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New Trip

Construction Costa Rica

Experience
Volunteer
Destination
Costa Rica
Duration
2 to 12 weeks
Ages
18 to 85

10 others looking at this too. Next opening is Feb 2025, with limited spots.

Book now, pay later. Cancel anytime.

Trip overview

Costa Rica – the cool kid of Central America.

As the trendsetter of this often-overlooked slice of magic between North and South America, Costa Rica truly lives up to its reputation.

Known for its jaw-dropping natural landscapes and exclusive wildlife, it offers scenery and species you won’t find anywhere else!

This dazzling biodiversity is so impressive that over 30% of the country’s landmass is protected as national parks. And you’ll get to call the capital of this stunning nation 'home' as you contribute to important construction projects in the community. 

On this done-for-you trip, you’ll get everything you need to volunteer in San José, Costa Rica, including:  

  • Volunteer project placement – Start your volunteer journey without spending months searching for a reputable organisation on the other side of the world. You’ll be set up with a pre-approved construction project in Costa Rica. 
  • Comfortable accommodation – For a complete cultural immersion, you'll stay in a shared room in the home of a local Costa Rican host family.
  • Orientation activities – Get all the essential program information, plus enjoy a walking tour, master local cuisine in a Costa Rican cooking class, and spice up your experience with a salsa dance lesson!
  • Meals – Enjoy authentic Costa Rican breakfast and dinner 7 days a week, prepared for you by your friendly host family.
  • And much more! 

Get ready to forge lifelong bonds by engaging in hands-on construction projects that directly benefit communities in need. You'll work on essential building tasks, such as repairing a primary school, redoing a public library roof, or installing plumbing in new public toilets.

Get ready to use your creativity and problem-solving skills as you spend 3-4 hours each day in a vibrant, Spanish-speaking environment with minimal resources and limited structure. If you're used to construction in highly regulated settings like Australia or the UK, expect a more relaxed and informal experience.

Our partner institution in San Pedro, a hub for both local and international students, will be your base. Here, you can interact with people from around the world, participate in weekly cultural activities, and even enrol in Spanish classes to deepen your cultural experience.

When you go with Global, you get the full experience for a fraction of the hassle. We offer the complete package for volunteering in San José, Costa Rica. 

Our team will help you with the essentials you need to start your new journey with a bang! This includes setting you up with our project partner, securing your accommodation, and a whole lot more.

Inclusions

Tap to expand

Volunteer project placement
Dedicated Trip Coordinator
Airport pick-up
Homestay accommodation
Personal Travel Concierge
Pre-Departure Guide
Trip visa guidance
Meals
Walking tour
Salsa dance classes
Cooking classes
Structured language exchange
Certificate of completion
Ongoing local team support
Global Emergency Line
gWorld access
Social
Global Academy
Marketplace deals
$250 off your next trip

Qualification

To qualify for this trip you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be between 18-85 years of age
  • Be a citizen of an eligible country
  • Have no criminal convictions in the past 5 years

Get more info!

Got questions or need to know more? Ask us here, we're online 24hrs Mo-Fr.

Purpose & impact

The primary goal of this trip is to contribute to crucial construction and renovation projects in underserved communities in San José, Costa Rica. 

You’ll tackle various tasks on public buildings and schools, including:

  • Painting and plastering
  • Small repairs on walls and roofs
  • Laying tiles and other flooring
  • Mixing cement and masonry work
  • Carpentry, welding, and plumbing

Your efforts will play a key role in helping these communities maintain their public spaces, enhancing their quality of life.

Given the often unstructured nature of these projects, your experience largely depends on your approach. Bring a proactive, 'go-getter' attitude and immerse yourself fully in the tasks at hand. Seek out ways to contribute and stay enthusiastic about your work.

Your enthusiasm and respect for the schedule will significantly impact both the community and your personal growth from this trip!

Requirements 

To qualify for this trip, you must be in good health, capable of lifting heavy weights, and prepared to work hard on construction projects, often in outdoor conditions for extended periods.

What extra costs will I have? 

Flights, travel insurance, vaccinations, daily transportation, souvenirs & spending money.

Accommodation & meals

Once you touch down at San José Airport, you’ll be taken straight to your included accommodation. You’ll stay with a friendly Costa Rican host in a shared room with up to three other volunteers of the same gender. 

All hosts live in the San Pedro area, making it easy to access the orientation institute within 10-60 minutes walking or by bus/taxi. You'll have full access to the institute's computer lab and WiFi throughout your trip, ensuring you can connect with family and friends back home. 

With your volunteer placement and accommodation sorted, what will you do about food? 

Your host will provide breakfast and dinner 7 days a week. And you'll have plenty of tempting options available for lunch! 

Costa Rican cuisine delights with a vibrant fusion of flavours, blending indigenous ingredients with Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, and other influences. Be sure to try iconic dishes like tamales, gallo pinto, casados, chiles rellenos, vigas, chifrijo and more!

Trip itinerary

Before you leave

Your volunteer placement – including accommodation – is confirmed and organised before you leave home.

Arrival

When you arrive in San José, your private transport will take you to your included homestay accommodation. This will be your home for the duration of your trip. You’ll meet your roommates and host family while you settle into your new home.   

Day 1

Your first day kicks off with orientation activities and a walking tour to ensure you know what to expect for the rest of your trip.

