signed up for the program, I was doubting to go for 2 or 3 months. Eventually I signed up for 4. I ended up sticking around for more than 2 years. I gained many skills in wildlife identification (camera trapping, use of binoculars, using the behavior of the animals). Perhaps more important are all the opportunities up for grabs in Jalova. I managed to become an EFR instructur, Leader of a long term monitoring project, intern manager and alumni coördinator within 6 months. Granted, this is what i wanted to achieve and I was fully commited to this, but i'm just trying to show it IS possible with GVI. Thanks to this experience I now feel ready for the next step in my conservation career, and I have the references and certifications to back it up with! The living conditions have sometimes been hard, but it made the experience complete. With a positive attitude and open mind you can accomplish great things for yourself and the national park here. I believe this is the best place in the world for a volunteer to truly experience wild nature. I have encountered incredible wildlife on a daily basis, finding new species almost weekly even after spending 2 years there. The educational and fun atmosphere created by the people in base can almost be described as magical. I learned incredibly much and never had so much fun doing so.

I was in Jalova as a 2 Month (Short term) Intern and I got to say 2 months are too short! I would suggest if you choose to do an internship stay as long as your money allows you to. The only time I would not recommend staying long is if you get homesick easily.

I have a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and I really wanted to gain more experience doing field work which is why I chose this internship in Tortuguero National Park. The two weeks are basically orientation, learning the species, first aid, getting to know people and getting used to our new surroundings. Then we start doing the surveys, there's the Forest Biodivery Survey, Canal bird surveys, Jaguar walks and camera traps, and turtle stuff (though I didn't stay long enough for that).

For the internship, you are most of the time paired with a project leader and they walk you through the internship. A short-term internship is mainly focusing on leadership with no additional work related to biology. But since the leaders are fantastic they let me do both the biology and leadership work, which was a lot to cram in to 6 weeks but I did it thanks to Allen! I think that the internship is a great way of seeing if conservation work is right for you if your still on the fence. Also, you will see so many awesome animals like Central American spider monkeys, Collared Aracari, and many Slender anoles. The animals are adorable and you will see a new species each time you go out!

The friends that you get from Jalova though is by far one of the best reasons to come. I came in January so the group I was in were the first batch of the year. The jungle put us through the ringer the first month, rain, more rain, solar powered things stopped working, the water tower broke... We became so close since we went through everything together and it also helped that the leaders were somehow still so enthusiastic when the sky was raining cats and dogs and we had to go out on a survey.

I was so sad when it came time to leave, I honestly didn't want to. I think I was lucky with the staff I got and the other volunteers I was with during my time there. But I'm sure if you give it a chance you will have a great time and learn a lot of card games!

The short-term internship at Jalova has given me a kick-start in my career in wildlife conservation. My time spent working on the projects at Jalova has confirmed that I want to spend my life working in conservation, and has given me the confidence and skills to pursue this career. The work undertaken at Jalova is at the forefront of wildlife conservation, and I really felt like I was part of a project that is making an essential contribution to wildlife conservation and sustainability.

The experience of living and working in a remote tropical environment has been amazing- being surrounded by the life of the jungle meant that there was never a dull moment on base! Volunteering with GVI provides the perfect opportunity to travel and be part of different cultures. Through this experience I've worked with brilliant, passionate people who have the same interests as me- I've made friends for life from all corners of the world.

One of my favourite moments was counting the eggs of a green turtle while she was laying. I was lying on my belly in the sand, with my hand under the turtle up to my shoulder, to catch the eggs as they fell. I have never been so close to a wild animal, and such a breath-taking one at that. I could hear and feel her breathing as she laid her eggs. This was without a doubt one of the most magical experiences of my life- I will never forget it!

A typical day in the life at Jalova went like this: I'd wake up to the sound of howler monkeys amongst the dawn chorus. The morning would usually be spent surveying- this could be checking turtle nests or jaguar camera traps along the beach, a biodiversity survey in the forest, or a bird survey along the canals in our canoe. The afternoon would involve more surveys, or we'd spend time entering data or doing chores. After dinner volunteers and staff would gather in the dining room to chat and play games, generally chill out and have fun, while yet more surveys were conducted at night, including night walk along the beach to monitor turtles and mark their nests.

During my two-month internship I had the opportunity to leave base and travel within Costa Rica with other volunteers. This was a great opportunity to see another part of the country and to bond with the people I was volunteering with.

I can honestly say that the two months I spent with GVI at Jalova were the best two months of my life. Every day was an adventure that came with its own challenges, accomplishments and unforgetable moments. Completing an internship with GVI has been an invaluable experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in wildlife conservation and the will to make a difference.

I know a lot of people say that trips such as this one change their lives, but this really did for me. I was at a stage in my life and career where I had to decide if I continue pursuing my dream of working in conservation, or give up and take a different path. I chose to do the 6 week internship in Jalova, Costa Rica and it was one of the best decisions I every made. I chose the internship over the standard conservation volunteering as I felt it offered me more opportunities to grow the skills I need for a career in conservation and build my confidence as a leader. It was definitely the right decision, I just wish I had chosen to stay longer!
The staff on base are a credit to the company and really make you feel safe and welcome from the moment you meet them. They have so much knowledge about Tortuguero National Park and all its inhabitants you will definitely learn a lot more from them than you could ever gain from books alone.
The camp is very remote, but this is part of its charm. Get away from technology and enjoy the sights and sounds around you. This remoteness also helps staff and volunteers to form very close friendships in a short space of time. The facilities are described as basic, but a lot of work was being done while I was there to update things and really, when you are living in the middle of the jungle, it is pretty impressive how well equipped they actually are.
I saw so many amazing species while I was in Jalova, you get extremely involved in all of the research being conducted in the park. The birds were the surprise for me, I knew they would be a big part of the ecosystem (as they are all over the world) but what surprised me was how much I loved seeing them and the thrill of identifying them.
Since returning home, Jalova now has a special place in my heart. I am determined to work in conservation and am considering returning for a long-term internship. I feel the place has so much to offer, no two days are the same and I feel I could still gain so much more from it.
Be prepare to be constantly sweaty and sandy, go with a positive attitude and say "Hola" to Big Steve the camps resident green iguana for me!