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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to volunteer with wildlife in Costa Rica? Our Travel Roots Road to Freedom Internship program is the perfect opportunity to support rescued animals on their final journey back to the wild. This is where hope becomes reality.
The Road to Freedom Internship offers a one-of-a-kind experience at a dedicated wildlife release site. You'll be working with animals that have completed their rehabilitation process and are now undergoing soft-release—gradually being reintroduced into their natural habitat under close monitoring and care.
Unlike traditional rescue centre programs, this internship places you in a remote, natural setting where released wildlife are monitored post-release using camera traps, GPS, and direct observation. It’s an essential part of the conservation process that ensures released animals are adapting successfully and safely to the wild.
You’ll be living and working in the forest, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. Days are structured around animal care, observation, habitat enrichment, and data collection. There’s also opportunity to contribute to infrastructure and trail maintenance, camera trap analysis, and enrichment projects for newly released animals.
This internship is best suited for individuals who are passionate about wildlife conservation, comfortable with rustic living, and eager for meaningful, immersive fieldwork.
Key Activities Include:
• Assisting with the soft-release of rehabilitated wildlife
• Monitoring released animals using GPS and trail cameras
• Preparing and delivering supplemental food for animals post-release
• Building and maintaining observation trails and release enclosures
• Recording behavioural data and field notes for research
• Contributing to habitat enrichment and maintenance projects
• Supporting the development of long-term release strategiesWork with exotic wildlife and play a vital role in the success of release programs.
This internship provides hands-on experience in post-rehabilitation care and release monitoring—helping vulnerable species return home, and contributing to one of the most impactful phases of the conservation journey.By volunteering on our Road to Freedom Internship program in Costa Rica, you will:
• Be part of an advanced wildlife release and monitoring project deep in the rainforest
• Gain exclusive insight into the final stage of wildlife rehabilitation—returning animals to the wild
• Track and monitor released species using field research methods and camera traps
• Help improve post-release survival rates by contributing to feeding, habitat enrichment, and behavioural observation
• Learn about conservation strategies for tropical wildlife in their natural habitat
• Experience remote, off-grid living in the heart of nature, surrounded by Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity
• Support long-term efforts to restore and protect native ecosystems from the effects of deforestation and wildlife trafficking
• Develop valuable research and conservation field skills useful for careers in wildlife biology, veterinary science, and environmental studies
• Make a meaningful impact as part of a dedicated and passionate conservation team
What to Expect: A Day in the Life on the Road to Freedom Internship In Costa Rica
Every day in the rainforest is an adventure. This internship places you off the beaten path—immersed in the natural rhythms of the wild as you support animals on their journey back to freedom. Each task you take on plays a vital role in ensuring the success of soft-release and post-release monitoring.
Here’s what a typical day might look like:
6:00 AM – Morning Start & Field Prep
Wake up surrounded by forest sounds. After a light breakfast, you’ll prep for the morning’s field tasks—packing food for released animals, checking camera batteries, and reviewing animal activity reports.7:00 AM – Morning Monitoring & Habitat Work
Head into the field to monitor animals that have recently been released. Activities may include:
• Observing wildlife behaviour from a distance
• Checking camera traps and changing memory cards
• Delivering supplemental food and checking feeding stations
• Recording behavioural notes and location data11:30 AM – Lunch Break & Rest
Return to base for a well-earned break and shared lunch. The midday hours are also perfect for reviewing footage, recording data, or taking part in team briefings.1:30 PM – Afternoon Projects
Afternoons may include a range of supportive fieldwork or site maintenance tasks such as:
• Building trails or platforms for better observation
• Repairing or improving release enclosures
• Enrichment tasks like scent trails or puzzle feeders
• Preparing camera trap setups for nocturnal species4:30 PM – Daily Wrap-Up
Return to camp, upload and back up data, and help clean up the workspace. You'll reflect on the day’s findings and plan the next steps with your team.6:00 PM – Dinner & Wind Down
Dinner is often communal and casual. Evenings may include wildlife talks, film nights, data analysis, or simply relaxing under the stars.Days Off
You’ll typically have one or two days off per week to rest and recharge. On free days, you may visit nearby trails, waterfalls, or local communities (depending on location and transport options).This is an experience for those ready to embrace remote living and hands-on conservation—where every day brings new insights into the wild lives you're helping to protect.
Your Impact as an Intern
By joining the Road to Freedom Internship, you become an essential part of the most critical and delicate phase of wildlife rehabilitation: release.
Most rescued animals never make it to this stage. Those that do have overcome the trauma of injury, captivity, or habitat loss—and your role ensures they stay wild, safe, and self-sufficient once released.
Your contributions directly support:
• The successful reintegration of native species into protected habitats
• Increased post-release survival rates through supplemental feeding and monitoring
• Improved understanding of species behaviour and adaptation post-release
• The design and improvement of long-term release strategies
• Vital data collection that supports wider conservation policy in Costa Rica
• Ongoing habitat protection and enrichment for current and future release candidatesWhether you’re tracking a spider monkey, reviewing camera trap data, or creating a new trail for safe observation, every task you complete strengthens the cycle of rescue, rehabilitation, and rewilding.