Day 2+

In terms of your day-to-day schedule, your hours and responsibilities will vary based on the project's needs. You'll typically work 3-4 hours a day, Monday to Friday, with shifts in either the morning or afternoon. If you're taking Spanish classes, your volunteering schedule will accommodate your studies. Weekends are yours to explore the incredible surroundings. We’ll be in touch with you throughout your stay. If you ever need advice or support our team is available to answer your questions. And our Global Emergency Line (24 hours, Mon.-Fri.) will help with urgent matters.  Don’t go alone. Go with Global.

Why choose us

Travelling with Global means travelling with the best. We take care of pretty much everything so you don’t have to. You’ll arrive in Costa Rica totally prepared with a plan of action and trusted people helping you along the way. 

Our volunteer trips are designed to help you make a real change in critical causes around the world. All while experiencing off-the-beaten-path locations with passionate locals. Our goal is to save you time, money, and stress while eliminating the risk of returning home early. Here’s how we do it: 

We’re on your side from the moment you get started. 

You’ll be assigned a dedicated Trip Coordinator. They’ll guide you through the next steps and answer all your questions. They’ll also help you with the pesky visa. No guesswork – only the right paperwork, approved the first time, in your hands before you leave. 

Your Personal Travel Concierge will help with flights, insurance, and any add-ons you’d like for your trip. These are real humans too – no robots here. 

We maintain relationships with a huge network of screened and vetted partner organisations all over the world. We know they’re trustworthy and that you’re in good hands because of all the successful trips Global Travellers keep having with our partners. 

Our team is well travelled so you can rely on our experience. We’re with you every step of the way. 

Join 90000+ travellers – giving us 10000+ 4 & 5 star reviews – by choosing Global to make your travel dreams come true. 

Most travellers book their trip 6-12 months in advance. Dates are flexible, but spaces are limited. So if you’re serious about volunteering in Costa Rica, don’t delay. 

With our Book Now, Decide Later feature, you can get started with a small deposit today, and take a full year to choose your dates. 

We’ll take over from there, helping you with visas, flights, accommodation, and setting you up with our partner in Costa Rica. 

This is the trip for you if you’re after the ultimate volunteering experience in Costa Rica, complete with everything you need and ongoing support. 

Click the red button to check dates & prices.

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Frequently asked questions

Why are you the best company to choose?

As the world’s leading gap-year and "work & travel" company, we pride ourselves on providing a premium service for Global Travellers. Choose from a variety of awesome experiences worldwide, and let us assist you with visas, pre-departure preparations, flights, insurance, and tours. Throughout your journey, our cool tech features will support you every step of the way. As a Global Traveller, gain access to gWorld, our personalised app designed to enhance your travel experience. Keep important documents and trip details handy, and take advantage of exclusive Marketplace deals, a vibrant social network, language learning resources, side trips, meet-ups, and more. It's like having all your favorite travel apps merged into one, but even better! But our support doesn't end there. With four international offices, over 100 dedicated staff members, a 24/5 emergency team, and the backing of over 90,000 Global Travellers who have turned their travel dreams into reality with us, rest assured you're in good hands. We also proudly boast the most and best reviews in the biz, and maintain a massive following on our social channels including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Embark on your next adventure with confidence and ease. Join us and discover the world in a meaningful way!

Are flights & insurance included?

While we would love to include flights and insurance in our trip packages, it is not feasible to have a fixed price due to the diverse destinations, trip durations, and individual coverage needs of our travellers from around the globe. However, once you register for the trip, we will assign you a dedicated Travel Concierge. They will work closely with you to arrange the ideal flights and insurance tailored to your specific adventure. Rest assured, our team is here to ensure you have a smooth and hassle-free travel experience from start to finish!

Why should I book now?

After the last unexpected disruption to travel caused by the..c word..people are now more eager than ever to venture out and explore the world, determined not to miss out on any experiences. Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12+ months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free. As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better? Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!

Can I travel with a friend or partner?

Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together! But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join. And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!

Can I bring my pet along?

At Global Work & Travel, we share a deep love for animals and fully understand the special bond you have with your pet. We recognise the challenges of embarking on a trip without them. Due to travel restrictions, requirements, and limited pet-friendly accommodations among our host organisations, we regretfully cannot facilitate their inclusion in the journey. However, many of our customers choose to entrust their pets to a family member or friend, embark on their adventure, and return home to wagging tails and furry cuddles.

What happens if I need to cancel my trip?

We know that life can get in the way of travel, so all our trips come with a great deal of flexibility. In most cases, if you cannot travel on your selected date, you can place your trip on hold to deal with whatever is holding you back, and continue in the future without incurring any penalty. You may also have the option of transferring to an entirely different trip and destination as well, or even transferring your trip to a friend or family member. In the event that you need to outright cancel your trip, if you give us 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put toward any other trip that we offer, including tours through third-party providers, as well as holidays through DealsAway.com, and is valid for 2 years from date of issue. As international travel can be complex, your options are based on the progress of your trip organisation and our support team can assist you in finding the best solution for your needs.

How it works

1. Choose a trip style

Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!

2. We become friends

Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.

3. Time to go!

We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!

4. Global support

Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24 hours, Mon-Fri.

Still have questions?

Why go Global

Flexible trips

The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.

Worldwide support

Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/5.

We're the experts

With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.

Partner network

We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.

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