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INTERNSHIPS IN COSTA RICA |
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 Travel to Costa Rica drums up thoughts of paradise. Colorful creatures abound from p layful monkeys, somnolent sloths, crocodiles, countless lizards, poison-dart frogs and a mind-boggling assortment of exotic birds and insects Costa Rica is a tropical delight. Intern in Costa Rica , Central America 's gem. Balance your demanding days of humanitarian focus with free time spent lounging on a beach or exploring the jungle's canopy from a zip-line. You will be mesmerized by the tranquil and tropical splendor and lulled to a heightened state of relaxation as you nurse a coffee overlooking the field in which it was grown!
Nevertheless, Costa Rica is not all beauty and lush magnificence. IFRE's internship program in Costa Rica is desperate for manpower. As a developing country, Costa Rica wrestles with social balance and healthcare, to name just a couple projects, which need your help. Find balance amidst the loveliness and social challenges as you gift your time and effort to projects that speak to your heart. Come to Costa Rica and leave having had the experience of your life.
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INTERNSHIP IN COSTA RICA: ACADEMIC CREDIT |
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 You can earn academic credit for most internship projects in Costa Rica . The best way to receive academic credit is by pre-arranging the project with your college/university. It is up to an intern to communicate with faculty/academic advisors regarding college credit for internship work PRIOR to applying to IFRE. Your college/university may require additional information prior to approval and may require students to submit pre/post research or other requirements.
Alternatively, you can earn academic credit through Seattle Central Community College (SCCC). SCCC offers college credit for a variety of international programs (study abroad, volunteer abroad, intern abroad, language studies and even cultural-exchanging home-stays). IFRE recommends contacting Professor Steve Tash (we can provide contact details) to further explore this option of receiving academic credit for your international internship. IFRE is not associated with SCCC and it is up to the intern to arrange to transfer SCCC course credit to their university/college of choice.
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INTERNSHIP IN COSTA RICA WORK PROJECTS AND LOCATIONS |
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IFRE's Costa Rica internship program presently supports local orphanages, English teaching, sustainable/organic farming, health centers, and turtle and national park conservation projects. Internship projects in Costa Rica are available in Atenas and San Jose . Interns can work in any of these projects in Costa Rica while sharing their experience and compassion with local children, communities and animals. You can help in any of these internship projects in Costa Rica :
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COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FEE & DATES: |
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Start Dates: Internship programs starts on the following (first and third Monday of each month)
IFRE is a 501(c)3 organization, so your program fee will be tax deductible. IFRE Interns is proud to offer an extensive assortment of programs at very reasonable prices ( and may rank “best priced and best value” among the many internship 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 intern, 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 interns involved. Below is a brief summary of the program fee and services that IFRE Interns offers. IFRE fees comprise of two separate fees. An application fee of $349 USD (covers advertising, staff/office expenses, etc.) and a nominal weekly program fee (covers room/board, insurance, field support, etc).
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SAN JOSE – program fee (US$) |
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What's Included in Program Fee |
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| 1 week: |
$347 |
| 2 weeks: |
$617 |
| 3 weeks: |
$737 |
| 4 weeks: |
$852 |
| 5 weeks: |
$1,022 |
| 6 weeks: |
$1,117 |
| 7 weeks: |
$1,212 |
| 8 weeks: |
$1,302 |
| 9 weeks: |
$1,472 |
| 10 weeks: |
$1,567 |
| 11 weeks: |
$1,662 |
| 12 weeks |
$1,752 |
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*Extra Fee for turtle/nature conservation and Construction Project ( San Jose ): $5/day
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Additional costs for interns |
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International and domestic flights, visa, daily transportation, personal expenses on water/soft drinks, entertainment, laundry, telephone, immunizations.
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SPANISH LANGUAGE TRAINING |
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IFRE currently offers highly affordable Spanish language classes in Costa Rica . These classes are exclusive to IFRE interns participating in our internship 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 interns can work at their internship project and learn Spanish simultaneously. For example, interns can take Spanish classes from 9:00-11:00 a.m. (before lunch) followed by internship activities. Alternatively, interns may take Spanish classes from 3:00-4:00 a.m. (after a day of work). Most of the projects are located close to the Spanish school, so it is possible for interns to design a personal schedule. IFRE invites you to improve your Costa Rica experience by learning or improving your Spanish.
*Group Spanish Lesson (Atenas): $7/hour
*Individual Spanish Lesson (Atenas): $9/hour
*Group Spanish Lesson ( San Jose ): $13/hour
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ARRANGEMENT OF ROOM & FOOD |
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 In Costa Rica , all interns stay with well-screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are well versed in the art of hosting international interns. Host families offer a safe home, private rooms (occasionally rooms will be shared with other same-gender interns) and shared bathroom facilities with running hot water and a “western” style toilet. Interns 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 internship project, our local staff stays in contact with interns either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our interns every two weeks (when possible) and interns are always welcome at the local office. If project placement is local, we request that interns 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.
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COSTA RICA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FREE TIME |
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Interns have free time for the duration of their internship 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 is the time for self-discovery and learning. It is 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.
The capital city of San Jose is located on high plateau in the Central Valley at an elevation of 1200 m (3,700 ft). Lush green mountains and valleys surround the city. While the city's architectural achievements are not notable, the local mountains provide many free time activities ranging from small treks to overnight treks. Excursions to butterfly and coffee farms are enjoyable options. Canopy tours are thrilling, as is volcano exploration. There are delicious restaurants and museums as well. San Jose provides a well-balanced travel experience, heavy on excitement and natural adventure!
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