Costa Rica Medical Volunteering Program

Project Summary

Costa Rica is a great place for healthcare workers who want to help people in need. Even though the country's healthcare system is getting better, some areas still struggle to get medical help, especially in rural places. Many people with less money find it hard to reach hospitals. RCDP's medical volunteer program in Costa Rica works with local doctors and nurses to give important care to those who need it most.

Volunteers in this program get to work closely with these doctors and nurses. They learn by watching and helping out with real patients. This hands-on experience helps volunteers learn a lot about healthcare and lets them make a big difference in the lives of people who need help in Costa Rica.

Volunteer Responsibilities & Impact

Skills and Qualifications:

To join our Costa Rica Medical volunteer project, you should have a background in healthcare or relevant education. This can include being a medical student or holding certification from an accredited institution as a physician, nurse, EMT, or similar. Additionally, you'll need to bring essentials such as scrubs, a stethoscope, and closed-toed shoes.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and possess a compassionate attitude towards patients, along with a sincere desire to help them. Flexibility, a positive outlook, and the ability to connect with patients are also important qualities.

While not required, having basic Spanish skills is advantageous, as many patients may not speak English. If you're interested in learning or improving your Spanish, we highly recommend enrolling in our Spanish Immersion classes, which run alongside your volunteer work. This will enrich your medical experience and enable more effective communication with patients.

Accommodation and Meal

During project days, volunteers will receive two daily meals provided in shared group housing. Accommodation options include dormitory-style living or upgraded private accommodations for those seeking added comfort. Additionally, participants will benefit from educational presentations and practical training to guide them through their tasks.

The Fee and Dates

RCDP Costa Rica Volunteer Programs start every Monday throughout the year.

Volunteer Program In Costa Rica

Every year hundreds of volunteers working with UK and USA based organizations end up paying up to $2500 to volunteer in Costa Rica for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, only a small portion of that money actually goes to host the local projects and host families. The local host projects, childcare centers, schools, and local NGO’s in Costa Rica are poor and need external support to run their programs. In our program, you will pay your fee directly to host families and projects upon arrival in Costa Rica. When you join our program, we will make sure that all of your money goes to the projects and host families. Part of your fees also helps us to cover our expenses. The program fee is divided into a registration fee ($279) and weekly fee for room, food, coordination, and project donation.

Click to find the allocation of $279

In Costa Rica, the weekly program fee is divided between coordination (services of local staffs), host family (room/2-3 local foods a day depending on the project), and project donation. Costa Rica is an expensive tourist destination; therefore, nearly 90% of your weekly fee goes to covering your food, room, and coordination. While 10% of your fee goes to the project as a material donation (not cash). Below is the breakdown of cost in on a weekly basis.

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »

On-going volunteer programs in Costa Rica