Where
Esparza, Costa Rica
When
Departures every week, all year round (excluding holiday closures)
Duration
From 1 week
Accommodation
Shared or private rooms in the volunteer house, with meals included
Language
Basic English is enough
Ideal for
Anyone after a hands-on experience built around teaching, nature and direct cultural exchange with the community
Project details
In Esparza, the project supports local schools by giving teachers a hand and bringing fresh ideas to the classroom
Esparza is a small farming town off the tourist trail, where life moves at a slower pace among nature, horses on the road and a tight-knit community. Many students here have few chances to practise English, even though it's a skill that opens more and more doors. So the schools welcome volunteers who can work alongside the teachers and bring fresh energy and ideas into the classroom.
The project is about strengthening language learning and, at the same time, building a bridge between cultures. As a volunteer, you'll work with the local teachers, run hands-on creative activities and live alongside a rural Costa Rican community, learning as much as you teach.
The project is about strengthening language learning and, at the same time, building a bridge between cultures. As a volunteer, you'll work with the local teachers, run hands-on creative activities and live alongside a rural Costa Rican community, learning as much as you teach.
Teach languages in rural Costa Rica
In Esparza, the project supports local schools by giving teachers a hand and bringing fresh ideas to the classroom
Esparza is a small farming town off the tourist trail, where life moves at a slower pace among nature, horses on the road and a tight-knit community. Many students here have few chances to practise English, even though it's a skill that opens more and more doors. So the schools welcome volunteers who can work alongside the teachers and bring fresh energy and ideas into the classroom.
The project is about strengthening language learning and, at the same time, building a bridge between cultures. As a volunteer, you'll work with the local teachers, run hands-on creative activities and live alongside a rural Costa Rican community, learning as much as you teach.
The project is about strengthening language learning and, at the same time, building a bridge between cultures. As a volunteer, you'll work with the local teachers, run hands-on creative activities and live alongside a rural Costa Rican community, learning as much as you teach.
Why participate
Share what you know
Work alongside the local teachers and bring fresh energy to the classroom, helping students with their English through hands-on, creative methods.
Why participate
Share what you know
Work alongside the local teachers and bring fresh energy to the classroom, helping students with their English through hands-on, creative methods.
Settle into Costa Rican life
Spend time in a real working town off the tourist trail, picking up the daily rhythm and traditions of a rural community.
The Weekly Program
Weekdays
Monday to Friday, the days run between school lessons, activities with the students and time to swap ideas with the local teachers.
Afternoons are often spent prepping the next lesson, with space to bring in your own ideas and creative methods, with the local coordinators on hand throughout.
07:30Breakfast at the centre and getting ready for the day
08:00Heading to school and the first lessons with the students
11:30Break, chats and free time with the students
13:00Lunch at the school or back at the centre with the group
15:00Afternoon activities: games, sport or creative workshops
19:00Dinner, time in the common spaces and an easy evening together
Weekend
Weekends are free of set activities. You can explore the area, plan a short trip, or just take it easy with the other volunteers.
A surf day in Puntarenas
Just 20 minutes from the centre, you'll find beaches that are perfect for trying surf or simply relaxing in the sun.
The next story is yours
heylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelheylocalstravelTag us in your stories to feature here! @heylocalstravel
FAQs
🌴 Your home in Esparza
During your time in Costa Rica you'll stay in one of the centre's two eco-friendly houses: Jaguar House or Toucan House. Both sit in a big tropical garden with palms, papaya, banana trees and citrus, a proper little patch of nature 🍃
🛏️ Rooms and comfort
• Shared rooms (2–4 people, same gender)
• Bunk beds, doors with locks and linen provided
• Private room or couples/family room available (small supplement)
• 2 shared bathrooms per house, room-temperature showers and Western-style toilets
• Mosquito nets included; bring your own towel and toiletries
🍽️ Meals
• 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends (brunch and dinner)
• Costa Rican cooking with a modern touch
• Vegetarian options on request
• Free drinks: water, tea and coffee
🪴 Common spaces
The two houses share a big common room used as the dining and chill-out area, with a ping-pong table and free Wi-Fi in the public spaces. This is where the social life happens: dinners, games, plenty of laughs and easy time with volunteers from all over the world.
🧺 Practical bits
Laundry service for a small fee. Bed linen and mosquito nets included. For a steady connection, you can pick up an eSIM with Airalo before you travel.
