18. TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

You can find here around 400 tree species, 2200 plant species like Uva de Playa (‘beach grape’), el Icaco, Palma de Coco (coconut palm), Lirio Acuático (water lily), Helechos Acuáticos (water ferns), Pilón, el Canfín, el Jícaro de Montaña. The most important fauna species are the Jaguar, the ocelot, tapir, manatee, sloth, monkey, sea turtles (leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill and green – the most common), and 405 bird species.

This Park belongs to the Tortuguero Conservation Area (ACTo), located in the North Caribbean 80 km from the province of Limón. Its area is 26.156 hectares in land and 50.160 hectares in the ocean.

The most abundant type of forest is the Rain Forest, with an average annual of 26° C and an average annual precipitation that ranges from 4500 and 6000mm; it is considered one of the rainiest regions of the country.

There are several stations within the park.

Cuatro Esquinas (four corners) Station: located 95 km northwest from Puerto Moín. This is where the Tortuguero canals are, the Park’s administration offices, the Control and Protection Programs, common areas and the sub-programs of Environmental Education, Biological Monitoring and Volunteering.

Cuatro Esquinas limits with a community called ‘Barra del Tortuguero’, where you can find a paid phone, supermarkets, souvenir shops, Internet service, tour operators, police station, EBAIS (on Wednesdays), small airport, among other services. It is also near the Barra del Colorado Wild Life Refuge. In this station you will have electricity, potable water, television, microwave oven, phone.

There is a big house, where 3 of the rooms are for volunteers.

Jalova Station: located 80 km northwest from Puerto Moín. Tourists can access this station too, and there is presence from the Control and Protection program, volunteering and public access. There are several canals that can be navigated.

The nearest community is Barra de Parismina, 5 km away; you can find there paid phone, small groceries store, police station and EBAIS (on Thursdays). In Jalova the electricity is provided through solar panels, there is washing machine, television, radio communication, non potable water, and the water to drink and cook is transported from another station.
There is a volunteers-only house, and it can host 10 persons.

Colorado Station: located in the Barra del Colorado Wild Life Refuge, 5 km east from South Barra del Colorado community, where you will find a paid phone, a small groceries store, police station, guard coast and EBAIS (Monday to Wednesday). There are several canals that can be navigated and some important rivers like Colorado and San Juan Rivers.

The electricity is provided through generators, there is washing machine, television, radio communication, non potable water, and the water to drink and cook is transported from another station.

Agua Fría Station: it is located in a town called La Fortuna of Cariari, and you can find there a paid phone, groceries store, police station and EBAIS (Monday through Friday in a sector called El Llano, a 15 minutes drive). In Agua Fría only the Control and Protection Program is established. One particular characteristic of this station is the presence of many creeks and a number of trails that are used for research, and control & protection activities.

Agua Fría has electricity, non-potable water (potable water is brought from other stations), washing machine, drying machine, television and radio communication. There is a house with 6 rooms, 2 of them are for volunteers.

Sierpe Station: located in a town called La Aurora de Colorado, this is the highest altitude site in the Park (311 m.s.n.m.), there are small rivers and creeks and several trails. In Sierpe only the Control and Protection Program is established.

In Sierpe the electricity is provided through solar panels, there is washing machine, television, radio communication, non potable water, and the water to drink and cook is transported from another station.

Work to do:

• Trail maintenance
• Cooking and helping in the kitchen
• Housekeeping of the house, information kiosk and offices
• Garden maintenance and housekeeping
• Clean informative whiteboards
• Place informative signs in public areas
• Wash irons, to prevent damage
• File information
• Classify tickets, for a later disposition by burning them
• Control of tourism in the canals
• Control of tourism at the beach, during sea turtle nesting season
• Collect trash from the beach
• Clean and maintain the expositions of the information kiosk

You can negotiate the details of your day off, with the office administration.