Conservation in Costa Rica: 8 Wildlife Projects Making a Difference

Costa Rica is famous for its incredible wildlife, but many visitors don't realise that their holiday can directly contribute to protecting it.

At Cecropia Travel, we believe conservation shouldn't be something that only scientists take part in. 

It should be something everyone can experience.

Our mission is to bridge the gap between travel and conservation, giving our guests the opportunity to discover Costa Rica's extraordinary wildlife whilst supporting the organisations working tirelessly to protect it.

In this article, we introduce some of our favourite conservation projects across Costa Rica - many of which you can visit or support during your journey with us.

Why conservation matters in Costa Rica ​

But before we take a look at conservation projects in Costa Rica, let’s understand why conservation actually matters. 

It’s no secret that Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. 

Estimates suggest that this small Central American country, occupying less than 0.03% of Earth’s landmass, is home to nearly 6% of global biodiversity. 

From rainforest canopies filled with sloths and monkeys to coral reefs, sea turtle nesting beaches and remote cloud forests, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically rich places on Earth.

However, there are still threats facing Costa Rica’s wildlife. 

Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, illegal wildlife trade, and human development all continue to pose significant challenges facing Costa Rica’s natural world.
 
Whilst Costa Rica has become a global leader in conservation, protecting its wildlife requires constant research, habitat restoration, and community involvement. 

And, perhaps most importantly, public support. 

At Cecropia Travel, we believe tourism should contribute to protecting the places our guests come to experience.
 
That is why we support a number of Costa Rican conservation organisations working on the front lines of wildlife protection. 

By travelling with us, you are helping support projects that safeguard endangered species, restore habitats, and inspire future generations to value nature.
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We’re here to inspire a positive change in the way we travel.

Conservation Projects In Costa Rica

We have connections with many of the projects listed below. Each one, no matter the species they work with, has one aim: to safeguard Costa Rica’s wildlife for generations to come. 
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We are proud to support each and every project, and we endeavour to share as many projects we can with our guests. 

1. Sloth Conservation Foundation

A three-toed sloth eating a cecropia leaf

Sloths are one of Costa Rica’s most iconic species. You can read our article Best Places To see Sloths in Costa Rica to find out more. 

Unfortunately, sloths are facing increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation - especially from road developments - domestic dog attacks, and electrocutions from uninsulated power lines. 

The Sloth Conservation Foundation is one of the world's leading organisations dedicated exclusively to protecting wild sloths through science-based conservation. 

Led by Dr. Rebecca Cliffe, a British zoologist (like myself) and sloth expert, their work focuses on not only understanding sloth ecology, but also developing practical solutions that allow wildlife and people to coexist. 

Some of their most successful projects include installing canopy bridges over roads, insulating dangerous power lines, restoring forest connectivity, educating local communities and promoting responsible wildlife tourism. 

The Sloth Conservation Foundation doesn’t just rescue injured sloths, they actively work to prevent threats from occurring in the first place. 

This creates lasting conservation benefits for entire forest ecosystems. 

At Cecropia Travel, we have partnered with the Sloth Conservation Foundation to offer our guests an exclusive VIP experience: “A Day as a Sloth Scientist”. 

You’ll join lead sloth researcher, José Guzmán, as you head into the field monitoring wild sloths as part of their Urban Sloth Project.

How many people can say they’ve worked as a sloth scientist!

2. L.A.S.T 

Collecting data on an endangered hawksbill turtle

Five species of sea turtles nest on the beaches of Costa Rica: leatherback, green, hawksbill, olive-ridley, and loggerhead. Each species returns every year to nest on the same beach it hatched from. 

Unfortunately, sea turtles face many threats - from climate change to coastal development. At every stage of their life cycle, new challenges present themselves, making long-term conservation more important than ever.

One of our favourite sea turtle projects to work with is L.A.S.T (Latin American Sea Turtles). 

Based in Costa Rica’s South Pacific, specifically on the shores of the Golfo Dulce, L.A.S.T. works to protect nesting beaches through scientific monitoring and conservation research. 

To do this, they rely heavily on community education and volunteer support. 

But this is where the fun begins. 

Volunteers can work hands-on on turtle patrols - both in-water and out, at night and during the day. 

