Support the care of animals in Costa Rica, a natural haven for both domestic and wild creatures.
Program Overview
On this program, you’ll explore animal welfare through hands-on projects at a rescue center and help improve the lives of domestic animals by expanding access to veterinary care in local communities. Gain pre-veterinary experience by working alongside certified veterinarians and animal rescue experts. You’ll take part in compassionate, hands-on work at a local dog and cat rescue while soaking up Costa Rica’s outdoor adventures and natural beauty in your free time.
On GLA’s Costa Rica: Animal Rescue & Veterinary Project program you will:
- Engage in hands-on volunteer work alongside veterinarians and gain first-hand experience in a surgical setting
- Help care for dogs and cats (and maybe a few other species!) at a rescue center
- Learn about Costa Rica’s animal rescue and wildlife conservation efforts
- Relax on a catamaran and snorkel through wildlife-rich waters
- Zipline and hike through lush valleys
- Take a dip in hot springs known for healing properties
Program Menu
COSTA RICA
ANIMAL RESCUE & VETERINARY PROJECT
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in San José, where the GLA team will welcome you. We’ll then drive to our Home Base, a vegetarian hotel in the mountains outside San Ramón, about 2 hours away. The staff here care deeply for animals and nature. Tonight, we’ll get acquainted and prepare for the next two weeks!
Day 2: Orientation Day & Intro to Service
What can we learn about animal welfare in a rural Costa Rican village? A lot! Today, we’ll explore the projects of our first service partner supporting animal welfare. In the afternoon, a guest speaker will share insights on “Tico” culture. After a delicious dinner, we’ll reflect on the day’s lessons in our first nightly mentor group.
Days 3-4 & 6: Community Service - Rescue Shelter
Each day, we’ll support a local animal rescue shelter by building or reinforcing kennels, walking dogs, laundering blankets, and creating safe areas for them to run freely. Your work will make a direct impact on the lives of many animals.
After service, enjoy a variety of activities: play soccer with local community members, hike through scenic mountains and lush farmland, cook a traditional Costa Rican dish with locals, or learn salsa, merengue, and bachata from a local instructor. We’ll also visit San Ramón, explore historic sites, and shop for handicrafts at a local artisan market.
Day 5: Chocolate Tour and Hot Springs in La Fortuna
Today we’ll take a break from service and head out to the region of La Fortuna where we will go on a fun chocolate tour, relax in natural hot springs and enjoy the surrounding landscapes.
Day 7: Depart for Liberia
We’ll say goodbye to our first Home Base in San Ramón and have breakfast before departing for our second Home Base in Liberia. The 3.5-hour journey will fly by with good music, games, and scenic views. After a quick orientation at the new Home Base, we’ll dive into pool games and familiarize ourselves with the property and rules. To kick off our service, we’ll meet our partners and learn about the veterinary services they provide to various communities in Costa Rica.
Day 8: Discover Guanacaste & Service Project #2
We’ll continue our service project by surveying the town, counting animals, and assessing their needs. We’ll also help promote the local shelter’s pop-up vet services. Conducting interviews and community diagnostics is a common method used by development groups to ensure their aid meets real needs. You’ll have the chance to meet local community members and their furry friends!
Afterward, we’ll have dinner, prepare our vet scrubs, and head to bed early to be well-rested for another full day of service tomorrow.
Days 9-10: Mobile Vet Clinic & Adventure Time
After reviewing our upcoming projects, we’ll dive right into animal care! Over the next few days, we’ll assist at mobile veterinary clinics run by a local group, providing care to animals in need. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the clinic process, shadow veterinary staff, and help with physical exams, intake, post-op care, and even witness surgery! This is an excellent introduction for those aspiring to become veterinarians.
Later, we’ll take a break from service for some adventure! Get ready for a ziplining experience through the forest canopy, followed by a relaxing soak in natural thermal hot springs, surrounded by beautiful nature.
Day 11: Beach Day! Catamaran & Snorkel Adventure!
