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Join our small team at Golfo Dulce Retreat, a remote rainforest eco-lodge in Costa Rica. Help plan daily guest menus, prepare cooking schedules and instructions for our cook, monitor kitchen inventory, assist with food preparation, oversee meal presentation and plate dishes. We're looking for someone organised, creative, passionate about food and happy to work alongside our local kitchen team.
32 hours of help per week
Cooking: Choose the menu, pick ingredients and cook delicious dishes.
Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.
Bartending: Make and serve drinks and help maintain the beverages inventory.
1 day off per week
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Intermediate English and Intermediate Spanish
Between 18 and 30 years old
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and creative volunteer to join our small kitchen team at Golfo Dulce Retreat, a remote eco-lodge surrounded by pristine rainforest on Costa Rica's Golfo Dulce.
Your main role will be to help coordinate the daily preparation of meals for our guests, working closely with our local cook. Responsibilities will include planning guest menus and meal schedules, preparing daily cooking instructions, checking kitchen inventory, helping with food preparation, overseeing the cooking process and assisting with plating and presentation.
We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys food, has a good understanding of cooking and food presentation, pays attention to detail and is comfortable taking initiative. Previous experience in a professional kitchen or hospitality would be an advantage, but enthusiasm, organisation and a willingness to work as part of a team are equally important. Spanish would be particularly helpful when communicating with our kitchen staff.
In return, you will have the opportunity to experience life in one of Costa Rica's most extraordinary natural environments. Our retreat is accessible only by boat, surrounded by tropical rainforest and abundant wildlife. You will become part of our small, friendly team, enjoy meals and accommodation at the retreat, and have time to explore the surrounding nature.
This is a wonderful opportunity for someone who loves cooking, nature and the experience of living in a truly remote location.
Our kitchen activities revolve around our guests' daily meal schedule. Breakfast is generally served at 8am, lunch at 1pm, afternoon tea at 5pm, and cocktails and dinner from 7pm.
We expect our volunteer to assist around these meal times, helping with food preparation, plating, presentation and coordinating the work with our cook. You will also help prepare packed breakfasts and lunches for guests departing on early morning excursions, as well as check inventory and organise the following day's menus and preparations.
We anticipate approximately 4–6 hours of help per day when guests are staying with us. These hours will be spread throughout the day rather than worked as one continuous shift, with plenty of free time between meal services.
Our schedule depends on guest occupancy, so some days will be busier than others, and there may be days with little or no kitchen activity when we have no guests. Flexibility is important, and we will coordinate the daily schedule together according to what needs to be done.
Golfo Dulce Retreat is a small, remote eco-lodge accessible only by boat, so living here requires independence, flexibility and respect for nature.
We ask our volunteers to be mindful of the following:
Professionalism: Our guests come here for a peaceful, personalised experience. We expect volunteers to be friendly, discreet and respectful of guests' privacy.
Teamwork: We are a small team, and everyone is expected to work cooperatively and respectfully.
Hygiene: Good personal hygiene, food safety and cleanliness in the kitchen are essential.
Flexibility: Working hours depend on guest occupancy and meal schedules, so some flexibility is necessary.
Respect for nature: We live surrounded by wildlife and pristine rainforest. Respect for the environment and our conservation values is fundamental.
No smoking: Smoking is not permitted in guest areas or shared spaces.
Remote living: There are no shops, restaurants or nightlife within walking distance. Volunteers should genuinely enjoy nature, tranquillity and a slower pace of life.
Days off and transport: As the retreat is accessible only by boat, days off and free time do not necessarily mean being able to leave the property. Any trips to town must be arranged in advance and depend on boat availability.
Communication: We appreciate open, honest communication and encourage volunteers to ask questions whenever they are unsure about something.
In return, we offer a welcoming environment where you can become part of our small team and experience a very special corner of Costa Rica.
