Trip Details

Construction Volunteer in Costa Rica

Was Bob the Builder your hero as a kid? If you’re handy with a hammer or paintbrush, our Construction Volunteer project in Costa Rica offers you the opportunity to really get stuck into some exciting projects! Here you will work alongside the local community, painting and maintaining buildings, assisting with construction, maintaining green areas, and helping with local agronomy. However, all work and no play is not our thing! So you’ll also have plenty of time to go off exploring this beautiful country with your newfound volunteer friends when the day is done.

Can we Fix it? YES WE CAN! …as a Construction Volunteer!

Your volunteering placement can be as long as you like, from 1 week to 24 weeks – so if you like to see things through, you can watch the fruits of your labour take shape! Working with a great team, you will be well supported during your time here, and have plenty of opportunities to learn lots of new skills, which will be useful throughout your life, whether you choose a career in construction or not. You must have a ‘can-do’ attitude, however, as this work will be challenging at times, and hard work in the humidity of the Costa Rican heat!

Build some Excitement into your Stay in Costa Rica!

At the end of a rewarding day, you’ll want to see more of your surroundings! Esparza, where you will be staying, is a quiet town a little off the beaten track. Here you will find people who follow a traditional way of life, with horses for transport and small village markets for basic needs. However, for those who seek a bit of adrenaline, you’ll find much more further afield as Costa Rica is a really popular tourist destination. Head for jungle canopy walks, watersports, trekking and hiking activities closer to the city. And if you simply want to kick back at the end of the day, our Eco-houses have great spaces to relax and socialise with your new friends!

Why be a Construction Volunteer in Costa Rica?

  • Work with local people, building and rejuvenating this historic town
  • Improve your handy skills, and learn new tricks of the trade
  • Explore Costa Rica, its varied landscape and vibrant culture
  • Stay at one of our Eco-houses with great communal areas and outside spaces
  • Enjoy authentic Costa Rican cuisine with meals and beverages* included

*tea, coffee and drinking water

Get in touch to find out more or browse through our many other volunteer experiences.

Trip Itinerary

During your time as a Construction Volunteer in Costa Rica, you will have a very varied workload, depending on the project, and you may not be at the same site all day. Also, you can expect to work for 3-6 hours as manual work in Costa Rica is demanding, due to the humidity.

Weekly Schedule

Monday to Friday

Your workload will vary depending on the project, and you may not be at the same site all day. You can expect to work for 3-6 hours, as manual work in Costa Rica is demanding, due to the humidity. You will have lunch either on or near the site or at the centre, and can expect to be away from the centre between 07:00 in the morning until approximately 16:30, depending on your schedule. This gives you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the project and to get to know your fellow volunteers!

Evenings and Weekends

Your evenings and weekends are free to do as you wish. There’s plenty to see locally after your day of construction volunteering! Many of our volunteers plan group outings together at the weekends, or simply hang back at the accommodation and get to know each other in the evenings.

Places to Visit

Esparza and Puntarenas have plenty to offer for weekend activities, including horse riding, watersports (surf is huge), game fishing, canopy tours, hotels to suit all budgets, and some of the best scenery in the world. Puntarenas is also ideally suited to take a scenic ferry to the Nicoya Peninsula and its many secluded beaches.

Esparza is on the Panamerican Highway, so access to the rest of Costa Rica and the rest of the American continent is at your doorstep!

Please note: When confirming your dates please take note of the Public Holidays, as these may result in disruption to the construction volunteering projects.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances

Trip Accommodation

Esparza is an agricultural town and is the second oldest in the country. Further, it also has a rich history that includes legends of hidden pirate gold! The pace of life is relaxed here, and you will find locals to be incredibly warm and friendly – our volunteers are always the talk of the town when they come to visit!

About the Accommodation

You’ll stay in two newly built Eco houses in our centre in Esparza: Jaguar House and Toucan House.

These houses sleep up to 22 people, and most rooms have bunk beds, with all rooms single-gender. However, private rooms are available if preferred.

For relaxing, there is also a large dining hall/games room/communal area shared by both houses, with free WiFi, and table tennis, and a large garden of tropical plants, including coconut palm, papaya, banana, and citrus.

Food Arrangements

Costa Rican food is a blend of native American, Spanish and African cuisine, and is quite mild (not too spicy!). You will have three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends), all included in your programme. Most meals will include either fish, chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarians can be catered for.

Facilities

There are shops within 300 metres of the centre, and bars, restaurants, and an excellent public pool within 15 minutes walk. There is an ATM within 1km and more ATMs in town, about 2kms. Buses into town and further afield leave from within 300ms of the centre.

Esparza and the surrounding area has plenty of shops, bars and restaurants within easy reach.

Trip Country Info

Costa Rica

Capital: San José
Language: Spanish
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Time zone: UTC -6

Country Information
Pura vida (“real life”) has become the unofficial motto of Costa Rica. And for a reason. Costa Rica is, in essence, a slice of tropical paradise in Central America, and its inhabitants, AKA “the ticos”, are justifiably proud of it. Perfect waves for surfing, breathtaking sunsets, misty crater lakes, waterfall-filled hiking trails, white-water rapids, sun-kissed beaches, adventure-filled paths and wildlife that includes howler monkeys, capuchins and other friendly-looking animals await you in this small, yet magnificently varied country.

Climate
Costa Rica has a reputation for being a tropical paradise, and rightly so. However, due to its diverse terrain, the country boasts a range of different climates.

Costa Rica has no real summer or winter due to its proximity to the equator, and the average temperature ranges from 21°C to 27°C. However, a rainy season does exist, and takes place between May and November. The central valley is often cooler than the coastal areas.

The Pacific coast tends to be hot and dry all year-round, especially the northern part (known as the Gold Coast), while the highlands (around Monteverde) are filled with mist during much of the year, due to the high altitude. The Caribbean coast is quite hot and moist, and receives rain during most of the year. The lowlands have quite a warm climate, with an average temperature of 26°C, and the Central Valley, including San José, is said to have the best climate in the country.

Culture
Costa Rican culture, as in most Latin American countries, is heavily influenced by Spain, as a result of colonization. However, parts of the country have other strong influences, such as that of Limón, which has more of a Jamaican feel to it. There are also several indigenous areas throughout the country.

A great part of the music and folklore of Costa Rica comes from the north of the country, where Mayan culture mixes with Afro-Caribbean trends. Costa Rica has a distinctive musical genre known as punto and most of its music can be easily distinguished by a very unique rhythm known as tambito.

Costa Rica goes by the motto Pura Vida, which means “pure life” and the phrase can be used as a greeting or a farewell, or just to say “that’s great” or “all’s good”. The phrase was originally from a Mexican film, but was soon adopted by Costa Ricans, and is used in several contexts to express a positive outlook on life.

Gastronomy
The cuisine of Costa Rica relies heavily on fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fish and meat. Rice and black beans are traditional and included in most meals. Potatoes are another staple of Costa Rican gastronomy as wells as plantain, a member of the banana family.

Due to the tropical location of the country, you will be able to find many exotic fruits that you might have never heard of before!

Due to the amount of tourism that Costa Rica boasts, international food is offered in many sites – from Japanese to Mexican to Peruvian.

Participant Criteria & Requirements

Standard Requirements

Travel Insurance
Under 18, Parental Consent

Additional Requirements

Recommended Vaccinations
Sturdy Boots/Shoes

What's included

  • 24/7 support in case of emergencies
  • Accommodation
  • Airport Pick up
  • English speaking coordinator
  • Meals
  • Orientation

What's not included

  • Departures/ drop offs
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Vaccination
  • Visa