Wildlife Sanctuary 👩🏻‍⚕️

There are two types of programs:

1. Standard Volunteer Program:

• Work hours: 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  Daily routine:
  • 6:00 – 8:00: Morning feeding (supervised) – animals are most active
  • 8:00 – 8:30: Breakfast
  • 8:30 – 12:00: Daily tasks
  • 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch & rest
  • 1:00 – 3:00: Afternoon feeding
  • 6:00: Dinner

2. Veterinary Internship:

• Work hours: 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  Designed for vet students to apply their skills in a real environment
  • 7:00 – 8:00: Morning rounds
  • 8:00 – 8:30: Breakfast
  • 8:30 – 12:00: Treatment & lab work
  • 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch & rest
  • 1:00 – 4:00: Feeding, lab work, enrichment activities
  • 6:00: Dinner

Requirements:
✔ Intermediate English
✔ Spanish is a plus
✔ 18+ years old
✔ Individuals and couples accepted

Volunteers will help with:
✔ Watering plants
✔ Preparing animal food
✔ Rehab & release
✔ Health checks and treatment
✔ Annual check-ups
✔ Lab testing (feces, blood)
✔ Behavioral enrichment
✔ Feeding baby/orphaned animals

• Minimum stay: 1 week

• Maximum: 1 month (extendable in special cases)

• No smoking anywhere on or near NATUWA property
• No talking to animals to avoid human attachment
• No feeding outside of scheduled times
• No flash photography
• No drug use
• No alcohol
• Respect staff (no harassment, racism, or discrimination)
• No bringing outsiders to the sanctuary
• Shorts not allowed during work
• Safety gear required (gloves, helmet, goggles, shoes, pants)
• No electronic devices during work
• No insect repellent with DEET

• Airport: Juan Santamaria (San José, Costa Rica)
• The project is 2.5 hours away by car
• Arrival should be on the same day the program starts (preferably during daylight)
• Sanctuary shuttle available for $120 one-way (cash only – don’t leave the airport until you see someone holding a sign with your name wearing a NATUWA shirt)
• Alternatively, rent a taxi or take a bus (at your own risk)

• Shared container rooms with ceiling fans and forest views
• Social space with chairs, tables, and 2 hammocks
• Some rooms have private bathrooms/showers, others use shared ones
• Showers are cold — refreshing after a hot day
• Bring your own mosquito net

• 3 traditional meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Tea, local coffee, and fresh juice served with each meal

• Free time after 4:00 PM
• One day off weekly (coordinate with staff)
• Nearby store (15 min walk)
• Nearby river for swimming (20 min walk)
• Weekly cultural day: group trip (with sanctuary vehicle – extra fee)
📌 It’s recommended to stay in groups and inform staff before going out

Average temperatures: 24°C–29°C
Coastal areas are warmer – highlands are cooler

Currency: Costa Rican Colón – $1 ≈ ₡500
• Cards and Apple Pay are accepted
• ATMs and currency exchange at the airport

Not mandatory, but recommended.
See your doctor or travel clinic for advice. Mention your trip is to “The Garden Route – Costa Rica.”

The program runs all year (flexible date selection).
[Full date list removed for brevity – can be added if needed]