ITINERARIES

See the bottom of the page for the Sea Turtle Program Description.

Immersion Program, 30 Days

The Immersion Programs are designed to give high school students the maximum exposure to, and opportunity in, Costa Rica culture and language. A 30-day student travel program provides ample time to see a great deal of the country in seven adventurous destinations; engage in meaningful international community service projects; truly connect with the people abroad and language of Costa Rica; and internalize what they are learning.

Explorer Program, 21 Days

The Explorer program is three weeks, yet includes almost as much time in the host community as our month-long program. With this emphasis on village time, Explorer is designed to maximize community service and language immersion in the villages of Costa Rica, yet minimize time away from home.

Discovery Program, 15 Days

The Discovery Programs aim to incorporate community service, language immersion, and adventure travel while further minimizing time away from summer employment, family, scholastic programs and athletics. This shorter two-week option provides an amazing Costa Rican adventure but abbreviates the time in the village and excludes Monteverde and Arenal.

Pioneer Program, 10 Days

The Pioneer Program is our shortest and most economical Costa Rica offering, allowing for a comprehensive introduction to the country while minimizing cost and travel time. Focused around days spent in a host community and a beautiful organic farm, this program combines two of Costa Rica’s strongest suites: immersion in a small village and quality time in her world renowned rain forests.

DESTINATIONS

SAN JOSE

Students will briefly experience one of the most cosmopolitan Central American cities as we explore colonial courtyards, busy avenues and quaint neighborhoods. We will take Latin dance lessons and gather for orientation meetings to prepare for our upcoming adventure.

PURA SUERTE

Nestled high in the tropical mountains overlooking the Pacific Coast, Pura Suerte is an ecological retreat outfitted with impressive bamboo bungalows and a fabulous restaurant that specializes in organic cuisine. Groups can explore the surrounding jungle, hike along breathtaking passes to secluded waterfalls, learn to cook dishes made from organic ingredients, and relax in hammocks while rain pelts against the jungle canopy.

MANUEL ANTONIO

Manuel Antonio is a beautiful national park with pristine white sand beaches on the Central Pacific coast. Famous for its wildlife, Manuel Antonio is home to sloths, monkeys, a stunning variety of birds, and much more. Those who are interested in surfing can take professional lessons and apply their practice to waves renowned for their ease and consistency. At night we will gather around bonfires on the shore and eat fresh seafood caught during the day.

HOST VILLAGE & HOMESTAY

The heart and soul of our Costa Rica programs is the time in the host village. For the duration of our time in the community, students will live with homestay families where they will significantly improve their Spanish and experience firsthand an intimate snapshot of Costa Rican family life. While we understand the thought of living with another family can be intimidating, we believe that homestays are extremely rewarding. Walking Tree has carefully selected each host family to ensure a safe, nurturing and enriching environment.
Days in the village are spent working on a variety of community service projects that are decided upon in conjunction with the community to ensure their usefulness. Some projects will necessitate construction while others will be less labor-intensive. The days will begin early and end in the afternoon, broken up by a midday break. They promise to be long and rewarding. Students will eat breakfast and dinner with their families, while lunching with the group and continuing with the service projects. Our skilled foremen also ensure that all of our work is safely completed and structurally sound.
When not working on the community service projects, our students will have free time to spend with their families, practice Spanish, play soccer, make friends with local youth, and attend community gatherings. At the end of our time in the village, we will have a fiesta de despedida, or going away party, to say goodbye to the community that has been our home.

ARENAL

The small town of La Fortuna enjoys the shade of one of Costa Rica’s most impressive landmarks, the Arenal Volcano. The group can hike down to La Catarata de la Fortuna, an impressive waterfall, or plunge into refreshing rivers from suspended tire swings. At night we will bathe in luxurious natural hot springs and, if the weather is clear, watch as lava erupts from Arenal’s cone.

MONTEVERDE

Costa Rica is famous for its cloud forests, and this is one of its best. Students will take a canopy tour where they are safely harnessed into a series of zip lines and soar over old growth canopy. We will also have the option to tour a coffee plantation, take a guided nature walk through the forest to learn more about the unique flora and fauna, practice yoga, and sample excellent ice cream at the local dairy factory.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

According to the Discovery Channel, the Pacuare River is one of the five most beautiful rivers in the world, but we find it hard to imagine that there is anything more stunning. Students will safely navigate class II and III rapids that weave through a breathtaking tropical canyon. Students on our Immersion Programs spend two days rafting with an overnight stay at an ecologically sensitive retreat along the banks of the Pacuare River, while our Explorer programs participate in a one-day rafting adventure. National Geographic has recently hailed the Pacuare Lodge’s first-class fare and lavish accommodations as one of the world’s finest retreats.

SEA TURTLE EXPEDITION

Your program will begin with arrival and a night in the capital of San Jose before taking off to Arenal to see the country’s most active volcano and enjoy a soak in natural hot springs. From here, you’ll leave for the sea turtle research field station focused on protecting giant leatherback and green sea turtles and only accessible by boat down canals surrounded by pristine tropical rainforest. While at the station, you will receive information about sea turtle nesting biology and local ecology, as well as participate in nightly beach patrols in search of nesting turtles. You will be able to assist field researchers in data collection such as turtle measuring, egg counting and track measurement and get a feel for what it is really like to work in field conservation. Days will be spent lounging in hammocks along the beach or hiking through primary rainforest in search of sloths, monkeys, poison dart frogs or even an elusive jaguar.

Accommodations at the turtle project are simple and rustic, but clean and hospitable. The field station is in a very remote location and so buildings are very simple and constructed of wood but the habitations are kept clean and we can assure you they’ll be welcome after a long night of patrolling the beach! The rest of your time in Costa Rica will be spent in hotels where you’ll share rooms with 1 or 2 of your fellow participants.

After you leave the turtle project, you’ll be treated to several nights on the southern Caribbean beaches followed by an adventurous whitewater rafting trip before heading back to San Jose for departure.