The Jardin de Mariposas Spirogyra is located in the last bit of forest of the metropolitan area: a little tropical paradise in the city center. Our neighborship with the Zoo Simon Bolivar makes our project even more interesting since both of us are located on the shores of the Torres river, where there is still a little bit of forest, which works as a natural air filter and produces oxygen. It is also a shelter for butterflies, turtles and Flora. In fact, the Valle Central is known to be a place where different species of butterflies live together, even though they are usually found in different, specific parts of the country: this is why in our 350m2 farm, visitors can see several of Costa Rica’s most beautiful species and observe them in every state of their lives.
The goals of the Jardin de Mariposas Spirogyra are:
San José, Costa Rica
All volunteers must bring: bed linen (2 sheets, blankets), insect repellent/after bite cream, sunscreen, and water bottle. Also dark clothing with long sleeves and closed and comfortable shoes for evening walks, waterproof, additionally bring a hat, flashlight with red filter (mandatory), and fly block (mosquito net)
The cost of your volunteer project(s) + Spanish Classes (if needed) + the administrative ACI Fee depending on the total amount of weeks that you would like to participate.
The cost of the volunteer project : 75 USD per week. (300 USD p/month)
Each project has a different cost, which includes lodging and 3 meals a day. Note that the program does not include daily local transportation.
The cost of the administrative ACI Fee will depend of the number of weeks of your project :
1 - 4 weeks : 165 USD
5-8 weeks : 265 USD
9 - 12 weeks : 365 USD
12 - 16 weeks : 465 USD
16 - 20 weeks : 565 USD
The in Person Orientation Meeting is compulsory for all ecological and social short-term international volunteers, this meeting will always be offered at the beginning of the program, before volunteers start their projects.
If needed, ACI Costa Rica will help you to organize your accommodation in the local hostel before the beginning of the project. Arrangements for lodging once you arrive: hostel 2 nights: $ US 29 Food for 2 days $ US 40 (because hostel only has breakfast).
Schedule for the volunteer:
There are 2 work schedules from: 9:00am - 2:00pm (main schedule) and 13:00 - 16:00 (first days in the project)
The project is open from Monday to Sunday.
The volunteer will work from 3 to 5 days depending on the volunteer
The days will be negotiated with the project.
Depending on the volunteer’s preferences, different tasks can be given, for example:
Gardening tasks:
Weeding and pruning the plants, composting the plants and maintaining the compost bin, cleaning the garden benches, ensuring that the larvae have food, eggs and pupae; maintenance of the butterfly feeders, taking care of the turtles, taking care of the waterfall, taking care of the orchids, cleaning and maintaining order in the cellar, etc.
Guide’s tasks:
The volunteer has to have knowledge of the butterflies and biology which he will obtain after a few months in the project then it would be possible for them to do the tasks with the guides.
To give training on the ecology and importance of butterflies in the ecosystem, as well as the introduction to the trail. Hand out both the field guide and the main guide to the tourists and remind them to hand it in at the reception upon their return, verify the order inside the butterfly house, the butterfly feeders, the turtles, etc.
Lab tasks:
Keeping it tidy and clean, collecting plants to feed larvae, transferring larvae to fresh food, cleaning drawers with water and chlorine, changing organic paper, keeping materials in their respective places, keeping a record of the data in the production sheet (hatching, pupae, larvae, and eggs collected), etc.
Administrative work:
Online/marketing, translating documents and translating the tourist guides, making videos and taking pictures of the projects, etc.
During your work at the Jardin de Mariposas, you will stay with a local family. Lunch will be provided by the family and has to be brought to work.
There are also some restaurants near the project if you don’t want to bring lunch.
You are free to explore the city and the country on your free time !
