About Us
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center located in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. Our mission is to give injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife a second chance while raising awareness about the importance of conservation. We envision a future where wildlife thrives safely in its natural habitat.
Every year, we rescue more than 700 animals, release as many as possible back into the wild, and educate over 1,000 visitors. We are the only wildlife rescue center serving three major conservation areas that together protect 19.7% of Costa Rica’s territory.
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary began in 2014 as a small rescue project responding to the increasing number of animals affected by human development in the region. What started with only a few enclosures and a small team has grown into a fully equipped sanctuary with a veterinary clinic, nursery, research programs, and year-round internship and volunteer opportunities. Today, we are recognized as a leading center for wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and education in the region.
01. Fully Equipped Veterinary Center:
Our veterinary team works year-round to treat injured and orphaned wildlife. The clinic includes surgical equipment, diagnostic tools, and a specialized nursery with incubators for baby animals.
02. Sanctuary:
Some animals cannot safely return to the wild. For most of them, this is because they were kept as illegal pets. Our sanctuary provides long-term, species-appropriate care while maintaining the primary goal of releasing as many animals as possible.
Program at a glance
Why choose us?
Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is located in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth: Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, which holds 6.5% of the world’s biodiversity. We are the only rescue center serving three major conservation areas, covering almost 20% of Costa Rica’s land.
Our volunteer program allows you to meet unique wildlife and learn about their biology and care in an ethical way. We promote ethical tourism and volunteering through our hands-off policy, while providing volunteers with incredible learning opportunities.
As a volunteer, you will work with a range of injured and orphaned primates, mammals, birds, and occasionally reptiles in our sanctuary. You will meet many like-minded people and have opportunities to explore the pristine wilderness and experience authentic Costa Rican culture.
Requirements
- Valid travel insurance
- Up-to-date tetanus vaccination
- Physically fit to work outdoors in all weather conditions
Volunteer experience
- 7:00 AM: Morning meeting
- 7:10 AM: Preparing diets for the animals, cleaning enclosures, creating and administering enrichment, feeding animals, doing animal laundry, and general maintenance
- 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Break
- 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM: One or more of the following activities will be conducted: browse collection, social activities (waterfall adventure or swimming at the beach), educational workshops, or general maintenance
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch break
- 1:00 PM: Afternoon meeting
- 1:05 PM – 3:00 PM: Afternoon feeding, enrichment creation and administration, animal laundry, and general maintenance
- From 5:30 PM: Dinner available
We offer different all-inclusive fees depending on the duration of your stay and your preferred accommodation (ranging from $668 to $1,295 per week). You can find all the details about our prices and rates on our website:
https://www.alturaswildlifesanctuary.org/join-our-team/volunteer/lodging-rates/
There are two types of lodging provided by Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary: the apartment and the volunteer house.
Located within the center, we have two volunteer houses equipped with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and a common area. Each room includes two beds; however, volunteers can opt for single-occupancy rooms. Please note that the volunteer house does not offer air conditioning.
A great option for those seeking more privacy (or air conditioning) is the apartment, also located within the center. It includes a kitchen, a bathroom, and a porch.
If you would like a more luxurious option, Villas Alturas Resort is located just a stone’s throw away from the center.
All meals are provided: vegetarian meals are prepared by our chef from Monday to Friday, and groceries are provided for the weekends when the chef is not present. Volunteers are expected to prepare their own breakfasts using the groceries provided in the kitchen.
Volunteers get two days off per week.
Some ideas for what to do on your days off:
- Surfing or surf lessons
- Kayaking in the mangroves
- Canyoning
- Zip-lining
- Skydiving
- Visiting nearby waterfalls, beaches, and rivers
- Visiting local markets
- Visiting nearby national parks (Manuel Antonio, Marino Ballena, Corcovado)
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