The Reptile Project is a park in Costa Rica that hosts a number of reptile species. The park was founded by Quetzal, an American Biologist who decided to relocate to Costa Rica. The park has been in existence for 12 years and it’s constantly growing and improving.

The park hosts a lot of native species but also reptile species from all over the world – mainly endangered and rare species. The park hosts a very endangered species of turtle, and through their in-captive breeding program, they actually export some animals that are reintroduced into their original natural habitat into the wild.

Almost all animals in the park are kept in breeding pairs. The owner and biologist Quetzal loves to do little research projects as a hobby – and he would be interested in having volunteers and students that would like to contribute with their own non-invasive research studies. There is ample opportunity to study various aspects of the reptiles lives ! You can either come up with your own project or the owner would help you develop a project too. You can even get credit for it at your University! Ask about it during your sign up process.

Volunteer’s responsibilities include: 

• Clean cages
• Feed animals
• Maintain cages and help build new cage areas
• Clean and maintain the park grounds
• Help tourists with any questions

Qualifications
An ideal volunteer on this project has a passion for reptiles. You do not need a degree for this project. You should be 18 years of age or older.

An ideal volunteer on this project has a passion for reptiles. You do not need a degree for this project. You should be 18 years of age or older. You don’t have to speak Spanish for this project.

The reptile park is located around 10km from Dominical in the mountains leading up to San Isidro del General. It’s a very rural and quiet area. As a volunteer on the projects, you can visit and hang out in Dominical in your free time, go to the beach and relax, and enjoy the activities of the area. Dominical is a bustling touristy town, with a great surf wave too. You can learn how to surf and do other activities around the area.

For more info check our locations page here.

You’ll either live on site at the project facilities or with a Costa Rican host family. In the family, food is Costa Rican typical food cooked for you by the family. Breakfast is usually around 6-7am, lunch is around 12pm, and dinner is around 6 -7pm. If you live in the project facility, you will have to prepare your own meals, but food is purchased for you.

The internship opportunity means that you’d be spending a more extensive amount of time on the project – and also possibly do your own research project at the park. You can ask your University for credits or for conducting your major paper or thesis research at the reptile project. The owner is a biologist, and can supervise and oversee your project.

This is a great opportunity to do interesting research for someone studying biology with a special interest in reptiles and their ecology!

The costs for this project are:

• First week’s fee: $ 449
• Every Additional Week: $ 149 (It does not matter many weeks you choose, this fee stays the same)

FEES EXPLAINED: Our organizational fee of around $249 is included in the first week’s fee and covers the “behind the scenes costs”, such as staff salaries, office space rental, transaction and bank fees, and more. Our weekly fee for additional weeks covers the costs of your host family or project accommodation and food, the local staff on your project, and a donation to help with the daily running costs of the program you will help on.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE: First and last night in San Jose in a hostel, travel to and from the international airport (airport shuttles are around 30$ each way to San Jose – We can set this up for you, just ask us during sign-up), travel to the project site (usually by public buses, which are from around 10-16$ one way), national/ International flights, travel insurance, visa costs, Any additional food or snacks besides the host family meals, extra-curricular activities.

The Handbook for the project will be available shortly.