Costa Rica » Spring Break Service Adventure

Costa Rica: Spring Break Service Adventure

This Spring Break, go way off the beaten path…to the Costa Rican rainforest for an unforgettable adventure!

Highlights

Volunteer in a rural community near the rainforest
Swim in pristine Pacific waters
Ride an innertube down a roaring river – check out this video!
Zip line through the forest – check out this video!
Hike through the rainforest to a hidden hotspring pool

Overview

Costa Rica is known for its rich biodiversity, lush vegetation and friendly people.

Spend the week living high in a mountain in a real tropical rainforest. You’ll engage in meaningful volunteer work as well as hike through a forest, soak in hidden hot springs, zip line through the tree tops and ride down raging rivers.

We’re based in the Guanacaste Conservation Area – one of the most unique places on earth, with so much biodiversity that UNESCO, a UN body, named it a World Heritage Site. The conservation area is located directly on top of the Continental Divide, where the Atlantic and Pacific ecosystems collide to create a natural kaleidoscope unmatched anywhere else in Costa Rica. The area is home to 140 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 100 species of amphibians and reptiles, and over 10,000 species of insects.

Check out an overview video of our Costa Rica program.
Read student blog : GLA Alum Emily Creek writes about things she learned in Costa Rica.

Community Service

Volunteer in a rural school located way up on the side of a mountain, near the edge of the rainforest. We’ll spend the week refurbishing the school, engaging kids in conversational English and also playing sports and doing other informal educational activities. More than just fixing a school, you’ll become a friend and a role model to students who have little exposure to outsiders.

Check out a feature article on GLA Costa Rica Alum Max Gehring and his contributions to the local community.

Hands-on Learning

Because we’ll be living near the edge of the rainforest, you’ll discover a whole new world of animals and plant life. Go on treks with a naturalist guide and learn about medicinal plants, collect new species of flora and fauna, and even meet a local scientist. Besides the natural environment, you’ll also learn about Costa Rica culture, cooking and dance!

Adventure

You’ll engage in just about every outdoor activity imaginable! The huge range of ecosystems concentrated in a relatively small geographic area provides a vast array of exciting outdoor adventures. We’ll explore the forests by hiking, whitewater tubing, zip lining and horseback riding. You’ll also hike up an active volcano, relax and shop at a local beach, bathe underneath a waterfall, and ride horses through a jungle paradise.

Lodging

You’ll be living in a rustic bunkhouse on the edge of a forest. There are two bunk beds and a fan in each room. Bathrooms are not attached to the rooms and are shared by all students. Cold water showers and western style toilets are available. While living conditions are simple, you’ll feel refreshed, relaxed, and connected to nature while living there. Food will be hearty and healthy, locally grown food that consists of meats, beans, rice, vegetables, and fruit.