Costa Rica Wildlife Experience
Costa Rica
This rescue center is dedicated to the treatment and protection of exotic animals indigenous to the tropical paradise that is Costa Rica. Working alongside an experienced wildlife vet, volunteers help to rescue, rehabilitate and release these animals back to their natural habitat whenever possible. Volunteers are responsible for basic medical and day-to-day care of the resident animals, including optional nightly rotations for juvenile and nocturnal critters. All medical procedures and treatments are performed under the direction of a qualified veterinarian and all training is provided on arrival. This program was designed to provide hands-on experience in a veterinary setting to those with limited wildlife experience. This is a unique way to learn new skills, explore this Caribbean nation, and an opportunity to make lifelong friendships with other volunteers from around the world.
*Please note that this is a working rescue/rehabilitation center and wildlife hospital- activities and caseload are highly variable and invasive procedures will not be performed on otherwise healthy animals. Therefore, some activities may not be available in every session and some sessions may have a heavier caseload than others. In addition, there are other volunteers on site working in a variety of capacities.*
The program fee covers transportation, food and accommodation, as well as financial support for the rescue center. Guided tours are available during free time.
Cost
2-week session: $1,000 USD
Additional weeks: $500 USD/week
Breakfast
Morning volunteer meeting with coordinators
Animal food prep & feeding
Enclosure cleaning & animal enrichment (see “Activities” for details)
Medications, check ups & procedures (see “Activities” for details)
Exercise baby animals in the yard
Lunch & free time (pool, hammocks)
Afternoon volunteer meeting with coordinators
Animal food prep & feeding
Enclosure cleaning & animal enrichment (see “Activities” for details)
Medications, check ups and procedures (see “Activities” for details)
Collect & deliver leaves to all animals
Free time (pool, hammocks)
Dinner
Night activities (bonfire, night walks, movies, trivia)
Night feedings (optional, variable, need-based): 9pm, 12am, 3am
This itinerary is an example of a typical day at the center. Weekly activities are planned according to the needs of the rescue center and the community, new opportunities, vet emergencies, and inclement weather.
Arrival and Departure days are every Sunday. Training & Orientation take place in the first few days of each session- volunteers learn about the history and day-to-day operations of the center, feeding & cleaning procedures, handling techniques, etc. before starting the daily routine outlined above in the animal hospital.
Free time/tour days may vary but volunteers can expect 1 day off per week.
Vet/Animal Activities:
Food Prep (species-specific)
- Routine Feeding and Cleaning (twice daily)
- Daily Treatments (wound management, oral/injectable medications, etc.)
- Intake exams for new animals
- Regular Monitoring (vitals, weight, feed intake, etc.)
- Late Night Feedings* (as needed, optional)
- Diagnostics (blood tests, skin samples, fecal analysis, etc.)
- Discuss & design plans for release and prepare eligible animals
- Enrichment & Training (food puzzles, novel toys & objects, etc.)
- Assist in veterinary procedures (x-rays, sedated exams, surgeries, necropsies, etc.)
*Night Feedings: Newborns require feeding every few hours and nocturnal animals only eat at night, so there is sometimes a rotating nightshift schedule with 3-4 feedings per night. These shifts are in addition to the 8-hour workdays, are scheduled in pairs and are OPTIONAL, but reflect a realistic and important part of vet life at the rescue center. Any additional voluntary time spent at the hospital is very much appreciated!
These are examples of activities that have been performed at this center in the past. This is a working rescue/rehabilitation center and wildlife hospital—some treatments and procedures are more common than others, but cases and caseload are highly variable, and invasive procedures will not be performed on otherwise healthy animals. Therefore, some activities may not be available in every session, and some sessions may have a heavier caseload than others.
Animal Experience:
- 30-40 hrs/week
Vet Experience:
- 25-35 hrs/week
Clinical Experience:
- 5-15 hrs/week
Surgical Experience:
- 0-5 hrs/week
For the welfare and safety of the animals and staff, some animals are trained to present body parts, accept injections, etc. All medical treatments and procedures are performed under direct or indirect veterinary supervision. This center currently has 1 vet and staff are trained to provide day-to-day veterinary care.
