About Healthcare in Costa Rica

World Endeavors Healthcare volunteers in Costa Rica work with a local private clinic that provides emergency services and routine medical care, with a specialty of providing services in both English and Spanish. The tasks of this project vary depending on each volunteer’s experience and knowledge of medical practice. Volunteers may work in the clinic, assisting doctors and nurses and helping with daily routines. Depending on qualifications, some volunteers are able to accompany first responders on ambulance calls. Volunteers may also help communicate with English-speaking patients. This volunteer program is an irreplaceable experience for those interested in working in healthcare, and it is a particularly valuable chance to make a difference for a small Costa Rican community.

A Typical Day in the Life of a Volunteer in Costa Rica

World Endeavors volunteers in Costa Rica can expect their days to be a combination of meaningful volunteer work, cultural experiences, and free time for relaxation and reflection.  The sample schedule below represents a typical day for a volunteer in Costa Rica.  Keep in mind that when volunteering abroad, a typical day can be anything but typical!

8:00 am – 8:45 am: Breakfast with your host family.  Breakfast in Costa Rica often consists of gallo pinto (rice and black beans), eggs, fried plantains, and fresh fruit juice or locally-grown coffee.

8:45 am – 9:00 am: Travel by public bus or walk to your volunteer placement.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Work at volunteer placement.

12:00 pm– 12:30 pm:  Head home for lunch with your host family or eat lunch at your project site. Lunch is the main meal in Costa Rica. A typical lunch is a casado (rice, beans, meat, tortillas, and a salad).

1:00- 3:30 pm: Work at volunteer placement

3:30 pm: Walk or ride the public bus to Spanish class.

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Spanish class.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Free time to explore the city, take a stroll through the central park, browse the vendors’ stands at the market, get some ice cream, go to the internet café, or swim in the local public swimming pool.

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Dinner with your host family.  Dinners in Atenas often include gallo pinto, meat, vegetables, and tropical fruit. Dinner is usually a smaller affair than lunch.

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Relax at home, watch a movie and practice Spanish with your host family, prepare for tomorrow’s volunteering, or plan a weekend trip to go swimming along the Pacific or Caribbean coast, hiking in the rainforest, visiting one of the numerous volcanoes, or white water rafting and zip-lining.

Project and class schedules, meals, and free time activities may vary depending on the details of your placement.

Eligibility

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, though exceptions to this age requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. Successful volunteers are hardworking, flexible, and open to truly immersing themselves in Costa Rican culture.

Healthcare volunteers in Costa Rica must be current students in the field of medicine or nursing, and must have studies or training in a relevant field.