Costa Rica: Service and Adventure

Upon arrival in San Jose, your group transfers via private bus to a comfortable hotel. After a good night of sleep, we visit a local family owned, organic dairy farm to learn about sustainability and make some cheese! We use this unique opportunity as a backdrop for orientation and safety activities, all while practicing our Spanish (of course!). 

Your group transfers to a renowned, locally-run wildlife rehabilitation center where we will volunteer on various projects that may include preparing food, feeding animals, or creating and building toys for the animals to engage with. After a busy day, we head back to the hotel for a siesta, and maybe even a short yet stunning rainforest hike near our lodging!

For the next few days we work with our friends in a nearby community on community development and environmental projects. Typical projects include: pouring the foundation for a community center, planting organic school gardens, painting and tiling a community kitchen, constructing a plant nursery, teaching English lessons. Most afternoons we break from our projects for opportunities of exchange like soccer games, English and Spanish intercambios, and excursions.

After saying goodbye to our new friends in the nearby community, we get pumped up for an amazing zip line tour through the canopy in Arenal Volcano National Park! We continue our day of adventure in La Fortuna where we have the opportunity to shop for unique souvenirs. Before heading back to San Jose, we hike to a beautiful waterfall near La Fortuna and enjoy a cooling swim! In San Jose, we hold a final dinner, reflection, and celebration for our time spent together.