Cloudbridge Nature Reserve

San Gerardo de Rivas
Costa Rica

Information for Volunteers and Researchers at Cloudbridge


Please consider before heading for Costa Rica:

• The nature reserve is quite isolated -- 1 1/2 miles (2.5 kilometers) from the village -- and conditions are basic. This is great for some people, but the isolation may prove frustrating to others. There is no television or phone or refrigerator, and limited electricity (solar panels at Casa Amanzimtoti). At times you may find that you're the only volunteer up there. Most locals (Ticos) speak only Spanish.
• While there may be knowledgeable people among the mix of volunteers and the locals working on the project, there is not an expert biologist or forester present at any given time. Time spent at Cloudbridge is an opportunity to learn about forest recovery and conservation through hands-on experience and daily challenges. For research projects such as photomonitoring and biomonitoring, you'll receive clear guidelines but your work will be unsupervised. The “forestry work” generally involves planting trees (it's tiring) and basic plantation management (such as chopping and pruning with a machete). Additional projects include fence removal, trailbuilding and trail maintenance, and constructing benches and shelters.
• Much of the work involves manual labor, which can sometimes be quite physically challenging, especially in a hot, humid climate. Typically, volunteers work a five-hour day on the plantation and reserve, often on a unique research project, and dedicate the afternoon to reading, or writing up field research results, or just relaxing. These projects can be quite varied, including monitoring a particular tree species, flora identification, biological research, wildlife observation, and others.
• Each volunteer is expected to propose and complete a research study, and to write up their report on the results before departing Cloudbridge. Once accepted, your proposal and your findings (including some photos) may be published on the Cloudbridge web site.

What are the costs?
Volunteering at Cloudbridge is free except for the "good faith" fee of $200, of which you get $150 back when you complete your assigned stay and projects. (The remainder goes to planting trees, research expenses, and for two complementary Spanish lessons - see below.) The cost of living is low: about $6-10 per person per day for local accommodation, and a similar amount, or less, for food. Transportation by bus to San Gerardo from San Jose runs under $20. Sometimes volunteers make a specific contribution where there's an identifiable need.

What's the accommodation like?
Sometimes there's room at Casa Amanzimtoti, or in the Casita, for a daily fee of $4 per person, which must be paid to our Manager, two weeks in advance. (The Casa and casita are available when Ian and Genevieve Giddy are not in residence.) See information about the Casa. Otherwise we'll help find you a place to stay in the nearby village, or with a Tico family, which is great for improving your Spanish! See the San Gerardo de Rivas web page for a an accommodation list. Camping on the Reserve is not permitted, but some dedicated researchers stay in the Gavilan Field Station, up on the side of a mountain.

What about the toilet and shower facilities?
Most village posadas have flush toilets and lukewarm showers. There are basic toilet facilities (outhouses) up on the reserve itself. Casa Amanzimtoti and the casita each have their own hot water heater, shower and toilet.

Can I drink the water?
The water at Casa Amanzimtoti and on Cloudbridge comes from pure mountain springs and need no treatment. In the village, we recommend drinking boiled or bottled water. Some people take a week or so to adjust to the water, and you should prepare yourself for this possibility. (Pepto-Bismal?)

What happens if there is an emergency -- eg., someone gets hurt, or bitten by a snake?
First-aid equipment is kept at the Casa and the Field Station for immediate use. If someone needs professional medical help, there is the Hospital San Isidro (tel. 771-3122) and other clinics in San Isidro. The best hospital in the country is reportedly CIMA in Escazu, near San Jose (tel. 208-1430). We recommend that you get medical insurance in your home country. One company that offers travel medical insurance is Medex (www.medexassist.com). Volunteers are totally responsible for their own health and safety.

Snakes and insects?
Yes. It’s a jungle out there. Nobody that we know of has been bitten by a snake at Cloudbridge, and everybody’s been bitten by mosquitoes. To alleviate itching, try applying hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, or some other kind of anti-itch cream, or soaking in baking soda. Scratching will quickly open bites and cause them to become infected. There are fewer snakes and insects at this altitude, but there are some. While very unlikely at this altitude, the country does have some tropical diseases like malaria and dengue fever. No special vaccinations are necessary for travel in Costa Rica at this time. Nevertheless, health care providers may suggest vaccinations against hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B or influenza. Hepatitis A is generally recommended for all travelers. Typhoid is often suggested for those with adventurous dietary habits and those traveling off the beaten path. Hepatitis B is recommended for those open to engaging in sex with a new partner while traveling.

