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(For High School Students)
La Pura Vida - Cloud Forest to Beach
Cultural Exchange & Service Program
Session One: June 22nd thru July 12th (21 days)
Session Two: July 15th thru August 4th (21 days)
Session Three: August 1st thru August 21st (21 days)
Size of group: 16-18 students
Ages: 15 to 17
Tuition: $3,995 (plus RT airfare, group flight from Newark)
Costa Rica has amazing geographic and biological diversity unmatched by any country its size. From the 12,000-foot mountains in the Talamancan Range to the pristine beaches and rainforests of its Pacific coast, Costa Rica teems with natural beauty. Global Works has been traveling to this amazing country since 1994, experiencing both the diversity of ecological life and the friendliness of the “Ticos,” (the Costa Ricans!).
Service Projects*
- Work on small construction and erosion prevention projects with the Monteverde Conservation League
- Help build a community center or school classroom
- Assist park rangers with local ecotourism projects
- Teach English or work in a school
Adventure and Cultural Activities
- Raft Costa Rica’s best white water
- Surf world class Pacific waves
- Experience canopy walks and night hikes at Hacienda Baru’s Private Nature Reserve
- Hike in the Monteverde cloud forest
- Enjoy Latin dance classes
- View wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park
This language exposure program is designed for students of any Spanish language level and includes an eight day group homestay experience that places two students per home. This trip also offers more adventure days than our Costa Rica language immersion programs.
*Please note that some of the projects and activities will change from year to year, however, they will be similar to those listed. A final itinerary will be printed prior to each trip.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Orientation and Rafting (5 days) - Our experience begins in the San Jose Central Valley B&B, where students get to know one another and establish goals for the weeks ahead. Here we will learn more about Costa Rica, take a Latin dance class, and loosen our muscles with a three-day, two-night rafting trip on one of the spectacular scenic rivers. We will also participate in some basic Spanish lessons so please come ready to learn some key words and phrases!
Monteverde Conservation League (3 days) - After settling in, we travel to Monteverde to work in the tropical cloud forest managed by the Monteverde Conservation League. A rigorous four kilometer uphill hike brings us to a comfortable eco-lodge, our home for the next several days. Time will be spent on a combination of environmental projects, night hikes to view wildlife, discussions, and day hikes to water holes or waterfalls.
The work projects consist of trail maintenance, small bridge construction, and painting. The work is physically demanding but critical to the upkeep of this special land. If the weather cooperates, we will have a spectacular view of the active volcano, Arenal, and adjacent Lake Arenal.
Community Stay (7 days) - After our stay in Monteverde, we head south for our community service projects in a small rural village. While staying in a group homestay (with two students per home), we will work on projects chosen by the community itself. Typical service projects include: pouring the foundation for a community center, painting and tiling a community kitchen, constructing a plant nursery, completing a sidewalk around the town square, building a school library, and assembling and painting school desks and chairs. We also take time to relax in the afternoons and weekends as we play soccer with locals, prepare special dinners, participate in traditional game and dance night, or go for excursions with families to nearby swimming areas.
Hacienda Baru and Manuel Antonio Park (4 days) - We finish the trip with a chance to relax and reflect upon the weeks past. Hacienda Baru, a private rainforest reserve, features a unique combination of rain forest and ocean settings. We spend several days exploring new activities such as snorkeling on Isla Cano, boogie boarding, participating in zip line and canopy tours, tree climbing, and viewing wildlife. We will take a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park to take surf lessons and explore the wildlife and beaches in this world famous park. It is common to spot sloths, monkeys, and dart frogs in the reserve and leatherback turtles sometimes appear on the beach!
Central Valley and Travel Home (2 days) - Leaving paradise is always sad, but our trip back to the Central Valley gives us time to share our memories before we fly home. At a celebratory dinner in a nice restaurant we have an ‘awards ceremony’ to reflect upon our last four weeks together. We realize that Costa Rica and the friends we have made will always be with us!
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 "Click to enlarge Costa Rica map.")