🇨🇷 ESC Volunteering in Costa Rica ☕ Sustainable Coffee Farming and Outdoor Climate Action 🌱

Description

You will work closely with the local workers to support the daily agricultural activities on the VISIONEERS Coffee Farm in the remote village of San Andrés as a volunteer sent by ASPEm. Your tasks will include establishing and maintaining a crops, planting and caring for coffee and other plants, and supporting sustainable cultivation practices on the coffee fields. You will help design and maintain garden areas, vegetable beds, and new ecological garden spaces, contribute to compost systems, and assist in caring for the finca. This role involves hands-on outdoor work and offers the opportunity to learn about sustainable agriculture, coffee production, and farm systems, as well as hand-on crafts and work. You will also collaborate with the team in planning and implementing environmental and community-focused projects on the finca. This position is ideal for volunteers who enjoy practical work in nature and want to contribute to a meaningful sustainability initiative in a rural setting.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements

You will stay at the VISIONEERS Finca, a sustainable coffee farm and community hub located in a very remote and rural area. San Andrés is a small village surrounded by stunning natural landscapes and coffee fields. Accommodation is simple and shared, offering basic comfort close to nature. Either prepared meals will be provided daily with fresh, local ingredients, or you will be provided with the ingredients to cook for yourself. Transport for project activities, airport transfers, and local mobility support are partially included.

Training during the activity

You will receive a mandatory pre-departure online-training to prepare you for volunteering and working in a rural and remote environment. Upon arrival in Costa Rica, you will participate in an induction covering safety procedures, local protocols, and cultural orientation. Throughout the mission, you will be trained in sustainable agriculture, reforestation, environmental education, labor rights, and community engagement, supported by continuous mentoring.

Participant profile

We are looking for a physically active and hands-on volunteer who enjoys outdoor work, agriculture, and practical tasks. Experience in farming, gardening, forestry, or ideally coffee cultivation is an asset but not mandatory. What matters most is a strong motivation to work with nature, readiness to learn, and a proactive approach to supporting various areas of the farm. Candidates should have a passion for sustainability, ecological practices, and manual labour, and be comfortable engaging in physically demanding activities. The project takes place in a remote rural village shaped by Christian values, and volunteers are expected to respect these principles. To ensure a safe environment for local youth and all community members, the farm follows a strict no-drug, no-alcohol, and no-tobacco policy. English is mandatory; Spanish is desirable. The on-site team speaks Spanish, English, and German. Ideal participants are adaptable, team-oriented, and open to simple rural living. This role is especially suited for individuals who feel comfortable in an active, physical position and who enjoy working in natural environments while contributing to sustainable community development. Eligibility: Candidates must be 18 to 35 years old, reside in one of the eligible countries (EU Member State, North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Turkey), have completed the compulsory Humanitarian Aid Volunteering training and not have participated before in individual Humanitarian Aid Volunteering. When adding together this new volunteering opportunity and any previous participation in EU volunteering programmes, the total duration cannot exceed 12 months.

Activity details

Activity type

Volunteering teams

Activity dates

From 22/10/2026 to 19/12/2026

Location

BARRIO QUEBRADA SECA CONDOMINIO BOSQUE DEL MAR CASA C UNO, Jaco, Costa Rica

Deadline

29/09/2026

Project code

2025-1-EACEA-VOLUN-101250792

Topics

Looking for participants from

31 countries can apply. The activity takes place in 🇨🇷 Costa Rica.