Gandoca: A Volunteer´s Paradise
Eco-friendly Costa Rican Town Supports Turtle Conservation Efforts
Aug 12, 2008
Leatherback turtles are an endangered species. According to Leatherback Trust: "If action is not taken soon to protect leatherbacks in the ocean and on nesting beaches the leatherback will disappear in our lifetime." Many projects are being set up to aid in the growth and protection of the turtles. One of them is the Asociacion ANAI Sea Turtle Conservation Project. The Gandoca coast is a nesting area for the leatherback turtle, and the town supports conservation projects that come into Gandoca and work around the clock during the season to help protect the leatherback nests and safely lead the hatchlings into the sea. The work is done by locals of Gandoca, biologists, who stay for the entire season, as well as volunteers from all over the world.
The Gem of Southern Costa Rica
Gandoca is a laid back town. It's an example of a more undeveloped area of Costa Rica, with only one bar, one restaurant, and a little store which is more like a stand holding some convenience items. It is lined with miles of quiet Caribbean black sand beaches on one side, and a jungle on the other. The only things to run into while walking along the coast are a few locals, biologists, and during the nesting season, some leatherback turtle hatcheries. At the end of the Gandoca beach strip are Punta Mona and La Playita, where the water is clear and it is safe to swim.
The Turtle Project
The workers of the conservation project are hosted by the community, and the Gandocans are happy to take in the people who come to help save their much-loved leatherback. The houses are literally in the middle of the jungle, so spotting a holler monkey or an iguana climbing a tree is very common while sitting in the kitchen eating lunch. For some of the families, the revenue they get from hosting the biologists and volunteers is a large percentage of their income. As a result, the money spent going to Gandoca to help save the turtles stretches further than the amphibians. It is a way to directly support a community.
A Real Rasta Vibe
Time off from the turtles is spent at the local bar, which is a large hut made of bamboo sticks. Cheap local beer and rum are served, and there´s even a hammock near the bar to chill out in while listening to Bob Marley and other reggae tunes. This is a meeting spot for most of the locals, therefore an ideal place to practice Spanish, learn more about the turtles, and to take in the wisdom of the quaint, untouched Caribbean town.
Getting There
Gandoca, is located 10 kilometers off the beaten path of Sixiola, the border town of Panama. Take a bus from San Jose to Sixiola, then cabs are available in Sixiola to take to Gandoca.
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