INTERNSHIP IN COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is a country in Central America with around 5 million inhabitants. The capital, San José, is home to an estimated 333,980 people, while the surrounding metropolitan area, where our project is also located, has around 2 million inhabitants. In recent years Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travellers, drawn by its many adventure options such as rainforest treks and surfing, and its unrivalled natural beauty, including national parks and impressive biodiversity.
What is less well known about Costa Rica is that it is one of the most progressive countries in the world and has made considerable progress in human rights, democracy and environmental protection. Costa Rica has a long history of political stability and civil rights, including equal rights for men and women and the protection of the rights of indigenous communities. The country has also stood out on the world stage as the first country in the world to be constitutionally demilitarised, meaning it has had no army since 1949. Costa Rica is also known for its progressive approach to LGBTQ+ rights and was one of the first countries in Latin America to legalise same sex marriage. This progress contributes to Costa Rica’s high position on the Happy Planet Index, where it took first place in 2020.
As an intern in Costa Rica, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the local communities of Esparza. You’ll mainly be working in local schools and neighbourhoods, where you’ll lead sports sessions for children from local communities. The foundation uses sport as a powerful tool to support children from different social backgrounds in their social development and in building life skills, such as teamwork, discipline and self-confidence. In addition, as an intern, you’ll have the chance to get involved in other community-building projects, enabling you to make a broader contribution to local development and the strengthening of communities. This experience offers not only the opportunity to develop professional skills, but also to contribute to the project alongside the local trainers.
ApplyExperience Costa Rica
Costa Rica
WHO IS THIS INTERNSHIP SUITABLE FOR?
We can always take your own wishes into account. It is also possible to do research in Costa Rica; contact us to see what the options are.
- No registration fee or deposit.
- Everyone gets a no obligation intake interview.
- Affordable internships abroad, especially when you consider what you get in return.
- Free Spanish course with an internship of 10+ weeks
- A travel organisation that focuses entirely on social sports trips.
- We tell an honest story and assess whether you are suitable for the project.
- Our programmes are run responsibly and have a proven positive impact.
- All our staff know our programmes abroad well.
- We offer good personal support, both at home and abroad.
- We are founders and part of the ‘Volunteer Aware‘ quality mark. We want to stress that our projects are rooted in a sincere commitment to a worthy cause.
ARRIVAL WEEKENDS
I am a vegetarian. Will my dietary requirements be taken into account?
-If you let us know in advance that you are a vegetarian, they can take this into account in Costa Rica.
Do I need to speak Spanish for my internship in Costa Rica?
– It’s not essential, but it will make your placement considerably easier. Staff at our foundation speak good English, but in Costa Rica, people’s English is still rather poor. We therefore encourage you to take a Spanish course beforehand. We can help you with this and may even reimburse you for the course. Fortunately, sport is a language everyone speaks, so you’ll get a long way just by using your hands and feet :).
What will my Spanish course be like?
-For interns staying for 10 weeks or longer, we will cover the cost of the Spanish course. If you’re staying for a shorter period, you can choose to add this on. The course costs 100. It is an online course and will run for 10 weeks, with one hour of lessons per week. This will be enough to give you a basic grasp of Spanish.
What do I need to bear in mind when travelling abroad?
-Following our no-obligation consultation, during which we’ll go through everything, we’ll also send you a ‘welcome pack’ setting out in detail everything you need to bear in mind, what you need to bring with you, what to watch out for, and so on.
How many other people will I be doing my internship with?
– There are always other interns/volunteers staying at the accommodation in Costa Rica. The group size varies between 10 and 15. They do not all come from the UK, but from other countries as well. You can contact us to find out how many others will be there during your stay. We’ll also set up a group chat with other Dutch people who’ll be travelling at the same time. That way, you can get to know each other a bit beforehand.
Sport in Costa Rica
Several sports are popular in Costa Rica. Here are a few examples:
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Football (or “futbol” in Spanish) is by far the most popular sport in Costa Rica. The national football team has a strong reputation and has taken part in several World Cups.
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Basketball is also a popular sport in Costa Rica, especially among young people. There are several professional basketball teams and many local leagues.
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Surfing is a popular water sport in Costa Rica thanks to the long coastline and good waves. There are many surf spots along the coast and the country attracts surfers from all over the world.
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Tennis is also a popular sport in Costa Rica, with many tennis clubs and tournaments across the country.
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Athletics and running are also popular in Costa Rica, with many local and national races and marathons.
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Other popular sports in Costa Rica include volleyball, boxing, swimming and cycling.
In short, there are many different sports and activities to enjoy in Costa Rica, whether you are a professional athlete or simply looking for a fun way to stay fit and enjoy the country’s beautiful surroundings.
Spanish lessons with Cecilia Wolman
This is Cecilia Wolman (Ceci), a Spanish teacher at the University of Buenos Aires. She teaches the online Spanish lessons. Spanish lessons are very useful, because the children and young people in our projects usually speak little English.
The online course runs twice a year, with lessons every Monday at 20:00 (Dutch time).
First course:
24 August | 31 August | 7 September | 14 September | 21 September | 28 September | 5 October | 12 October | 19 October | 26 October.
Second course:
23 November | 30 November | 7 December | 14 December | 21 December | 28 December | 4 January | 11 January | 18 January | 25 January
The lessons are designed specifically for complete beginners. Do you already know some Spanish? Then you can take lessons at your own level in Costa Rica.
The full course is free for participants who join the project for at least 10 weeks. Staying for a shorter time? You can still join the course for a contribution of €100.
Turing Scheme
Through the Turing Scheme, UK universities, colleges and schools can fund students who take part in a study or internship abroad, including outside Europe. The funding is applied for by your institution, not by you directly.
Ask your study abroad or international office whether your institution takes part and whether our programme qualifies. Visit the Turing Scheme website for the conditions. Make sure you do this well in advance, as institutions work with strict deadlines and gathering the required documents can take a while. A good, timely application also increases your chance of success.
Erasmus+
Other grants
Many universities, colleges and sports bodies offer their own travel grants or bursaries for students who want to spend part of their studies or internship abroad. Availability differs per institution and course.
So always check with your course, personal tutor or international office whether your participation in our project qualifies for such a grant. They can also tell you about the conditions, the application procedure and the amount. It is well worth looking into early, as a grant can make a nice contribution to the cost of your experience abroad.
Costa Rica
4 week internship
€ 1.295
No registration fee
- Each extra week € 255
- Spanish course (10 hours) € 100
Free for stays of 10 weeks or longer
What’s included
Stay
- Beautiful accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Support
- Dedicated coordinator at your project
- Meet your coordinator before you go
- Visa advice and support.
- Help with fundraising, including your own fundraising page
Arrival
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Introduction and guided tour
Extra
- Group chat with everyone travelling at the same time as you
- Social activities with other volunteers and interns
- The Power of Sports shirt and socks
Ready to go? Book a free, no-obligation intake call and we’ll help you plan.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is best known for its beautiful nature, biodiversity and adventure activities. The country has a long coastline with beautiful beaches and is home to some of the world’s most impressive rainforests and national parks. Costa Rica has something for everyone. The most popular activities include surfing, ziplining, rafting, mountain climbing, hiking and exploring the volcanoes.
Besides its natural beauty, Costa Rica also has a rich culture and history. The country has a wide variety of festivals and celebrations, from the carnival in Limón to the Festival of the Little Devils.
Costa Rica is also a pioneer in sustainability and ecotourism. The country has set ambitious goals to become climate neutral and invests heavily in preserving its natural resources. This makes it an ideal destination for environmentally conscious travellers who want to enjoy nature without leaving a large ecological footprint.
If you love good food, Costa Rica is a great destination too. The country has a varied cuisine with lots of fresh fish, tropical fruit and vegetables. Be sure to try “gallo pinto”, a traditional dish of rice and beans served with almost every meal. Dishes such as “casado” and fresh ceviche are also local favourites you shouldn’t miss.
If you are looking for an unforgettable destination with breathtaking natural beauty, exciting activities and a rich culture, Costa Rica is definitely a place to consider. Whether you want to relax on the beach, find adventure in the mountains or have a cultural experience in the cities, Costa Rica has it all.
Accommodation
The accommodation is in the centre of Esparza, where you will stay in one of two eco houses: Jaguar House and Toucan House. These houses sleep up to 22 people. The rooms sleep four, in bunk beds. If you need extra privacy or are travelling with your partner, we also have two private rooms available. Each house has two Western-style toilets and shower rooms with cold water, which is refreshing in the heat of Esparza. The rooms have insect screens and two fans. There are laundry facilities, a kitchen, a large dining room, a chill-out area, a communal space shared by both houses, free wifi, TV and table tennis, plus a large garden with tropical plants including coconut palms, papaya, banana and citrus.
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