Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San Ramón
Length
2 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Age Max
100
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
653
Price Details
2 weeks $653
3 weeks $998
4 weeks $1349
5 weeks $1484
6 weeks $1620
7 weeks $1757
8 weeks $1893

A registration fee of US$200 is applied to your program upon booking.
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Some Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Jul 28, 2022
Aug 20, 2022
40 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Costa Rica with INLEX and join a dedicated team of international volunteers making a positive impact in various fields. Alternatively, you can intern as well if you have experience in the chosen program or related field.

Costa Rica is well known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and relaxed lifestyle. As a volunteer, you will become part of a team working towards helping the country's most vulnerable areas and helping to create better and stronger communities through education and hard work.

You can volunteer in any of these programs :
-Education
-Childcare
-Wildlife conservation
-Construction and renovation
-Women Empowerment Education
-Environmental preservation

Internship positions are available in :
-Health and medical fields
-Physiotherapy support
-Veterinary assistant
-Microfinance and business training
-Dental field.

See more information on our site, click the visit site button to see all options.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Meet other voluntees from around the world in our program
  • Explore the mesmerizing beaches of Costa Rica.
  • Enjoy Surfing and Scuba Diving on your off-day
  • Explore unique wildlife in the many rainforests Costa Rica has to offer
  • Seek thrills by zip-lining through the rainforest

Program Impact

What makes us different?

We are Local

We are not a tourism company or corporation. We are committed to supporting the communities we work in by helping local projects and the local economy.

Responsibility

We work in each of our destinations. Our in-country knowledge is key to delivering participants to projects that need it the most. We use local staff and create local employment.

Safety

INLEX evaluates participants, projects, host families, and uses only trusted providers for their programs. By using our local staff’s knowledge and criteria we can establish a safe network of programs within each country.

Experience

INLEX has been working with volunteers and interns along with designing educational programs since 2005. Our experience and impact are constantly improving our programs.

Positive impact

Projects are carefully matched the participant’s skills. The projects and companies work with a volunteer or intern who will be useful to their goals and participants get useful and rewarding experience. The best match ensures a win-win situation for each party.

Popular Programs

Volunteer in construction

The construction program in Costa Rica is great for people who like working in teams and like manual tasks. As a volunteer in construction, you could be painting, mixing cement, laying bricks, cutting wood, moving earth, drilling and more. You don’t need to have previous experience, but if you know construction or renovation it certainly helps. If you have any specific skills related to construction let us know so we can add a note on your previous experience.

Enviromental conservation with INLEX

The environmental conservation volunteer program is aimed at helping natural reserves and biological research stations cover more ground and to meet their conservation goals. Volunteers working in the environmental conservation program will be assisting park rangers. Common tasks include insect specimen collection, trail maintenance, planting trees, monitoring of plants and animals, preparation of educational material, educational workshops and visitor assistance.

Childcare in Costa Rica INLEX

Volunteer with children in Costa Rica by working in a daycare where you will be assisting local staff with cooking, elaborating educational material, playing games, teaching basic colors, letters and creating a safe environment for children from low-income communities.

Physiotherapy Internship

The physiotherapy internship program is for people that are studying or have completed a degree in physiotherapy, rehabilitation or occupational therapy. The clinic in Costa Rica focuses on individuals with restricted mobility and chronic pain. Interns can also help in physiotherapy sessions at an assisted living facility.

Wildlife conservation

The wildlife conservation volunteer program aims to help wild fauna be rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Wildlife rescue centers take in animals that have been seized by the authorities and if possible, are rehabilitated to be inserted back to their natural habitat. By volunteering in the wildlife program your tasks will be based around the animals’ well-being by preparing adequate food, feeding them, cleaning enclosures, making adequate toys, assisting staff, and more.

Program Reviews

4.61 Rating
based on 28 reviews
  • 5 rating 67.86%
  • 4 rating 28.57%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 3.57%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.45
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.45
  • Value 4.35
  • Safety 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 28 reviews
Default avatar
Helen
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Árbol de Esperanza

I’m really glad I chose this program because I had a lot of freedom when it came to deciding in what way I want to support the program. Mariam, the Development and Communications Coordinator, supported me with anything I needed.
But since I “made up” my functions and duties in the project it made me feel like I wasn’t needed at all - which of course is good, because the project is important and should never depend on the help of the volunteer, but I was surprised by that.
If you are enthusiastic and have your own ideas this is a great opportunity to learn a lot about the culture though: since I worked in a program that helped women I learnt a lot about the problems and controversies in the country.
Apart from that, even making a very small impact makes me feel good, because it’s a non-profit organization which makes the lives of a lot of women so much better by helping them become more independent and self confident.

