Medical Volunteer Project (Costa Rica)

Project Summary

Gain medical experience and work with local doctors to treat Costa Ricans in this fascinating country with a vibrant culture. While the healthcare system in Costa Rica is quite good, there is also a need to advance the quality as well as reach those in need. RCDP works with local clinics, hospitals, assisted living facilities, HIV centers, and rehabilitation centers to provide healthcare to those in need.

For those who are interested in the healthcare field or are already practicing medicine, this project is in great need of your interests and talents. You will have the opportunity to work and learn from local doctors and witness the healthcare system of Costa Rica directly. You can share your passion for healthcare and gain a truly meaningful experience.

Contact RCDP today to learn more about Medical Volunteer Opportunity in Costa Rica.

Skill/Qualification

To participate in the medical project, you will need to be either a medical professional or a medical student. You must provide medical student id or credentials of your medical background. You also need to be passionate about providing healthcare and willing to work with patients in a kind, caring and compassionate manner.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate in this project. Though not mandatory, it will be helpful to have basic knowledge of Spanish for a more immersive experience. If you want to learn Spanish, we offer Spanish classes that you can take while volunteering.

Volunteer Responsibilities & Impact

Your actual responsibility during the healthcare project in Costa Rica will depend on your skills, experience, and credentials. Among general things, you might do is: assisting in the consulting room, dispensing medicine, helping with physiotherapy, treatment of minor injuries, patient care, and checking and recording patient's information. You can tell us about your background and interests, and we will arrange a placement that is suitable for you.

Your work will might include:

Due to the inherent risk involved and medical regulations, volunteers cannot treat patients or become involved in surgery during the project.

Project Location

We offer a Medical Volunteer Program in San Jose, Costa Rica. San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and the nation's largest city is a cultural hub, whose diversity is one of the attractions of the beautiful country. The presence of numerous historically important buildings and mind blowing museums makes it even more special, along with the fine restaurants and old bars that have been there for decades.

Accommodation/Meal and Supervision

Volunteers in Costa Rica will stay in a volunteer hostel or with a host family. The host family is well screened and used to having volunteers. The local coordinator will place you in the location they think is best. In either location you will have the opportunity to practice your Spanish and meet other volunteers and locals.

If you stay with a host family, you will have a shared room with kitchen and bathroom facilities. You will have the opportunity to do your own laundry or pay a small fee for someone else to do it for you. This can be arranged with your hosts. You will be provided 2-3 meals per day depending on the project, and can request a lunch "to go" if need be.

Throughout the volunteer project, our local staff stays in contact with volunteers either with face-to-face visits or via email/telephone. With longer placements, we visit our volunteers every two weeks (when possible) and volunteers are always welcome to contact the local country coordinator at any time.

On-going volunteer programs in Costa Rica

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.

San Jose & Manuel Antonio Program Fees (US$)

Turtle Conservation Program Fee (US$)

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »
• No Spanish Language Program with the Turtle Conservation Project

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »
• Wildlife Conservation Program - Transportation from Airport Juan Santamaria $100/one way