Mi experiencia en la fundación Corcovado ha sido positiva desde el principio. Antes de llegar a Drake Bay me mandaron la información necesaria sobre el proyecto así que sabía exactamente que esperar sobre el trabajo que iba a realizar.

Los coordinadores del proyecto son muy amables y atentos a las necesidades de los voluntarios. Aunque yo no tuve la opción de alojarme en el hostal porque estaba lleno, me alegra haberme hospedado en una casa de familia porque me dio la oportunidad de convivir de cerca con la gente del sector y darme cuenta que la mayoría de esta comunidad comparte el ideal de proteger a las tortugas marinas.

Otro aspecto positivo del proyecto es que como voluntarios también tenemos la oportunidad de ayudar en otro lugar  a 3 horas aproximadamente de Drake Bay llamado Rio Oro. Yo me quedé una semana ahí y fue una experiencia increíble porque pude ver muchas tortugas anidando. Vale mucho la pena ir a Rio Oro sobre todo en esta época que no se ven muchas tortugas en Drake Bay, así que si vienen por 2 o más semanas es buena idea combinar entre los dos lugares.

El trabajo que realizamos consta basicamente de patrullas noctunas para localizar a las tortugas anidando  o nidos ya hechos. . En Drake Bay también se cuida el vivero en el día donde se reubican los huevos encontrados. Aunque muchas veces es cansado pues toca quedarse despierto hasta muy tarde caminando varias horas en la playa y a veces con lluvia todos tenemos muy claro la razón por la que lo hacemos y el hecho de saber que estamos creando un impacto positivo en la conservaciónb de esta especie hace que valga la pena el esfuerzo.

Ahora estoy de vuelta en Drake Bay por unos días más trabajando y aprovenchando de los tours que ofrece el hostal a lugares cercanos como el parque nacional Corcovado, la isla Caño, entre otros. En general esta ha sido una linda experiencia donde he conocido muy buenas personas y lugares hermosos llenos de vida silvestre!

Nefi (Ecuador)

Wedding anniversary

August 12, 2015

¡Hola!

For our ten year wedding anniversary, we knew we wanted to go away, but we weren´t sure exactly what we wanted to do.  We were nervous to leave our two daughters behind for two weeks.

We decided to try something outside of our comfort zone and we´re so glad that we did!  This is our first trip that we are staying with a host family and doing conservation work.  Staying with our host family has truely given us the opportunity to experience the “rico” culture of Costa Rica.  We also made some great friends! 

We have learned a lot about the turtle conservation project and are impressed with the collaborative nature of the project and the way it reaches out to local families and schools to educate the community. 

So far the highlight of our trip was during our morning “censo” (i.e. the early morning census of the beach) when we discovered some fresh turtle tracks and were able to locate the turtle nest by ourselves.  After confirming that the eggs were in the nest, we then camoflauged the entire area in order to hide the nest from poachers.  

Overall, this has been an eyeopening and exciting trip!  We need to run now though to prepare for our night beach patrol in a few hours!

Jesse & Karen Ferguson
Marion, Massachusetts
United States

I can easily say that the experience I'm having here in Costa Rica is one of the best thing I did in my life. The people here a so nice and welcoming, the locals in particular are very sweet. I've arrived here after spending two days in San Josee, and this place is a little peace of paradises. Ive saw so many exotics animals, unfortunately I didnt saw a turtle yet but maybe Ill be lucky at my next night patrol. 

the ambiance at the hostel is very nice, everybody is relax and they always try to organize excursions to make us discover the beautiful landscapes. There is always something to do or you can just relax in one of the many hamacs and just appreciated the life here. 

there is always something to see and learn, the conservation program is doing a lot to help not only the turtle but also to improve the life of the families and all the community. Each day I can discover something new and be completely amaze by the nature and the way that people live here.

Its been an experience that has change the ways i see life, and one of the greatest things i did in my life !       

Corcovado Fundation

-What a journey !

My trip in Costa Rica is from far the best I have ever done in my life. Not only the landscapes are one of the most beautiful things I have seen, but also because the people here are truely amazing. They are extremely polite and full of life. Never have I seen someone not saying ´´hola´´ or not waving his hands when we see each other. I can easily understand why ´´pura vida´´ is their motto !

Talking about visiting, I went downtown San Jose for my first two days. I recommend it for anyone who likes walking through huge crowds and go to some museums, churches ! Definitely, it´s a good thing to do if it is your first time in Costa Rica. After all, visiting the capital is a pretty natural thing to do ! We left San Jose on Tuesday the 11th in order to go to Drake Bay. During the bus ride (9 hours), we went through heavy jungle, forests, small towns. It was amazing !

What can I say about Drake Bay and its surroundings ? First of all, the hostel is a really nice place where everyone comes to chill, have a nice time. The people managing it are really cool and kind. The inhabitants of El Progresso are lovely people. I just love being in my homestay. The hosts, Edin and Yrlani are the kindest people on earth, definitely ! I had the chance to go to a waterfall, a river. There are so many places where you can swim, it is unbelievable ! Of course, the beach is the place to go, what a view from there ! But there is not just water here. Hiking and walking through the forest is something that you have to experience. You could have the chance to see birds, monkeys and other animals !

The turtle conservation program is so far a good experience; even though, I haven´t had the chance to see a single turtle. Elias and Eva, the biologists are really nice people. They try to do anything to pass their knowledge and love of turtles. They make sure that we´re having a good experience.

When coming here, I did not know what to expect in any aspects. Now, thanks to the things I have seen, the places I have been and the people I have met, I can easily say that I do not regret coming here at all.

