Hibiscus Travels

Volunteer, Intern, and travel abroad services in Costa Rica. Visit our website at www.hibiscustravels.com

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Tag an animal lover 😻 Here we are cutting fruit for the animals in the animal sanctuary because it makes them so happy by nurturing their furry faces 😀 and it makes us happy to give it to them 🥰 put your favorite fruit below👇🏽 #animalsanctuary #hibiscus #savinganimalsmatters #comeserve #noregrets #volunteers #letsgo #smiles https://www.instagram.com/p/B8oX3hehK3Z/?igshid=439icmdjrixe

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Monkeying around with the volunteers has never been better. What a fun group! Share or comment the most creative things you’ve done with boxes below🔽 #animalsanctuary #monkeysgalore #so #much #fun #supersneaky #hibiscustravels #dontstealmyfood #volunteertime (at Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8mbocSBN4W/?igshid=1doi470knvl4u

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Does anyone else smell chocolate in the air? This Valentine’s Day treat that special someone to a chocolate vacation to learn how the creation of chocolate is made from the plantation farm to the manual labor, you will see it all! It’s an exciting week for our five volunteers. Not only do they get to make ChOcOlAtE, they get to participate in the animal sanctuary making a difference one animal at a time. Tag someone who you would like to make their Valentine’s Day special! #chocolatetour #hibiscus #animals #monkeys #flavor #dogood #love #happinessthatlasts #bethechange #suntherapy #couplesforlife #valentinesday #bepresent (at Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas, Osa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8gnkOWhpVx/?igshid=1ubynpgrbr4r4

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Meet Mercy! She is here with us for a time working on the Sustainable Agricultural project at the coffee farms and she will be here for two weeks. It’s fun to see all the different people come down and work hard to make an impact on the community! #coffeebeans #communityservice #sustainabiltyagriculture #imaginewhatyoucando (at Ciudad Cortés, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cPOC-hIbW/?igshid=8k6jmvek0bue

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And that’s a wrap! 100 hours later... These students are walking with certificates in their hand. They’ve completed 100 hours of learning English and they’re well on their way to finding a career that they can use their English to better the community which they live. That’s what we do here at Hibiscus we provide opportunities for our students to flourish as well as our volunteers to share what they love to the community! #dogood #association #charity #Hibiscustravels #Englishissouseful #members #foundation #begrateful (at Ciudad Cortés, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8bgbeshd2R/?igshid=1uy4ht98sda2x

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It was hard to say goodbye but we are so grateful that our volunteers, Brittany and Elly came here for a week and helped with the English class. She came here 2 years ago with her daughter Kaylee and helped with the orphanage. This is Brittany’s second time and she brought her other daughter Elly this time around to truly experience the power and wonders of service! They even provided some books with efforts to help the kids learn more. Such a great week! (at Ciudad Cortés, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Z4ylUhukO/?igshid=1r6kkeajvjs0d

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Have you ever wanted to help out all the animals in a meaningful way? Now is your chance! Come to Costa Rica and join the animal sanctuary project. Here we have some volunteers preparing to receive donations to help all the stray dogs so they have a place to stay. We would love to know what animal has a place in YOUR heart that you would like to see a sanctuary for? Place it down in the comment section below ⬇️ #lovevolunteers #travelinternationally #goandserve (at Ciudad Cortés, Puntarenas, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7bpvUKBJ1Z/?igshid=uey01p3esg16

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Meet Adam! He is a one of a kind poker player from Los Ángeles California. He too participated in the same program that Madison did working with the children. Meal time is very important and Adam helped assist with it as well as encouraged the kids to have as much independence as possible.

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Here is Madison Blue! She is from Los Ángeles, California and works as a professional hair and makeup artist. She came here to work at the center of integral development where the children are at a low-income level in their home. She will be here for one week. The children here our provided supervision and government provided meals. This is provided through (IMAS) Institute of Integrated Social Help, and here they are given an opportunity to have an early education. Thanks to our volunteers this is possible. Our kids are having a good cultural exchange experience!

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Volunteering in Costa Rica

Volunteering in Costa Rica presents an awesome opportunity for people of virtually all academic backgrounds to earn useful, real-world experience – while spending time in a tropical paradise!

The Hibiscus Service Learning Abroad runs programmes ranging from those based around community development, to conservation projects, to veterinary and medical internships, so there’s something for pretty much anyone! What’s more, programmes can be tailored to suit your needs – so if you are in need of specific experiences, we can help you out. Hibiscus also run inexpensive group trips, so if you are a university or high school group, a church group, or even groups from the corporate world, look no further for trips that combine enjoyment with something rewarding and potentially transformative. However, if you’re an individual seeking to make your travelling experience even more life-changing by participating in one of our programmes, do not fret – there is plenty of room for you.

Depending on your choice of project, your tasks will vary. You could be helping kids further their future careers through teaching English, helping to save some of the world’s most endangered species, or getting some hands-on medical experience – the choice is up to you. Get in touch with us today to find out more, and get the process started!

