2025 Pennfield Costa Rica Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | March 15, 2025 - March 23, 2025 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,790 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,071 |
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: $2,790
Pay in Full
$2,790.00
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:
$176.16
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!
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Improve your Spanish by staying with a host family
Zip-line above the forest canopy
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors
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 abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 15 | 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, enjoy the pool and rest. | La Rosa de América |
| March 16 | 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. After lunch 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 |
| March 17 | Pura Suerte & Pueblo Nuevo, Rivas | 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. 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. | Homestays |
| March 18 | Pueblo Nuevo, Rivas | 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. | Homestays |
| March 19 | Pueblo Nuevo, Rivas | 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. | Homestays |
| March 20 | Pueblo Nuevo, Rivas & 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, enjoy the pool and have a couple hours rest before dinner later this night. | El Tecal |
| March 21 | Uvita - Manuel Antonio | Today we will leave Uvita and stop to do a zipline tour through the lush jungle canopy. We will spend the afternoon exploring Manuel Antonio National park's shady trails and tranquil beaches. We will have some time for souvenir shopping and explore town in the evening. | Hotel Mono Azul |
| March 22 | Manuel Antonio & Alajuela | 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. | La Rosa de América |
| March 23 | Alajuela to home | 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.
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.
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.
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.
Hotel Mono Azul Manuel Antonio
Hotel Mono Azul is a comfortable, family-friendly oasis in Manuel Antonio. The hotel has 2 swimming pools, sunbathing and shaded patio areas, a full service restaurant, free WiFi and tour booking. It offers a wide range of lodging options. All rooms are equipped with A/C with free Wi-Fi to keep everyone feeling comfortable and connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
My daughter’s experience in Morocco was extraordinary!! I really enjoyed seeing the pictures and hearing the stories about her adventures, but what brought me the most joy was the relationships she formed with the chaperones from her school and with Stafford and Said (Walking Tree’s Moroccan Country Directors and Program Leaders). She spoke of their characters and spirits which let me know these wonderful people went over and beyond the basics of the program. I am forever grateful for the love and care all four of you gave to her.
Beddar
Parent of Jadah, traveler to Morocco
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.
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.