Gandoca Service Project
•Make an Impact•
•Support small farms and families•
•Experience Local Culture•
This Program is for people looking to roll up their sleeves to be in service and provide a real, tangible impact on both social and environmental levels.
Live with a local family and help provide physical and financial support to our closest neighbors in Gandoca.
Gandoca is a small beach town near the border of Panama, just a 45-minute walk down the beach from Punta Mona. It is a small village with a population of about 350 people and is home to stunning nature; sitting between a mangrove lagoon and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge.
Help out each morning and have the afternoons and weekends to explore the area. Gandoca is a cultural gem surrounded by nature.
Punta Mona is currently closed to guests, but you’re welcome to make the 1-hour hike to Punta Mona where you can spend the day at our beach.
1 week minimum commitment.
About Gandoca:
Our community has been supported by the Gandocan community for over 20 years and we’re on a mission to give back. Like Punta Mona, it’s fairly isolated and removed from tourism. Gandoca was once the home to several Turtle Conservation Projects; however, as ocean and water levels rise, the beaches have gotten smaller and steeper, forcing most of the turtles to relocate their nesting areas. As the turtles began to leave, so did the conservation efforts in Gandoca, and many of the homes that once housed student groups now remain empty. Participation in this program brings money and support directly to this community.
Our goal is to support the community of Gandoca in growing and thriving independently of the nearby banana plantations, which is the largest employer in the area.
Please read more about the banana industry in Costa Rica and why this work is so important.
What to Expect
You’ll be living in Gandoca and your food and lodging will be provided by a local family. The accommodations are rustic but some of the homes now have Wi-fi. Most families speak only Spanish. Everyone is very patient with non-Spanish speakers and immersing yourself is the best way to learn. If you’re still learning we’ll pair you with bilingual families or volunteers.
Expect to be helping out 4-5 hours a day Monday through Friday. Most of the work is agricultural and environmental service. There are additional opportunities to get involved at the local schools as well as helping keep the beaches and lagoon clean. It’s not easy but it is rewarding. Expect to learn a lot about tropical agriculture, expect to get sweaty and dirty some days, and expect to gain new perspectives on life.
In addition to providing service to the local community, expect to connect with nature and wildlife at the beach, in the jungle, and at the lagoon.
How To Signup
The minimum commitment is one week with new arrivals on the weekend.
The cost of the program is $35/night all of which goes directly to Gandocan families.
Please fill out the application below to get involved