Is there supervision at the Reserve?
Not much. You'll meet our English speaking Reserve Manager as well as local Spanish-speaking workers. They work on the trees, the trails, and other projects including some around the house. They will provide you with initial guidance, but from then on you’ll be unsupervised. Hence volunteers should be independent and self-sufficient.

Orientation is usually done by our manager, Eric, but our neighbors and colleagues, Tom, Cloudbridge Program Director, and Amy, his wife, will also provide assistance in settling in and showing you the ropes.

How many volunteers are there? How long do they stay?
Usually no more than 6 at any one time; usually fewer, particularly in the really rainy season. The usual stay is 6 weeks or more; some have stayed for much longer. A few dedicated volunteers have returned for two or more stints, some have never left.

How do we get food?
There are several restaurants in the village. A few groceries can be bought at Albergue Uran, 15 minutes from Casa Amanzimtoti, and there is a limited selection at the pulperia (small grocery store)  in the village of San Gerardo. There's a fruit and vegetable store close to the pulperia. When you first arrive in San Isidro, before taking the bus or taxi up to Cloudbridge, it is advisable to stock up on supplies. The best supermarkets are La Corona, and the Cooperativa opposite the main bus station. If you know you are going to have cooking facilities (such as at Casa Amanzimtoti), you will need groceries like oil, eggs, butter, long-life milk, cereal, coffee, chicken, meat, fruit, vegetables, canned goods, bread, jams, nuts, dried fruit. You can take periodic trips back into San Isidro by bus or taxi from San Gerardo, or perhaps you can get a ride with someone going into town. You may be able to supplement your diet with organic produce grown by the neighbors, or catch trout for your dinner at Los Cocolisos trout farm nearby. Delicioso!

What’s a typical work day?
It’s the tropics - the sun rises at 6 and sets at 6. Also, it often rains in the afternoon, especially in the rainy season (May-November). So the locals find it best to start early, beginning work at 6:30 and finishing by about 1:30pm. Expect to work about 5 hours a day. Afternoons are for computer work and reading. Casa Amanzimtoti has a small but good research library, and a computer with internet access. There’s still time for personal projects, a visit to the village store or exploring before night suddenly falls.

What do people do in the evening?
Evening is one of the magical parts of life in the Chirripo valley. After dinner, visitors often chat or write letters, play cards, read a novel or study the various tropical fruit, animal, and plant books from the Cloudbridge library. All is done by candlelight or solar power amidst the noise of the crickets and frogs and the rushing Chirripo River down below. We are generally in bed before 9 and awake about 5:30 to the dawn and the songs of the birds. Of course you can always have dinner at one of the local restaurants and meet new friends.

What else is there to do?
A majority of a volunteer´s time, during the day, will be spent up at the Cloudbridge Reserve and around Casa Amanzimtoti or Gavilan Field Station. However, there are other places to visit. You can walk down the road to the village of San Gerardo de Rivas (you may even be staying there). You can hike to the top of Mount Chirripo to put your stamina to the test. (Book in advance!) There are other beautiful hikes both on the Cloudbridge Reserve and in the surrounding area. You can explore the waterfalls and swim in the chilly river pools on a hot day. You can go to the nearby hot springs to ease your muscles. You can stop for a beer at the Roca Dura and chat to hikers or locals. A  popular break is to head to the beach at Dominical, about 2.5 hours away.

Finally, every week or so when volunteers need to send postcards, check their email, call home, or eat pizza, they head off to San Isidro  -- one can take the morning bus there (7:00 am) and the afternoon bus back (2:00pm), or negotiate a ride with someone going into town.

Spanish Lessons
Cloudbridge volunteers are entitled to two free Spanish Lessons, and thereafter receive a special rate.  Ellen Wisse who lives nearby is the teacher. She can meet you at the community library in San Gerardo, near the Parks Office. (Ellen was one of the first volunteers at Cloudbridge who returned to live here permanently.)

What to Bring      
Be aware that you are coming to work in a high-altitude, humid tropical climate that can be hot in the day and cool at night. When packing to come here, you should plan on bringing three kinds of clothes: work clothes, night clothes and city clothes. Your Cloudbridge work clothes will inevitably be stained, so these should be tough workwear. Bring enough underwear and T-shirts so that you only have to do laundry occasionally. Some people take their laundry to San Isidro so it can be washed and dried while they are shopping, hanging out at the Chirripo Hotel cafe, or checking email in a nearby Internet cafe.
 
