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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 in Costa Rica? Our Travel surf and skate coaching program is the perfect opportunity to ride the waves and empower the next generation.
Love surf culture, skateparks, and empowering youth? This is your chance to combine them all in one life-changing experience. Join us in Costa Rica’s laid-back beach town of Matapalo, where you’ll use your skills to inspire and train kids who live just steps from one of the best coastlines and skateparks in the region—but often lack access to quality coaching or equipment.
As a Surf & Skate Coach, you’ll lead group sessions, one-on-one guidance, and workshops for enthusiastic young locals, helping them build confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love for movement.
No professional certifications are required—just a solid understanding of surfing or skating and a big heart for working with kids.
Set against a backdrop of endless beaches and vibrant jungle, this program lets you live the pura vida lifestyle while making a real impact in the community. You’ll be fully supported by a friendly team who will help you develop coaching techniques and create fun, safe, and inclusive lessons.
Key Activities:
Lead beginner-to-intermediate surf and/or skate lessons for kids aged 6–16
Design engaging sessions that focus on skill development, safety, and fun
Assist with equipment setup, maintenance, and gear organisation
Encourage positive attitudes, respect, and confidence through sport
Help run local skate or surf events, competitions, or beach cleanups
Whether you're catching your first Costa Rican wave or watching a student land their first ollie, every moment is full of energy, encouragement, and growth.
By volunteering on our Surf & Skate Coaching program in Costa Rica, you will:
Share your passion for surf and skate with eager young learners in a vibrant coastal community
Gain hands-on coaching experience while building leadership, patience, and cross-cultural communication skills
Inspire confidence, discipline, and creativity through action sports
Live the pura vida lifestyle surrounded by jungle, waves, and community spirit
Spend your free time surfing world-class breaks, skating scenic parks, and exploring Costa Rica’s incredible natural beauty
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Surf & Skate Coach
Each day brings a mix of rhythm, movement, and meaningful connection. From morning surf check to sunset skate sessions, you'll stay active while helping kids develop new skills and self-belief.
7:30 AM – Breakfast
Start your day with a nutritious breakfast at the lodge, fueling up for a fun, active morning.8:30 AM – Session Prep & Gear Check
Plan the day’s surf or skate lessons, prep equipment, and ensure boards, helmets, and pads are ready to go.9:00 AM – Surf Coaching on Matapalo Beach
Lead or support small-group surf lessons tailored to beginner and intermediate levels—focusing on balance, paddling, and safety.11:00 AM – Free Time
Relax on the beach, take a swim, or enjoy downtime with fellow volunteers.12:30 PM – Lunch
Refuel with a fresh, plant-based lunch served at the volunteer lodge.2:00 PM – Skatepark Session
Head to the local skatepark for a high-energy afternoon of drills, tricks, and encouragement. You’ll help coach and supervise kids during structured skating and freestyle practice.4:00 PM – Clean-Up & Reflection
Help with gear organisation, review the day’s progress, and plan tomorrow’s sessions.5:00 PM – Sunset Chill
Watch the sun drop over the Pacific—whether you're skating, surfing, or simply soaking in the view.6:30 PM – Dinner & Wind Down
Share stories over dinner, enjoy the night breeze, or join in for a group hangout, music, or a movie.Days Off
Enjoy two free days each week to explore nearby surf towns like Dominical, visit national parks, or take a trip to jungle waterfalls and natural hot springs.Your Impact as a Volunteer
To a child growing up in a low-income coastal community, a surfboard or skateboard can be more than just a toy—it can be a tool for transformation.
As a volunteer Surf & Skate Coach, your impact goes far beyond teaching techniques. You're helping kids build confidence, coordination, and courage. Every high-five after a wave caught or trick landed reinforces that they are seen, supported, and capable.
You're also creating access—bringing structure and mentorship to young people who often don’t have formal training or equipment. Your sessions become safe spaces where they can grow, express themselves, and discover joy through movement.
And your presence ripples outward. By supporting positive youth engagement, you're also encouraging healthy lifestyles, community connection, and long-term wellbeing.
In return, you'll gain your own sense of purpose—through laughter, progress, and moments that leave a lasting mark on both you and the kids you coach.
Your Home in Matapalo
Settle into a peaceful lodge nestled between the beach and the jungle—your home base in Matapalo, a coastal town that feels like a step back in time. With unspoiled beaches, laid-back charm, and tropical gardens all around, this is the perfect place to recharge after a rewarding day of teaching.
Our volunteer rooms are designed for comfort and simplicity, blending naturally with the surroundings while offering everything you need for a restful stay.
What’s Included:
Comfortable rooms with double, twin, or bunk beds
Private bathroom in every room
Air conditioning and fans to keep cool
Fresh linens and towels provided
Evenings are spent catching blazing sunsets, relaxing with fellow volunteers, or gathering around a beach bonfire as the moon rises over the ocean. Life here is calm, connected, and close to nature.
Bring light summer clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent, swimwear, and a flashlight or headlamp—this is tropical living, pure and simple.
Meals & Nutrition
You’ll be served three delicious, healthy meals a day, made with locally sourced ingredients. Our kitchen is known for variety, freshness, and flexibility—we cater to all dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Sample Menu:
Breakfast: Fresh fruit, toast or cereal, eggs, cheese
Lunch: Chicken or eggplant sandwich with local veggies
Dinner: Pasta salad with ham or garlic mushroomsYou’ll also have access to fruit, tea, coffee, and drinking water throughout the day.
