sustainable tourism internships

Stepbeyond•Internships•Costa Rica•Sustainable Tourism

Our Sustainable Tourism Internship Program allows students to gain professional hospitality and tourism experience from the country pioneering sustainable travel.

Start Dates

Year-round

Duration

2 months

Cost

from C$3,999

Announcement

Official Programme Launch Date Coming Soon - We Thank You For Your Patience

Program Overview

Tourism is now the top industry and employer in Nosara, so managing growth and instilling sound practices are of utmost importance to the community. Consequently, interns will work on projects ranging from destination stewardship to promoting responsible travel. You will also learn how different cultures and environments integrate sustainable tourism practices, build your global network and learn groundbreaking concepts that you can apply to your future career.

If you are interested in starting a career in hospitality and tourism, this will be a great opportunity to kickstart your international hospitality experience!

UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Responsible Consumption and Production, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Why Go With Us

#1

Personal Support

Your personal coordinator will get to know your interests, experience and what you want to achieve during your tourism work experience so that we can set you up for success!

#2

Our Values

We believe in the power and passion of Canada’s youth to champion change, and our placements provide the opportunity to directly work with change-making grassroots organizations where students will have a tangible impact.

#3

Use Your Internship Towards University Credits

Launch your global travel career! At the end of your internship placement, receive a certificate of completion which can be used towards your studies, and a reference for your resume!

What’s Included

Pre-departure

Unpaid sustainable tourism internship placement
Personal trip coordinator
Step-by-step visa application support
Resume review and revisions
Assistance with booking flights and choosing travel insurance
Personal pre-departure orientation
Info pack with everything you need to know about living in Costa Rica

In Country

Airport transfer
Accommodation
In-country orientation
In-country program coordinator
Ongoing monitoring
Optional Spanish lessons can be arranged
Fun social events!

The Outcome

Gain a certificate of your travel internship hours to add to your resume
Make in real impact
Gain tourism work experience from an organization that shares your values

What’s Not Included

Flights, medical insurance, visa and/or work permit application fees, local transportation, food & rent.

Have Questions?

Interested to chat with us to learn more about this program?

Get in Touch

What Will I Do?

Throughout your placement, you will get an insight into the different tourism jobs in Costa Rica ranging from hotel management, tourism, marketing, reception, event planning, tour guides and more. From learning the ropes of LEED-certified hotel operations to collaborating with the local guide community to ensure that nature tours positively impact both wildlife and human populations, there is much work to be done!

Daily activities may include:

Assist with research and analysis on sustainable travel in the hospitality industry
Receive guests and educate them on available activities and services
Learn about the tourism industry and management in Costa Rica
Event planning and scheduling activities and tours for visitors
Collect payments and accounts
Deliver high-quality and educational tours to visitors
Coordinate the logistics of tour activities for guests
Interact with potential clients over email, phone, or social media to inform them about services

Why Do This Program

#1

Make a Local Impact

On your international hospitality internship, you will get an insight into the different tourism jobs in Costa Rica while making a positive impact on Nosara's local community and environment.

#2

Personal and Professional Development

A tourism internship abroad will develop your skills in communication, flexibility and adaptability. All this, while gaining valuable insight into how sustainable development initiatives are applied to the management of tourism.

#3

Launch Your Global Travel Career

International tourism experience is essential to any career in the hospitality and tourism industry. A sustainable tourism internship in Costa Rica will enable you to learn from the global pioneer of responsible travel.

Let’s Get Started!

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!

Apply Now

FAQs

What are the present challenges that tourism development is facing in Nosara?

Tourism in Nosara brings jobs and money but poses challenges such as rapid growth, preserving the environment, sustainable practices, waste management, and balancing local needs. Therefore, careful planning and management are necessary for sustainable tourism.

Where will my sustainable tourism internship take place?

Our placements primarily take place at local hotels and tour operators. This allows interns to learn about incorporating sustainable practices while providing an excellent guest experience.

What skills will I learn during my sustainable tourism internship?

As part of your sustainable tourism internship, you will learn a wide range of skills that will be valuable in your future career. This includes skills such as:

Cross-cultural communication
Adaptability
Customer service
Organization
Teamwork
You’ll also have the opportunity to improve your Spanish!

Let’s Travel Together

@go.stepbeyond