Sea Turtle Camp Costa Rica

Our Costa Rica Sea Turtle Camp Adventure is an an ALL-GIRLS trip.

What if your summer adventure helped protect one of the planet’s most endangered creatures? This Costa Rica expedition places teens on the front lines of sea turtle conservation, combining research, cultural immersion, and wild exploration!

With 6 of the world’s 7 species found in Costa Rica, the beaches and waters are full of turtle observing opportunities, and we will take full advantage of this. As a small, intimate-sized group, we travel to the Caribbean Coast during one of the most active green sea turtle nesting aggregations in the world, we will assist a long-term research project with nightly beach patrols. Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill and sometime Loggerhead sea turtles frequently ply these waters, and their nests will be hatching out around this time as well. This exclusive adventure will immerse like-minded teens in the local language, culture, and ecology with our team of trained professionals. This program is for the adventurous teen who is not afraid to get down and dirty!

Our adventure begins in the cloud forests of Monteverde, where we’ll stay at an eco-lodge and immerse ourselves in Costa Rica’s vibrant culture and biodiversity. From hiking the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve to learning how coffee and chocolate are made, each day brings something new — including yoga classes, butterfly gardens, a bat jungle visit, and a thrilling zip-line tour through the cloud canopy. After departing Monteverde, we will venture across to the east coast where we will be ferried to our small remote island community at the wildlife refuge, Refugio de Vida Silvestre Laguna Urpiano, where they will be living the simple life and staying “off-the-grid” in this rustic solar-powered community! It is here campers will receive turtle patrol training and then will spend the next week looking for tracks, nests, laying mothers, and hatchlings. Campers will work in groups alongside a marine biologist and fellow volunteers to patrol the beach for sea turtle nests, manage a sea turtle hatchery, and participate in the study of both adult and juvenile turtles that inhabit this special shoreline. Here, volunteering is done in shift work, and we will be assigned different shifts times each day. Shifts run 24 hours a day and camp groups can be assigned a shift at any time. After a meaningful week of hands-on conservation at Laguna Urpiano, the group will depart for Pacuare River Lodge for the final days of the trip. There, campers will raft along the Pacuare River and explore the surrounding rainforest through naturalist-led hikes, visiting waterfalls and learning about the rich biodiversity of the region up close.

Costa Rica is widely recognized as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world. Its friendly culture, stable society, and strong commitment to protecting the natural environment make it an ideal destination for teens. With over a quarter of the country designated as protected land, Costa Rica offers a safe and inspiring setting for young travelers to explore wildlife, connect with nature, and have a meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

This program is designed for rising 10th-12th grade girls who are passionate about sea turtle conservation and looking for a tropical adventure abroad. Join us on our next trip as we:

• Receive sea turtle patrol training
• Perform sunrise and nocturnal nest walks
• Collect data on nesting females
• Raft down the Pacuare River
• Hike with a naturalist through the rainforest
• Zip-line through the cloud canopy
• Earn thirty hours of community service credit

**Please note that all activities are subject to change without notice**

Camp tuition includes all lodging, all meals from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day, 24-hour access to camp staff, admission to all activities, all equipment, and transportation including pick up and drop off from the San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO),  t-shirt, rashguard, Sea Turtle Hospital donation, community service certificate and your team photo. Arrival should be scheduled between 12-3 PM on the first day and departures between 12-5 PM on the last day. Due to the nature of the program, departing flights need to be after 12 PM on the final day of camp.

2026 Costa Rica Camp Dates

Costa Rica supports both rich marine ecosystems and diverse rainforest habitats, and we will have the opportunity to explore each environment while gaining a better understanding of its inhabitants. We provide teenagers with the opportunity to learn more about marine biology through hands-on, feet-wet experiential education. Campers get the extraordinary opportunity to work with live sea turtles as well as participate in some amazing daily activities designed to teach them through experience instead of out of a textbook. During this adventure, we will:

• Experience Costa Rican culture through local food, traditions, and community engagement
• Volunteer with a sea turtle conservation organization, assisting in real conservation efforts
• Learn proper beach patrol procedures and gain hands-on sea turtle patrol skills
• Conduct sunrise and nighttime nest walks, observing nesting turtles and hatchlings in their natural habitat
• Collect data on nesting females to contribute to long-term research
• Raft down the Pacuare River, surrounded by stunning rainforest scenery
• Take guided nature hikes through lush rainforests, discovering hidden waterfalls
• Zip-line through the cloud canopy for a thrilling aerial view of Monteverde
• Earn thirty hours of community service credit, making the adventure both fun and meaningful

** Activities are subject to change. While we do our best to follow the planned itinerary, some activities may shift due to weather or other factors. We’ll make every effort to adjust the schedule, so campers still enjoy a full and meaningful experience. **