More than a Trip — This Is a Shared Purpose.

Built by guides. Inspired by the jungle. Rooted in community.

We started this project because we craved something more —
more connection, more purpose, more real life.
What we created was never meant to be a business.
It’s a week-long invitation to be part of something meaningful.

Born From Experience. Built for Human Connection.

After more than 15 years guiding travelers through Costa Rica’s wildest places, I realized something was missing: real connection.
Not just between people and nature — but between people and people.

Drake Bay Volunteers was born from that feeling. I wanted to create something honest, human, and rooted in the land I love. Not a typical volunteering project. Not a luxury retreat. But something in between — a real experience where travelers can slow down, learn from local guides, share time with people from the village, and feel part of something meaningful.

This is not about posing for photos with kids or building schools for marketing. This is about walking trails with local guides, buying bread from the señora down the street, and spending your afternoon playing fútbol or volleyball at the town plaza with the locals.
It’s about talking, listening, learning, and simply being present — with the ocean on one side, the rainforest on the other, and a small, welcoming community at your feet.

We don’t offer “volunteer trips.”
We offer a chance to live simply, give back quietly, and remember what matters.

What Makes Us Different

We’re not a traditional volunteer program.
We’re not a luxury retreat either.
We’re something in between — and that’s what makes it special.

You’ll learn directly from Costa Rican guides who’ve spent their lives exploring this region — not from textbooks or foreign-run NGOs.

We don’t create fake “volunteer” tasks. You’ll engage in meaningful activities, connect naturally with the community, and live Costa Rica at human pace.

No fancy resorts. Just authentic days close to nature, slow afternoons, local food, and the chance to help in small but real ways — like turtle conservation or supporting local farmers.

Rooted in Simplicity. Guided by Purpose.

We believe travel can be more than sightseeing.
It can be a way to reconnect — with nature, with others, and with yourself.

At Drake Bay Volunteers, we don’t offer fast-paced itineraries or tightly controlled schedules. We offer rhythm. Space. A chance to slow down and truly feel the place you’ve come to.

We believe in learning from the land, from the locals, and from each other. Our philosophy is built on three simple principles:

We don’t believe you need to be perfect to make a difference.
Just being here — listening, walking, sharing — creates impact. Not through grand gestures, but through genuine presence.

We walk at nature’s pace, not the clock’s.

This is not about saving communities or wildlife.
It’s about respecting them — understanding the real context, supporting what’s already being done, and recognizing that we’re guests in both the forest and the village.

Your journey is not about fixing — it’s about witnessing, sharing, and learning.

This isn’t luxury travel — but it is deeply rewarding.
You’ll sweat. You’ll get muddy. You’ll learn to live with less.
And in return, you’ll gain something rare: connection. With locals, with nature, and with parts of yourself you’ve forgotten.

True connection requires vulnerability. That’s where the magic is.

“We don’t chase perfection —
we create spaces for people to feel human again.”

What Makes Drake Bay Volunteers Different

We’re not trying to be like everyone else.
Here’s what makes this experience truly unique:

All activities are guided by locals — not foreign volunteers. Learn from real knowledge and lived experience.

We only host a few participants at a time. This keeps it personal, intimate, and respectful of the village’s rhythm.

This isn’t a mass tourism operation. It’s a personal dream turned reality — built with care, honesty, and purpose.

You’ll eat traditional meals prepared with ingredients from nearby — supporting families and farmers in the area.

You won’t be rushed. Spend your free time at the river, the beach, or playing fútbol with locals in the town plaza.

No forced photo-ops. No white savior vibes. Just a chance to join real efforts, like sea turtle conservation — if you want to.

You’re not just visiting.
You’re becoming part of something — small, meaningful, and unforgettable.

The Heart Behind It All

Allan Guevara – The Guide Who Dreamed of More

After years of guiding travelers through Costa Rica’s most remote corners, I started to crave something deeper — not more clients, but more meaning.

I’ve spent over 15 years guiding people through the wild beauty of Corcovado, the Osa Peninsula, and beyond. I loved the work — but something always felt missing.

The problem wasn’t the jungle.
It was the pace. The disconnect. The feeling that everything had become too transactional.

I didn’t want to be just another tour guide.
I wanted to create something that felt — something rooted in community, in slow travel, in shared humanity.

That’s how this project was born.

Not as a business plan.
Not as an NGO.

But as a personal dream — a way to invite others into my home, my village, and the life I’ve built here, one trail at a time.

I’m not here to impress anyone.
I’m here to share what really matters — nature, community, and human connection.