2023 DLS Costa Rica Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | May 14, 2023 - May 23, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,590 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $891 |
Tuition Calculator
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Program Tuition: $2,590
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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 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
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes
Practice your Spanish language skills with locals
Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers
Collaborate on a service project in your homestay community
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14 | USA - Costa Rica | Today the group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, and flights usually arrive in the evening. After arrival, the group will settle into their hotel for the evening and have an orientation meeting where the group will discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Rosa de las Américas Hotel |
| May 15 | Alajuela - Host Community | Today we will head north to our host village to meet community members and learn more about our service work. Upon arrival, students will tour the community and learn about our service project. Throughout the program, we'll have the opportunity to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, play games of pick up soccer and explore Costa Rican culture. | Community Lodging |
| May 16 | Host Community | Our days in the community will be anchored by time spent working on our community service project. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include time with local families, excursions around the village, or activities with the local community. | Community Lodging |
| May 17 | Host Community | Today, we will finish working on our service project. In the afternoon/evening we will organize a fiesta de despedida where we celebrate with food and music alongside locals. | Community Lodging |
| May 18 | Host Community - La Fortuna | After breakfast we drive to La Fortuna, a small town right next to the Volcán Arenal, an impressive volcano that rises imposingly from the flatlands. After checking into the hotel and lunch, the group will hike to La Catarata de la Fortuna for a refreshing swim at the base of the magnificent waterfall that cascades from a height of over 70 meters. Tonight we'll reflect on the time spent in the host community. | Montechiari Hotel |
| May 19 | La Fortuna | After breakfast we'll have a blast during a zipline and canopy tour! We will have time to explore town and do some souvenir shopping in the early afternoon before visiting local hot springs. | Montechiari Hotel |
| May 20 | La Fortuna-Cahuita | Today the group will travel to the Caribbean coast. On our way, we will enjoy some whitewater rafting along the Sarapiqui river! After lunch and completing a beautiful and scenic drive, we will arrive at Cahuita, a small beach town on the southern Caribbean coast. | Hotel |
| May 21 | Cahuita | After breakfast, we will enjoy some much deserved time at the beach to relax, swim, and do last minute souvenir shopping. This afternoon we'll take a cooking class to learn more about the fabulous flavors of the Caribbean region of the country. | Hotel |
| May 22 | Cahuita - Alajuela | This morning we'll visit a local sloth sanctuary. After lunch we head back to Alajuela for our final celebratory dinner together before our international departure the following morning. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| May 23 | Alajuela - USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for a morning departure back to the USA. | 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 locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Hotel Casa Cielo Grande
Casa Cielo Grande 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.
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.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
Montechiari Hotel
Arenal Montechiari Hotel located 400 meters from the central park, very close to the beautiful town La Fortuna. The Hotel is sorrounded of lush gardens and a spectacular view of the Volcano.
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
Everything was outstanding. The communication, organization, and experience was phenomenal. The program positively impacted my daughters confidence, independence, and maturity.
Suzanne
Parent of Kelsey, traveler on Costa Rica Surf and Service Program
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Premiere Travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on 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.