Do you love protecting wildlife? Rescue Wildlife has volunteer opportunities for you. What’s more, we appreciate your dedication and offer a complimentary housing stay as a token of gratitude.
Our volunteers share their skills to support our cause, not just provide assistance.
We have various flexible roles to fit your expertise. This offer gives you complete access to our wildlife programs. Moreover, you will assist in enhancing the lives of our sanctuary animals.
You will attend educational talks and collect food for the animals. Furthermore, we will cover your meals and accommodation. This allows you to fully dedicate yourself to safeguarding Costa Rica’s biodiversity.
Explore also our unique wildlife experiences
Veterinary Internship
Veterinary interns work directly with our highly experienced veterinarian and our rehabilitation staff. You will assist with with animal intakes, exams, treatments, surgeries, feeding and record keeping.
Wildlife Internship
Work hands-on in the Lifetime Care Sanctuary, Endangered Species Breeding Center and the Rescue Center, feeding animals, conducting behavioral research, and creating enriching experiences for our non-releasable animals or even clicker train our Jaguar „Guapo“.
Road to freedom Internship
This internship gives you the unique opportunity to not only see, but to play an active part in what we call: The Road to Freedom. Aid the animals in their release, monitor and research them and their second chance at life in the wild, the final step on their Road to Freedom.
Are you seeking a remarkable volunteer experience or searching for an internship opportunity related to wildlife and conservation? Look no further than our awe-inspiring wildlife volunteer and internship programs in Costa Rica.
Whether you’re interested in a short-term volunteer opportunity or require an internship as part of your studies, our programs offer unparalleled experiences. Here’s why Costa Rica is the perfect destination for wildlife volunteering:
Join us in Costa Rica and become part of our mission to protect and preserve the abundant wildlife this country has to offer. Experience the beauty of nature while making a tangible impact on the future of our planet.
What to expect
Interns should expect a busy, highly variable environment with a high number of emergency cases and/or confiscations coming in at a moment‘s notice. The level of participation in clinical cases will depend greatly on the skill and experience level of the student and the number and type of cases presented during the internship period.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided in a guest house with shared bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. Towels and blankets are provided. Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center is fenced and has 24-hour security.
What is included?
What is not included?
We are seeking serious, passionate individuals with the desire to dedicate themselves to helping us return Costa Rican wildlife back to where they belong.
A minimum of 2 years experience in your field.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
You must be able to speak and read English or Spanish to communicate with the team.
The experience traveling to a tropical country and living in a group setting are helpful but not required.
Flexibility, ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Having the ability to maintain a positive attitude in stressful situations is essential.
Five months into our travelling sabbatical, my partner (Joe) and I arrived in Costa Rica planning to volunteer for two weeks at a non-profit wildlife rescue centre. This is when the pandemic exploded in Latin America – overnight borders started …
This depends on the Internship you’re choosing. For more information just apply on our application-form and we will send you a detailed list of everything you will be doing. Alternatively you can also check out each Internship-Website here: Veterinary Internship, Wildlife Internship & Road to Freedom Internship
No, there is a strict policy on contact with the animals. If you are in the Vet program you will have a little bit more hands on approach, but it is strictly based on medical care. You will not be cuddling any animals. Wildlife and Road to freedom interns will not have any physical contact with the animals.
Costs vary depending on length or stay or time of year. For more information, enquire now!
We can organize for a driver to pick you up at the airport or anywhere in Costa Rica. We are located in La Garita, Alajuela about 15 minutes from the San Jose airport. For more information click HERE.
Once you sign up for our programs, we will send you a packing list and a manual to help you prepare for your experience with us. For more information fill out this form here.
We require the Covid vaccine or a negative covid test. We recommend that you are vaccinated for tetanus.
Interns work 5 days per week, 8 hours per day with two consecutive days off.
We have various different things that can be done in the evenings including night tours, our onsite movie theater, going out for dinner with other volunteers/Interns, heading to the local farmers markets, games nights and more!
There are various tours and activities that can be done as a day trip from the central valley, or you are able to explore the country with maybe a visit to the volcanos, Manuel Antonio, or other beach areas.
For the Veterinary Internship we limit participation to 4 interns, for the Wildlife Internship we limit participation to 10 participants and for the Road to Freedom Internship we limit participation to 6 participants.
Yes, for more information on traveling outside of your stay with us, you can email Amy at amy(at)rescatewildlife.org
Yes, we have free wifi in the Internship-houses and various parts of the sanctuary, including the main entrance and restaurant. There is not wifi on all of the trails.
There is a pool at Rescate in La Garita Alajuela, and a pool at the local hotel near Bosque Escondido in Nicoya.
