📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
ACI COSTA RICA
The Lodge is located close to the little town of Bijagua. The community of Bijagua is very special and can be described as "in between" in many aspects. First of all, it is located between two volcanoes: the Tenorio and the Miravalles, with a view to the Nicaragua´s Lake. It also lies between two provinces of Costa Rica: Guanacaste and Alajuela, and the two different cultures of these regions can both be found in the community: the one from the mountains of Alajuela and the one of the lowlands of Guanacaste. In the mountains to the west of the community lies the Continental Division of Waters; which leads the rivers either into Pacific or Caribbean Sea. Being located very close to the border of Nicaragua, this can be seen as another 'in between', as the community is influenced by both Costa Rican and Nicaraguan culture as well.
The project was launched in 1988 when 12 families decided to found the Bijagua Association of Agricultural Producers in order to improve the life quality of their families by creating new job opportunities. The association decided to protect some of the areas of the forest in the region of the Tenorio Volcano (which is where their farms are located) in order to start ecotourism projects. This gave them an alternative to the deforestation of land for farming. They also want to start an environmental education center to show more people the importance of preserving nature in the region. The total protected area is 73 hectares of land surrounding Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Within the protected area, they have a system of hanging bridges through the rainforest, the longest being 105 meters long and 37 meters high. There are also trails and facilities for visitors at the lodge. They currently have a lot of plans on how to make the project more attractive for visitors.
💼 What the programme involves
To maintain the trails using natural materials that they find in the region; those trails have to be in good condition to allow the visitors' access to the forest in a safe and comfortable way
To maintain the gardens around the lodge
To maintain the hanging bridges
To repair old or broken signs along the trails or creation of new signs
To help in reforestation the areas around the Reserve using local trees from their nursery
Optional: to do communal work for the local people when required depending on activities
To work in the restaurant helping with the cooking or the service to tourists as well as helping with the cleaning of the lodge
Please note that you will work on whatever is most important at the moment. You are expected to assume any of the tasks if necessary.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You are going to live in the lodge where also the tourists are hosted, in the cabins for the volunteers are located besides the lodge. You will share a lot of time with the family who run the lodge, giving you a great opportunity to get to know Costa Rican culture. The water is drinkable; there is electricity, hot water in the showers and a nice view. You will eat in the restaurant of the lodge where the other workers eat. The food is delicious; still be prepared that it will be mostly rice and beans all the time. You will have access to a washing machine. The lodge offers tours to nearby waterfalls, horse riding excursions, and treks to tourists. The volunteers will benefit from these tours at cheaper price if they wish to go.
📍 About the location
Bijagua, Alajuela Province (Northwest of Costa Rica).
ℹ️ Additional information
Extra fees to pay on arrival based on a 1week stay (camp fee 105$ + adm. cost 150$ for ACI Costa Rica). 105$ for each extra week. Open all year, arrival date is free.