🛏️ What's included
• Shared or private rooms (on request)
• 3 meals on weekdays / 2 at weekends
• Free drinks (water, tea, coffee)
• Wi-Fi in common areas
• Tropical garden and chill-out spaces
• Lockable rooms
• Ongoing support from the local team
💚 Living together
The volunteer house isn't a hotel, it's a temporary family. Between shared meals and evenings in the tropical garden, you'll get a real feel for Costa Rica: community, simplicity and pura vida 🇨🇷
During your time in Costa Rica you'll stay in one of the centre's two eco-friendly houses: Jaguar House or Toucan House. Both sit in a big tropical garden with palms, papaya, banana trees and citrus, a proper little patch of nature 🍃
🛏️ Rooms and comfort
• Shared rooms (2–4 people, same gender)
• Bunk beds, doors with locks and linen provided
• Private room or couples/family room available (small supplement)
• 2 shared bathrooms per house, room-temperature showers and Western-style toilets
• Mosquito nets included; bring your own towel and toiletries
🍽️ Meals
• 3 meals a day on weekdays, 2 at weekends (brunch and dinner)
• Costa Rican cooking with a modern touch
• Vegetarian options on request
• Free drinks: water, tea and coffee
🪴 Common spaces
The two houses share a big common room used as the dining and chill-out area, with a ping-pong table and free Wi-Fi in the public spaces. This is where the social life happens: dinners, games, plenty of laughs and easy time with volunteers from all over the world.
🧺 Practical bits
Laundry service for a small fee. Bed linen and mosquito nets included. For a steady connection, you can pick up an eSIM with Airalo before you travel.
🛏️ What's included
• Shared or private rooms (on request)
• 3 meals on weekdays / 2 at weekends
• Free drinks (water, tea, coffee)
• Wi-Fi in common areas
• Tropical garden and chill-out spaces
• Lockable rooms
• Ongoing support from the local team
💚 Living together
The volunteer house isn't a hotel, it's a temporary family. Between shared meals and evenings in the tropical garden, you'll get a real feel for Costa Rica: community, simplicity and pura vida 🇨🇷
🛡️ Safety and support
In Costa Rica, your safety comes first 🌿 We only work with trusted local partners, so you can settle into a calm, well-organised setting both at the schools and at the volunteer house.
🔹 Background checks
Every volunteer needs to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling, and we'll walk you through how to get it. A simple but important step to keep the setting positive and safe for everyone.
🔹 Strong safety standards
• Daycares and schools selected with care
• Quiet areas with controlled access
• Local staff on hand and properly trained
• Tried and tested arrival procedures
🔹 24/7 support
From the airport pickup to your trip home, you can count on a team who's always reachable. The local staff are around evenings and weekends too, and our UK team is just a WhatsApp message away 📞
🔹 Briefing and orientation
On your first day you'll get a full orientation on house rules, culture and living together. Before you travel, we'll also send a useful guide to help you prepare.
🔹 A few sensible habits
✔ Avoid going out on your own at night
✔ Travel with other volunteers when you can
✔ Always follow your local coordinator's advice
💡 Our aim
A safe, welcoming setting, so you can fully enjoy the cultural exchange and the energy of Costa Rica 🇨🇷
In Costa Rica, your safety comes first 🌿 We only work with trusted local partners, so you can settle into a calm, well-organised setting both at the schools and at the volunteer house.
🔹 Background checks
Every volunteer needs to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent) before travelling, and we'll walk you through how to get it. A simple but important step to keep the setting positive and safe for everyone.
🔹 Strong safety standards
• Daycares and schools selected with care
• Quiet areas with controlled access
• Local staff on hand and properly trained
• Tried and tested arrival procedures
🔹 24/7 support
From the airport pickup to your trip home, you can count on a team who's always reachable. The local staff are around evenings and weekends too, and our UK team is just a WhatsApp message away 📞
🔹 Briefing and orientation
On your first day you'll get a full orientation on house rules, culture and living together. Before you travel, we'll also send a useful guide to help you prepare.
🔹 A few sensible habits
✔ Avoid going out on your own at night
✔ Travel with other volunteers when you can
✔ Always follow your local coordinator's advice
💡 Our aim
A safe, welcoming setting, so you can fully enjoy the cultural exchange and the energy of Costa Rica 🇨🇷
🧭 Orientation day
In Esparza, your time starts with a day to settle in, get to know the local community and find your feet without any pressure.
On your first Monday, the local team will walk you through a series of practical and cultural moments:
• Welcome meeting and introduction to the programme, with house rules
• Practical advice on health, safety and how things work in Costa Rican culture
• Intro to local culture, plus a few first words in Spanish you'll use day to day
• A walk around the area, with shops, cash points, transport and SIM cards
• You can also pick up an eSIM before you travel through Airalo so you're online from the start
• A trip into central Esparza to spot the useful places and pick up your first bits and pieces
Beyond the practical info, orientation is a good moment to meet the other participants, swap stories and start finding your rhythm together 🌴
📌 After orientation
From Tuesday you'll start the teaching activities, already feeling settled and part of the local community.
In Esparza, your time starts with a day to settle in, get to know the local community and find your feet without any pressure.
On your first Monday, the local team will walk you through a series of practical and cultural moments:
• Welcome meeting and introduction to the programme, with house rules
• Practical advice on health, safety and how things work in Costa Rican culture
• Intro to local culture, plus a few first words in Spanish you'll use day to day
• A walk around the area, with shops, cash points, transport and SIM cards
• You can also pick up an eSIM before you travel through Airalo so you're online from the start
• A trip into central Esparza to spot the useful places and pick up your first bits and pieces
Beyond the practical info, orientation is a good moment to meet the other participants, swap stories and start finding your rhythm together 🌴
📌 After orientation
From Tuesday you'll start the teaching activities, already feeling settled and part of the local community.
