Lead change.
Protect paradise.
Grow for life.
A 5-week international volunteering experience in Costa Rica — where you build water systems, restore forests, and return home a genuine environmental leader.
Open 2026
One journey, three phases
The program is built to develop real-world leaders — from virtual preparation to hands-on fieldwork to wilderness expedition.
Build your foundation before you land
Before you set foot in Costa Rica, you'll spend 5 weeks in virtual training — developing the mindset, knowledge, and skills to create real impact from day one.
Community Resilience Project
Work alongside indigenous Bribri communities in the heart of the Talamanca mountains — building real infrastructure, delivering education workshops, and finishing with a multi-day trek through wild indigenous territory.
Building water systems in indigenous Bribri territory
You'll be embedded in a remote Bribri indigenous community in the Talamanca mountains of Costa Rica. Your team will design, build, and install sustainable water infrastructure — gravity-fed systems, distribution pipes, and collection tanks — for families who depend on this project for clean water access. Alongside construction, you'll deliver environmental education workshops in local schools and facilitate hygiene sessions with community members.
5 weeks from start to finish
You'll complete 5 weeks of online preparation before arriving. Sessions cover biodiversity, water systems, community development, cultural sensitivity, and facilitation techniques. Weekly live calls with your team and Greentalist staff.
You arrive in San José and spend the first days in orientation — team building, safety briefings, cultural preparation, and logistics. You'll meet your team leaders and fellow volunteers before heading into the field.
You move into the Bribri community where you'll live and work for 3 weeks. Daily work includes water system construction, school workshops, and community sessions. Evenings are for reflection, team meetings, and local cultural exchange.
The final chapter. Your team completes a self-led 5-day trek through remote indigenous trails in the Talamanca mountains. You rotate leadership roles daily, navigate with maps and GPS, camp in the wild, and cross rivers and cloud forest paths in one of Costa Rica's most untouched landscapes.
This is not a guided tourist hike. After completing your field project, your team is responsible for planning and executing a 5-day expedition through indigenous Bribri territory — one of the most remote and biodiverse areas in Central America. You'll carry your gear, cook your meals, navigate the route, and make all decisions as a group. Leadership roles rotate daily so every member leads and every member follows.
2026 Programs
Early bird pricing available. All program costs include accommodation, meals, in-country transport, training, and staff support.
Not included: international flights, travel insurance, vaccinations, and personal expenses.
Made for changemakers
No prior experience needed — just the right attitude and the drive to make a real difference.
Still have questions?
Everything you need to know before applying. Can't find your answer? Contact us directly.
Contact UsGlobal Greentalist is an international volunteering program in Costa Rica that brings together young people from around the world. You'll contribute to real environmental and community projects while developing leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural skills. It's not tourism — it's a genuine development experience designed to turn you into an active changemaker.
Anyone between 18 and 24 years old from any country can join as a volunteer. You don't need prior experience — just a willingness to learn, help, and embrace the experience fully. Team Leader roles require age 25+ and some leadership or volunteer background.
Programs take place in remote areas of Costa Rica — including indigenous communities in Alto Chirripó (Bribri territory) for the Community Resilience path, and national parks managed by SINAC for the Conservation path. Both settings are far from the tourist trail and offer a genuinely immersive experience.
The program fee covers accommodation, all in-country transport, meals throughout the program, virtual training, staff support, safety coordination, and a certificate of completion. Not included: international flights, travel insurance, vaccinations, and personal expenses.
Fill out the application form on our website. Once submitted, we'll schedule a short interview and guide you through the next steps, including preparation for virtual training and arrival logistics. The process is straightforward and our team is available to help at every stage.
Safety is a core part of how we operate. We have a full risk management and incident response framework, including a Country Risk Assessment and trained staff in the field at all times. We have a dedicated section for parents on our website with everything they need to know about protocols, communication, and wellbeing during the program.
No, Spanish is not required. The program is conducted in English, and our staff will support you throughout. That said, having some basic Spanish can enrich your experience when interacting directly with local communities — and many volunteers pick it up naturally during the program.
Absolutely. Most of our volunteers join with little or no prior experience. The 5-week virtual training is specifically designed to prepare you for everything you'll face in the field. What matters most is your attitude, commitment, and openness — not your CV.
Ready to take the next step?
Everything you need to know before applying — from how the enrollment works to what parents need to know.
