COSTA RICA
Wildlife Adventure
Explore Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity. From cloud forests to sea turtle conservation, this is an unforgettable adventure!
Trip Details
Departures and Availability
Session 1
June 22, 2025 July 9, 2025 OpenSession 2
July 14, 2025 July 31, 2025 OpenFocus
Conservation and Ecology, Wildlife & Environmental Sustainability
Grades
Entering 9th – Graduating 12th
Average Group Size
18 Students, 3 Staff
Days
18
Service Hours
40-50 Community Service Hours
Tuition
$5,595
Daily Activities at a Glance
Discover the exciting adventures and impactful moments awaiting each day on this itinerary!
- Stay at a San Jose Central Valley Bed and Breakfast.
- Participate in team-building exercises, language activities, and a scavenger hunt.
- Establish personal and group goals for the trip.
- Embark on an overnight rafting trip on the Pacuare River, surrounded by biodiverse landscapes.
- Spend the night at a permanent riverside camp, bonding with the group around a campfire.
- Learn about river ecosystems during the journey.
- Stay at a ranger station in Monteverde Cloud Forest.
- Participate in environmental research, including data collection and species identification.
- Explore trail systems and take a guided night hike to experience the nocturnal forest.
- Volunteer at a wildlife refuge, helping with animal rehabilitation and conservation projects.
- Zip-line above the lush rainforest canopy with sweeping views of the jungle.
- Visit a sustainable dairy farm to learn about organic farming practices and make fresh cheese.
- Travel to the Osa Peninsula to engage in sea turtle conservation projects.
- Participate in turtle monitoring, mangrove nursery maintenance, and seagrass sampling.
- Assist at a turtle rescue center while spotting local wildlife, such as toucans and sloths.
- Take surf lessons from professional instructors on the Pacific Coast.
- Explore local beaches, hike to a beautiful waterfall, and relax in the sun.
- Spot humpback whales gathering in the warm waters.
- Return to the Central Valley for a celebratory dinner and awards ceremony.
- Reflect on the trip with your group before flying home.
Highlights of the Trip
Protect Costa Rica’s Wildlife
Work hands-on at wildlife research stations, helping protect endangered species. From sea turtles to native wildlife, students actively participate in conservation efforts that make a real difference.
Hands-On Conservation Science
Collect data on local wildlife populations and habitats, contributing to ongoing research projects. Gain valuable skills and insight into conservation science in Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems.
Explore Biodiverse Landscapes
Raft and zipline through pristine rainforests, discover hidden waterfalls, and immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s stunning natural beauty while learning about the importance of environmental sustainability.
Sea Turtles
Join conservation efforts to protect endangered sea turtles by monitoring nesting sites, conducting research, and participating in hands-on conservation projects along the pacific coastline.
Gallery
Accommodations
Orientation
Global Works Costa Rica participants spend the first and final days of the program in a small, comfortable lodge located in the mountains surrounding the capital of San Jose. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting student groups. It is dorm style with 4 to 6 students sleeping in bunk beds; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group orientation, dance lessons, and ice-breaker activities.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Our two cloud forest lodges are located within the boundary of the largest private ecological reserve in the country, The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños). To reach the lodges, students complete an attainable hike through primary cloud forest and are rewarded with rustic yet comfortable eco-lodges built to exist in harmony with the natural surroundings. Both lodges offer large rooms with bunk-beds and private bathrooms. A large balcony affords expansive views of surrounding volcanoes and the hammocks provide an unbeatable spot to sip coffee and relax after a long day of service work.
Wildlife Refuge
In the La Fortuna area, we stay in a comfortable lodge located in a mountain valley. The lodge is locally owned and specializes in hosting teens and student groups. Rooms are for 2 to 4 students; each room has a private bathroom with hot water showers. Large group spaces located on the property are ideal for group activities.
Osa Peninsula Ecolodge
This Eco-Lodge is located in the northern part of the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The lodge has solar-powered electricity and is very basic, so please come with the expectation of simple-living! Our meals and volunteer projects are organized through the lodge and family that operate it.
Pacific Coast Beach
Participants stay at an ecolodge in southern Costa Rica located just steps from the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park. Accommodations are traditional hotel-style rooms shared by two to four students. The lodge is styled with an onsite swimming pool, hammocks, and common areas.
Enroll in a Teen Summer Trip With Global Works Today
Through our service trips for students, we cultivate unique adventures and inspiring experiences that will stick with our travelers long after the summer is over.
