2019 Folsom Costa Rica Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2019 Gladstone Costa Rica Service Adventure! We have created two webpages dedicated to this once in a lifetime experience so that travelers are as informed as possible throughout the process. The first page, Pre-Enrollment, is meant to share exciting details, highlights, and pertinent info, that participants will want to know before enrolling. Once enrolled, the Post-Enrollment page is intended to prepare travelers for participation on the adventure ahead. Please be sure to review the information on the appropriate page thoroughly and get excited for Costa Rica! Pura vida!
Travel Dates: April 13, 2019 - April 22, 2019
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,890 USD - or - $2,790 USD with discount if paid in full
Deadline(s): Final payments are due by January 15th, 2019

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan.  Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $2,890

Pay in Full

Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:

$2,790.00

due today

Payment Plan

Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:

$40.51

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

All prices in United States Dollars.

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

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!

Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends

Immerse yourself in the local language and culture by staying with a host family

Zip-line though the rainforest

Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle

Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes

Stay on a farm deep in the rainforest

Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors

Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers

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. 

DATEDAYLOCATIONACTIVITYLODGING
April 12FridayCalifornia & Costa RicaToday we fly from the United States to San Jose, Costa Rica. We'll likely have an evening arrival. Hotel Pacande
April 13SaturdaySan José & Pura SuerteAfter breakfast we'll head for Pura Suerte, an ecological farm in the heart of the rain forest, about 4 hours south of the capital city.Upon arrival we'll tour the 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. We'll also discuss our service project in detail so students are prepared for the following day.Jungalows or Host Families
April 14SundayPura SuerteAfter breakfast hike down to Nyaca waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the entire country. Spend the morning swimming and relaxing by the riverside. Lunch at the waterfall and then return to farm for a relaxing afternoon before dinner.Jungalows or Host Families
April 15MondayPura SuerteBegin service work, village activities, pick-up soccer game with local youth.Jungalows or Host Families
April 16TuesdayPura SuerteContinue with service projects, village activities, coffee farm tour.Jungalows or Host Families
April 17WednesdayPura SuerteFinish with service projects, village activities.Jungalows or Host Families
April 18ThursdayPura SuerteToday we'll trek to the upper parts of Catarata Diamante, the tallest waterfall in Costa Rica. The group will hike to the rivers that feed the waterfall and then enjoy a day full of swimming holes and absolutely beautiful views. We'll spend this night in a cave behind the falls.La Cueva
April 19FridayPura Suerte & Manuel AntonioAfter breakfast we'll head west to Manuel Antonio on the central Pacific coast. After checking into our hotel we head down to the beach where interested students can either take surf lessons on a stretch of coastline that has a reputation for being great for beginners or decide to participate in an alternate activity.Hotel California
April 20SaturdayManuel Antonio & San JoseToday we'll explore Manuel Antonio national park which bursts with wildlife. Inside we'll find idyllic beaches and winding trails that lead through dense jungle. Students can relax, swim and do some souvenir shopping. After lunch we'll make the drive back up to San Jose where we'll have a going away dinner to celebrate our amazing adventure together.Hotel Pacandé
April 21SundayCosta Rica & CaliforniaToday we will travel home. Your own bed

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.  

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your trip, subject to availability. 
Villas Aracari

Villas Aracari is a beautiful property ideally located just twenty minutes from the airport. Close to the city center yet perched high in the mountains, the views of the Central Valley are breathtaking and the new pool is a delightful respite after a hot day. Spotless rooms and friendly staff will make you feel at home the moment you drop your bags.

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.

La Cueva

Located in a natural cave behind the impressive Diamonte waterfall, La Cueva is not your typical hotel. Students sleep in bunk beds and there is no electricity, providing an opportunity to unplug and truly appreciate the natural beauty of these rustic accommodations behind a waterfall. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

Hotel Villabosque

Only 200 mts away from Manuel Antonio National Park, Hotel Villabosque is a local family business and has been granted with a 5-leaf Sustainable Tourism Certification. The hotel is provided with comfortable and elegant bedrooms and a friendly staff. The rooms have free Wi-Fi, A/C, cable TV, and hot water. You can also enjoy a swimming pool with panoramic view of the surrounding rainforest. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

We wanted our 16 year old son’s first experience traveling without the family to be a positive one. We wanted a true quality program and are so glad his school chose Walking Tree. Everything went absolutely smoothly on the trip. Our son has told us again and again how wonderful, informed, friendly, and absolutely critical to the success of the trip the Walking Tree staff was.

Tina
Parent of Leo Narbonne, traveler on Peru Service Adventure

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.

WTT coffee
Resource center

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.

Learn More

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