- Program
- Turtle Conservation Project, Costa Rica
- Traveled
- Summer 2024
In this first-person account, Alberto looks back on Rustic Pathways’ Turtle Conservation Project program in Costa Rica in summer 2024, with photos from the trip.
Alberto describes cleaning the beach for nesting turtles, night walks to find eggs before the raccoons did, a weekend surf lesson and jewelry-making class, and friendships made in the group.
Alberto’s Week at the Turtle Conservation Project in Costa Rica
Hello, my name is Alberto! I finished a week in the Turtle Conservation program in Costa Rica!
During this trip, we got to clean the beach to allow the turtles to place their nests there, and have a safe space for the eggs. Then at night, we would go on night walks and look for these turtles, find the eggs before the raccoons did, and take them to the hatchery where they could be safe.
Surf Lessons and Jewelry Making: Weekends in Costa Rica
It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I 100% recommend it to anyone. Then on the weekend, we got to go to the beach for a surfing lesson, go to a jewelry making class, and much more.
What Alberto Took Home From Costa Rica
The friends I made on this trip are some friendships I know are gonna last a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more thankful for meeting all of them. I am gonna miss hanging out with them in the ranchito throwing rock into the jenga box and playing mafia. I loved visiting Costa Rica for the first time, the nature and animals it has is something so beautiful. I cannot wait to go back (and buy more chikys). Pura Vida!!
Alberto describes the friends made on the trip and a first visit to Costa Rica. The memories concern the summer 2024 session, and Alberto first shared them on the Rustic Pathways Instagram account on April 25, 2025.
The program still runs as Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project. It runs 8 days for students ages 14–18 and includes about 26 hours of conservation work, including beach and trail maintenance in the refuge with park rangers, hatchery work and night patrols for nesting turtles. See the program page for the current itinerary, dates and activities.
