2023 Souhegan Costa Rica Service Adventure

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2023 Souhegan 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 Pre-Enrollment page 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 thoroughly and get excited for Costa Rica! Pura vida!
Travel Dates: June 15, 2023 - June 25, 2023
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,190 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Confirmed Airfare: $898

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: $2,190

Pay in Full

$2,190.00

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:

$211.25

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!

Brew coffee and make empanadas with a local farmer's family

Improve your Spanish and immerse yourself in a homestay community

Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle

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

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
June 15USA - AlajuelaToday 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.Hotel La Rosa de América
June 16Alajuela - UvitaOur journey begins at Uvita, which is 4 hours away from Alajuela. We will have lunch and our next stop is the community of Uvita. Today, we'll make a quick detour to visit one of the most beautiful beaches in the area, Playa Hermosa, which is located near our final destination.

El Tecal
June 17Uvita - Host VillageAfter breakfast students will take surf lessons from professional instructors along a wide, expansive and empty stretch of coastline that has a reputation for breaks that are great for beginners. Afterward, we will be jumping on the bus and head to the host village to meet our host families. Upon arrival, students will tour the community and learn about our service project, which will mostly consist of the restoration and refurbishment of the community's common areas such as the community hall or the church. Tasks could include sanding, painting, transport of construction materials, gardening, and so on. Students will have dinner with their own individual host families this afternoon. Throughout the program, we'll have the opportunity to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, and explore Costa Rican culture.Host Family- Herradura
June 18Host CommunityOur days in the village will consist mainly of working on our community service project. Lunch will be either be on-site or at home with families. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include time with host families, excursions around the village, or activities with the local community.Host Family- Herradura
June 19Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. In the evening, we will take a break from our service project for some dance lessons!Host Family- Herradura
June 20Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family- Herradura
June 21Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family- Herradura
June 22Host Community- Bella VidaAfter enjoying incredible days with local families and helping the community, it's time to head to the Bella Vida and is a beautiful ecological farm deep in the southern rain forest of the country. Upon arrival at Bella Vida we will tour the farm on a hand on experience that involves tropical fruits and farm animals as well as a nearby coffee plantation that produces some of the best beans in the area. We will learn about the importance of organic farming and how rural farmers are taking advantage of sustainable farming practices. We will settle in our rooms and enjoy dinner after some group activities.Bella Vida
June 23Bella VidaAfter breakfast we will hike down to Nauyaca waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the entire country. We will spend the morning swimming, relaxing, and enjoying lunch at the waterfall. Bella Vida
June 24Bella Vida- San José We'll have a relaxing morning in Bella Vida before jumping on the bus and beginning the trip back to the city. We'll stop for lunch on the road. After arriving back in San Jose we'll have a final celebratory dinner together to commemorate our time together!
Airplane
June 25USAWe will arrive to Boston and return 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. 
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.

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.

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.

Bella Vida Hotel

Bella Vida Hotel is situated in the tiny village of La Florida, with mountainside jungle overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and infinity pool . The accommodations are comfortable, the food fantastic, and the surreal setting provides an ideal introduction to the country’s impressive flora and fauna.

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.

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

Our daughter was sick the last two days of the trip. WT and her teachers kept us very well informed. You had a clear plan in place to get her home safely and to the doctor if necessary. The fact that you had a hotel room waiting for her in Lima, upon return from Cusco, was quite impressive. She was able to rest the entire day before travel back to the US. Thank you.

Kathryn
Parent of Isabella, traveler on 2017 program to Peru

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: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on 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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