Paul volunteered with us on the National Park project in February of 2024. This is his review.
I spent the first morning with a staff member building a steel bed frame so I would have a bed. They did outfit the bed very nicely for me with bed sheets and a proper mosquito netting. Most of the accommodation is under a roof in open air setting. My last three nights they moved me to a cabin because they were doing work on the dormitory.
The food was really quite good and lots of it.
Rice and beans three times a day but also choices of meat and vegetables and salad and fruit. Sometimes a dessert.
Also two types of natural fruit drinks or water to drink.
There are a lot of tourists at La Sirena. Approximately 300 during my stay.
I had really no interaction with them as they are already organized in small groups with a guide. Some are staying overnight and others come just for the day. For meal time, the staff have to wait until the tourists have eaten before they can eat.
I worked with maintenance at the station. Painting, building a wooden door and building a base with blocks and concrete.
We also worked on setting up a “museum room” where they are exhibiting bones and posters with the history of La Sirena from a farm to a park.
I feel I was a valuable asset to the program and enjoyed working on the various projects.
I was not expecting that many tourists but it is definitely positive ecotourism.
I also was glad that I could speak Spanish every day as that was one of my reasons for going.
Of course walking the trails was amazing in the afternoons and seeing lots of wildlife.
Overall it was a great experience!!!
