San Miguel is a small beach town on the Pacific side of Costa Rica's southern Nicoya Peninsula. We have been investigating the nesting activity of marine turtles on this beach since 1998 after the town’s local community asked for help monitoring and protecting the nesting marine turtles. We employ 3 locals who help us to monitor the nesting activity on this beach. The beach is primarily an olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle nesting beach, but eastern Pacific green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting events also occasionally occur.

 

You can participate in this project as a volunteer (July – December 15th) or as a field coordinator or assistant (June -December 15th).

Project Site

Playa San Miguel is 2.5 km long and is directly north of Playa Costa del Oro. The two beaches are separated by the Javilla estuary. The dry tropical forest ecosystem has an abundance of wildlife, and volunteers often have the chance to see howler monkeys, parrots, iguanas, armadillos, squirrels, and of course turtles.  During the day, volunteers enjoy taking advantage of their tropical location by visiting the mangroves and tidepools, swimming in the estuary, surfing in front of the station, and relaxing in the station’s hammocks. Local tours are also available if volunteers want to learn more about the region where they are staying. The small beach town of San Miguel has a local population of about 100 people. The nearby town of Jabilla, which is a 30-minute walk away, has a small general store and hotel. For volunteers interested in surfing, there are boards available for rent and locals that can give lessons.

Internet and Phone Services

There is Wi-Fi access at the station house, nevertheless, due to the isolated nature of the project site sometimes the Internet connection is not reliable or very slow. There are other places where participants could use Wi-Fi, the closest is at a nearby beach restaurant called “Cocos Locos” or at the Hotel Lagunamar, in Javilla. Wi-Fi connections can be unreliable, and participants should be mentally prepared to be somewhat disconnected. San Francisco de Coyote (the closest town) has small general stores and restaurants where snacks can be purchased. The Turtle Trax and CREMA offices are also in Coyote, where participants can get free access to Wi-Fi (through their own devices – we do NOT have a computer for use).The easiest and most convenient option for keeping connected to e-mail/Facebook is to bring an unlocked Smartphone. Local SIM cards (Kolbi is recommended) are cheap and can easily be purchased on arrival to Costa Rica. 3G coverage can be found on the beach of San Miguel in front of the house but is unreliable in the house.

Accommodation

Playa San Miguel’s station is located 50 m from the beach. The station-house has the main floor with two bedrooms, a common area and a bathroom, and a kitchen. Then upstairs, there are three rooms and a shared bathroom. Very simple and rustic, with a kitchen area, and common areas such as a small living room and dining room. Some bedrooms are shared, with bunk beds, and others are single rooms. Fans are used to move air through each room (no aircon). Each bed has a foam mattress, pillow, and bed sheets. Bathrooms are also shared with the rest of the participants. The shower water is not heated, and the toilets are on a septic system, so we kindly ask every participant not to flush toilet paper. There are shaded places alongside the beach and houses where participants can hang a hammock for daytime siestas or just relax during the day. Coordinators and RAs should be mentally prepared to spend the day outside where they can catch the cool ocean breeze, rather than in their bedrooms.

When all the station beds are full, volunteers stay at locals’ cabins situated about 100 m down the road. Volunteers also have the option of paying extra for a private cabin with or without a kitchen. At the station there is an outdoor communal area and a small kitchen where volunteers can make coffee and relax. All station facilities are basic. There is no running hot water, but tap water is drinkable. There isn’t a washing machine so volunteers have the option of either hand washing or paying a local to do their laundry. Volunteers must be prepared for more rugged living than they maybe accustomed to. Group meals are prepared for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and cooked by a local chef. The food is a mix of Costa Rican and International cuisine. Snacks and drinks can be purchased at the grocery store. For more information about volunteering.

For more information about volunteering contact us: inaranjo@turtle-trax.com, volunteers@turtle-trax.com

 

Volunteers not only help to the Sea Turtle Conservation, but they also have fun

Video edited and provided by Kelsey Desilets (San Miguel Coordinator 2017) 

https://vimeo.com/401220081

 

Celebrating 20-year Anniversary of our San Miguel Sea Turtle Conservation Project

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQJqVmSNiM