TURTLE TRAX - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Volunteer and Community Projects Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Tourist Guide / Volunteer Coordinator at CREMA
Job Titles:
- President and Founder / Director at CREMA
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).
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. There is an internet cafe in town. 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.