COSTA RICA
Intro to Pre Med & Public Health
Learn from physicians and healthcare professionals and gain practical field experience in beautiful Costa Rica.
Trip Details
Departures and Availability
Session 1
June 23, 2026 July 9, 2026 OpenSession 2
July 13, 2026 July 29, 2026 OpenFocus
Pre-Med / Public Health
Grades
Entering 9th – Graduating 12th
Average Group Size
18 Students, 3 Staff
Days
17
Service Hours
30-40 Hours
Tuition
$6,095
Itinerary
Embark on an immersive Costa Rican adventure, combining hands-on medical experience, public health projects, and adventure.
- Arrive in San Jose and transfer to a nearby lodge
- Orientation activities, including a presentation and discussion on Costa Rica’s healthcare system
- One-day rafting adventure near La Fortuna
- Complete Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification course with professional instructors (includes CPR certification)
- Visit an organic dairy farm – learn about natural remedies, permaculture, and see unique flora and fauna around the property
- Zip-line canopy tour at Arenal volcano
- Souvenir shopping in La Fortuna downtown
- Participate in a Mental Health First Aid workshop and receive certification
- Hands-on workshop on stitching and injections led by a local clinician
- Volunteer with a local healthcare partner serving immigrant families
- Assist with health education, observe doctors, support patient intake, and help out in the pharmacy
- Prepare a presentation for a local day center for adults with multiple disabilities
- Survey and discussion on environmental health, and clean air/water initiatives
- Travel to the Pacific Coast for a surf lesson with local instructors
- Learn about yoga, plant therapy, and alternative medicine
- Tree planting with a local reforestation project – swim under a waterfall!
- Return to San Jose for a celebratory dinner and closing reflections
- Depart for home with lasting memories
Highlights of the Trip
Wilderness First Aid Certification
Earn your Wilderness First Aid certification by learning essential skills such as patient assessment, emergency first aid treatment, and outdoor medical decision-making.
Clinical Experience
Gain hands-on clinical experience by assisting doctors, supporting patient intake, and participating in health education activities for underserved communities.
Mental Heath First Aid Certifcation
Earn your Mental Health First Aid certification by learning how to provide immediate support for individuals experiencing mental health crises, such as anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional distress.
Awesome Adventure
Soar through the rainforest canopy on a thrilling zip-line adventure, then unwind on the Pacific Coast with sun, sand, and surf.
Gallery
Accommodations
San Jose
Global Works Costa Rica participants spend the first, middle, and final days of the program in a small, comfortable lodge located in the mountains surrounding the capital of San Jose. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting student groups. It is dorm style with 4 to 6 students sleeping in bunk beds; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group orientation, dance lessons, and ice-breaker activities.
Wilderness First Aid Course
In the La Fortuna area, we stay in a comfortable lodge located in a mountain valley. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting teens and student groups. Rooms are for 2 to 4 students; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group activities.
Pacific Coast Alternative Medicine & Surf-camp
Participants stay at an ecolodge in southern Costa Rica located just steps from the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park. Accommodations are traditional hotel-style rooms shared by two to four students. The lodge is styled with an onsite swimming pool, hammocks, and common areas.
Enroll in a Teen Summer Trip With Global Works Today
Through our service trips for students, we cultivate unique adventures and inspiring experiences that will stick with our travelers long after the summer is over.
