Costa Rica
Service & Sand
About the Program
Students immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture and practice Spanish through daily interactions and community activities. Students participate in meaningful community service projects and enjoy the thrill of surfing along Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific Coast. This program offers a perfect balance of language immersion, cultural exchange, and outdoor adventure.
Itinerary
Discover the exciting adventures and impactful moments that await each day on this itinerary!
- Group flight arrival to San Jose (SJO). Go through customs, pick up luggage, and meet fabulous Global Works trip leader
- Transfer via private bus to hotel
- Arrival at the hotel, safety briefing, and snacks. Settle into rooms
- Bus transfer to San Carlos
- Head to a local organic dairy farm for a cheese-making workshop this afternoon – learn about permaculture, local ecology, and micro-business
- Home-cooked lunch on the farm
- Settle into our locally-owned cabins for a group reflection and delicious dinner
- Visit a local wildlife rehabilitation center. Learn about local ecology, animal trafficking, and species protection. Take part in a small volunteer project on site that may include preparing food, feeding animals, or enclosure upkeep
- Head to our service community! A welcome ceremony over lunch introduces us to the town and projects
- Afternoon introduction to our service projects in the community – typical projects include: pouring the foundation for a community center, planting organic school gardens, painting and tiling a community kitchen, constructing a plant nursery, teaching English lessons
- Dinner back at the lodge
- Continue to work in a nearby community on community development and environmental projects
- Lunch prepared by local families
- Break from service projects this afternoon for opportunities of exchange like soccer games, English and Spanish intercambios, and excursions
- Dinner back at the lodge
- Bus transfer SKYTREK for a thrilling zipline canopy adventure
- Shopping and lunch in La Fortuna – can you spot the famous volcano?
- Time to hit the beach! Travel to the Pacific Coast, famous for its unique combination of rainforest and ocean settings
- Late afternoon arrival to our beach lodge, followed by dinner and watching the sunset
- Surf lessons in the morning with professional instructors. The wave conditions on this beach provide the perfect opportunity for all levels to hang ten!
- Tropical lunch in town
- Afternoon trek into the jungle to explore a local waterfall – if conditions permit, maybe plant a tree in the forest!
- Final beachside dinner
- Hit the beach for more surfing, or maybe just a dip
- Travel back to the Central Valley, with a stop for souvenirs along the way
- Final celebratory dinner in our beautiful accommodations, along with closing reflection
- Transfer by bus to the airport for your scheduled flight departure
Educational Focus & Highlights
Fly Through the Forest
Glide above Costa Rica’s lush rainforests on a thrilling zip-line tour, taking in panoramic views while experiencing the beauty of the canopy.
Work alongside Community Members
Contribute to meaningful service projects like constructing community centers, planting gardens, or teaching English, leaving a lasting impact on local communities.
Catch the Waves
Learn to surf on Costa Rica’s stunning Pacific Coast with expert instructors. Perfect for all levels, this adventure combines fun with skill-building.
Gallery
Lodging
Participants
Participants stay in comfortable, dorm-style rooms that typically accommodate 4-6 students per room. These accommodations are carefully selected and often include locally run hotels and eco-lodges that reflect the culture of the area. Each location is chosen to provide private meeting spaces for group activities, ensuring a supportive environment for our programs. Homestays typically house 2-3 students. Participants stay with families who have long-standing relationships with Global Works
Chaperones
Chaperones can expect to stay in private rooms, unless otherwise noted by the Global Works operations team. These rooms are located in the same facility as the student accommodations, allowing for a peaceful environment to relax and recharge without compromising proximity to the group. During homestays, chaperones typically have a choice to either stay with a homestay family or in a nearby hotel (location dependent).
Bring Your Classroom to the World
Collaborate with Global Works on an impactful service-learning travel program for your students.
