Arenas del Mar - Costa Rica
Your eco-luxury lodge located on the beach adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park, with monkeys, birds and sloths for neighbors. Explore the park on walking safari, night safari, surf, snorkel, hike and more, all in sustainable luxury
About this project
Main volunteering activities:
- Preparing the elephant’s vitamin balls
- Tracking their feeding patterns
- Assisting the vet on their daily checks
- Washing the elephant
- Cleaning their beds
- Maintaining the gardens
Key information:
- The typical number of days on this fulfilling project 2-3, but you can spend longer
- It involves 7-8 hours of helping each day, starting at 7:30am
- November to April is recommended, but you can help anytime
- This volunteering project blends well with activities in central Sri Lanka, including Kandy and the rest of the Cultural Triangle
Successes to date:
The foundation has cared for over 80 elephants. There are currently nine elephants being cared for at the sanctuary.
One of the resident elephants was the first in the country to be born in captivity.
The Foundation’s mahout training program is the only one to be recognized and accredited by the Sri Lankan Department of Wildlife.
This project is for you if:
- You are looking for a project that enables you to learn an enormous amount about elephants
- You would like an experience that has a variety of activities
- You are happy rolling up your sleeves and don’t mind getting dirty
Nearby activities:
- Exploring the fascinating Cultural Triangle
- The Tea Country hill stations
- Leopard spotting in Yala National Park
Suggested Itinerary for Sri Lanka
in Sri Lanka
Price: US$6,000 per adult, $3,800 per child under 12
This adventure enables you to bond as a family by conserving critically endangered sea turtles, plus you get to explore the wildlife highlights of Sri Lanka
Trip Highlights
- Rolling up your sleeves and caring for elephants
- Jeep safari to see elephants in the wild
- Awesome views and the engineering marvel that is Sigiriya Rock
- Bustling Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth
- Epic train ride
- The waterfalls and scenery of Horton Plains
- The beauty of the Tea stations
- A working tea factory
Price Includes
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Private transfers
- Domestic flights
- Expert local guides
- Meals as specified
- Volunteering costs
Note: Price excludes international flights
Sample Day by Day
Note: This is a sample itinerary only
- Day 1: Arrive Istanbul, you are met at the airport and transfered to your hotel, the Four Seasons Sultanhamet. Enjoy a Turkish bath experience (D)
- Day 2: Turkish dessert making lesson; private guided tour of Istanbul; Turkish dance show (B, L, D)
- Day 3: Street food tour of Istanbul. Private tour continues (B, L)
- Day 4: Fly to Cappadocia, begin private curated tour. Whirling dervish performance (B, L, D)
- Day 5: Hot air balloon ride. Resume private guided tour (B, L, D)
- Day 6-7: Fly to Antalya and transfer to Belek. Enjoy the resort. (B, D)
- Day 8: Turtle conservation volunteering: monitor and protect sea turtles (B, L, D)
- Day 9: Transfer to airport and fly home (B)
- Day 10: Transfer to airport and fly home (B)
- Day 11: Transfer to airport and fly home (B)
Note: This is a sample itinerary only, and we delight in crafting unique itineraries to meet your family’s exact requirements
Situated within an expansive 11-acre private rainforest reserve, Arenas Del Mar’s 37 rooms and suites offer a captivating environment where encounters with monkeys and sloths are commonplace. You have exclusive access to two pristine beaches.
To enhance the experience of exploring the lush rainforest surroundings, the lodge provides resident Naturalist Guides who are adept at spotting wildlife and offering insightful interpretations of the diverse flora and fauna encountered along the way.
Kid-friendly activities include movie nights, tortilla making, and bracelet-making classes.
For those seeking adventure in the waves, surfboards and surf lessons are available.
Arenas del Mar’s commitment to sustainability is clear in its efforts to eliminate plastic waste by discontinuing the use of plastic water bottles and replacing single-use plastic straws with compostable bamboo stalks, locally sourced to minimize environmental impact.
Furthermore, the lodge maintains a hydroponic vegetable garden onsite, supplying fresh greens for delectable dishes without the need for soil. This innovative gardening method not only conserves water by using 10% less than traditional soil-based gardens but also eliminates the use of pesticides, ensuring clean and sustainable food production within a greenhouse environment.
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