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Welcome to your program
Get ready for an incredible experience in Costa Rica! Participate in clinical labs and shadow wildlife veterinarians at the on-site clinic. In your free time, your group will explore some of the country’s most stunning spots, including visiting Poas Volcano and Manuel Antonio National Park.
This page will take you through everything you need to know about your program. You should READ every section. We've linked additional information under each topic as needed.
Housing
You will have shared bedrooms with several bunk beds in one room with ensuite bathrooms. There is no central AC in the rooms.
Food
For breakfast and lunch, there is a variety of fruits like mangos and pineapple, pancakes, typical Costa Rican rice, and beans. For dinner there more American style food like pizza, burgers, and fries
Flights
At the start of your program, our group shuttle from the airport on arrival Sunday will leave the airport at 4pm. Therefore, you should plan to arrive on a flight that arrives at SJO by 3pm on Sunday. Please note that shuttles will run throughout the day but you may need to wait a few hours at a restaurant near the airport for a small group of students to have gathered and then be picked up. There are no planned activities on arrival day so you will need to stay at the student housing until the welcome dinner.
At the end of your program, our group shuttle to the airport on departure Saturday will arrive at the airport at 11am. Therefore, you should plan to depart on a flight that departs SJO after 1pm on Saturday.
Packing
The only items you are required to bring are those on the “required” lists. General required items (like your passport) are found on the ALL PROGRAMS packing list above. Program specific required items are found below under the REQUIRED section. For the rest of the items, you are welcome to use your discretion. There may be items missing from this list that you’d like to bring, and there may be items on this list that you don’t want to bring. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Required for this program
2 bottles of mosquito repellent
Adequate supply of reef safe (without oxybenzone, octinoxate, or nano-minerals)
2-3 scrub tops or pairs of scrubs
2-3 pairs of pants (scrub pants or hiking pants are great)
Closed-toe shoes for the clinic (sneakers). We recommend bringing two pairs of shoes because your shoes will get wet and will take days to dry.
1 box of masks
A rainproof, lightweight jacket (and anything else you need to work in the rain, such as rain pants and/or travel umbrella). You will definitely want a sturdy rain jacket suitable for heavy rain in tropical weather. *You are traveling during Costa Rica's rainy season*
Towel for showering (Some students prefer a microfiber travel towel).
Water resistant wrist watch with second hand
Suggested for this program
Longer style shorts (for free time but please note we suggest lightweight pants due to bugs).
Bathing suit and swim towel (any style is fine. Most days you'll have an opportunity to swim)
Tee shirts that can get dirty (tank tops are not permitted during volunteer rotations)
Stethoscope (Not required and there will be several on site for you to share, but you may prefer to have your own and it will come in handy in your future with vet med. This is another good affordable stethoscope option)
Sandals with a strap (similar to Teva, Chaco or Keen)
Hat or cap (for sun)
Motion Sickness medicine (some students who have never gotten motion sickness wish they had brought medication)
FAQ
You are traveling during Costa Rica's rainy season, please pack accordingly! Because of the humidity, it could take several days for your shoes to dry. Most days, you will get dirty and sweaty and gross. A few extra socks and tee shirts can make you much more comfortable. You should plan to wear longer shorts or pants, and a tee shirt or scrub top during most volunteer hours.
WIFI: You will have intermittent access to WiFi, but it can be unreliable. If you are interested in a travel phone plan, please talk to your phone provider before your program starts.
Bedding: We will provide you with sheets, pillows, and a blanket.
Towels: Towels and washcloths are not provided. Students need to pack their own.
Laundry: You will get coupons for 4 kilograms of laundry and you can walk to the laundry facility about 400 m away. They will wash and dry it for you and it may take several days. If you have more than four kilos, additional laundry is about $2 a kilo. You can also bring laundry detergent (detergent sheets work best for packing) and do small items in the sink or in a wash bucket.
Outlets: You will not need an adapter- outlets will be the same as in the US.
Dress Code: Most days, you will get dirty, sweaty, and gross. A few extra socks and tee shirts can make you much more comfortable. You should plan to wear pants, and a tee shirt or scrub top during volunteer hours. During your downtime or exploring time, you can wear lightweight clothes like a T-shirt/tank top and shorts. Please check the weather and pack accordingly. The weather is typically hot and humid. Plan to get dirty on this program!
Money: Most students spend around $200 USD on a two-week program. You’ll likely want to buy things like souvenirs, laundry, snacks or drinks. So you don’t NEED any money, but you’ll want to bring enough that you can buy some things to bring home. We HIGHLY recommend contacting your bank and ordering Colones before leaving for the program. There will be an ATM where students can withdraw money, and there is an ATM transaction fee each time
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