2020 DC International Costa Rica Service Adventure

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2020 DC International Costa Rica Service Adventure!  To better inform yourself about this once in a lifetime opportunity, there are two webpages at your disposal. The first is the Pre-Enrollment page, the purpose of which is to share the itinerary, exciting highlights and important info that travelers will want to know before signing up.  Once enrolled, your family will begin using the Post-Enrollment page which offers a much greater level of detail.  Please take the time to review the information thoroughly and get excited for Costa Rica! Pura vida!
Travel Dates: July 25, 2020 - August 5, 2020
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Deadline(s): Interested families are asked to enroll by Friday, January 17th

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!

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

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

Practice your Spanish language skills with locals

Hike through the tropical rainforest and learn about local ecosystems

Explore a cloud forest, guided by a local naturalist

Collaborate on a service project in your homestay community

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. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
July 25USA & San JoséToday 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 26San Jose & Pura SuerteAfter breakfast we 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. 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
July 27Pura SuerteAfter breakfast we 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.Pura Suerte
July 28Pura Suerte & Host CommunityToday 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 29Host CommunityEach 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 30Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Families
July 31Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Families
August 1Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Families
August 2Host CommunityToday we will finish our service project and celebrate with our new friends and family with a fiesta de despedida!Host Families
August 3Host Community & UvitaAfter 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.El Tecal
August 4Uvita & San JoseAfter 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. 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 5San Jose & USAAfter 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.  

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.

Hotel California

Casual, relaxed and airy, nestled in the jungle with sweeping ocean views on three wooded acres. It is not uncommon to see monkeys, sloths, dart frogs, birds, iguanas and all type of local wildlife trek through on a daily basis. It is a little off the beaten path on a short dirt road off the main road to Manuel Antonio, but 5 minutes away from the beach and the city of Quepos. 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
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

Lovett’s trip to Morocco was a once in a lifetime trip for a lot of our students. It was great to hear how the students raved about the trip to their parents upon return. Overall a wonderful trip that the students and staff loved!

Sabrina
Group Organizer on Morocco 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.

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