21 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Julie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

It was an amazing experience to be able to discover a new country and a new culture, at the same time as having a positive impact on the community.
The family I was staying with were the sweetest person, always here to help and give some insight on their culture and history. Ticos are really welcoming.
The program I was working for gave me real missions to do, with objectives and directives. It was great because it allowed me to see the real impact I could have and not only doing basic helping out but really using my knowledge and capabilities to help out.

20 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Carla
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica - el país más lindo

During my time in Costa Rica I got to stay with an amazing tico host family in the city of San Ramón while working in a women empowerment program. San Ramón is a beautiful and lively city and the other volunteers and I were all really happy with our projects and host families. Tanya, the program’s coordinator took great care of us and regularly planed get-togethers and trips. You will be able to pick up the Spanish pretty quickly since you are always surrounded by it - at home as well as at work. Moreover you’ll get the possibility to really get to know the wonderful people of Costa Rica and see the prettiest places. I can only recommend this program to anyone! Muchísimas gracias por todo! Tuve el mejor tiempo y quiero volver pronto

40 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Franka
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica

All in all the program was an awesome experience. The family I stayed with was friendly, lovely and always open to help me. I really appreciated this much. Unfortunately I had to evacuate my program, due to the arising of COVID-19 and the immediate change if conditions. I could not enter my project, since I only stayed in Costa Rica for 5 weeks before the COVID-19 break out. These 5 weeks I had visited a Spanish course. All in all the experience was exceptional, even though I had to stop my project and return to Germany.

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing. I was content with every aspect. The families were nice and the Spanish course was very helpful.
39 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jenna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Magnificent!

Costa Rica (especially the people!) is truly magnificent. San Ramón has everything you need and is located extremely well for traveling around the country. The coordinator is so sweet, fun (planned many activities) and really took the time for me and us. My volunteer project was really well organized and it was special to meet the other volunteers, who I’m still friends with. Living with the host family was authentic and special. I hope I can go back some day. I’m convinced, you won’t regret going!

41 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Greta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida

Translated by Go Overseas:

I had a great time in Costa Rica; Including work on my two projects and life in a Costa Rican family, which I loved.
The volunteers are part of the families and all the families of my friends that I met were too pretty.
My family especially made me as their daughter or sister and totally as a part that made me feel super comfortable in that family and I will never forget that experience.
In my two projects (A school and a nursery) I felt very good too, because all the people are too kind and I was always a vacilon with them.
I am very grateful for everything I had in Costa Rica and for all the people I met.

Original Review:

Tenía un tiempo buenísimo en Costa Rica; incluido el trabajo en mis dos proyecto y la vida en una familia tica, que me encantó.
Los voluntarios son parte de las familias y todas las familias de mis amigas que conocí, estuvieron demasiado lindas.
La familia mía especialmente me hizo como una hija o hermana de ellos y totalmente como una parte que me hizo sentir súper cómoda en esa familia y nunca voy a olvidar ese experiencia.
En mis dos proyectos (Un colegio y una guardería) me sentí muy bien también, porque todas la personas son demasiado amables y siempre era un vacilon con ellos.
Estoy muy agradecida por todo que tenía en Costa Rica y por toda la gente que conocí.

What would you improve about this program?
Maybe more projects which actually need help like for example projects with construction
38 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Daira
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience in Costa Rica

I have spent a month in San Ramon, Costa Rica. I enjoyed my time in the programme where i have learn to care of others and be more independent. I was in a kinder garden which helps single mothers and families who have struggles. Also i loved the country and the people, who were so warm and made me feel like home. I would love to return and know more places. I really liked the culture and the joy of the people. I highly recommed doing a job as a volunteer because it helps you to grow as a person.

What would you improve about this program?
In the kinder garden where i worked was really nice but the person who owns the place is not so honest and sometimes doesn"t treat well the volunteers.
40 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Seham
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Internship in Costa RIca

I just finished a six months internship in Costa Roca, I had so much fun and gained a lot of knowledge in language and in my field. As a Muslim girl I went to Costa Rica with some fear and hesitation because of the very different culture but when I arrived there, the people and staff were very welcoming and understanding for these differences and I felt like home! I would encourage anyone to go for this ! The language was not a barrier because most people there speak and understand English!!!!!!

What would you improve about this program?
The program was very good and helpful but I would add more clinical options for students!
38 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers