Volunteer in stunning national parks in Central America

Based in Costa Rica's National Parks, volunteers live and work alongside park rangers to help maintain and improve the national parks. These environmental projects are hugely important in helping to preserve natural resources and habitats and protect important species of plants and animals.

Here are some examples of volunteer projects you may be working on. Please be aware that these may change and are just a guide to the types of environmental projects we work on during a Raleigh expedition

La Cangreja - viewing platform and trail

La Cangreja is Costa Rica's newest National Park which owes its name to the striking 1,305 metre peak Cerro Cangreja. The park has a mixture of Tropical Humid forest and Pre-Montane forest with a number of species of plant found nowhere else in the world which makes the area important for research purposes and for conservation. The park is also blessed with amazing waterfalls only to be found through exploring the forest. At present the government is developing the facilities in the park and Raleigh volunteers will build a viewing platform near to the main park headquarters that looks over the national park and a trail for local school groups and other visitors. This environmental project is a unique opportunity to live right in the middle of the jungle!

Camaronal - Tree planting and turtle conservation

This is the first time we have worked in this unique protected area famous for its nesting turtles. In 2008 they reported over 5,000 turtle nests during the period of June to November on this 3km long beach found in the Nicoya Peninsula. Raleigh has been invited to help with the turtle egg collection and hatchery, construct a trail that runs behind the beach and plant trees to reforest the area behind the beach. Living on this stunning beach and interacting with these stunning creatures will be a once in a lifetime experience.

Your role: You’ll need enthusiasm, a positive attitude and lots of energy to work on this project! By joining a Raleigh expedition you could be working on this project as part of a 10 week expedition, 7 week expedition or 5 week expedition!

An expedition? A Raleigh International expedition is designed to give you variety! Not only do you get to work on hugely worthwhile environmental projects such as this one, you will also spend 3 weeks living and working with remote communities as well as completing an exhilirating adventure challenge.

How does it work? Join other venturers from all walks of life and volunteer on our unique 10 week gap year expedition. You'll spend 3 weeks on a community project, helping local communities with things we take for granted and another 3 weeks on a conservation project protecting the country's natural habitats and wildlife. The final 3 weeks is a tough mental and physical adventure battling nature's elements. You will able to put down project preferences for expedition, but please note we can't always allocate your first choice.

Too long? You can choose to do two project phases for 7 weeks.

5 week expeditions
On our unique 5 week gap year expedition you'll combine either a 3 week community or environment project with an adventure challenge. This is an intense, adrenalin-fuelled 7 day experience of trekking, survival challenges and water-based activities

How to apply?
There’s lots of ways to find out more about what we do! Call us on 0845 344 7600 and have a chat to one of the Raleigh team about what you’d like to do. Have a look at our website which is full of up to date information or come to one of our Information Events around the country (http://www.raleighinternational.org/open-event)!