The Global Works Destination Teachers Love Most
Every year teachers ask us the same question: What is the most transformative Global Works destination for students?
For many schools, the answer has become Puerto Rico.
Students work alongside local families rebuilding homes after hurricanes, explore Old San Juan with local guides, hike in the rainforest of El Yunque, and return home with a deeper understanding of community, resilience, and their own ability to contribute.
Puerto Rico also holds a special place in the history of Global Works. After Hurricane Hugo in 1989, a small group of campers from Stone Mountain Adventures traveled to the island to help communities rebuild. That experience showed how powerful it could be for students to travel with purpose and work alongside local communities. It also helped inspire what would eventually become Global Works.
More than thirty years later, Puerto Rico remains one of the most meaningful destinations we offer and has become the place teachers return to again and again with their students.
A typical Puerto Rico program combines meaningful service with cultural exploration and outdoor learning.
Students spend several days working in the community of Villa del Rio alongside local families helping strengthen homes damaged by hurricanes. Working together with local partners, students mix and carry cement, prepare construction materials, and assist with repairs designed to make homes more resilient to future storms. The work is physical, collaborative, and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
Outside the worksite, the island itself becomes a classroom. Students explore Puerto Rico’s history, culture, and environment through a mix of guided activities and shared experiences.
Program highlights often include:
• Rebuilding homes alongside families in Villa del Rio
• Mixing cement and assisting with hurricane-resilient construction projects
• Guided exploration of Old San Juan and historic Spanish forts
• Hiking in El Yunque rainforest and learning about tropical ecosystems
• Paddle boarding through mangrove forests or kayaking in a bioluminescent bay
• Cultural experiences such as salsa dancing and traditional Puerto Rican meals
Puerto Rico also offers logistical advantages that make it especially appealing for school groups.
Why Puerto Rico works so well for school travel:
• No passport required for U.S. students
• Many direct flights from cities across the United States
• Domestic travel logistics that simplify planning
• Flexible program length depending on school schedules
For many schools, Puerto Rico becomes the perfect introduction to Global Works – a place where students work hard, build relationships with local communities, and return home with new perspectives about the world and their place in it.
Puerto Rico isn’t just one of our most popular destinations. It’s where the Global Works story began, and where students continue to discover what they’re capable of when they step outside their comfort zone and into the world.
