2019 DCI Costa Rica Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | July 22, 2019 - August 2, 2019 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Deadline(s): | Enrollment deadline is January 11th |
Costa Rica Service Adventure
From white sand beaches to misty cloud forests, towering volcanoes to beautiful rivers that carve through tropical canyons, and hospitable, friendly communities, Costa Rica has it all! Our service adventures give travelers the opportunity to delve deep into small, rural communities set in stunningly beautiful corners of the country. In addition to white water rafting, relaxing on white sand beaches and swimming at the base of a towering waterfall, students will gain confidence in their Spanish, contribute to a meaningful service project and grow into more confident travelers. Adventure awaits!
Service Adventures
Service Adventures can combine rural homestays, adventure travel, and meaningful service projects which are guided by our community partners. Living in these small communities provides the opportunity to engage the language and culture from a uniquely advantageous position.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Stay on a farm deep in the rainforest
Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors
Hike through the tropical rainforest and learn about local ecosystems
Fully immerse yourself in a homestay family and community
Explore a cloud forest, guided by a local naturalist
Discover the gorgeous beaches and world-class national parks on the Pacific coast
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 22 | USA & San José | Today the whole group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, arriving around noon. After arrival, the group will grab some lunch and then head for a professional latin dance class where we'll learn the basic steps of salsa, merengue and cumbia. In the evening we'll settle in the hotel and hold an orientation meeting where the group will discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Hotel Rosa de America |
| July 23 | 1 San Jose & Pura Suerte 2 San Jose, Manuel Antonio & Uvita | After breakfast Team 1 will depart for Pura Suerte, an ecological farm in the heart of the rain forest, about four hours' drive south of the capital city. We will tour Pura Suerte's organic farm for an introduction to the bountiful flora and fauna in the area, visit a nearby coffee plantation and enjoy a delicious dinner made from ingredients sourced directly from the forest and nearby farms. Team 2 will head to Uvita, in the Central Pacific coast. Before, the group will viit Manuel Antonio National Park and enjoy the fauna and flora found along the trails. Throughout the program, we'll have the opportunity to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, and explore Costa Rican culture. | Pura Suerte El Tecal |
| July 24 | 1 Pura Suerte 2 Uvita | After breakfast Team 1 will hike down to the Nauyaca waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the entire country. We will spend the morning swimming and relaxing by the riverside and enjoy lunch at the waterfall before returning to the farm for some free time before dinner. Team 2 will take surf lessons in the morning and give a hand while doing a clean up before enjoying the sunset. | Pura Suerte El Tecal |
| July 25 | 1 Pura Suerte & Herradura 2 Uvita & San Gerardo | Today we will head to the host communities to meet our host families. Upon arrival, students will tour the community and learn about our service project. Students will have dinner with their own individual host families this evening. | Host Families |
| July 26 | Host Community | Each day in our host community will include a full day of work at our community service project. Lunch will be either be on-site or at home with families. In the afternoon and evening, activities will vary, but typically include spending time with host families, group excursions around the village, or activities with people from the local community. | Host Families |
| July 27 | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary. | Host Families |
| July 28 | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary. | Host Families |
| July 29 | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary. | Host Families |
| July 30 | Host Community | Today we will finish our service project and celebrate with our new friends and family with a fiesta de despedida! | Host Families |
| July 31 | 1 Host Community & Uvita 2 Host Community & Pura Suerte | After breakfast and goodbyes, we will head west to Uvita on the central Pacific coast. We will settle into our hotel before heading down to the beach for surf lessons. Team 2 will discover Nauyaca waterfall and then Pura Suerte. | El Tecal Pura Suerte |
| August 1 | 1 Uvita & San Jose 2 Pura Suerte & San Jose | After breakfast it's off to Manuel Antonio we will explore Manuel Antonio National Park which bursts with wildlife and boats beautiful beaches. Inside we will find idyllic coastline and winding trails that lead through dense jungle. Students can relax, swim and do some souvenir shopping. Team 2 will discover the organic farm. After lunch we will make the drive back to San Jose for a farewell dinner altogether before of our international departure the following morning. | Hotel Rosa de America |
| August 2 | San Jose & USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for a morning departure back to the USA. | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Rosa de las Américas
A charming ranch-style hotel on the outskirts of San José, Rosa de las Americas is a great spot to unwind after a long day’s travels. This hotel is complete with a lush gardens, a big pool, updated rooms, and friendly staff.
Finca Pura Suerte
A grouping of bamboo cabins and impressive communal spaces, this farm is nestled deep in low-land rain forest with views of the Pacific coastline. The accommodations are comfortable, the food fantastic, and the surreal setting provides an ideal introduction to the country’s impressive flora and fauna.
Cabinas El Tecal
Cabinas El Tecal is a locally owned and operated three star hotel close to playa Uvita in the Marino Ballena National Park. Off the beaten path, the hotel comes with modern amenities, a private pool, and great service. It’s the perfect place to relax away from the crowds. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
Walking Tree gave us everything we needed to make our vision of the perfect educational trip to China a reality.
Andy
Repeat Group Organizer on programs to China
Your Adventure Includes
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on the itinerary.
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.