Volunteer Costa Rica
Affordable, Exciting, Life-Changing Costa Rica Volunteer Experiences!

YYou will find an extremely affordable, absolutely unforgettable, life-changing experience in IFRE’s volunteer programs in Costa Rica! This magnificent country is a tropical delight and the jewel in the crown of Central America.

You will balance your demanding days of humanitarian focus with free time spent pursuing activities such as lounging on a gorgeous beach, exploring the jungle’s canopy from a zip-line or even simply relaxing with a cup of the world’s best coffee as you overlook the very field in which it was grown. We need you! The people in Costa Rica live in a developing, even desperate country. IFRE’s volunteer program in Costa Rica brings much-needed aid to the country’s real problems, such as social imbalance and healthcare. Find your own inner balance as you gift your time and effort to projects that speak to your heart.

Grab your keyboard and write us an email right now, while you’re thinking about how fantastic this could be. We’ll send you all the details, and you’ll see that you were 100% right!

Volunteer Work Projects and Locations

IFRE Costa Rica volunteer program presently supports local orphanages, health centers, local schools and NGOs working for different social issues. Volunteer projects in Costa Rica is available in Atenas. Volunteers can work in any of these volunteer projects in Costa Rica while sharing their experience and compassion with local kids, women's groups and communities. You can help in any of these volunteer projects in Costa Rica:

Volunteer Program Fee & Dates:

Start Dates:Our programs start every Monday, although we allow for flexibility due to travel constraints.

IFRE is a 501(c)3 organization, so your program fee will be tax deductible. IFRE Volunteers is proud to offer an extensive assortment of programs at very reasonable prices (and may rank “best priced and best value” among the many volunteer abroad organizations in the USA/Europe/New Zealand). Our programs are now more affordable than ever. We are proud to focus on the humanitarian aspect of our business, not the profit. We work very hard and smart to keep costs down, especially for you the volunteer, as we know the value of your donated time and efforts. We remain devoted to maintaining both the quality of the program and the safety of all volunteers involved. Below is a brief summary of the program fee and services that IFRE Volunteers offers.

IFRE fees comprise of two separate fees. An application fee of $349 USD (covers advertising, staff/office expenses, etc.) and a nominal weekly program fee (covers room/board, insurance, field support, etc).

Spanish Language Training

IFRE currently offers highly affordable Spanish language classes in Costa Rica. These classes are exclusive to IFRE volunteers participating in our volunteer program. In Costa Rica, IFRE partners with a highly reputable Spanish school. They employ qualified and experienced Spanish teachers and offer the most intensive and effective Spanish courses in Costa Rica. In this program is structured so that volunteers can work at their volunteer project and learn Spanish simultaneously. For example, volunteers can take Spanish classes from 9:00-11:00 a.m. (before lunch) followed by volunteer activities. Alternatively, volunteers may take Spanish classes from 3:00-4:00 a.m. (after a day of volunteer work). Most of the projects are located close to the Spanish school, so it is possible for volunteers to design a personal schedule. IFRE invites you to improve your Costa Rica experience by learning or improving your Spanish.

* Spanish language-Atenas (group): $7 per hour

Arrangement of Room/Food/Supervision

In Costa Arica, all volunteers stay with well-screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are well versed in the art of hosting international volunteers. Host families offer a safe home, private rooms (occasionally rooms will be shared with other same-gender volunteers) and shared bathroom facilities with running hot water and a “western” style toilet. Volunteers have the ability to do laundry at the house or the host family may offer to do it for you for a nominal extra fee. You receive three prepared meals per day. If you will be out of the house during lunch hour, you can request a lunch "to go" that you can take with you or eat out on your own. Host families provide typical meals that are traditional to Costa Rica.

Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible) and volunteers are always welcome at the local office. If project placement is local, we request that volunteers stop by the office once a week to keep us posted on how they are doing with their home stay and project. If project placement is very far, then our local staff members maintain communication by either email and/or phone.

Costa Rica Free Time

Volunteers have free time for the duration of their volunteer project and weekends. While IFRE does not arrange activities during this time off, our local staff, members and coordinators can provide priceless assistance in making appropriate arrangements for travel in Costa Rica. It’s the time for self-discovery and learning. It’s time to explore Costa Rica – it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world offering numerous opportunities for a truly amazing experience. Our IFRE local coordinators/staff are available to give you free advice, travel tips and helps to book your travel.

Atenas is a small city, population about 7000, located in a flourishing agricultural area and surrounded by breathtaking mountains and lush coffee plantations. The village vibe is very positive and laid back. Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to explore. There are hikes and bike rides, along with day trips to zip-line across the tree canopy or trek through the mountains. Attend the lively weekly farmer's market.

San Miguel de Saraqipui is located in the province of Aljuela. It is a small town and is known for rural, rustic charm. San Miguel is surrounded by rainforest and sees rain year round. The rich soil and forest cover also means plenty of wildlife. Over 500 species of birds, 100 species of mammals and 2 thousand species of plant are found in the rainforest round San Miguel. San Miguel is also a rafter’s paradise. The rains in San Miguel swell the rivers around the town and this makes for a very exciting rafting trip. Other activities volunteers can undertake in San Miguel are visits to see La Fortuna, Arenal, and Poas Volcanoes, Rio Celeste Waterfall and Tirimbina Biological Reserve.

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