Costa Rica has many beaches with its coastline stretches of lush turtle nesting. Due to severe interference by human and wild life such as industrial fishing, the turtle egg poaching and selling the products made of turtle shell, turtle species are in danger. There are some Sea Turtle Conservation Projects which are working for preserving the amazing biodiversity of Costa Rica by protecting the nests of sea turtles as well as by releasing turtle hatchlings.

Northwest Region:

ASVO Buenavista Beach:

ASVO (Association of Volunteers for service in protected areas) is a non-profit, self-managed and a non-governmental organization (NGO). It is also an intensive nesting beach and ASVO can observe over 300 nesting activities each season, from 3 out of 4 species of sea turtle that frequent the area. ASVO has a Marine Turtle Conservation program especially works to preserve the nests on the beach and to generate scientific information to describe the dynamics of nesting.

Ph.: (506) 2289-8989
Email: info@asvocr.org
http://www.asvocr.org

Southern Pacific Region:

The Corcovado Foundation:

It is a non-profit volunteering and conservation organization in Costa Rica. Its conservation programs are based in the southern pacific region of the country, known as the Osa Peninsula. This area is popular for amazing biodiversity and pristine wilderness. For 11 years it is offering sea turtle conservation and volunteering program. Locals and volunteers can join the program and take part in the conservation of endangered sea turtles in the amazing Osa Peninsula.

Fundación Corcovado
25 Metres West of the Rio Tortuga Crossing
El Progreso de Drake
Tel: +506 8489 3754
Email: aida@corcovadofoundation.org
http://www.corcovadofoundation.org/sea-turtle-conservation/

Osa Conservation:

Osa Conservation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to protect the incredible biodiversity of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. In Osa Peninsula, in the southern beaches you will find two species of nesting turtles- Green Sea Turtle and Olive Ridley. Occasionally Leatherback sea turtles and Hawksbill sea turtles are also found. To monitor the nesting activity, hatchling success and predation rates, Osa Conservation offers turtle conservation program.

Email: seaturtles@osaconservation.org
http://osaconservation.org/projects/wildlife/sea-turtles/

Southern Nicoya Peninsula:

Romelia:

Located near Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula, Romelia is an unusual volunteer program. This turtle protection conservation has the objectives to establish funds so that researches on turtles and other programs like chalking out effective systems for cleaning and scrutiny can goes on. It is also working on recover the natural eco system by growing more plantation. It also inspire the people from all around the world and also the professionals to do research.

More info: http://www.montezumabeach.com/romelia-sea-turtle-conservation-program/refugio.romelia@gmail.com
Tel: (506) 8814 9646
http://refugioromelia.com/

ASVO Montezuma:

This area is perfect to undertake sea turtle research as on this beach various species of sea turtle nest found such as the leatherback, olive ridley and the black turtle.  In the optimum development of the conservation project, the community is very involved and it also work for developing conservation project, community awareness, by environmental education programs in the school and neighboring villages.

Ph.: (506) 2289-8989
Email: info@asvocr.org
http://www.asvocr.org

Central Pacific Region:

ASVO Matapalo Beach:

In the pacific area, ASVO is the oldest community based turtle conservation project. It has been protecting the turtle nests each year since 1991. It protects and conserve the nests and carry on a program of investigation that ultimately help to make proper planning of tourist activities and to do the conservation and protection of the endangered species.

Ph.: (506) 2289-8989
Email: info@asvocr.org
http://www.asvocr.org

Caribbean Region:

La Tortuga Feliz:

La Tortuga Feliz, a non profit organisation, based in Costa Rica. Its mission is to protect the sea turtles and it encourages people to work as a volunteer for fulfilling this mission. It is located on a remote beach of Caribbean, Costa Rica. From the Pacuare River mouth this project is just 1 km north side. 10km of coastline is covered by this project and its surface is about 800 hectares area. This conservation and protection focus on the endangered the green and leatherback turtles which come for nesting in this area and they come in large group.

latortugafeliz@gmail.com
http://www.latortugafeliz.com

LAST (Latin American Sea Turtles):

Cahuita nesting beach project:

With its long coastline (about 12 km), Cahuita National Park is considered as the main spot for nesting for the Hawksbill turtles and also for the Green turtle and Leatherback turtle. This park also include the beach but due to illegal poaching and hunting by villagers, destruction of coral reefs through sedimentation, tree logging and the rising sea levels, sea turtles and their nests are threatened. During the nesting season, LAST monitors and works for data collection and also for relocating nests at high risk into the areas which are safer. It has the goal to make a strategy that will help identifying the real condition of the sea turtle and also to make a management that will work for more effective sea turtle.

Pacuare Program:

In Costa Rica, this project is on a remote beach of Caribbean. From the Pacuare river mouth, this project is just 2km north side. This location is also famous as a nesting site for many Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. In the conservation techniques former poachers and the volunteers who have previous experience, work at the hatchery to guard the nests and to release the baby turtles.