Our mission

ASVPA strives to aid in species and environmental conservation, engaging in research and education in Costa Rica, while working to preserve natural resources.

Our vision

With the help of volunteers and community engagement, we can continue to protect the vulnerable sea turtle populations and other species living in the area. We have a competitive educational model of conservation, pursuing research and development projects with proactive, prospective, flexible and innovative character.

Species we protect

• Leatherback Turtles

• Hawksbill Turtles

• Green Turtles (black turtles of the Pacific)

• Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

• Three fingered sloths

• Two fingered sloths

Every year in the Matapalo turtle program

• Over 20,000 turtle hatchlings were released to the ocean

• 93% of the turtle hatchlings made it to the ocean

• 310 turtles were seen on the beach

• 242 nests were found and protected

• The most popular time to see turtles was between 10:00 pm and 1:00 am

What does a typical day look like?

Normally the day begins at 08:00 in the morning with breakfast, between 09:00 and 10:00 in the morning there are activities related to the maintenance of the volunteer house, where each volunteer is expected to participate in cleaning their room, bathrooms, and common areas.

Daily in alternate shifts, a person will start the day earlier, from 06:00 in the morning and until 12:00 noon, he must report covering the nursery shift, however, between 08:30 and 09:00 he will have a break to go to the camp for breakfast. That half-hour will be covered by the person who has the shift from 12:00 noon to 06:00 in the afternoon.

The day continues at 11:30 in the morning when the person who will perform the shift from 12:00 noon to 6:00 in the afternoon takes their lunch to go to work.

At noon all the rest of the volunteers and staff take their lunch.

Between 03:30 and 05:00 in the afternoon, various jobs are normally carried out depending on the day. These jobs can be: Beach cleaning, tree planting, tree cleaning in the reforestation area, nursery cleaning and maintenance, wildlife monitoring, beautification of green areas of the camp.

05:30 two volunteers have dinner to take the first night shift of the nursery.

06:00 in the afternoon all volunteers and staff take their dinner.

From 06:00 to 12:00 midnight, two volunteers perform the first night shift at the nursery.

From 12:00 midnight to 06:00 in the morning, two volunteers perform the second night shift of the nursery.

During the night the beach patrols are carried out, depending on the tide the hours will be different each night, these patrols last between 3.5 and 5 hours, the time will depend on the number of turtles that are found during the tour.