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Wildlife Conservation in Costa Rica

Costa Rica, like countries all over the world, is currently facing a wildlife conservation crisis. There are over 200 wild animal species native to Costa Rica that are currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is critically affecting levels of biodiversity and altering the ecosystem of the country. This crisis is due to a number of reasons, namely: deforestation; human development (i.e. the expansion of urban areas); unsustainable fishing and hunting practices; and the illegal pet trade.

Conservation projects have been established across the country, attempting to rescue and rehabilitate as many of these animals as possible before we lose them forever. Many of the most endangered species in Costa Rica have been victims of the illegal pet trade, and as a result are injured and/or unable to survive in their natural habitat. Sanctuaries have therefore been established to rehabilitate these animals with the ultimate aim of returning them to their natural habitat when they’re ready.

The Hibiscus Wildlife Conservation Programme works with many tropical species like sloths, howler monkeys, spider monkeys and toucans, among others, that have been injured or otherwise need rehabilitating in order to be released into the wild. Volunteers help to provide care for these animals during their rehabilitation process, as they feed, bathe and socialise with the animals, as well as contributing to the general upkeep of the sanctuary.

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Veterinary Internships in Costa Rica!

Many people in Costa Rica have vastly different attitudes towards domesticated animals than those in Western countries and, as a result, animals are frequently abandoned (if they had a home to begin with), often winding up hurt, disease ridden, and living by the side of the road - or in some other equally horrible place. While it may take time for attitudes in the country to change, there are existing veterinary clinics that work on treating and rehoming these lost and often abused animals, most of which are dogs but also include cats, and exotic animals that are victims of the illegal pet trade. 

While these clinics are doing amazing work, they are often critically underfunded and understaffed, frequently relying on donations to keep going or coming up with novel ways to create funds (for example, one has a library whereby profits are used to meet the clinic’s needs). For this reason, volunteers are a hugely appreciated resource in helping to look after these deserted animals. Volunteer programs that bring people to Costa Rica to work in veterinary clinics are an important means in tackling the problem, as they actively work with veterinary professionals to not only care for the animals but look to long-term solutions. While treating disease and rehoming the animals is certainly crucial, equally so is working towards a future where there are no (or, at least, much fewer) animals that need to be taken care of in this way. One such of these methods are spaying/neutering initiatives, which attempt to control the stray animal population through disrupting the uninhibited population growth that currently exists; this is one of, if not the, most effective way of ensuring that are fewer animals suffering in the country. 

The Hibiscus Veterinary Internship is a program that provides people from all over the world a means of helping this situation, with volunteers spending time at the Domestic Animal Welfare Group (D.A.W.G) clinic, a non-profit organisation that operates in Uvita de Osa, in the Costa Ballena region of Costa Rica. They contribute an essential service to the region, and volunteers will assist them with this in multiple ways. These include providing day-to-day care for the abandoned animals, which, among other things, involves washing them, cleaning their living spaces, taking them for walks, and simply showing them some much-needed love. Further, volunteers would aid in treating any diseases and/or injuries that the animals may be afflicted with, as well as help out with administrative tasks, which includes attempts at rehoming the animals. D.A.W.G also run an education service to teach local people the importance of caring for their pets, as well as information on how to do so, and volunteers will also help out with this. Volunteers with prior veterinary experience would also assist with D.A.W.G’s spaying/neutering campaign which, as discussed above, is doing important work in controlling the stray animal population. 

This program provides useful real-world experience to those wanting to enter the veterinary field, although no prior experience (except for the spaying/neutering campaign) is needed; in fact, anyone wanting simply to come and help these poor animals is welcome. Knowledge of Spanish is appreciated but not essential, and Spanish classes can be provided during the program. Transportation and food is also provided - basically, all you need to bring is yourself and a positive attitude! Visit our website at https://www.hibiscustravels.com/ for more information, prices, and to contact us! 

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Want to help children further their prospects?

At Hibiscus Travel, volunteers doing our Teaching English Abroad and Community Development programs provide Costa Rican children with much needed English lessons that significantly help to further their future prospects. 

In Costa Rica, much of the country’s economy is based around the tourism industry, with it contributing to around 13% of direct and indirect employment in the country, and making up 7% of their total GDP. This means that knowledge of English has become a highly sought after skill, as the majority of the tourists are American, or from other parts of the West, which means many jobs now require employees to have, at the very least, a basic understanding of English. While the Costa Rican Ministry for Public Education said last year that teaching English in their public schools was a ‘priority’, there are still many schools - especially those in remote, rural areas - that still don’t have access to an English teacher. 

By volunteering to teach English in Costa Rica, you will be helping to prepare these children for their future careers, giving them a boost ahead of those without English skills. In doing so, you will find yourself being rewarded with a rich and fulfilling experience, all the while gaining useful experience that will look great on a CV - and spending time in a tropical paradise! 

Find out more and apply at https://www.hibiscustravels.com/ 

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Man’s Best Friend – left on the side of the road

In Costa Rica, over a million stray and abandoned dogs roam the country, always struggling for food and shelter, and often suffering from debilitating diseases. Domestic animal welfare services are critically underfunded and understaffed, which means chances for a good life for most of the these dogs are slim. 

