Costa Rica
Homestay & Language Immersion
About the Program
Students immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture by living with local families, practicing Spanish through daily interactions and community activities. In addition to the homestay experience, 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 SKYTREK for a thrilling zipline canopy adventure. Settle into cabinas and pool time
- Costa Rican lunch in La Fortuna
- Homestay community arrival and family welcome
- Dinner with families
- Projects begin! 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
- Group meeting to learn some relevant Spanish vocabulary
- Transfer to wildlife rescue center and begin volunteer projects that may include preparing diet and feeding animals, cleaning and painting enclosures, or creating environmentally friendly toys for animals
- Reflect on the value of conservation and how to contribute to a more sustainable future
- Tasty dinner at the homestay
- Continue to work in a nearby community on community development and environmental projects
- Lunch prepared by local families
- Break from service projects for opportunities of exchange like soccer games, English and Spanish intercambios, and excursions
- Evening fiesta and thank you to families and new friends
- 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
Note: This program can extend to 10 days
Educational Focus & Highlights
Live Like a Local
Stay with Costa Rican host families, practicing Spanish daily and immersing yourself in the local culture through meals, conversations, and shared experiences.
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.
