2019 Gladstone Costa Rica Program
| Travel Dates: |
March 22, 2019 -
April 1, 2019
Program tuition is $3,110
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: | $3,110 USD - or - $3,010 USD with discount if paid in full |
| Deadline(s): | Enrollment opens February 1, 2018. Final payments will be due 90 days prior to travel |
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: $3,110
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:
$3,010.00
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:
$44.24
per month
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 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
Clean up marine debris to ensure an unspoiled nesting habitat for sea turtles
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.
| Date | Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 22 | Friday | Portland, OR - San José, Costa Rica | Today the group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, most likely arriving in the late evening. After arrival, we'll settle into our hotel for dinner and an orientation meeting where we'll discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Hotel Casa Cielo Grande |
| March 23 | Saturday | San Jose-Pura Suerte | After breakfast we will head for Pura Suerte, an ecological farm in the heart of the jungle, about four hours south of the capital city. Upon arrival we will tour the farm for a great introduction to the bountiful flora and fauna in this lowland rainforest, visit a nearby coffee plantation and enjoy a delicious dinner. | Jungalows |
| March 24 | Sunday | Pura Suerte-Diamante Waterfall | Today 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 which is sure to be an early highlight on this adventure! | La Cueva |
| March 25 | Monday | Diamante Waterfall-Host Community | After breakfast we'll head down the mountain, board the bus and make our way to our host community to meet our new families. Placed in pairs, students will have dinner with their host families this evening. | Host Family |
| March 26 | Tuesday | 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 community, or activities with people from the local community. Throughout the program, we'll have opportunities to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, and explore Costa Rican culture. | Host Family |
| March 27 | Wednesday | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary. | Host Family |
| March 28 | Thursday | Host Community | Today we will finish our service project and celebrate with our new friends and family with a fiesta de despedida! | Host Family |
| March 29 | Friday | Host Community - Uvita | After breakfast we willl head down to the southern Pacific Coast to the tiny town of Uvita. We'll settle into our hotel and then spend the afternoon volunteering at Reserva Playa Tortuga station doing a beach clean up. After work we can relax by the pool, and watch the sun set over Bahía Ballena National Park. | El Tecal |
| March 30 | Saturday | Uvita | Today we'll visit the stunning Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, famous for the massive rock formation shaped like a whale's tale which reveals itself at low tide. Arriving at the park, we'll be greeted by our surf instructors who will teach us how to surf with private lessons on the gorgeous beach! After the lessons and some time to swim and play in the ocean we'll enjoy a traditional lunch before enjoying a zip line tour on the mountains of Osa. After the afternoon activity and some dinner we head back to our hotel. | El Tecal |
| March 31 | Sunday | Uvita-San Jose | After breakfast we'll get ready for an action packed day. On the way back to San José, we'll make a stop at the Rio Savegre, recently declared the cleanest river in Costa Rica to go white-water rafting. Once we're off the river we'll head back to San Jose for a farewell dinner ahead of our international departure the following morning. | Hotel Pacandé |
| April 1 | Monday | San Jose - USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for our flight back to Portland. | 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.
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.
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.
Hotel Pacandé
Located in Alajuela, Hotel Pacandé is the perfect place to start and end a Costa Rican adventure because of its warm family atmosphere and proximity to the airport. Cleanliness and service are the main qualities that differentiate Pacandé from typical hotels in the area. 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
Great experience for our son. He would jump at the chance to do it again.
Daniel
Parent of Raymond, 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.
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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.