Cartago, Costa Rica

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Volunteer in Cartago

Kick-start your international development career in the jungles of central Costa Rica.

Our Costa Rican community hub can be found in the mid-sized city of Cartago, located about 45 minutes from the capital, San Jose. Your time will be spent working on meaningful engagement with the local communities and their development goals, where you can contribute to education, childhood development and women’s empowerment initiatives.

Positive<br/>impact

Positive
impact

Build a better world by contributing to vital, locally-led project work that strives for a more just and equitable future.
Ethical<br/>work

Ethical
work

In line with the UN’s SDGs, we are committed to ethical and sustainable engagement with our local partners and communities.
Beautiful<br/>community

Beautiful
community

Learn from the world’s most unique and significant cultures, in breathtaking remote locations.

Cartago volunteer programs

Everyone’s invited. Get up to 80% of your program fees covered.

GVI Foundation Grants are now available for community development programs abroad. Up to ZAR 100,000 based on your motivation and circumstances. Apply by 30 Nov.

Included in your program, at no extra cost

Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.

Offered once a month, expand your adventure with GVI Experiences. These are just some of the activities offered on your program!
Learn to cook Costa Rican food
Learn to cook Costa Rican food
Visit a botanical garden
Visit a botanical garden
Summit Irazu Volcano
Summit Irazu Volcano
Enjoy a Costa Rican breakfast
Enjoy a Costa Rican breakfast
Experience Costa Rican culture
Experience Costa Rican culture
Practise a yoga class
Practise a yoga class
Paint your own pottery souvenir
Paint your own pottery souvenir
White-water raft down the Pacuare River
White-water raft down the Pacuare River