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of joining the L.A.S.T. research team in the field, giving me a first-hand insight into the dedication and scientific rigour behind their conservation work.

I joined both their daytime and in-water night patrols. 

At night, researchers searched for resting hawksbill turtles on the reef to take data samples. 

During the day, teams set rows of nets to capture any sea turtles going in and out of the mangroves, as well as collecting environmental data, such as salinity levels and water temperatures. 

The efforts of L.A.S.T provides valuable data that guides future conservation management. 

3. Macaw Recovery Network

A stunning scarlet macaw in an almond tree

​Costa Rica is home to two species of macaw: the scarlet macaw and the great green macaw.

Macaws are among some of Costa Rica's most spectacular birds, to their detriment. 

Both species have experienced significant population declines due to habitat destruction and the illegal pet trade. 

But macaws aren't bound by borders, so knowing where to direct conservation efforts can be a challenge. 

And that’s where the Macaw Recovery Network comes in. 

With various offices throughout Central America and Costa Rica, the Macaw Recovery Network is in a special position to be able to deliver transboundary conservation across Central America - an often limiting factor in this field of work. 

Their collaborative approach, rather than working in isolation, connects researchers, conservation organisations and local communities across Central America.

This is vital in conservation, as it can empower local communities to become conservation leaders. 

In Costa Rica, the Macaw Recovery Network is working on both species of macaws to restore healthy populations. 

They work heavily on habitat restoration, nest protection and carefully managed breeding and release programmes.

4. Changing Tides

A breaching humpback whale in the Golfo Dulce

The waters surrounding Costa Rica are home to approximately 30 cetacean species - including whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Whilst it may not sound like a lot, considering Costa Rica is home to nearly 260 mammal species, this represents over a third of all cetacean species described worldwide. 

Many of Costa Rica’s cetaceans, including the iconic humpback whale, concentrate along the Pacific Coast, especially in the Southern Pacific - where Changing Tides are located. 

Changing Tides is dedicated to improving our understanding of these marine mammals through research, monitoring and education. 

By studying whale and dolphin populations, migration patterns and human impacts, Changing Tides provides valuable scientific information that supports marine conservation.

But what we love most about Changing Tides is their willingness to bring tourists and volunteers onboard to help with identification and photography. 

And that’s what’s so important in modern conservation. Bridging the gap between science and everyday life. 

In turn, this encourages responsible wildlife watching and ocean stewardship. 

I joined Phoebe, zoologist and founder of Changing Tides, back in February 2026 to see exactly how they operated. 

And they don't just stop at cetaceans. 

Like L.A.S.T, Changing Tides also monitors sea turtle species in the Golfo Dulce. I joined the team in carrying out turtle surveys via kayak - an incredibly rewarding experience. 

5. Raising Corals

Scientists gather coral fragements for weighing and recolonisation

​Coral reefs are the rainforests of the sea. 

Not only do they support an incredible diversity of life, they also have an incredibly high productivity. 
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Not to mention they provide habitat and feeding grounds for thousands of marine species, as well as protecting coastlines from erosion. 

But many people just don’t see their importance and the threats corals globally face. 

Rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and disease have caused widespread coral decline throughout the tropics. 

And the Golfo Dulce, where Raising Corals is based, is no exception. 

However, Raising Corals is a pioneering NGO that has helped restore Costa Rica's reefs by cultivating resilient coral fragments in underwater nurseries before transplanting them back onto damaged reefs.

Alongside restoration work, the Raising Corals conducts research and raises awareness about the importance of healthy coral ecosystems. They partner with other coral conservation groups across Costa Rica to share knowledge about how to restore reefs. 

Back at the start of 2026, I went scuba diving in the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce to see the coral restoration in work. 

To my surprise, I saw many healthy looking brain corals, with plenty of marine life all around. 

Seeing thriving corals firsthand was a powerful reminder that, with enough dedication and scientific expertise, damaged ecosystems really can recover. 

6. Osa Conservation

A scientist from Osa Conservation on the observation platform

The Osa Peninsula is widely regarded as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth, supporting nearly 6% of all life on our planet. 

Jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, monkeys, sea turtles, and pumas can all be sighted within the forests and coastlines of the Osa. 

And one conservation group works with more species than any other: Osa Conservation. 

When I visited, the were specialist teams, comprising of experts and volunteers, working on a range of species. Some were focused on beach patrols for nesting female sea turtles, whilst others were looking at the breeding ecology of king vultures. 

Osa Conservation works to protect forests by restoring degraded habitats. 

However, their main goal is more than just restoration. 

Their mission is to create biological corridors that allow wildlife to move safely between vast areas, and different ecosystems, across Costa Rica and beyond.

Their main headquarters, the Conservation Campus, is in the heart of the Osa Peninsula and surrounded by primary forest. 

Onsite, there is a lab where scientists and volunteers record data. 

But the most exciting part of the campus is their 30 metre high observation tower. This gives teams - whether it’s those studying orchids, insects, birds, or mammals - a great vantage point. 

By protecting entire ecosystems rather than focusing on a single species, Osa Conservation helps preserve one of the planet's last great tropical wildernesses. 

7. Tapir Valley

A Baird's Tapir - Costa Rica's largest land mammal

The Baird's tapir is Central America's largest land mammal, and one of Costa Rica's most elusive species. 

As forests become increasingly fragmented, protecting habitat and wildlife corridors has become essential for the species' survival. 

Thanks to the work of community leaders in Bijagua, private areas of land have been reverted from farmland back into natural spaces. 

Led by research, native and rare trees have been planted across the site to attract tapirs.

And sure enough, they returned. 

Tapirs were not reintroduced here. Instead, the land - and the essential flora within - was protected, and by doing so, the tapirs made their way back naturally.

Now, Tapir Valley Nature Reserve provides a safe refuge where tapirs can feed, breed, and move naturally while researchers continue to learn more about their behaviour. 

The reserve also demonstrates how private landowners can play an important role in conservation by restoring forests, protecting waterways and promoting sustainable ecotourism that directly benefits wildlife. 

Back in 2025, I visited Donald - founder and community leader of Tapir Valley. We tracked tapirs through forests and open plains, following footprints and poop. Along the way, he showed me specific trees that had been planted to entice tapirs back.

But that's not all. 

He also found a very special frog - the Tapir Valley Tree Frog. 

This tiny amphibian is critically endangered and endemic to Tapir Valley. In other words, it is found nowhere else on Earth. 

8. Rescue Center Costa Rica

A volunteer prepares food and feeds a green iguana at Rescue Center Costa Rica

Although we wish it wasn’t the case, wildlife rescue centres are vital in Costa Rica and are an essential tool to combat species declines. 

As we’ve explored in previous articles, there are many threats facing the wildlife of Costa Rica. 

Sloths get electrocuted, monkeys are attacked by domestic dogs, macaws are taken from the wild and sold into the exotic pet trade.

Like many rescue centres in Costa Rica, Rescue Center Costa Rica rehabilitates a wide variety of native species with the ultimate goal of returning healthy animals to their natural habitats whenever possible. 

Alongside rehabilitation, the centre places a strong emphasis on environmental education. 

Animals that cannot be released are used to help visitors understand the challenges facing Costa Rica's wildlife, with the hope that there will be a greater appreciation for conservation. 

Whilst rescue work is essential, the Rescue Center Costa Rica also highlights the importance of preventing wildlife injuries through responsible development and habitat protection. 

I have a soft spot for Rescue Center Costa Rica. Not only was I the coordinator for many years, I also worked very closely with a young capuchin monkey called JackJack. 

You can read all about our story together and my work with monkeys in Costa Rica. 

Final Thoughts

Conservation is not achieved by one organisation alone. 

It depends on scientists, local communities, volunteers, responsible businesses, and travellers all working towards the same goal.

By choosing a wildlife holiday to Costa Rica with Cecropia Travel, you're supporting a company that believes tourism should leave a positive legacy. 

Every journey helps promote responsible travel, supports local conservation initiatives, and contributes towards protecting Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity for generations to come.

Together, we can ensure that future visitors continue to experience sloths in the rainforest canopy, macaws soaring overhead, whales breaching offshore, and sea turtles returning to the beaches where their remarkable journey began.

Check out our conservation itinerary, or contact us to plan your own tailor-made conservation journey to Costa Rica.