Interested in volunteering with CAfecito Surf?
Cafecito Surf Volunteer Needed!
Cafecito Surf is looking for 1–2 volunteers with an interest in photography to help us with the guesthouse and surf school this high season!
Interested applicants can apply as an individual, or as a pair. In order to be considered for the volunteer position, the individual or one of the pair must own and be willing to bring a quality camera, a zoom lens of at least 200mm, and a tripod.
✨ What This Role Offers
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Super reduced cost of room & board at the Cafecito Surfhouse
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Access to our surfboards and bicycle
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Discounted pricing on tours and excursions
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The best vibe in town, cozy accommodation with AC and premium bedding
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Free laundry, free coffee, free premium shampoo & conditioner
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Earning potential from the videos and photos you capture for our students!
🎥 Requirements
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Quality camera with 200–500mm lens + tripod
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Positive, easygoing, sociable energy
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Basic admin/organizational skills
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English fluency required (Spanish a plus)
📸 Primary Responsibilities
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Surf School Video Analysis – Film surf lessons with our head coach Lenin, organize footage for video reviews
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Reception & Light Housekeeping – Be present at the hostel during check in times (share shifts with Chelsea, the owner), help with check-ins, taking out garbage, sweeping, tidying shared spaces
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Other Tasks, Marketing Content & Basic Admin – Capture photos/videos of Cafecito life, help keep house supplies stocked
🕒 Time Commitment
Individual // Total 40 hr/week
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~12 hrs/week filming surf classes
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~4 hrs/week organizing & filing videos
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~20 hrs/week reception coverage
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~4 hrs/week extra tasks
Pair // Total 60 hr/week shared
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~16 hrs/week filming surf classes
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~6 hrs/week organizing & filing videos
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~30 hrs/week reception coverage (shared)
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~8 hrs/week extra tasks (shared)
🏠 Reduced Room & Board
This role includes partial room & board, with your hours balanced against the value of our accommodation during high season. As a small business we need to maximize this busy time, but we’re committed to being fair. Too often volunteers in Santa Teresa are overworked, and end up frustrated and miss out on enjoying the town. At Cafecito we prioritize transparency, clarity, and making sure you still have plenty of free time to enjoy the beauty of Santa Teresa.
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Individual dorm bed reduced: $300/month
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Pair in dorm beds reduced: $450/month each
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Couple in private room: $1,500/month - We cannot give out our private room for less than this as it is a substantial source of income for us during the high season.
👉 Please note: food is not included. We do provide free coffee, filtered water, olive oil, sugar, shampoo, conditioner, soap, laundry, and other basic household items.
💰 Earning Potential
This makes this volunteer opportunity super unique!! We use the videos you capture to conduct surf lesson analysis at the house, but we don’t give these videos out for free. You’ll have the chance to earn by selling your footage directly to students: $20 for the first time they buy video of their class and $10 for each subsequent class. With groups of 2–10 surfers per class and 5-10 classes per week, this adds up quickly. On average, we expect you to make a minimum of $200 a week, and standout photographers may also land extra paid shoots worth $150–300 per session.
ℹ️ Important Things to Know
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Daily Reception Hours. You will share the shifts with Chelsea, one of the owners.
9am–12pm 3pm–4pm 6:30pm–8:30pm (never miss a sunset)
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Filming hours vary daily and are confirmed the day before. Volunteers always get at least 1 full day off, with 2 days in a row whenever possible.
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For surfers: it is important you understand that classes often run during prime waves, so you will have to miss out on surf sessions to cover your filming responsibility, but the good news is that in Santa Teresa sunrise and sunset always offer chances to surf, so you will still have daily opportunity to hit the ocean.
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Discounts: Tours & excursions typically 40% off staff pricing.
📚 Work Experience / Internship Hours
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During reception hours (and some additional weekly hours), you’re welcome to get involved in business administration tasks that interest you. If you’re completing internship hours or looking for professional experience, we’ll structure your contribution at Cafecito to align with your goals — whether that’s marketing, finance, operations, or beyond.