2024 Steward School Costa Rica Program
| Travel Dates: | March 2, 2024 - March 9, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $998 |
This program is currently at full capacity.
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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!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
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
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, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2 | USA - San Jose | Today the group will travel from the USA to San Jose, Costa Rica! Upon arrival, we’ll settle into our hotel for the evening for dinner and an orientation meeting where we'll discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| March 3 | San Jose - San Gerardo de Rivas | After breakfast we we'll head to our host community. After arrival we'll tour the town, we will get settled into our accommodation, tour the town and learn more about our service project/s. The coming days will revolve around our service efforts; in the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include time with community members, excursions to explore the surrounding area or group reflection sessions. | Hotel El Descanso |
| March 4 | San Gerardo de Rivas | Our days in our host community will consist mainly of working on our community service project. Lunch will be on-site provided by local families. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include excursions around the village, or activities with the local community, like soccer matches. | Hotel El Descanso |
| March 5 | San Gerardo de Rivas | Our three days in our host community will consist mainly of working on our community service project. Lunch will be on-site provided by local families. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include excursions around the village, or activities with the local community, like soccer matches. | Hotel El Descanso |
| March 6 | San Gerardo de Rivas-Uvita | Today we will finish our service project and celebrate in the afternoon with our new friends during a fiesta de despedida! This evening we travel to the surf-side town of Uvita the central Pacific coast. | Hotel El Tecal |
| March 7 | Uvita - Manuel Antonio | Surfing lessons this morning with some of Costa Rica's best instructors! Uvita is a great place to learn. Afterwards, we jump on the bus and travel north along the coast. We'll stop for lunch in the quite seaside town of Dominical where students will be able to do some souvenir shopping. Then it's onward to Manuel Antonio! | Villas Lirio |
| March 8 | Manuel Antonio - San Jose | This morning we explore Manuel Antonio National Park where students will wander jungle trails and lounge on pristine, white sand beaches. After showers and lunch, we jump on the bus and begin the trip back to San Jose where we'll enjoy a celebratory dinner to commemorate our time together! | Casa Cielo Grande |
| March 9 | San Jose - USA | After breakfast and a relaxing morning by the pool, we head to the airport for our flight home. Hasta luego!! | 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.
Hotel El Descanso
This is small but cozy hotel that typically hosts travelers that come to the region to hike Cerro Chirripo, Costa Rica’s highest peak. This family owned hotel has great views of the surrounding mountains and is located only a short walk away from the community’s center by The hotel also has its own restaurant where students may get a wide variety of food. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
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.
Villas Lirio Hotel
Villa Lirios is a located in Manuel Antonio. These spacious rooms are fully equipped. Some rooms a has a private terrace or balcony or both. You have the option of peace and quiet at your room or interacting with other guests around our beautiful large centrally located pool. Free Wi-Fi will keep everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
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 have been on two trips with Walking Tree and both trips have been two of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Cameron
Alumni traveler to Belize and Thailand
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.