Internet Access
Wi-Fi is available at the volunteer lodge, with good access for planning lessons, connecting with loved ones, or sharing your experience online.
History
This project is hosted by one of the most dynamic grassroots initiatives on Costa Ricas Pacific coast. The team was born from local passion and international support, aiming to bring sustainability into daily lifenot just for tourists, but for the community that calls Matapalo home.
By combining ecological goals with long-term social change, they've launched reforestation zones, organic gardens, and community education that truly lasts. The organisation is known for welcoming volunteers as family and giving them tools to contribute in lasting ways.
Mission & Vision
Their mission is simple: to regenerate ecosystems while uplifting communities through shared action, environmental education, and sustainable practices. The long-term vision is a self-sustaining, resilient village where nature thrives and every resident feels
proud to call it home.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fees
Duration Fee (EUR)
1 week €421
2 weeks €843
3 weeks €1,264
4 weeks €1,662
5 weeks €2,083
6 weeks €2,505
7 weeks €2,926
8 weeks €3,324
Payment Terms
Fees are due 30 days before your start date.
If applying within 30 days of arrival, full payment is due within 48 hours of confirmation.
Whats Included
✅ Comfortable eco-lodge shared accommodation
✅ 3 plant-based meals daily
✅ Airport pick-up & drop-off
✅ Full orientation & cultural introduction
✅ Daily hands-on conservation & community projects
✅ Waterfall Tour
✅ Surf board rental & surf school
✅ Flexible start dates and free date changes
✅ Expert guidance and training from experienced field professionals.
✅ Welcome pack with all the essential and helpful information
✅ Certificate of completion at the end of your placement
✅ Full support before, during, and after your program
✅ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✅ And so much more...
Your Investment in Movement, Mentorship & Yourself.
Volunteering as a Surf & Skate Coach isn’t just about teaching tricks—it’s about opening doors, building confidence, and sharing the joy of sport with kids who are eager to learn but often lack access.
Whether you're guiding a first-time surfer into their first wave or watching a child master balance on a board, your presence creates moments of pride, resilience, and fun that last far beyond your time in Costa Rica.
Your program fees help directly support:
Youth surf and skate lessons, workshops, and local competitions
Equipment upkeep and the maintenance of safe training spaces
Training and employment for local support staff
Community events, beach clean-ups, and positive youth engagement initiatives
Long-term access to sports programming for under-resourced kids
By joining us, you're helping shape stronger, healthier futures—and experiencing the pura vida way of life through movement, purpose, and connection.
Where You’ll Be – The Lush Coastal Haven of Matapalo
Tucked along the untouched Pacific coast of southern Costa Rica, Matapalo is a tiny beachside village where the jungle meets the sea, and nature sets the rhythm of the day. With howler monkeys in the trees and sunsets that paint the sky in orange, this is a place that feels both grounded and magical.
Your volunteer base is nestled just steps from the black-sand beach and surrounded by dense tropical forest—one of the most biologically rich environments in the world. The lodge is simple, welcoming, and perfectly placed for early morning beach walks, wildlife spotting, or winding down after a rewarding day of hands-on work.
Although peaceful and remote, Matapalo is just a short drive from the lively surf town of Dominical and within reach of waterfalls, national parks, and local markets. Whether you want adventure, reflection, or connection—you’ll find it here.
Costa Rica – A Beacon of Biodiversity and Balance
Costa Rica is globally renowned for its commitment to conservation, peace, and sustainable living. Though small in size, it holds more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity—making it one of the most ecologically diverse places on Earth.
This is a country that actively protects over a quarter of its land, with national parks, marine reserves, and rewilding zones inviting you to explore and learn. As a volunteer, you’re not just visiting—you’re contributing to the very systems that keep this paradise thriving.
But Costa Rica’s heart lies in its people. Warm, community-oriented, and deeply connected to nature, the Tico way of life is simple, kind, and refreshingly real. Expect friendly smiles, delicious plant-based meals, and cultural richness that flows through everything—from music to storytelling, from farming to fiestas.
The climate is tropical and inviting year-round. Think sun-soaked mornings, the occasional afternoon downpour to keep things green, and cooler evenings filled with the sounds of frogs, waves, and forest creatures.
Whether you come for the wildlife, the people, the mission—or all three—you’ll find Costa Rica gets under your skin in all the best ways.
Your downtime in Matapalo is an adventure in itself—explore the best of Costa Rica’s coast and jungle, all within easy reach.
Surfing in Dominical – 15 mins away
Catch waves at one of Costa Rica’s top surf spots, perfect for beginners and pros alike.
Nauyaca Waterfalls – 40 mins away
Hike through rainforest trails to reach dramatic twin waterfalls with natural pools for swimming.
Marino Ballena National Park – 30 mins away
Discover beaches, rainforest trails, and the famous Whale’s Tail sandbar, with regular wildlife sightings.
Kayaking at Hacienda Barú – 20 mins away
Paddle through serene mangrove ecosystems while spotting birds, monkeys, and reptiles.
Playa Ventanas Snorkelling – 35 mins away
Explore sea caves and tide pools at this quiet beach known for its unique rock formations.
Cooking & Spanish in Uvita – 25 mins away
Join a local cooking class or brush up on your Spanish with fun, interactive lessons.
Manuel Antonio National Park – 1 hour away
Spend the day hiking lush jungle paths and relaxing on postcard-worthy beaches.
Bonfires & Cultural Nights – Onsite
Evenings bring beach bonfires, music, and connection under Matapalo’s star-filled skies.
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