Enjoy a fun relaxing day on a Catamaran boat tour excursion, taking in the scenery of Guanacaste’s pacific coast!! Discover ocean life with the opportunity to snorkel.
Day 12: Clinical Day
Today will be a full day in medical scrubs, assisting local veterinarians with vital procedures. These campaigns offer community members the chance to care for their pets while also learning about the importance of animal welfare.
Day 13: Final Service Day
On your last day of community service, you’ll assist our partners in the pop-up clinic, educating rural communities about the importance of spaying and neutering, proper grooming, and animal nutrition and dental care. In the afternoon, you’ll pack your bags and head to our final hotel in San José, near the airport. Take time to relax, reflect, and reminisce about the incredible experiences you’ve had with your new friends. End the day with a celebratory dinner, honoring your accomplishments and the animals you’ve helped.
Day 14: Departure
In the morning, it’s time to say goodbye to your peers and staff. We’ll travel together to the airport in San José, where GLA staff will assist with check-in and bid you farewell as you head home.
Costa Rica, the land of “Pura Vida,” will surely leave a lasting impression, filled with new friendships and unforgettable experiences you’ll cherish for years to come.
Program Map
COSTA RICA
ANIMAL RESCUE & VETERINARY PROJECT
Community Service
Spend time with two service partners: a local veterinary team and the animal rescue center right at your Home Base. With the vet team, rotate through roles at a mobile clinic that expands access to care. Cases may include spaying, neutering, deworming and treating skin conditions or wounds. You’ll observe intake, surgery and recovery, and pitch in on critical repairs.
At the rescue center, walk dogs, make toys, clean habitats or help with repairs. You may even care for a few farm animals while you’re at it!
Hands-on Learning
In regions with limited resources, pets often face higher risks of abandonment or disease due to limited access to veterinary care. At the same time, wildlife are threatened by exploitation and habitat loss. Hear directly from guest speakers involved in Costa Rica’s rescue and conservation efforts. You’ll also get hands-on insight into local veterinary practices.
Adventure
In Costa Rica’s inland region, adventure waits around every corner. With its rainforests, volcanoes, hills and valleys filled with coffee plants, this area offers some of the country’s most stunning scenery. Hike to a waterfall, zipline through the treetops and unwind in natural hot springs. Now that’s what they mean by pura vida!
Then head to the Pacific Coast for a half-day ocean excursion. Hop on a catamaran for an epic ride and a snorkeling adventure that’s pure bucket list and the perfect way to wrap up your Costa Rica journey.
Lodging & Meals
Students in this program will stay in two unique regions: San Ramon and Guanacaste. In San Ramon, Home Base is a locally owned boutique hotel surrounded by hills with lush vegetation and an animal rescue center on-site. In Guanacaste, Home Base is a hotel with access to several nearby communities where they’ll support local clinics. In all accomodations, students live in gender-segregated rooms with roommates and shared bathrooms.
The food at Home Base will reflect the traditional dietary staples of the people in Costa Rica. It will be simple, but fresh and healthy, and include delicious, locally-grown fruits.
Important Note: At the San Ramon Home Base, meals are entirely plant-based during the first 6 days of the 14-day program, in line with the hotel’s commitment to ethical animal care. The plant-based menu still offers plenty of variety and enough protein to meet students’ dietary needs. Students will also have a chance to enjoy a few meals off-site during this time.
COSTA RICA
ANIMAL RESCUE & VETERINARY PROJECT
Dates & Tuition
14-Day Program
2026 Session Dates
June 20 – July 03, 2026
July 06 – July 19, 2026
July 24 – August 06, 2026
Program Details
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“My experience with GLA was amazing. The service was incredible and I really loved being able to feel like I was making a difference in the communities. I really enjoyed the food, the activities we did, and the presentations about Costa Rica. Thank you GLA for an amazing and life-changing experience!”
Eloise R. | Student | 2024
COSTA RICA
ANIMAL RESCUE & VETERINARY PROJECT
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