Medicine Volunteering in Costa Rica

Join healthcare and medical projects, and gain practical experience in hospitals, clinics, assisted living, and other related facilities in Costa Rica. You’ll work alongside doctors, nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals. Depending on your medical experience and Spanish language skills, you’ll take on various responsibilities. These could include shadowing a doctor or nurse, assisting with general check-ups, running medical campaigns, assisting with triage and vaccinations, taking vital signs, organizing patient records, and assisting during mealtimes. This program is available all year round, with start dates every Monday. It’s designed to take place for as short as 1 week and up to 1 year. NOTE: This program qualifies for 3-4 university credits via our School of Record. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. We require background checks and proof of medical insurance.

Provide medical healthcare for those in need while volunteering in the lively city of San Jose in Costa Rica! Within this unique program are two different placement options: healthcare and medical care. The healthcare option is for students studying health sciences, nursing, and pre-med. The medical care option is for licensed medical professionals or individuals finishing medical school. For an additional fee, volunteers have the ability to practice or learn Spanish! Those placed in healthcare will focus mostly on providing friendship to patients and caring for their general health needs, while those placed in medical will be involved in more hands-on tasks such as taking vitals and other tasks. Some tasks for these programs may include, but are not limited to providing companionship for patients, distributing medications, assisting with general patient check-ups, taking vital signs, and organizing and updating patient records.

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

Join our Best Seller Program! Combine immersive Spanish lessons with Surf or Yoga classes and meaningful volunteer work at our home base in beautiful Santa Teresa—one of the top surf spots in the country. Make a real impact through purposeful volunteering, help with sea turtle conservation, assist in the nursery and hatchery, join night patrols, participate in beach cleanups, and more. Cap off your experience with an unforgettable week in the lush Monteverde Rainforest, where adventure and adrenaline await!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

Travel to Costa Rica and make a difference in a subject area you are passionate about! Choose from program themes ranging from Public Health and Medicine to Animal and Wildlife Conservation to Language Immersion and everything in between. GLA's offerings include: - Animal Rescue & Veterinary Project - Beachside Service Adventure - Marine Conservation & Sea Turtle Expedition™ - The Ultimate Adventure - Medicine & Healthcare Discovery - Middle School Service Adventure - Ocean & Wildlife Conservation Adventure™ - Sea Turtle Initiative™ - Spanish Service Adventure - Surf, Sports & Sustainability ™ - The Initiative for Children ™ - Spring Break Service Adventure - Costa Rica Internship: Career Exploration In Environmental Stewardship Costa Rica is known for its serene tropical surroundings and leading ecological conservation efforts. It comprises five percent of the world's biodiversity, making it Central America’s "crown jewel" and an unbeatable location for natural and cultural exploration.

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Sign-up for our medical volunteering programs abroad if you are a medical or healthcare student who is aspiring for a medical career but needs real-time training and mentoring. You don’t necessarily have to have a medical degree, as requirements are different for each program. There are even pre-med volunteer abroad programs specifically for school leavers who are considering studying medicine in the future. We also offer customised placements for those seeking medical electives or medical internships abroad. Most of our medical electives abroad placement require that you spend 5-7 hours at our partner hospital or clinic as an observer of the daily routines of medical staff. You will be assigned a doctor or a department who will mentor you and may call upon you to assist with basic tasks such as taking vitals and treating minor wounds under the supervision of the local doctors. Our medical electives are offered in developing countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru and Costa Rica.

