Puerto Rico
Community Development & Cultural Exchange
About the Program
Discover the beauty of Puerto Rico’s cultural and natural environment while engaging in meaningful community development projects. As the site of Global Works’ first service trip in 1989, Puerto Rico remains a place where students can connect with local communities through impactful service and cultural exchange. Focusing on community rebuilding efforts, this program allows students to immerse themselves in Puerto Rican life while contributing to long-lasting community partnerships.
Itinerary
Discover the exciting adventures and impactful moments that await each day on this itinerary!
- Arrival at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in the capital city of San Juan, Puerto Rico and meet your Global Works trip leaders
- Transfer by private vans to group lodging on the North coast
- Quick safety briefing and settle into rooms
- Depart for Viejo San Juan, the heart of one of the oldest European colonial cities of the Americas
- Take a stroll through the cobblestone streets of Viejo San Juan to meet your knowledgable guide, who will inform the group of Puerto Rico’s vibrant past from an insider’s perspective with an interactive tour of the historic district
- Enjoy a traditional Boriqua lunch at one of Old San Juan’s oldest eateries
- Cool off in the tranquil waters of the Caribbean
- Group reflection and first impressions of Puerto Rico
- View a documentary film that chronicles the tremendous impact of Hurricane Maria on the island
- Santurce Art & Mural Walk with your Old San Juan tour guide – explore the neighborhood that has emerged as the capital of art in the Caribbean
- Load into vans and drive into the tropical hills above Cerro Gordo and enter the community of Villa del Rio
- Projects will focus on rebuilding efforts with individual families whose homes were severely damaged by the high winds and flooding attributable to Hurricane Maria
- Traditional Puerto Rican lunch prepared by members of the community
- Service projects continue into the afternoon
- Return to Cerro Gordo for beach time, volleyball, basketball, or downtime
- Evening group activity
- Vans return to Villa del Rio for continued hurricane relief efforts which are driven by needs identified by the community members themselves
- Lunch prepared by the community
- Service projects pick up momentum in the afternoon
- Return to Cerro Gordo for beach time, volleyball, basketball, or downtime
- Meet with ecological tourism experts and engage in hands-on service for the conservation of the native island environment. Projects may include trail maintenance, planting, or small construction jobs related to the island’s flora and fauna
- Dedicated service debrief with your Global Works leader team
- Professional Salsa dance lesson!
- Taino Petroglyph experience with a local guide
- Additional day of Homebuilding Projects in Villa del Rio
- Morning paddle board tour of the mangrove forest surrounding our new lodge in the beach town of Luquillo – an expert eco-guide leads the way
- Grab a beachside lunch at Los Kioskos de Luquillo, with an opportunity for souvenir shopping
- Venture up the mountainside into El Yunque National Forest – take a night hike through the forest with a professional guide. See and gain in-depth knowledge about frogs, insects, birds, and other species while learning about conservation, mythology, and geography
- Final closing dinner and celebration by the beach
- Cooking class with a professional instructor – cook and eat local Puerto Rican cuisine!
- Bioluminescent Bay kayak tour in Fajardo
- Day-long snorkeling boat tour along the coast (this replaces the full day’s activities leading up to a final dinner
- Breakfast at the hotel, then pack up
- Depart for the airport according to flight schedules
Educational Focus & Highlights
Rebuild After Hurricane Maria
Work alongside community members in Villa del Rio to help rebuild homes and infrastructure affected by Hurricane Maria. Mix cement and assist with projects designed by the community to support long-term recovery.
Discover Old San Juan
Walk through the historic cobblestone streets of Viejo San Juan, learning about Puerto Rico’s vibrant history from local experts. Experience the island’s culture through public art, traditional food, and engaging insights shared by a local guide.
Protect Puerto Rico’s Environment
Engage in conservation efforts at the Northeastern Ecological Corridor, focusing on trail maintenance and habitat protection for local wildlife, including nesting sea turtles and wild iguanas.
Gliding Through Nature
Paddle board through Puerto Rico’s serene mangrove channels, where calm waters wind through a lush canopy of green. Along the way, spot tropical birds, marine life, and the vibrant ecosystems that make these coastal forests so unique.
Gallery
Lodging
Participants
Participants stay in comfortable, dorm-style rooms that typically accommodate 4-12 students per room. These accommodations are carefully selected and often include locally run hotels or lodges that reflect the culture of the area. Each location is selected to have private meeting spaces for group activities, ensuring both a supportive and appropriate environment for our programs.
Chaperones
Chaperones can expect to stay in private rooms, unless otherwise noted by the Global Works operations team. These rooms are located in the same facility as the student accommodations, allowing for a peaceful environment to relax and recharge without compromising proximity to the group. During homestays, chaperones typically have a choice to either stay with a homestay family or in a nearby hotel (location dependent).
Bring Your Classroom to the World
Collaborate with Global Works on an impactful service-learning travel program for your students.