Free-Time Activities:
Daily Free Activities Include:
- Lounging by the Outdoor Pool & Hammocks
- River Walks
- Board Games
Nightly free time activities include:
- Dance lessons/Karaoke
- Game night
- Bonfires
- Guided Night Walks
- Sun Downers
- Movies
- Visiting San Jose for souvenirs, restaurants, bars, etc.
There are scheduled weekly trips/tours off-site during the busy seasons. Additional off-site trips/locations or trips during quieter seasons (Sept-Nov) can be arranged with assistance of staff (Paula) or coordinators on-site upon request. There will be additional costs associated with transportation and entrance fees. Price ranges are estimated $35-$125 depending on tour and how many volunteers are going.
Popular destinations include:
- Jaco Beach
- Manuel Antonio National Park
- Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Arenal Volcano
- Isla Tortuga
- And more…Hammock-by-the-pool-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-300x225 (1)Flowers-by-a-waterfall-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-225x300Hiking-by-a-waterfall-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-300x225Four-wheeling-by-the-beach-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-300x171Vet-Experience-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-300x181Wildlife-Vet-Experience-in-Costa-Rica-Global-Vet-Experience-300x180 (1)
Included
- Accommodation
- Airport Transfers
- Free-time Activities
- Laundry Facilities (extra fee)
- Meals
- On-Site Support
- Pre-Departure Support
- Wi-fi
Not Included
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Visa Fees (if applicable)
Program Accommodation
Volunteers stay on-site at the rescue center with non-vet volunteers. There are 5 bedrooms (6 bunk beds per room), 3 showers & 8 toilets. Amenities include wifi, laundry service, outdoor pool and lounging areas. Staff stay on-site and are available 24/7 to ensure volunteer safety. All meals are included in the program fee. Weekday trips to the grocery store (10 min away) are available for snacks or other items.
*This is a non-profit rescue center in a rural location – please expect cozy and rustic accommodations, and limited Wi-Fi signal!*
Experience Costa Rica like never before!
This unique opportunity allows volunteers extensive experience working directly with tropical wildlife in a veterinary setting.
Sessions
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Available Available PackagesSundayAugust 30, 2026SaturdaySeptember 12, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundaySeptember 6, 2026SaturdaySeptember 19, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundaySeptember 13, 2026SaturdaySeptember 26, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundaySeptember 20, 2026SaturdayOctober 3, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundaySeptember 27, 2026SaturdayOctober 10, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundayOctober 4, 2026SaturdayOctober 17, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundayOctober 11, 2026SaturdayOctober 24, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundayOctober 18, 2026SaturdayOctober 31, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundayOctober 25, 2026SaturdayNovember 7, 2026$1,000Available
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Available Available PackagesSundayNovember 1, 2026SaturdayNovember 14, 2026$1,000Available
Overall Trip Rating:
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Verified Purchase
By Tara August 9, 2024 Learned so much about Costa Rican wildlifeThe Rescue Center is a great place for a wildlife enthusiast (vet student or not) - you see a very realistic side of animal rescue, with all the good, bad and the ugly. As a vet student, I was a bit unfortunate with timing - there was very little “medical” work to be done. However, the experience i got in regards to husbandry, welfare and biology of wildlife species there is still so valuable to me and my future career.Date of Experience: July 21, 2024
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Verified Purchase
By Anonymous June 6, 2023 Experience of a lifetimeThe vet was exceptional and let us do a lot. I learnt so mange things I would not have gotten the opportunity to do elsewhere and I had one of the best experiences of my lifeDate of Experience: May 21, 2023
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Verified Purchase
By Anonymous August 10, 2022 Get your hands dirtyThis experience is for people who love animals enough to get their hands dirty and live in humble conditions. But it's totally worth it to interact with the vet and the wildlife.Date of Experience: July 17, 2022
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Verified Purchase
By Fatou March 3, 2022 Love this placeI spent 1 Month at the Center and really enjoyed my time. The vet who is working there is such a Lovely Person. She explained everything, let me do Practical Things and never let me Alone with complicated Tasks. She really wanted me to understand and learn new things. I would really recommend the place for an Internship.Date of Experience: January 30, 2022
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Verified Purchase
By Sandra O March 3, 2022 Highly recommend for pre-vet studentsThe program is perfect for pre vet or early vet students! I learned a lot of new stuff and the vet was awesome! All in all it was an amazing month and I would definitely recommend it!Date of Experience: January 30, 2022
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