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Connect with the Peace Corps
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Serve where you’re needed mostTourism Development Specialist
Community Economic Development
Job highlights
- Gain international, sustainable tourism experience in a popular South American destination.
- Strengthen Spanish language skills through daily collaborations and interactions.
- Experience Costa Rica’s rich culture and the pura vida lifestyle.
Costa Rica • North America
In partnership with: Municipal Government
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
July 15, 2026Know by
September 1, 2026Depart on
February 2, 2027Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
Costa Rica is looking for professionals with a passion for sustainable tourism and community economic development to support their new tourism plans.
You will support a canton (similar to a county) southeast of downtown San José, the capital of Costa Rica. This municipality boasts a variety of attractions, including historic buildings, natural protected areas; breathtaking landscapes; sustainable farms, coffee, and sugar mills; farmers’ markets; and museums. However, the municipality currently lacks a robust tourism development plan to promote and utilize all these attractions. Their goal is to create a strategic plan for the canton and a gradual implementation phase where small businesses, farms, and cultural centers will be integrated. This participatory approach will result in shared goals and increased profits for the local stakeholders.
As a Tourism Development Specialist, you will collaborate with local stakeholders to assess, design, develop, and implement strategies to strengthen the canton's sustainable tourism. Alongside municipality workers, you will engage local businesses and community members to promote environmental and social sustainability.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Costa Rica project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or hospitality and tourism.
AND
Three years of experience in tourism marketing and/or hospitality planning and project implementation.
Language: Spanish
A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
B. Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
C. Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
D. Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Costa Rica
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Design and pilot a cantonal tourism strategy aligned with the municipality’s development plan and sustainability goals.
Design an annual work plan with corresponding activities for rural and southern districts.
Identify and promote locally made products.
Design and develop promotional resources that position the area as a national touristic attraction.
Monitor and evaluate indicators of touristic development.
Create technical reports with feedback and improvement.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as facilitating English conversation clubs and coaching youth sports.
Housing may take various forms, including a room with a host family or an independent room or apartment. All housing is located within three kilometers of the Volunteer’s primary work site, allowing them to walk, bike, or use public transportation to commute.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Costa Rica country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Costa Rica
Henry B.
Elementary English Education Volunteer
"Dancing is big in my community, and it has been a great way to meet people and to distinguish myself from the tourists who are constantly coming through town."
See full Volunteer profile
After two weeks of orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to an urban community where you will collaborate with the Municipality. You will work with the partner and your community to assess the local needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Costa Rica will support you if you choose to work with a local tutor who can further advance your language skills to better connect with the community.
To learn more about serving as a couple in Costa Rica, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Costa Rica. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