If the plight of these pups is something that affects you, and you want to help, you can. Through our domestic veterinary internship, volunteers come to Costa Rica and spend time helping out at local veterinary clinics; while experience in working with animals would certainly be useful, it is also certainly not mandatory. You would learn on the job, and gain valuable skills in doing so, while also making a difference in these animals’ lives (while the situation is most critical with dogs, cats and other domestic animals are also frequently abandoned, or never had a home to begin with). 

If this programme interests you, and for more information, get in touch with Hibiscus Travels at https://www.hibiscustravels.com/programs and get the process started! 

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What’s up Sea Turtles?

At Hibiscus Travels, one of our more popular programs is our Sea Turtle Conservation project. 

Out of the seven known species, six are critically endangered. Main factors affecting this are poaching, loss of nesting and feeding areas, as well as ocean pollution and global warming. 

Cool Facts about Sea Turtles 

Turtles are one of the oldest creatures on Earth, dating back to 150 million years ago.

Leatherback sea turtles travel more than 10,000 miles in a year Green sea turtles can hold their breath for up to 5 hours A sea turtles diet consists of everything from algae to seaweed to crab and jellyfish Sea turtles have excellent eye sight, sense of smell and can even hear vibration

How bad is it?

GLOBAL STATUS: The world's seven sea turtle species are classified as follows according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Leatherbacks: Vulnerable Greens: Endangered Loggerheads: Vulnerable Hawksbills: Critically Endangered Olive Ridleys: Vulnerable Kemp's Ridleys: Critically Endangered Flatbacks: Data Deficient

source:http://www.seeturtles.org/sea-turtles-threats

What can you do to help?

Participate in our program as a volunteer, intern or for study abroad credit.  As part of our sea turtle and marine life program, volunteers might see either adults, babies or eggs, and learn about their life cycle. By helping this project, volunteers will be part of a serious scientific research project, which provides important data for the conservation of sea turtles.

If you are interested in participating in our program to help save the sea turtles, visit our website for more information on this project:

https://www.hibiscustravels.com/conservation

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Animal Series: Sloths

Sloths are always a favorite among our travelers and volunteers. They are native to Central and South America, perusing the rainforests and eating hibiscus flowers. 

They are infamous for being slow or ‘lazy’ but if you come across a scared sloth in the wild, be wary of its toes! Their long nails can cause some serious damage.

There is nothing like seeing a sloth in real life, though. When comfortable, they are calm and as cute as can be. During my time volunteering at an animal sanctuary, I befriended a sloth named Elvis. Elvis could not be rehabilitated due to the circumstances from which he was rescued, but he connected with all the volunteers as if he was your best friend’s grandpa!

There are a lot of things about sloths that are super cool! Here are some cool sloth facts:

Despite being slow climbers, sloths are actually speedy swimmers!

If you see a sloth that looks green, that is algae! This is their camouflage technique to help them blend in with the trees.

They only use the bathroom once a week. This is due to their extreme vulnerability to predators.

Sloths are nocturnal. Sleep all day, Sloth all night, hey!

The oldest sloths only live to be about 40 years old.

If you want a chance to see one of Costa Rica’s most famous animals, you can volunteer at one of our exotic animal rescue centers or take a tour through a national park for a chance to see one in its natural habitat.

visit our website: www.hibiscustravels.com

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Learn about our Volunteer Programs

OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN THREE PROJECT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Conservation

Sea turtles, jungle and wildlife, and animal welfare

As part of our sea turtle and marine life program, volunteers will be part of a serious scientific research project, which provides important data for the conservation of sea turtles. In an effort to progress environmental education, volunteers will participate in a variety of aspects of this project such as reforestation of flora species, the creation of organic gardens, tours for recognition of wild species and studying the behavior of animals in the wild. Cleaning of local beaches is also part of the program. Due to the culture in Latin America in general, animals are generally not looked upon as integral members of the family as they are in more developed countries. The goal of this project is to improve the welfare of dogs and cats in the area through rescue efforts, spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, and education. Participate and shadow in some of the consultations for hurt or injured animals.

Healthcare

Medical observation, Hands-on patient care, Elderly assistance and general care

Learn and experience up close with us at a local medical facility in Costa Rica. Gain medical experience while learning from friendly and professional doctors and paramedics. The elderly home provides a caring home and helpful services to the elderly of the community in conditions of social vulnerability and lack of much-needed assistance and aid. This placement gives volunteers an opportunity to experience how being a medical professional would be, while also expanding their knowledge of the field through a hands-on experience.

Social Development

Teach English, Help with children in need

The opportunity to study English is highly valued in the communities we work with. The students are eager to learn and participate.  these communities are very grateful for the opportunity to practice their conversation skills and learn grammar with native English speakers. The Children’s Homes in Costa Rica offer a home, education, and hope for orphans and children who have been taken from their homes by child services due to abusive or neglectful situations. Volunteers work with nuns and helpers of the home to feed, care for, play with, nurture creativity and manners, as well as maintain a safe and clean space for the children. This program is for volunteers looking for the opportunity to share their love, care, passion, skills, and assistance with the community. 

For more detailed information on dates, prices, and program requirements, visit our website https://www.hibiscustravels.com/volunteer