Volunteering at the Pacuare Reserve, 23-30/11 2025

23 November — Sunday

Having made my way to Siquirres from San Jose the night before, I continue towards the Pacuare Reserve in the morning. The bus to Batan leaves at 10:00. From Batan the reserve has arranged for a taxi to take me to a boat ramp where a boat is waiting to take me the rest of the way.

It is full speed ahead, the captain puts the pedal to the metal and we are flying through the canal. It was fun, but slightly ironic as I make it to the reserve there is an informational board listing various local environmental problems, one being erosion of the river banks due to high speed boats.

I’m the only volunteer at the reserve, but there is a group of high school students from the UK that is part of some program aimed at learning about conservation. They will be here for three days engaging in various activities.

At the reserve the first order of business is lunch. I was a bit worried about the food, but so far so good. Then there is an introduction about the reserves history and main programs. It was founded in 1989 by an American who fell in love with Costa Rica when visiting. He founded the reserve and transformed what was then agricultural land back to its natural state. The transformation is not complete though, it takes time to regrow what was once destroyed in an instance.

The four main programs are Jaguar (and other predators) monitoring, turtle conservation, Agami Heron conservation, and monkey monitoring. The Agami Heron has migrated for the season and the turtle season is on the last stretch.

After the presentation, I get my assignment. I will be monitoring the turtle hatchery every hour between 19:00 to 23:00 and then starting tomorrow again at 06:00 every hour. If they hatch, I’m to collect them in a bucket and alert the camp manager.

At 20:00 the lights are out and everyone goes to sleep, except me. I’m on turtle hatchery duty. As I’m the only volunteer I have an entire 4-bed room for myself.

It is something tranquil about walking along the ocean at night, especially here where there are little to no light pollution and the stars shine bright. But sleeping is nice too. No turtle hatching today, better luck tomorrow hopefully.

24 November — Monday

Another day, back to inspecting the turtle hatchery every hour from 06:00 to 21:00. Not the most eventful or interesting day.

I also walked a bit along on the secluded beach and gazed at the stars. Tomorrow I will continue inspecting the turtles for a while, but in the afternoon I will be given other assessments.

25 November — Tuesday

I continue to inspecting the turtles until noon, still none is hatching. In the afternoon I’m collecting temperature sensors along the beach. The reserve has placed temperature sensors with 500 meter intervals, in total there are 12 sensors.

The sensors are buried about 1 meter in the sand and has been so for half a year, now they are to be collected, the data recorded, batteries changed, and then in a couple of weeks put back into the sand for further data collection.

While collecting all the sensors, I spot several jaguar tracks, clearly some activity in the area. I walk all the way to the north station. At the north station there are several smaller coconut trees where I’m able to reach the coconuts. I smash them against a tree and enjoy some refreshing coconut water.

At the northern station I’m picked up boat and we return to southern station where the temperature sensors are recorded and my work is finished for today.

After dinner I join a guided night walk, arranged for non-volunteer visitors. We spot various frogs, such as the bull frog, basilisks — we saw all three basilisks native to Costa Rica — insects, etc.

26 November — Wednesday’s

It rains cats and dogs all night. The storm continues throughout the entire day. With all the rain, there is not all that many activities that can be performed. I and another guy takes turn watching the turtle hatchery. Not that tranquil to walk along the beach at night in full storm.

So far I must say that I’m quite bored, I’m not exactly put into to work in the way more or less promised during the email conversation. Not super impressed so far of what I’m allowed to do, nor I’m impressed of what the staff are doing either. The word lazy comes to mind.

At least I got to se the Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth up close today.

27 November — Thursday

The storm peaks during the night, with thunder so strong that the buildings shakes. In the late morning the storm dies down and the sun return for a short while until it starts raining again at noon, and it continues throughout the rest of the day.

Today the the last remaining visitors and almost all of the staff are leaving the reserve in the morning. There are only 3 of us left now, and none of the other seems that interested in doing anything or even talking to me. All I’m allowed to do is checking the turtle hatchery, which I do between 09:00 to 22:00 every hour or so.

The storm has ravaged the camp and some damage has been incurred. “Should we repair it?”. “Nah”. Well of course not that would seem like work.

28 November — Friday

The rain hammered down all night again. My task today, as you might have guessed, is to check the turtle hatchery between 09:00 to 22:00 every hour. At least the sun returned during the day.

29 November — Saturday

Eat, sleep, train, smash coconuts, check hatchery (still no turtles), watching too much YouTube, and repeat.

I’m so bored. Part of me wants to say f it and leave early. Another part of me really wants to see baby turtles. And a third part of me has issues with “giving up”.

30 November — Sunday

Another day, same thing. When I arrived a week ago they told me the turtles will hatch any time now. Well one week has passed and still no turtles. All work for nothing.

I’m came here to learn about conservation. I have learnt nothing, and I have been bored out of my mind for most of the time. I do not recommend anyone coming here. In fact, I recommend against volunteering or visiting the Pacuare Reserve. You can spend your time more wisely.

So far in my journey, coming to the Pacuare Reserve is my only regret. Time and money wasted. Yes money, I might be a “volunteer” but I still have to pay, and it was not exactly cheap. If I try volunteering again in the future, I will place much higher initial demands on what kind of work I will be doing.

Hopefully, better times awaits me on the Camino de Costa Rica. I embark tomorrow.