Clothing
Rubber boots. Even in the dry season it rains and the ground can be muddy. Boots can  be bought in San Isidro at the Cinco Menos department store for $5-8.
Another pair of good walking shoes or sneakers (you might want to bring hiking boots if you plan to ascend Mt. Chirripo).
Light rain jacket or poncho.
Work clothes: at least 2 long-sleeved, 3 short-sleeved lightweight shirts and 2 pairs of long lightweight pants. These clothes will become stained. Note from Jenny: Don’t bring too many clothes – you can have fun shopping for cast-offs from North America at “American Ropa” stores in San Isidro (eg, the one opposite Cinco Menos) – all items, such as jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, denim jackets, are about $2.00 each and are in good condition.
Swimsuit, and flip flops or Tevas. There is a great beach in Dominical, and you'll surely want to take dips in the chilly Chirripo River pools.
Sweater or fleece for the evenings - it can get quite cool.
2-3 pairs of high socks (up to knee). These are much more comfortable when wearing your boots.
2-3 changes of clothes to wear at night after your shower (these won’t become quite as stained).
Hat with a brim: This serves as protection from the sun as well as from insects.

Toiletries and Medicine
Malaria pills. Most people do not bother to take Malaria pills; however you should be aware that there is a slight risk, and the decision is yours. Outbreaks occasionally occur in other parts of Costa Rica that you may visit. Consult with your doctor at home about the proper medications and immunizations for you.
First-aid kit including:
        Pharmaceuticals (e.g. Neosporin, Hydrogen Peroxide) to clean small wounds and blisters
        Band aids
        Sports tape in case of twisted ankles
        Aspirin or other headache medicine
        Sunscreen  
        Vitamins supplement if required
        Afterbite, Calamine lotion or anti-histamines for mosquito bites.
Lots of mosquito repellent (organic type does not work as well as ones with 50% deet or more, sorry)
Mosquito netting: it is better to buy this at home as there is not a large selection in Costa Rica. (Casa Amanzimtoti has a couple of nets.)

Other necessary items
Sheets or sleeping bag liner (expensive in CR)
A light sleeping bag or a blanket (optional)
2 towels (light camp towels best)
Flashlight (headlight best) and extra batteries    
A good pocketknife (with can and bottle opener)
Daypack
Reading matter and notebook (but there's a selection of natural history books at Cloudbridge)
Compact Spanish dictionary (for reference, there's one at Casa Amanzimtoti)

Money
Life is easiest in Costa Rica if you have cash (local currency and dollars), an ATM card and a credit card (Visa is best). Carry some cash and draw more from your ATM card as needed. There are ATMs in San José and San Isidro (and you can use a credit card to pay for groceries at the supermarkets in San Isidro). There is a bank machine in the airport's baggage claim area, and another outside. For peace of mind, some people prefer travelers checks. Before leaving Costa Rica, make sure that you have the airport tax (about $26) saved in cash, preferably US dollars. (Or buy it at the airport when you arrive, just before you go through immigration.) Don't keep all your money together. Keep money, passport, tickets, etc in a very safe place on your person while travelling around Costa Rica. Pickpockets are highly skilled, and the crowded bus from San Isidro to Dominical is a golden opportunity for them, and a sorry end to your holiday photos when your camera disappears, as has happened to a couple of volunteers.

Visas and Documents
You will need a passport to enter Costa Rica. Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. You can stay for 3 months at a a time on a tourist visa. (During your stay, the law requires that you carry your passport at all times, although a copy usually suffices.) Keep a photocopy of all key documents, such as passport, drivers licence and credit cards, in a ziploc deep in your backpack. Better still, scan them and send the images to yourself as an email attachment. Same with all credit card numbers and key telephone numbers.

Communications
Cloudbridge no longer has a computer for volunteer use. (Don't ask - it's too much of a saga, with a tragic annual denouement.)  We do however have high speed Internet with a wireless connection, so bring your own laptop, just make sure you have an anti-virus program on it. Backing up your data onto the Cloudbridge hard drive is a must. If you don't have your own computer, visit Albergue Uran for Internet, or the Talamanca Restaurant nearby which has internet facilities too. Re public phones - the nearest one is outside the Albergue Uran, just 12 minutes from the casa. You'll need to buy a phone card. In San Isidro you can use public phones using a calling card (widely available). San Isidro and other cities have internet cafes. Stamps are available only at the Post Office. The mailing address is Reserva Cloudbridge, San Gerardo de Rivas, PZ, Costa Rica.

Directions and getting around
Print out the "Directions" page on the Cloudbridge website in both English and Spanish. Print this document out too. Pick up a tourist map at the airport. Click here for recommendations on where to stay in and around Alajuela and San José. In San José, volunteers recommend the Backpackers Hostel.