Playa Matapalo Sea Turtle Project

General Placement Details
ORGANIZATION  ASVO 
PLACEMENT  Playa Matapalo Sea Turtle Project 
CITY  Matapalo 
COUNTRY  Costa Rica 
WORK CATEGORY  Conservation 
LOCATION  Rural 
 
Organization Details
What is the purpose of this organization?
ASVO is a non-profit NGO which places volunteers in Costa Rica's national parks and protected areas. ASVO's objective is to improve the conditions and amount of volunteer work performed at a national and international level. It has 20 years of existence and works in projects all over Costa Rica. The objective is to involve the society with the enviromental issues.

What community(s) does this organization assist?
ASVO places volunteers in national parks and other areas protected by the Ministry of Environment and Energy all over the country.

Does this organization have any religious affiliations?
none

When was this organization founded?
1989

How many people at the organization speak English?

Yes

If you find sponsors interested in sending donations, here is what they need:
Your time and enthusiasm are the most important things you can bring to this organization.

Placement Work Details
Why does this organization need volunteers?
The Matapalo Sea Turtle project needs volunteers to help protect the sea turtle nesting area of Playa Mata Palo, to help increase the number of sea turtles nesting successfully on the beach and the number of hatchlings which survive.

The project is extending their efforts to promote community awareness and interaction through projects with the clinic, schools, and other local people. They are always open to new suggestions, fresh ideas from people willing to implement them.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

From June 1 to November 30:

1. Construction of the breeding grounds.

2. Beach signaling.

3. Patrol walks to protect nests and females, and for data collection purposes(Biometry, marking, etc.)

4. Transfer of nests and monitoring of the breeding grounds.

From December 1 to December 31:

1. Registry of breeding ground information.

2. Liberation of newborn turtles.

3. Nest exhumation.

From June 1 to December 31:

1. Maintenance and construction of infrastructure.

2. Beach cleaning.

3. Community projection.

Other tasks that you may be requested to preform outside of your core duties:
It is possible to come here for course work.

There is a surf school now associated with this placement.

How many days per week will you be working?
Volunteers get one day off per week.

How many hours per day?

8am to 3pm or 7pm to 3am. Various, depending on the day's schedule. Expect to do night patrol for at least two hours every night or two.

What age-range will you be working with?
1 to 30 volunteers, mostly all between 22 and 30 years old.

What kind of background may be useful at this placement?
Must have an ability to work in hot, humid conditions; be in good health, prepared to walk 15km daily; and possess a desire to help in conservation.

Will you be required to operate any special equipment?
0

What personality traits would be useful for a volunteer at this placement?
Patience, motivation, dedication, like of animals.

Who may have a difficult time at this placement?
Those in poor health or who do not enjoy physical work.

What specific skills are they looking for at this placement?
  Forestry
Environmental Science
Biology
Data Collection
Hiking
Placement Location Details
Location Stats
DISTANCE FROM ORIENTATION CENTRE  approx. 150km 
TRAVEL TIME FROM ORIENTATION CENTRE   6 hours
COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO PLACEMENT  USD 10.00 
NAME OF NEAREST CITY   San Isidro 
POPULATION OF NEAREST CITY  small 
DISTANCE FROM NEAREST CITY  60km 
TIME FROM NEAREST CITY   2 hours 
METHOD OF TRANSPORT TO NEAREST CITY  bus 
 
Location description
Playa Matapalo is located 1 kilometre from the community of the same name and extends for 12km. The area protects a variety of marine life, including marine turtles, crabs, and fish, as well as a number of reptiles.

The most important activity of the park is the protection of the eggs of marine turtles and release of the baby turtles.

There is internet, a grocery store, and restaurants all located nearby, as well as more amenities in the town "centre".

Historical significance of the area
The conservation area was established in 1991 to protect the marine turtles who have historically used this area for nesting.

What is the weather like?
The location is hot, wet, and very humid. The dry season runs from the middle of December to the middle of April, with sporadic rains, while the rainy season runs from the middle of April to the middle of December. In the rainy season the mornings are often nice but the afternoons, evenings, and nights will most likely receive rains. It is hot even while pouring with rain.

What fun things are there to do in the area on days off?
These insclude: surfing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, visiting other parks.

Volunteers will be close to the surfing towns of Dominical and Uvita. The community of Matapalo offers a number of services and activities such as horseback riding and visits to the mountains.

Quepos, located about 1.5 hours away, offers banks, restaurants, internet access, etc. and is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park.

How do you get to your placement after your orientation?
From San Jose to San Isidro, 3.5 hours by bus. From San Isidro to Matapalo, 2 hours in bus.

You can also take a 6am direct bus from San Jose to Uvita from Coca Cola. You may have to switch buses in Quepos, but your ticket takes you straight through. Ask for Matapalo and get off by the field. Take a taxi or walk the 1km to the beach if no one is there to meet you.

 
Nearest Medical Facility
NAME OF FACILITY  Clinica El Labrador
TYPE OF FACILITY   Clinic 
STREET Calle 1 between Avs 8 & 10 
CITY  San Isidro 
PROVINCE  San Jose 
TEL 1  771-3155 
TEL 2   771-5354 
DISTANCE FROM PLACEMENT   60km 
TIME FROM PLACEMENT   2 hours 
MALARIA MEDICATION REQUIRED   YES 
OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES 
There is a local clinic but it is not open on weekends.