Paradise

A veces imaginas el paraíso...un lugar remoto, lejano, lleno de árboles verdes con lianas colgando de ellos y monos que bajan de esos árboles para comer alguna banana que se ha caído del bananero... Mientras los tucanes multicolor vuelan por encima de las copas de los árboles y algún perezoso sube lentamente a comer hojas de un guarumo. Miras hacia arriba y escuchas la inmensa cantidad de ruidos de vida que se oyen alrededor tuyo y piensas en todos los animales y plantas que te rodean. Respiras hondo y tus pulmones se llenan de un aire que jamás podía ser tan puro...estás en el paraíso. Si caminas una media hora des del proyecto, llegas a un aeropuerto de película, donde la sala de espera es la misma que la sala de embarque y los bancos están hechos de árboles centenarios. La terminal tiene unos 20 metros cuadrados y la pista de aterrizaje está rodeada de sapos enormes a la noche. Des de allí se llega a la playa, parte importante de este paraíso. Una playa que cuando la ves por primera vez pone los pelos de punta y no puedes dejar de mirarla...llena de cocos y palmeras altas.
Ahora des de donde escribo se oye un queco y dos guacamayos que se han posado en un árbol cercano. Antonio el lagarto del hostal corre por la red de delante de la pared de afuera y yo, despues de esta graan inspiración poética...creo que no quiero marcharme nunca de este paraíso...
peace, lovee and sea turtles... qué mas se puede pedir.

Pura vida!

Our experience here with the Corcovada Foundation has been everything we hoped and more. Just last night on our last patrol in Rio Oro we saw eighteen turtles on the south side of the beach. It was exhausting but exhilerating keeping track of each and every mother as she made the long trek up the moonlit beach to create her nest and lay her eggs. Each patrol was more exciting and action packed than the last. I will never forget our long nights on the outskirts of the Central American jungle, watching in awe as these endangered creatures fought the odds to keep up the survival of their species. Of course while the turtles kept us on our toes, they were not the only thing leaving us breathless these past two weeks. The scenery alone in both Drake Bay and at Hacienda Rio Oro is enough to travel any amount of miles just to experience it. When I first entered this jungle I saw the color green as I never have before. The wild life is flourishing. Howler monkeys, crocodiles, tree frogs and even jungle cats have appeared to us throughout our rainforest adventures and given us all a sense of how wild the world we live in truly is. The hospitality has been above and beyond. The marine biologists and our guides at Rio Oro, Eva and Elias, are some of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. They are so selfless, and have done everything they can and more to make sure that the turtles are safe and that the volunteers are having the ultimate experience here. I am going to miss lazy days drinking coconuts on the endless beach, gazing out at the great blue pacific in it´s primal state, and listening to the crashing of the waves. I am going to miss exploring the exotic rainforests and mangrove forrests by foot, horseback,and kayak. But most of all I am going to miss the people I have met here and the memories that we have made together. Going off the grid in the depths of the Costa Rican jungle may have been a dramatic change from the comfortable western amenties I have become accustomed to, but there is nothing I ever could have done that would have opened my eyes, my mind, and my heart more than this amazing trip.

Tortuga! Run!!

Last night was my first patrol, so although the group expected to see a turtle I didn´t expect to have any hands-on experience with one. I waited outside my homestay at 7:30 waiting for the first shift leaders and the other patrollers. I merge with them, and we continue on our way to the beach.

To get there we must cross a lagoon, either by boat or bridge. There are too many people for the boat this time so we cross the marshy water to get to the bridge. In most places it is only ankle deep, but closer it gets higher and touches my shorts. Our headlights are on the white mode so we can see. They leave big roving spots on the mud.

Crossing the bridge is not unlike what you see in Indiana Jones. It is made of rope and wood, can only be crossed in single-file, and swings with the weight of our group.

We dismount onto the beach, and the group splits into north and south side patrol squads. I am with the north side. We are almost halfway to the end when we see three red lights. This is the signal for a turtle. We all run towards the signal. 

I have never run on the beach before. It was an exhilarating feeling. The ocean to the right crashing in luminous sprays, black glitter above me, the sway of the palms to the left.

We reach the turtle. We can only use red light on the beach, and only when necessary. Aida asks who wants to do the eggs. I say that I can. I´m surprised I was the first to volunteer but happy as well. She hands me the gloves and the relocation bag. I pull the gloves on and open the bag as quick as I can, and then she directs me behind the turtle to lay down and open up the nest-hole a little bit beneath the carapace so I don´t touch her flippers or any sensitive areas. By one or two eggs I fill the relocation bag. reaching beneath her carefully and extracting my hand doubly as carefully. As I do this Tomas tags the turtle. The eggs are soft. The laying rate slows, so that sometimes I have to wait for an egg to plop down and scoop it up. There are 81, a small amount considering the average is around 100. When she´s finished I retreat quickly and let Tomas do what he needs to do with the rest of the relocation process.

Afterwards we watch the turtle complete her nesting process, clean up, and then follow her run back to the ocean sweeping her tracks away with our feet. Afterwards we continue the patrol for around three hours, resting and giving the hello signal (two red lights) at each end of our side of the beach.

We don´t see another turtle, but it was the beginning of the season so it´s bueno. 

I am filled with an accomplishment.

At midnight the patrol is over and the two groups become one again. On our way back across the bridge a huge spider is building his web connected to the hand-rope. I walk through it and choke down a little bit of panic, brushing myself off quickly and choosing to ignore the spider, on me or no. The bridge sways too much for me to pay attention to this now. Not only could I fall but I could pitch others into the lagoon with me. Obviously I do not do that. We make it back down into the marsh and wade back to land, the waterline lowering on my legs steadily. The walk back to the homestay only takes a second because it is on the same road to the beach. 

I tell my comrade everything that happened, lay down, and fall asleep without even a sheet.<3 <3 <3