On our Marine Conservation Internship Program, work for local NGOs championing marine conservation in the Nicoya Peninsula and help preserve Costa Rica’s marine life!
Year-round
2 months
from C$3,999
Official Programme Launch Date Coming Soon - We Thank You For Your Patience
Costa Rica’s been making waves in the world of marine conservation. The first nation to expand its marine protected areas to 30 percent, Costa Rica is pioneering ocean advocacy across the world. During your marine conservation internship, you will work closely with local organizations in Nosara, and play a pivotal role in local sustainability and marine conservation efforts.
The ocean plays a huge role in the daily life of Nosara’s community. Located on the Pacific Coast in the Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is one of the world’s largest nesting sites for the Olive Ridley sea turtles – attracting up to 100,000 a month – with threats ranging from critical habitat loss to fishing and poaching sea turtle eggs. You will have the opportunity to work on sea turtle conservation projects ranging from daily beach patrols and ecological monitoring to hatchery support, alongside other projects.
This is an especially great opportunity for students interested in biology, ecology, environmental studies and conservation.
Life Below Water, Clean Water and Sanitation.
Flights, medical insurance, visa and/or work permit application fees, local transportation, food & rent.
Interested in learning more about our Marine Conservation Internship Program?
Sandwiched between the Caribbean and Pacific oceans, Costa Rica brings six of the seven species of sea turtle to its beaches. Nosara is one of the world’s largest nesting sites for the Olive Ridley turtle, with monthly nesting events bringing up to 100,000 turtles onshore.
You can start at any time of the year. We typically ask for three months’ notice before you plan to leave Canada so you can make the most of our support in preparing you for your adventure abroad. Want to leave sooner? No problem, we’ll put your services on high priority!
Nosara, Costa Rica is home to a diverse range of marine wildlife due to its location on the Pacific Coast. Some of the marine wildlife that can be found in Nosara include bottlenose, spotted, and spinner dolphins, sharks, rays, large sport fish and humpback whales (seasonally). Not forgetting four different species of sea turtle, including the olive ridley, green, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles.
Rapid population growth and construction in Nosara has led to environmental issues, including problems with the marine ecosystems. Despite having regulations regarding construction on the beach, there is low oversight on gray water treatment and septics, which has resulted in increased bacterial presence in the local waters. As a result, the marine ecosystems in Nosara are facing issues related to pollution and water quality, which can have negative impacts on the health of the local wildlife and ecosystem as a whole.
The great thing about Nosara is that it has waves for surfers of all levels. There are four main beaches in Nosara: