LAST Latin America Sea Turtle
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About the project
LAST Latin America Sea Turtle
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
LAST (Latin American Sea Turtles) is part of WIDECAST’s (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network) Latin American Program,
including conservation efforts not only on the Caribbean but also on the Pacific coast. WIDECAST is an expert network of biologists, managers, community leaders and educators in more than 40 nations and territories, committed to an integrated, regional capacity that ensures the recovery and sustainable management of depleted sea turtle populations. In 1986 WIDECAST started working on protecting the Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting population at Gandoca beach in Costa Rica. Since then we have been realizing even more projects alone and in cooperation with other organizations. WIDECAST and its partners have put a strategy into practice combining conservation and sustainable development through activities that directly benefit both, the people and the environment. The focus has been on establishing the conditions for a self-sustaining process, involving work in the broad areas of conservation, economic development, training and education, organization, and advocacy.
In Pacuare, sea turtle conservation efforts started in April 2004 when Paul Lepoutre took the initiative to establish a volunteer program for the protection of sea turtles. His approach was rather unique and has the special attention and support of various organizations around the world, most notably the World Wildlife Fund. In December 2011, it became the responsibility of LAST (by then WIDECAST) to carry on the good work and to expand conservation efforts. We have now additionally to our beach monitoring and hatchery operation. Furthermore, we have brought an environmental education and outreach program on its way, to inform and disseminate about sea turtle conservation and involve also nearby schools and communities in conservation activities.
💼 What the programme involves
Between March and October volunteers, international and local research assistants patrol the beach from 8:00 pm to 4:00 am in different shifts and in different sectors. It will take at least 4 hours to patrol the beach effectively and if a nesting turtle is found, the eggs will be collected and relocated into a hatchery. The turtle work will be done following an official protocol and involves tagging, taking biometry and other important data of the turtle. Former poachers now trained in conservation techniques together with previously trained volunteers (they assist in taking data, biometry and collecting eggs) carry out the important work and are also responsible for guarding the nests at the hatchery and releasing baby turtles.
Additionally, volunteers are involved in the daily operations (this could involve cleaning, gardening, kitchen work,
painting, maintaining, beach cleaning etc., depending on season and needs). The remoteness of Pacuare beach, the beautiful environment and the basic living conditions at the project site offer an exclusive condition for volunteers. The lack of electricity (only available during sunny days as it is solar driven and mainly for work equipment use), phones, cars, shops and other modern life facilities enriches the quality of an extraordinary experience and allows connecting people with nature, creating the best environment for making a difference in the life of these amazing creatures – the marine turtles. The main threats for sea turtles on this public beach are caused by humans: egg poaching and hunting nesting turtles
are contributing to a population decline of all species. Especially in the Caribbean, the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs or the utilization of turtle shell for jewelry production is rooted in long-lived local traditions and a strong belief that sea turtle eggs serve as aphrodisiac. On top of these dangers, sea turtles also face the negative effects of global warming and contamination, which results in nest and habitat loss due to beach erosion or entanglement in fishing gear and trash. Through the involvement of local inhabitants of this very isolated very small community, the Pacuare sea turtle project provides not only a unique opportunity for volunteers to experience a community-based Costa Rican conservation project but also offers a legal and sustainable revenue for community members. The data taken from nesting females improves our understanding of their behavior and helps coordinating conservation efforts worldwide.
The main work of the volunteers at our project is assisting the staff of the project with the data collection, protection of eggs and nesting turtles and rescue and rehabilitation center duties. It involves night patrols and hatchery shifts as well as daytime work like beach cleanup, or small projects, including initial construction of the hatcheries amongst others.
Night Patrols:
A group of volunteers, led by an experienced patrol leader, walks one of the sectors of the 7.1km long beach searching for nesting females. An average night patrol will take 4 hours but can last longer in case of sea turtle encounters. Once a turtle is encountered on a night patrol, the volunteers work directly with it, Taking carapace and nest dimension measurements, collecting eggs and taking data. The collected eggs will be relocated on the beach or taken to the hatchery where the volunteers on shift will build a new nest and rebury the eggs. The number of eggs, nest location and turtle identification information (tag number) are then recorded by the hatchery attendant for further data analysis, for example hatchling survival rate. LAST applies a non-confrontation policy with poachers while patrolling the beach. Encounters with poachers are likely
during turtle season but no communication and interfering proved to be the best way of dealing with illegal activities, as we are a conservation organization and not the police.
Hatchery Work :
The main tasks in the hatchery will be relocating nests (as described above and after having had a
profound training), monitoring nests, keeping out predators (ants, crabs, dogs), taking
temperatures and measurements and releasing hatchlings. The approximate incubation time for
all sea turtle eggs is 60 days, therefore midway through the season the duties of the hatchery
volunteer increase as the hatchlings begin to emerge. At this time, all nests in the hatcheries
must be checked every 20 minutes during day and night. If
hatchlings are encountered they must
be counted and released in the evening to an appropriate location along the high tide
line and observed until they reach the sea. All work must be done
according to standard protocols and rules and after previous training
🏠 Accommodation on site
he project is located in a quiet remote area, bordered by the sea on the front and a canal on the back, and therefore it is only accessible by boat. The accommodation is basic and simple. . Pillows, blankets and bed sheets will be provided.
Please have in mind: There is no shop in Pacuare, so everything, volunteers may need additionally to the meals of to feel comfortable, must be purchased prior to their arrival in Pacuare or in Bataan
Everybody has small lockers available for personal valuables like passport, you will only need to bring a padlock. Electricity is only available from solar panels and has to be used rationally. You will have to wash your cloth by hand – another reason why we recommend light, fast drying clothes.
⚠️ Requirements
ℹ️ Additional information
The idea of working to help save the endangered Sea Turtles is a very romantic one. The reality is a very different experience. When deciding if this is the type of work you would like to be involved in, please remember:
• Safety and sea turtles always come first!
• We address threats like: illegal poaching, hunting or environmental damage.
• Most of the work is at night, either working between the hours of 8:00 PM and 4:00 AM on night patrol walking on average 14 km in the dark on soft, wet sand, or working in the hatchery watching it.
• There may be times when volunteers will be asked to work both during the day and night, and more than 30 hours/week, but also times when volunteers don’t have a lot to do and have to spend their time on their own.
• Night patrols will still take place during the rain.
• There will be some nights when there are few or no turtles nesting. Patrols will still take place. We cannot be sure when or if turtles will nest.
However, remember that during your patrol or hatchery shift, even if you don’t see a sea turtle this is scientific data.
• Pacuare is on the Caribbean coast with a tropical climate. This means it is hot with almost 100% humidity; it rains frequently and sometimes heavily. Your clothes and other personal items may suffer under the consequences and will need more maintenance (cleaning and washing) than you are used to.
• In the area there are sand flies and mosquitoes that are unpleasant. Don’t forget your repellent AND some antiitch cream!
• The place is situated in a very remote location only accessible by boat
The place is situated in an isolated location, being in the middle of the rainforest. Accommodation and food are
basic and adapted to the local habits.
• It is absolutely necessary to respect local habits and to consider at all times, that you are in a small village where everybody knows everybody and everything – including you as a LAST volunteer.
• Working hours in marine conservation project and schedules vary and can change according to the situation/available material/weather/tide or patient.
• Working with the turtles is a brilliant and unforgettable experience, and we can use any help. However, this experience is not for everyone
Probably you will have to use the phone to call somewhere. There are a lot phone boxes in the whole country. We recommend you to buy a prepaid call card. There are three different service providers in Costa Rica. You can find it in the most of the shops, pharmacies etc. We recommend taking a phone card from ICE Kölbi (1000 colones), due to the fact that this is the only provider that works in Pacuare and in most remote areas. Phone signal and 3G internet is available only on the beach and only with KOLBI operator Nokia phones usually work best, make sure the phone is unlocked to receive a Costarican SIM card.
Volunteers should plan approximately US$ 15 for the public bus from San Jose to Pacuare (one way)
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
LAST Costa Rica
01/03/2018 → 31/10/2018
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
50.00 USD ≈ 45 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Pacuare, Provincia de Cartago, Turrialba, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Costa Rica Colon (CRC / ₡)
Exchange rate
1 CRC = 0.001986 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Central Standard Time
Local time: 22:00 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken