This was the first time I stayed so long in Latin America (Costa Rica), so my eyes were open to a brand new continent. I was really lucky to meet so many nice people I now am great friends with and still chat with, and I really liked the overall experience (would probably go visit again). Honestly, my advice is just go. If you physically or emotionally don't like it, it is fine; the local teams have everything you may need and is very familiar with the local environment, and everything will go just fine.
Volunteer Summer Camp for Teens in Costa Rica
Purpose
Start dates
Duration
Volunteer hours
Age
Accommodation
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
This program is ideal for:
Project details
Are you 16 or 17 years old and wanting to volunteer abroad as a teen in Costa Rica this summer? International Volunteer HQ’s Summer Camp for teen volunteers is a awesome way for 16 and 17 year old volunteers to spend part of their summer holidays contributing towards important community initiatives and learning about Costa Rican culture. Volunteers are able to take part in community volunteering, cultural activities, sports, and tourism activities for 1 - 3 weeks on this special summer camp project.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
The Teen Volunteer Summer Camp is an incredible cultural immersion experience available to solo volunteers aged 16 and 17 and it is fully chaperoned.
Participants will take part in planned activities including volunteering in local community projects, taking salsa lessons, going on cultural adventures, and joining nature tours led by our professional guides and chaperones.
While this project is only available for 16 and 17-year-olds through IVHQ, there may be younger teens participating in the project at the same time.
The Volunteer Teen Camp has two available start dates in June and July 2025. The first is available on June 30th, 2025 and participants can join for a 1 - 3 week duration. The second start date is July 14th for a maximum of 1 week. Each week will take place in a different location:
- Week 1 - Manuel Antonio
- Week 2 - San Jose
- Week 3 - Manuel Antonio
What’s included:
- Counselors 24/7; 8:1 student-counselor ratio
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Program and safety orientation
- Host family accommodations (laundry included)
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner, 7 days/week
- All tours and social activities
- Private transportation to/from all activities
- Official volunteer certificate
- Souvenir camp t-shirts (2)
- WiFi and computer lounge
- Salsa dance classes
- Cooking classes
- On-site snack bar
- Institute is open 7 days/week
- Emergency contact number 24/7
Why join the Volunteer Summer Camp in Costa Rica with IVHQ?
When you volunteer as a teen in Costa Rica, you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Contributing to community-driven volunteer projects
- Developing your communication skills
- Immersing yourself in Costa Rica’s culture, food, history
- Connecting with local people in an authentic way
- Discovering Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches, national parks and cities
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers must provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program
- Independent volunteers aged 16 and 17 can join this project for 1 - 3 weeks, depending on the start date selected
- Volunteers must provide two character reference letters
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Get personalized recommendations >
Who is going?
Group video calls
Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Costa Rica photo gallery
What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience
I feel like the program helped me understand what it means to actually help a community, and the advice I would give to anyone else is to be open minded.
I feel as if I gained a new sense of self especially being from a small town in Mississippi it can feel as if that small town is the entire world and you can feel trapped but going on this volunteer trip opened up a whole new world (literally and figuratively lol), and it opened my eyes to that no matter what there is always a new experience waiting for you somewhere and new people that you never thought would become your best friends.
I really enjoyed this experience and I am so glad to have had this opportunity. I met so many nice people and made friends from all over the world that I know I will keep in touch with. The host families were so nice and I am so happy to have met them. My advice to anyone thinking of joining this program would be to open yourself up to new experiences and meeting new people. This is not meant to be a luxury vacation but an opportunity to help a community and be immersed in their culture. I feel this was a wonderful way to learn to grow as a person and I hope I am able to do this again in the future.
Met the most incredible people and you learn so much about life and yourself
I would tell someone to do it and push themselves and try to reinvent themselves the way they want to be.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
Academic course credit
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditLocation
Location
The Teen Volunteer Summer Camp in Costa Rica is either based in San José or Manuel Antonio, depending on the week you choose to participate.
San José is Costa Rica’s modern, metropolitan, cultural hub. The capital city has been hailed as one of the most visited destinations in Central America and is the central point for tourists arriving in Costa Rica. It’s got excellent eateries, an interesting variety of museums, markets, shops, parks and nightlife and is only a short trip to any of the numerous natural attractions and adventures in the region.
Manuel Antonio is a popular tourist destination, with its main attraction being a small but glorious national park known for the unparalleled biodiversity found at its forests, beaches and coral reefs. It’s a nature-lover’s paradise and adrenaline junkies will also find plenty of adventure to be had in the surrounding area. The small local population relies on the tourism industry for jobs and economic growth.
Arrival and orientation
Arrival and departure for this project will depend on the start date and duration you select:
Start date #1: June 30th
- 1 week: Arrive - Saturday, 28th June and Depart - Sunday, 6th July 2025
- 2 weeks: Arrive - Saturday, 28th June and Depart - Sunday, 13th July 2025
- 3 weeks: Arrive - Saturday, 28th June and Depart - Sunday, 20th July 2025
Start date #2: July 14th
- 1 week (maximum): Arrive - Saturday, 12th July and Depart - Sunday, 20th July 2025
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José. When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Manuel Antonio, which will take approximately 4 hours. This is included in your Program Fee.
We recommend that participants under the age of 18 travel internationally with a notarized letter from their parents to support their documentation. If you are traveling in Costa Rica prior to your program, the local team will pick you up at your San José accommodation the day before your orientation.
Volunteer schedule example
WEEK 1 (Manuel Antonio):
Sunday, June 29th | Transport to Manuel Antonio, lunch, orientation, dinner with host family |
Monday, June 30th | Surf lessons, volunteering, and salsa class |
Tuesday, July 1st | Catamaran tour, volunteering, and Jungle Night tour |
Wednesday, July 2nd | Jungle Zip-line, volunteering, and cooking class |
Thursday, July 3rd | Scuba Course, volunteering, and karaoke night & language speed tandem |
Friday, July 4th | Scuba Course, volunteering, and 4th of July celebration |
Saturday, July 5th | Beach morning, return to San Jose, dinner with host family |
Sunday, July 6th | Airport drop off, or day with host family for volunteers staying in the country |
WEEK 2 (San José):
Sunday, July 6th | Airport pick up for new volunteers arriving. Day with host family for volunteers coming from Manuel Antonio |
Monday, July 7th | La Paz Waterfalls tour and volunteering |
Tuesday, July 8th | Scavenger hunt, volunteering, and Go Karts |
Wednesday, July 9th | Coffee Farm tour, volunteering, and cooking class |
Thursday, July 10th | Volcan Irazu & Sanatorio Duran Tour, volunteering, and traditional Costa Rican dance show |
Friday, July 11th | Panoramic City tour, souvenir market, volunteering, Karaoke Night & Language Speed Tandem |
Saturday, July 12th | San Luis Zipline |
Sunday, July 13th | Airport drop off |
WEEK 3 (Manuel Antonio):
Sunday, July 13th | Transport to Manuel Antonio, and orientation for week 3 starters |
Monday, July 14th | Surf lessons, volunteering, and salsa class |
Tuesday, July 15th | Rainmaker hanging bridges tour,, volunteering and movie night |
Wednesday, July 16th | Manuel Antonio National Park, volunteering, and cooking class |
Thursday, July 17th | Scuba Course, volunteering, Costa Rican-style BBQ |
Friday, July 18th | Scuba Course, volunteering, and Karaoke Night & language speed Tandem |
Saturday, July 19th | Beach morning, return to San Jose, and souvenir shopping |
Sunday, July 20th | Airport drop off |
Accommodation and WiFi
Participants are accommodated in homestays with local families who have been vetted and approved by our local team, and their chaperone is also accommodated in the homestay in a separate room. We have been working with these families for 10+ years and the homestays provide participants with a cultural immersion experience like no other. You will find living conditions are comfortable and you can expect your accommodation to have electricity, drinkable running water and western bathrooms. Low pressure showers are common and the water is not always heated. Rooms are comprised of single and bunk beds and participants typically share a room with 3 - 4 other campers of the same gender.
Meals
Breakfast and dinner are provided by the host families every day, and all lunches are catered by the local team.
As this is an all inclusive camp, participants do not need to budget for things like tours, meals, or activities. However, we typically recommend between US$100 - $150 spending money per week for additional snacks and souvenirs.
Pricing
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately AU$484) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
---|---|
1 week | $2,395 Equivalent to $342/day |
2 weeks | $4,790 Equivalent to $342/day |
3 weeks | $7,185 Equivalent to $342/day |
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$299 (approximately AU$484) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- We recommend budgeting between US$100 - $150 per week for spending money if you wish to purchase additional snacks or souvenirs.
- Volunteers are required to bring a credit or debit card with them for emergency use with a suggested minimum available balance of US$2,500. Upon arrival, our local team is happy to store the cards along with students' passports in a safe at their office until their day of departure to avoid loss or theft of these items. Volunteers will be provided with a copy of their passport to keep during the program.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Return transportation to volunteer placement and activities
- Chaperone supervision
- Laundry
- Tours listed in the schedule
- Activities listed in the schedule
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on language lessons
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- Flights
- Visa (if required)
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Vaccinations
- Flights
- Visa (if required), travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check.
- Personal spending money for snacks, laundry, public transportation, drinks and leisure activities during your free time.
Popular add-ons & experiences in San Jose
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ San Jose program.
Immerse yourself in Manuel Antonio’s stunning natural beauty and thrilling activities on this 6-day adventure
Embark on a full-day adventure exploring La Paz Waterfall Gardens, an animal sanctuary, and a Poas Volcano Tour, followed by a Coffee Farm experience.
Experience a comprehensive 6-day Mini Adventure, featuring Arenal Volcano, the Britt Coffee Tour, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, whitewater rafting, and a visit to the pristine Tortuga Island.
Check what's required to visit Costa Rica
Safety and support
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
Essential country information
Capital | San Jose |
Population | 5 million |
Languages | Spanish |
Currency | Costa Rican Colón (CRC) |
Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
Weather and climate: Costa Rica is unequivocally a tropical country. Although you get much cooler temperatures in the mountains, the average annual temperature for most of the country lies between 71°F (21.7°C) and 81°F (27°C). The coolest months are from November through to January, and the warmest months are from March through to May. San Jose stands at approximately 1170 meters altitude and has a mean annual temperature of 69°F (20.6°C).