Costa Rica
Where jungle classrooms, sea turtle coasts, and Spanish immersion come together.
Ways to get involved in Costa Rica
Here's what our partners are running right now. Pick a placement that looks like a fit and we'll send the current dates and costs.
Why AmeriCorps alumni choose Costa Rica
Costa Rica is where a lot of alumni start, and for good reason. English is widely spoken in the placement communities, the cost of living is manageable, and the work looks familiar if you served in education, youth development, or conservation. You can teach in a public school outside San José in the morning and be in a cloud forest by the weekend. Placements are short enough that you can go for two weeks to test the water or stay a few months and get genuinely conversational in Spanish. Weekly costs are moderate, so an award can stretch a long way here if you want your funds to cover more than one experience.
- Spanish immersion without a steep cost of living
- Strong fit for education, youth, and conservation backgrounds
- Short options for a first trip abroad
Placements run through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) and Intern Abroad HQ.
Pricing in Costa Rica
These are our partners' published fees for Costa Rica, taken from their public fee pages, with the registration fee added in. Your final cost depends on the placement you pick and how long you stay.
Volunteer program fees in Costa Rica
Run through International Volunteer HQ. Fees below cover the full stay for that length.
San José, Guanacaste & Manuel Antonio · International Volunteer HQfrom $884 for 1 week, registration included
| Length | Program fee | With registration | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 weeks | $555 | $884 | $126 |
| 2 weeks | $855 | $1,184 | $85 |
| 3 weeks | $1,165 | $1,494 | $71 |
| 4 weeks | $1,430 | $1,759 | $63 |
| 5 weeks | $1,645 | $1,974 | $56 |
| 6 weeks | $1,860 | $2,189 | $52 |
| 8 weeks | $2,290 | $2,619 | $47 |
| 10 weeks | $2,720 | $3,049 | $44 |
| 12 weeks | $3,150 | $3,479 | $41 |
| 16 weeks | $4,010 | $4,339 | $39 |
| 20 weeks | $4,870 | $5,199 | $37 |
| 24 weeks | $5,730 | $6,059 | $36 |
What's included and what's not
What the fee covers
- Breakfast and dinner
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country emergency support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Comprehensive in-country day to day support and guidance
- Discounts on language lessons
- Discounts on travel, tours, and experiences
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Not included
- Lunch
- Transport to and from your placement each day
- Return to the airport when your program finishes
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee that ranges from $329-$429 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
Internship fees in Costa Rica
Run through Intern Abroad HQ. Internships are longer and include placement sourcing, supervision, and academic credit facilitation.
San Ramon · Intern Abroad HQfrom $1,615 for 2 weeks
| Length | Program fee | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,615 | $115 |
| 3 weeks | $1,933 | $92 |
| 4 weeks | $2,268 | $81 |
| 5 weeks | $2,398 | $69 |
| 6 weeks | $2,529 | $60 |
| 8 weeks | $2,902 | $52 |
| 10 weeks | $3,219 | $46 |
| 12 weeks | $3,432 | $41 |
| 16 weeks | $3,969 | $35 |
| 20 weeks | $4,473 | $32 |
| 24 weeks | $4,910 | $29 |
What's included and what's not
What the fee covers
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
Not included
- Lunches
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit that ranges from $499-$599 is required to confirm your participation. This is subtracted from the Program Fee total.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Manuel Antonio · Intern Abroad HQfrom $2,958 for 4 weeks
| Length | Program fee | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $2,958 | $106 |
| 5 weeks | $3,340 | $95 |
| 6 weeks | $3,722 | $89 |
| 8 weeks | $4,486 | $80 |
| 10 weeks | $5,300 | $76 |
| 12 weeks | $6,064 | $72 |
| 16 weeks | $7,617 | $68 |
| 20 weeks | $9,170 | $66 |
| 24 weeks | $10,748 | $64 |
What's included and what's not
What the fee covers
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
Not included
- Lunches
- All in-country transportation
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit that ranges from $499-$599 is required to confirm your participation. This is subtracted from the Program Fee total.
- Coral Restoration and Marine Biology internships include diving activities. If you are not currently PADI certified, then you are still welcome to participate. However, you will be required to complete an “intro week”, at an additional cost, prior to beginning the Coral Restoration internship. During the intro week, you will complete Open Water and Adventure Diver with PPB certification. This introductory week will include the necessary online materials and certifications that you need.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 60 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
If you're using your Segal Education Award
Award funds have to go to a Title IV school, so your placement needs to carry academic credit. That required academic credit and enrollment fee starts at $999 and is on top of the program fees above. We'll walk you through it.
Fees change through the year. Ask us for the current Costa Rica numbers and we'll confirm them with the partner before you apply.
Common questions about Costa Rica
- Can I use my Segal Education Award in Costa Rica?
- Yes. Placements in Costa Rica run through partner organizations tied to an accredited Title IV institution, so AmeriCorps alumni can apply the Segal Education Award toward program and travel costs.
- How long are placements in Costa Rica?
- 1-24 weeks. Award funding is available for programs up to 6 months.
- What kind of work can I do in Costa Rica?
- We list 31 placements in Costa Rica, spanning Animal Care & Wildlife, Business & Marketing, Community Development, Education & Youth, Environment & Conservation, Healthcare & Public Health.
Get the details for Costa Rica
Tell us whether you're after a volunteer placement or an internship and we'll send the current options, dates, and a realistic budget for Costa Rica, plus how to put your award toward it. No cost, no obligation.