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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 rescued wildlife in Costa Rica? Our Travel Roots Veterinary Internship Program is the perfect opportunity to gain real-world clinical experience while supporting one of Central America’s most respected wildlife rescue centres.
Interns work alongside skilled veterinarians, vet techs, and rehabilitation staff in a fully equipped wildlife hospital that treats hundreds of animals each year. From tropical birds to primates, sloths to reptiles—you’ll assist with exams, treatments, and daily care of rescued and rehabilitated species.
Develop your veterinary skills in a unique tropical environment.
This program is designed for vet students, recent graduates, or anyone pursuing a future in wildlife medicine or veterinary sciences. Interns assist with a wide range of tasks, including:Administering medications and assisting with surgeries
Preparing lab samples and monitoring animal vitals
Cleaning, feeding, and providing enrichment to patients
Participating in diagnostics, necropsies, and data entry
Supporting the release planning for rehabilitated animals
Work with exotic wildlife and improve animal welfare.
Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn as you work with an incredible variety of native species. You’ll gain hands-on experience while contributing to the welfare and recovery of Costa Rica’s most vulnerable wildlife.Whether you're observing a howler monkey post-surgery or helping prepare a scarlet macaw for release, this internship is as enriching as it is rewarding.
By volunteering on our Veterinary Internship Program in Costa Rica, you will:
• Gain hands-on experience in wildlife veterinary care and medical treatment
• Work alongside experienced wildlife vets and animal care professionals
• Learn how to treat and rehabilitate sloths, monkeys, birds, reptiles, and more
• Assist with surgeries, medical exams, and animal monitoring
• Explore the ethical and logistical complexities of wildlife rescue
• Improve your clinical, diagnostic, and data management skills
• Contribute to the health and recovery of injured and orphaned animals
• Take part in a mission that combines animal welfare with conservation
What to Expect: A Day in the Life Veterinary Intern In Costa Rica
Each day at the wildlife rescue centre offers something new—whether it's monitoring a recovering parrot, assisting in surgery, or helping prep food for a troop of monkeys. Your work will be diverse, hands-on, and always meaningful.
7:00 AM – Morning Briefing & Animal Checks
Begin your day with the veterinary team to review medical updates, priorities, and ongoing treatments. You’ll assist in morning rounds—checking on animal vitals, behaviour, and condition.8:30 AM – Treatments, Exams & Surgeries
Work may include administering medication, wound care, blood draws, or helping prep for surgeries. You’ll observe and support procedures as needed, guided by experienced staff.12:30 PM – Lunch & Midday Break
Enjoy a hearty Costa Rican lunch and relax with fellow interns. Use this time to recharge before the afternoon’s activities.1:30 PM – Rehabilitation Work or Enclosure Checks
Afternoons might include assisting with physical therapy, enrichment planning, or helping relocate animals to upgraded enclosures. You may also update medical records or prepare for patient releases.4:00 PM – End of Day Wrap-Up
Before finishing, you’ll help clean the clinic, check the supply room, or prep materials for the next day. There’s time to ask questions and debrief with the team.Evenings & Free Time
Evenings are yours to unwind—explore the lush grounds, journal about your experiences, or join fellow interns for local cultural outings.No two days are the same in the clinic, but each one brings new learning and new hope for the animals under your care.
Your Impact as an Intern
Your contribution as a veterinary intern goes far beyond daily care—it directly supports the recovery and rehabilitation of Costa Rica’s most vulnerable wildlife.
Every medication you prepare, every health check you assist with, and every data entry you complete helps to improve the welfare and long-term outcome of rescued animals. You'll be part of a dedicated team working to give each patient the best possible chance at healing and, where possible, release back into the wild.
You’ll also be supporting conservation on a systemic level. By contributing to the rescue centre’s veterinary operations, you're strengthening their capacity to respond to the ongoing threats facing wildlife—such as habitat destruction, illegal pet trade, and road accidents.
Your work enables the centre to treat more animals, collect better data, and continuously improve their care protocols. And in return, you’ll leave with tangible skills, a deeper understanding of wildlife medicine, and the knowledge that your efforts made a difference where it truly counts.
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 veterinary 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 Future
Your program fee is more than a payment—it’s an investment in your future. You’ll gain practical experience, transferable skills, and deeper insight into wildlife medicine—all while actively contributing to animal welfare and conservation.
Whether this is a step toward your veterinary career or a personal journey of growth, the value is both professional and life-changing.
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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