You’re not just witnessing conservation—you’re making it happen.
Your Home in Costa Rica
During your internship, you’ll stay on-site at the wildlife centre’s shared volunteer guesthouse. Set within lush surroundings and just a short walk from the rescue clinic, this accommodation is designed for comfort, connection, and convenience.
Rooms are dormitory-style, typically shared with 2–4 other interns or volunteers. Each room is equipped with beds, fans, bedding, and secure storage space. Shared bathrooms with hot water showers are located nearby, and the communal kitchen and lounge area create a warm social atmosphere for sharing stories and meals with like-minded changemakers.
The centre provides three nutritious meals daily, featuring a delicious mix of local Costa Rican flavours with vegetarian options available. Wi-Fi is available in designated areas, and laundry facilities can be accessed for a small fee.
Living on-site gives you the unique advantage of staying immersed in the rhythm of the rescue centre—waking up to the calls of tropical birds and falling asleep knowing you’re making a real difference.
This program is hosted at one of Costa Rica’s leading wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres, located just outside of San José. Since its founding, the centre has worked tirelessly to rescue, treat, rehabilitate, and, whenever possible, release native wildlife affected by illegal trafficking, habitat loss, and human conflict.
With over 3,000 animals cared for annually, the organisation operates a full-scale veterinary hospital, an intensive care unit, and various specialised rehabilitation enclosures. Their multi-disciplinary team includes wildlife veterinarians, biologists, zookeepers, and educators who are passionate about conservation and animal welfare.
Their mission is to protect Costa Rica’s biodiversity through high-standard veterinary care, public education, and sustainable rehabilitation practices. Their vision is a world where humans and wildlife can coexist in balance—and every action they take moves us closer to that reality.
As a veterinary intern, you become a vital part of that vision, helping restore health and dignity to rescued animals while learning from professionals dedicated to ethical wildlife medicine.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Duration Program Fee
2 weeks €990
3 weeks €1,485
4 weeks €1,980
5 weeks €2,475
6 weeks €2,970
8 weeks €3,960
10 weeks €4,950
12 weeks €5,940
20 weeks €9,900
25 weeks €12,375
What’s Included:
Accommodation in the on-site volunteer guesthouse
Three home-cooked meals per day
Hands-on training from expert professionals
All internship-related materials and resources
Wi-Fi access and common area facilities
Airport pick-up and drop-off (San José area)
Full support before, during, and after your placement
Welcome pack full of useful info and insider tips
Domestic orientation and cultural immersion
100% Money-Back Cancellation Guarantee
So much more!
Your Investment in the Wild Release & Yourself
This internship is a true investment in your conservation journey. You’ll gain practical experience in post-release animal monitoring, wildlife behaviour studies, and field research.
Whether you’re pursuing a career in biology or simply passionate about helping wildlife thrive, this opportunity gives you the tools, confidence, and impact to make a real difference.
Where You'll Be: San José Region, Costa Rica
Your internship takes place at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre just outside of San José, Costa Rica’s dynamic capital. Nestled in a green, tranquil setting, the centre offers the perfect balance between peaceful immersion in nature and convenient access to city amenities. Within a short drive, you can visit waterfalls, explore nature reserves, or soak in the rhythms of everyday life in bustling local towns.
The centre’s central location also makes weekend adventures across Costa Rica easy and accessible—from cloud forests and volcanoes to Pacific surf beaches and Caribbean coral reefs. You’ll be right in the middle of it all, while staying rooted in a community focused on conservation, learning, and meaningful impact.
About Costa Rica as a Destination
Costa Rica is a country that truly lives and breathes biodiversity. Home to over 500,000 species—including sloths, toucans, jaguars, tree frogs, and tapirs—this tiny Central American nation has become a global leader in eco-tourism and environmental protection. Roughly 25% of the country is protected through national parks and reserves, and its strong conservation culture has made it a hub for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world.
Expect warm tropical weather year-round, rich cultural traditions, and a strong emphasis on sustainability and community well-being. Costa Ricans—or Ticos, as they call themselves—are known for their warmth, friendliness, and the national motto Pura Vida, which translates to “pure life” and perfectly captures the spirit of this inspiring country.
Whether you’re exploring wild rainforests, learning from passionate locals, or enjoying a fresh coconut on a sunny beach, your time in Costa Rica promises to be as enriching as it is unforgettable.
When you're not busy helping animals heal, Costa Rica offers endless opportunities to relax, explore, and immerse yourself in its rich culture and breathtaking landscapes.
Here are just a few ways you can spend your free time:
Visit the Arenal Volcano and soak in natural hot springs
Take a guided rainforest hike to spot sloths, monkeys, and exotic birds
Explore the colourful streets, markets, and museums of San José
Spend a weekend surfing or sunbathing on the Pacific or Caribbean coast
Swim beneath hidden jungle waterfalls
Enjoy a local casado meal or fresh coconut water at a roadside café
Visit nearby wildlife reserves or botanical gardens
Join fellow interns for sunset walks and storytelling under the stars
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