2024 Grant Costa Rica Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | June 18, 2024 - July 2, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,890 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,175 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,890
Pay in Full
$2,890.00
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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 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 abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teachers that we must flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| DAY | LOCATION | ACTIVITY | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Portland | We will meet at the airport tonight for our overnight flight to Costa Rica. | Airplane |
| June 19 | USA & Costa Rica | Today we will arrive to Costa Rica in the late morning. We will head to the hotel to drop our bags, then get lunch and explore the municipal market of Alajuela. In the evening, we will return to the hotel for an orientation meeting and pool time. | Villas Aracari |
| June 20 | Pura Suerte | After breakfast we'll head for Pura Suerte, an ecological farm in the heart of the rain forest, about four hours south of the capital city. Upon arrival we'll settle in our rooms and explore this incredible new setting. Rumor has it, we might hear Mr. Carolan sing acapella. | Pura Suerte |
| June 21 | Pura Suerte | After 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. In the afternoon, we will visit a nearby coffee plantation, learn how to make tortillas and empanadas and enjoy some locally produced coffee or hot chocolate. At night the group will enjoy a delicious dinner made from ingredients sourced directly from the forest. | Pura Suerte |
| June 22 | Pura Suerte & Host Community | We will have a relaxing morning at Finca Pura Suerte to explore the beautiful grounds, hike to neighboring waterfalls and eat breakfast and lunch made from ingredients grown on the farm. In the early afternoon, we will make the short transfer to our nearby host community of San Salvador, where a group from Grant HS visited in 2016. We'll get introduced to our families, take a tour of the community and talk more about our service project which will begin the following day. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 23 | Host Community | This morning we will invite our new friends from host communty to hike down to an incredible, three-tiered waterfall tucked deep into the jungle. We will have time to swim, relax and lunch before heading back to the community for a soccer game or more bonding with our homestay families. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 24 | Host Community | First full day of service work, usually around six hours a day broken up by a break at lunch and free time in the afternoon/evening. We'll also make time for structured group reflection. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 25 | Host Community | Continue service projects, community activities, and farm walks. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 26 | Host Community | Continue service projects, community activities, farm walks. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 27 | Host Community | Last Day of service! Today will put the finishing touches on our service project and enjoy a communal fiesta de despedida to celebrate our wonderful time in host community. | Pura Suerte- San Salvador. |
| June 28 | Host Community & Uvita | After breakfast, we'll head south to Uvita where we'll check into our hotel, drop our bags, and get ready for professional surf lessons at the Parque Nacional Ballena, a beautiful beach set on protected coastline along the Pacific Ocean and renowned for it's gradual and consistent break, great for beginning and intermediate surfers. We will discover the rock whale tail like formation that gives the name to the Marino Ballena National Park. After an active morning we'll have time to relax at the hotel, take showers, enojy the pool and have a couple hours rest before dinner later this night. | Hotel El Tecal |
| June 29 | Uvita | After breakfast we'll take the bus and drive to the Mangroove Forest, one of the biggest in the whole Pacific Coast of the continent. We will explore the ecosystem on a kayak or a SUP. In the afternoon we'll head back to Uvita for pizza dinner. | Hotel El Tecal |
| June 30 | Uvita - Manuel Antonio | Today we will leave Uvita to spend the morning exploring Manuel Antonio National park's shady trails and tranquil beaches. We will have lunch in Manuel Antonio and have some time for souvenir shopping and explore town. | Hotel Manuel Antonio Park |
| July 1 | Manuel Antonio & San José | Today we'll end the trip with a splash during a whitewater rafting trip along the Savegre River! Navigate class I, II and III rapids as you descend from the mountains towards the ocean. After lunch we'll make the drive back to the big city for a cozy farewell dinner ahead of our international departure the following morning. | Villas Aracari |
| July 2 | San José | Fly home, hasta luego! | Your own bed, eventually! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
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.
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.
Hotel Manuel Antonio Park
Hotel Manuel Antonio Park is located a 3-minute walk from Manuel Antonio National Park and features an outdoor pool and a garden. We have a tour desk and a restaurant. We offer free WiFi .All our rooms are equipped with a wardrobe and air conditioning. We are just a 10-minute drive from the town of Quepos.
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
I was comfortable that the trip my daughter was on was safe, educational, interesting and fun. She made life long friends with her host sister. An exceptional life learning experience.
Carolyn
Parent of Alicia, Traveler on 2018 Program to Chile
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.
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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.