Global Works specializes in teen service trips and educational experiences to Costa Rica for high school and middle school students. These student travel programs have been our most popular over the years for good reason. Incredible biodiversity and a welcoming culture make Costa Rica an awesome choice for a summer adventure. Global Works offers volunteer programs in different focus areas. We offer opportunities for community service, Spanish immersion, cultural exchange, pre-med and public health, wildlife, adventure travel, and a middle school-focused program to this special corner of the globe. Program Options: * Costa Rica: Service & Sand (15 days) * Costa Rica: Wildlife Adventure (17 days) * Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med & Public Health (17 days) * Costa Rica: Middle School Service Adventure (10 days)

Expand your knowledge and experience in the field of medicine in the beautiful Latin American countryside. Work alongside medical professionals in a community where your assistance is truly appreciated. Earn up to 30 hours of community service while building your skills in clinical settings. For this program, TFT partners with a non-profit organization dedicated to improving families' health in the developing world through innovative and self-sustainable health improvement programs. We will work side-by-side with medical professionals to help provide access to medical care for underprivileged and medically underserved families in Costa Rica. Some hands-on projects available may include collecting vitals, assisting with mobile clinics, and organizing health education meetings. To complement our hard work, we will also experience the adventurous and culturally relevant aspects of Costa Rica that make it one of the most coveted destinations in Central America to visit. Zipline through lush rainforests, visit an animal rehabilitation center specializing in herpetology, view a green volcanic lake, hike to waterfalls, and take a surf lesson!

San José, the capital city, is in the central valley of the Costa Rican rainforest. As the cultural, economic, and political center of Costa Rica, this is where most people live, work, and play. Here, you can experience a vibrant and busy Latin American metropolis while also having the rest of the country's pristine natural wonders nearby. We provide opportunities to serve dozens of local NGOs, schools, clinics, and businesses through structured programs offered all year round. Program participants can work with host organizations in a variety of fields and areas: museums, local schools, youth and disability centers, health clinics, and several others. Through service at a local organization and guided reflection-based curriculum, our goal is to help you gain a better understanding of the local language, culture, and community. Each service-learning placement is unique, so visit our website to learn more about the specific program options available. We especially recommend San José for students interested in education or working in museums.

Discover Costa Rica—a country rich in biodiversity, natural beauty, and adventure. From white sand beaches and lush rainforests to volcanoes and vibrant cities, it's a destination for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike. Whether you're into hiking, surfing, ziplining, or white-water rafting, Costa Rica offers it all. While the country is peaceful and safe, many communities face economic hardship and environmental challenges. As a volunteer, you can make a meaningful impact by joining projects in education, healthcare, construction, turtle or beach conservation, or through specialized internships in fields like human rights, hospitality, micro-business, and veterinary care. During your stay, you'll live with a friendly local host family, gaining a true taste of Costa Rican culture and hospitality.

Volunteer in Costa Rica with A Broader View Volunteers, a highly rated non-profit charity organization. Volunteer placements are available throughout Costa Rica, mainly in San Jose and Escazu and the Pacific and Atlantic coastal regions. There are 19 program options available for volunteers to choose from. A Broader View can accommodate up to 30 volunteers with housing. The organization has hosted numerous university student groups, Peace Corps alternative teens, and family volunteer programs in their Costa Rica turtle programs. Customized programs can also be arranged for groups of 5 or more volunteers. A Broader View Volunteers has extensive experience working with students, teachers, and families, providing tailor-made service trips for small groups. Costa Rica, known as the "Rich Coast" in Spanish, is a popular destination that attracts over a million visitors yearly. With its year-round mild climate, relaxed visa requirements for travelers, and friendly locals, Costa Rica is an ideal place to volunteer.

Classic Service Learning Trips (SLTs) are week-long, immersive educational journeys to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Tanzania. During these trips, volunteers actively collaborate with local communities on various development projects, including constructing homes, improving access to clean water, and participating in mobile medical clinics that provide essential healthcare to underserved areas. These trips offer a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the communities that MEDLIFE supports, allowing volunteers to witness firsthand the challenges faced by those living in extreme poverty. By working side by side with locals, volunteers not only gain invaluable insights into global health and development but also contribute directly to impactful projects that foster long-term, sustainable change. Beyond the hands-on experience, SLTs encourage participants to reflect on the role they can play in addressing global inequities. The trip fosters empathy, awareness, and ignites action, empowering volunteers to join the MEDLIFE Movement and advocate for a world where poverty no longer limits opportunities.