Green Life Volunteers currently works with a sanctuary located in Alajuela (Central Valley) near San Jose.

As a volunteer on any wildlife rescue center you’ll will help with the animal care, feeding, cleaning, rehabilitation, rescue, and release of animals. The mission of the wildlife sanctuaries in Costa Rica is to give the animals time to heal from their injuries and when they are ready, they will be released back into the wild. Some of the animals will be in the sanctuary for their entire life because they would not survive or they are too domestic.

The wildlife sanctuary wants to provide the quality of life to the resident animals. The animals that are generally in sanctuaries in Costa Rica are sloths, raccoons, squirrels, macaws, parrots, anteaters, bird raptors, monkeys, toucans, and many more animals. Usually the wildlife sanctuaries receive their donations partly from the entry fee of visitors.

Wildlife Sanctuary Alajuela: The wildlife sanctuary in Alajuela had been moved from its original location in Limon. They have many different animals and believe firmly in rehabilitation and releasing animals. The sanctuary offers their volunteer housing right on the property – shared mixed dormitory type accommodation. Meals are prepared and cooked for volunteers.

•       Preparing specific food mixtures for the animals
•       Providing food, water and other nutrients to the animals
•       Assist in the general maintenance and cleaning the enclosures, etc.
•       Various maintenance work for the facility in general
•       Giving tours to the visitors
•       Becoming an animal handler

An ideal volunteer on the ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’ project has a passion for wild and exotic animals and their exotic nature. Also, the volunteer has to enjoy physical labor and being outside. You do not need a degree for this project. You can volunteer on this project if you are 18+ years old.

The wildlife sanctuary we currently work with is located in Alajuela, not too far from the international airport. It’s easy to arrange transport from the airport to the sanctuary for you. The transport is around $30 each way.

The wildlife sanctuaries offer shared mixed-gender dormitory style accommodations with bunk beds or single beds for their volunteers. There is usually a shared volunteer house with a shared kitchen and common areas.

At the Dominical rescue center they pre-purchase the food and volunteers prepare their own meals – there is no chef.

At the Alajuela rescue center meals are prepared for you, 3 times a day, breakfast lunch and dinner.

The costs for this project are:

• First week’s fee: $ 599
• Every Additional Week: $ 229 (It does not matter many weeks you choose, this fee stays the same)

FEES EXPLAINED: Our organizational fee of around $299 is included in the first week’s fee and covers the “behind the scenes costs”, such as transaction bank fees, staff salaries, office space rental, 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.

Please Click Here to APPLY for this project.