2023 Teton Science Schools Costa Rica Expedition
| Travel Dates: | May 19, 2023 - May 28, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,484 |
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: $2,990
Pay in Full
$2,990.00
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:
$622.50
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!
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
Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers
Assist with research and conservation efforts at the Reserva Playa Tortuga
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 19 | 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 20 | Alajuela - Host Community | Today we will head to the host village to meet our host families. Upon arrival, students will tour the community and learn about our service project. Students will have lunch 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- Pueblo Nuevo |
| May 21 | Host Community | Our 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- Pueblo Nuevo |
| May 22 | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. In the afternoon we will have our final dinner with out host families. | Host Family- Pueblo Nuevo |
| May 23 | Host Community - La Fortuna | After saying goodbye to our host families we will head to La Fortuna, a small city right next to the Volcán Arenal, an impressive volcano that stands out in the middle of the flatlands. We'll start our day soaring through the forest canopy while ziplining. In the afternoon we will have time to explore town and do some souvenir shopping. We will finish our day relaxing at the Baldi hot springs and eating a buffet dinner. Tonight we'll reflect on the time spent at the host community and prepare for the conservation part of the program. | Montechiari |
| May 24 | La Fortuna - Widecast Field Station | Today we leave La Fortuna and after a beautiful and scenic boat ride, we will arrive at the WIDECAST Field Station. After an introduction and tour of the station, we will begin our nightly beach patrols in search of female leatherback and green turtles. | Field Station |
| May 25 | Widecast Field Station | Days at the WIDECAST Field Station will be dedicated to helping research assistants with their personal research projects or camp maintenance tasks, such as beach cleanups or equipment inventories. In the nighttime, we will continue the important task of patrolling the beach. | Field Station |
| May 26 | Widecast Field Station - Puerto Viejo Limón | In the morning, we will take a boat ride out from Tortuga Feliz and travel. After all of our hard work at the station, we will enjoy some much deserved time at the beach to relax, swim, and do last minute souvenir shopping. | Costa de Papito |
| May 27 | Puerto Viejo Limón - Alajuela | Today we will head to the Sarapiqui River for a day of whitewater river rafting. In the afternoon we will head back to Alajuela for our final dinner together before our international departure the following morning. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| May 28 | 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.
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.
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.
WIDECAST Field Station
WIDECAST Field Station is situated on a beautiful isolated beach right behind what people refer to as “The Amazon” of Costa Rica, a network of mangrove rainforest, rivers, canals and lagoons. This program is run by volunteers for volunteers, and students will share dorm-style rustic lodging with separate dorms for boys and girls, shared bathrooms, and no electricity or hot water. The basic accommodations at WIDECAST align with their commitment to environmental conservation.
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.
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: 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.
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.