✈️ Arriving into San José (SJO)
For an easy start, we'd recommend booking your flight into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, ideally on a Sunday between 10:00 and 21:00. That's when our pickup runs, taking you straight to Esparza.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at our base (small supplement) and request a private pickup. Weekday arrivals (Monday to Saturday) aren't covered by transfers: you can make your own way to Esparza by bus from San José (Empresarios Unidos terminal, direction Puntarenas, with a stop at Esparza). Alternatively, we can arrange a private transfer for an extra fee.
📌 Sharing your flight info
Please send us your flight details at least two weeks before you travel, so we can sort out your arrival.
🤝 Meeting at the airport
On arrival you'll find our transfer coordinator waiting in the international arrivals area, holding a sign. You may need to wait a short while for other participants arriving around the same time before heading off to Esparza together.
📱 Internet
To have data straight away, you can activate an eSIM before you travel through Airalo. That way you can let us know straight away if anything changes.
⏱️ Transfer time
The drive from the airport to the centre takes about 2 hours, depending on traffic.
🧭 If you can't spot our staff straight away
Stay at the meeting point and don't leave the airport on your own. Wait at least 30 minutes, since traffic can cause delays. Then call the emergency numbers we'll send you by email after you confirm your booking.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
Check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on Saturday. The transfer to the airport isn't included, since participants tend to leave at different times. Our staff can help you book a taxi or share a transfer with other volunteers.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave at your own pace and get to San José without rushing. If you're carrying on with your travels in Costa Rica, let us know in advance and we'll happily share tips on transport, local buses and places worth visiting.
📑 Practical bits
All participants need to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent); we'll talk you through how to get it. Bring printed copies of your return flight, travel insurance and passport. We'd also suggest a small cash kit in colones or US dollars for your first expenses at the airport or on the way.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed
We'll email you a detailed pack with all the up-to-date info, contacts for the local coordinators and clear instructions for arrival and departure.
For an easy start, we'd recommend booking your flight into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, ideally on a Sunday between 10:00 and 21:00. That's when our pickup runs, taking you straight to Esparza.
If you arrive on a Saturday, you'll need to book an extra night at our base (small supplement) and request a private pickup. Weekday arrivals (Monday to Saturday) aren't covered by transfers: you can make your own way to Esparza by bus from San José (Empresarios Unidos terminal, direction Puntarenas, with a stop at Esparza). Alternatively, we can arrange a private transfer for an extra fee.
📌 Sharing your flight info
Please send us your flight details at least two weeks before you travel, so we can sort out your arrival.
🤝 Meeting at the airport
On arrival you'll find our transfer coordinator waiting in the international arrivals area, holding a sign. You may need to wait a short while for other participants arriving around the same time before heading off to Esparza together.
📱 Internet
To have data straight away, you can activate an eSIM before you travel through Airalo. That way you can let us know straight away if anything changes.
⏱️ Transfer time
The drive from the airport to the centre takes about 2 hours, depending on traffic.
🧭 If you can't spot our staff straight away
Stay at the meeting point and don't leave the airport on your own. Wait at least 30 minutes, since traffic can cause delays. Then call the emergency numbers we'll send you by email after you confirm your booking.
🚖 Heading home: return flight tips
Check-out from the volunteer house is by 12:00 on Saturday. The transfer to the airport isn't included, since participants tend to leave at different times. Our staff can help you book a taxi or share a transfer with other volunteers.
We'd suggest booking your return flight for Saturday afternoon or evening, so you can leave at your own pace and get to San José without rushing. If you're carrying on with your travels in Costa Rica, let us know in advance and we'll happily share tips on transport, local buses and places worth visiting.
📑 Practical bits
All participants need to provide a criminal record check (DBS or equivalent); we'll talk you through how to get it. Bring printed copies of your return flight, travel insurance and passport. We'd also suggest a small cash kit in colones or US dollars for your first expenses at the airport or on the way.
💡 Once your booking is confirmed
We'll email you a detailed pack with all the up-to-date info, contacts for the local coordinators and clear instructions for arrival and departure.
Book your spot
1
Send your application (free)
Pick the project you like the look of and tell us when you'd like to travel. No commitment, the application is free and non-binding.
2
Meet your coordinator
After your application, we'll put you in touch with your dedicated coordinator. They'll walk you through everything and answer your questions.
3
Confirm your spot
When you're ready, pay the deposit to lock in your spot. You'll get everything you need: local contacts, a visa guide and your pre-trip pack.
4
Off you go
Pack your bag and travel. On arrival you'll find other travellers like you, a welcoming local team, and a trip you'll be talking about for a while.
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now
Book now