Your stay can be planned very individually - considering the minimum stays. It is also possible to work in different projects during one stay.
(The prices are valid for 2010.)

Why do I have to pay for volunteer work? See end of this page!

Costs
Organization fee (one time):	300 $
Homestay per week:	130 $
Turtle camp inscription fee:	30 $

Minimum stay
Turtle camp	2 weeks
Rainforest	3 weeks
Social work	4 weeks
School	4 weeks

Spanish Classes (Mon-Fri 2 hours)
1 week	140 $
2 weeks	260 $
3 weeks	360 $
4 weeks	440 $

4 weeks	820 $
8 weeks	1340 $
8 weeks inc. 2 weeks Spanish	1600 $
12 weeks inc. 2 weeks Spanish	2120 $
turtle camp plus	30 $

The prices include:

• information material for preparing your stay
• arrival pickup from the airport in San José and transport to the project
• orientation in your working area
• Spanish classes (if choosen) including material
• homestay with guest families or in the project including breakfast, lunch and dinner
• school projects:
  
  • onsite coordination and emergency support during your stay
• nature projects:
  • onsite coordination by staff of the nature organisation
• certificate for your voluntary work

Not included in the prices are:

• airfare
• insurances
• airport tax
• hotel night in San José (depending on your arrival)
• excursion costs, transportation, entrance fees...
• personal expenses

first hand is a small, private, Costarican organization and recieves neither government funds nor financial support from private sponsors.
The projects and the families are unable to support the volunteer financially or give free lodging and food - the weekly costs go almost entirely to the families/projects.
The first hand staff also need to be paid for their work to make a living (if not, first hand and these volunteer options simply would not exist!): project organization, volunteer coordination and '24/7' support, permanent contact with the projects/schools/families, maintenance of the volunteer office (water, electricity, phone, internet, materials, gas), answering emails, mail contact with volunteers etc.

If you find an organization that can support your stay - that's great! But there are thousands of other needy projects (schools etc.) that these few organizations can't help. Our projects, our schools and the children here definitely also need help ... and they are all very thankful if you come!