Summer Escapes of Costa Rica

Exploring a Natural Paradise

Dates: June 24 – July 21, 2013

Come to beautiful Costa Rica - a tropical paradise and one of the world's best destinations for both socio- and eco-tourism. An abundance of opportunities for conservation amid white sand beaches makes Costa Rica an excellent destination for everyone from sunbathers and surfers to scientists and teachers. Excitement awaits either the adventurer - in the country's rainforests and on top of its steaming, active volcanoes - or those seeking relaxation and the enjoyment of "la pura vida" - the good life in Costa Rica! Global Crossroad's Summer Escapes in Costa Rica provide volunteers with a month-long adventure in Costa Rica - splitting time between volunteering in community services projects, cultural immersion and amazing travel to some of this country's most amazing sites.

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Program: Summer Escapes
Highlights: Community work, culture, travel
Arrival and Departure: San Jose International Airport (Costa Rica)
Project End point: San Jose
Special need: Good health for trekking
Accommodations: Hostel, host family, tourist hotel
Foods: local meals 3 times a day
Program fee: US $2,439 for 4 weeks including 5-day, guided tour

Welcome and Orientation Training (1 Day)

You will be met by Global Crossroad's local representative upon arrival in wondrous San Jose. After a brief orientation, you can relax and settle into your accommodations in preparation for the next day's Spanish language lessons. Over the next twenty days, acquire a working level of the Spanish language - ensuring your enjoyment of this abroad adventure.

Activities: welcome, orientation, Spanish language lessons, and free time exploring

Volunteer project (22 Days)

For the next phase of the program, volunteers will teach in a local resource poor schools in Atenas. You will teach from 3 to 5 hours each day, 5 days a week. In Costa Rica, each school has its own on staff English teacher who assists our volunteers with teaching methods, offers advice on solving communication barriers and provides suitable curricula for the classrooms. English teaching volunteers do not have to be native English speakers. Volunteers interested in teaching other subjects like math, science can also do so, but please let us know this before you start your project. The schools in Costa Rica are closed during the holidays and exam periods. During these times, Global Crossroad will organize alternative tasks for our volunteers, such as assisting in an orphanage.

Activities: Teaching English and/or other subjects, organize games and other extracurricular/creativity-based activities, and self-exploration of Atenas and surrounding areas during free time.

Explore Costa Rica (5 Days)

After serving the communities and children of Costa Rica and acquiring some insightful perspective into the local culture, set out on an unforgettable journey through the tropical beauty that is Costa Rica . Take an exciting cruise on a sea-faring catamaran, hike to Paos Volcano National Park, enjoy an authentic cup of Costa Rican coffee, be awed by the Botos Lagoon, splash around in the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, surround yourself with the fluttering of butterfly wings at the Magia Blanca Falls (the largest enclosed butterfly observatory), sink your feet into the soft sands of unspoiled beaches and float away on a leisurely boat ride along the wildlife-brimming Sarapiqui River. and MORE!!!

Activities: catamaran cruise, visit numerous waterfalls, volcanoes (both dormant and active), numerous national parks, virgin beaches, butterfly observatory, wildlife sanctuaries, and more.

Program itineraries are merely samples and may change to meet the needs of the volunteers and changes in the field conditions. This itinerary will be revised and finalized during orientation program.

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