Embark on an exhilarating two-week experience that combines outdoor adventure, rich cultural immersion, and impactful service learning in Costa Rica. Live among a welcoming, close-knit ranching community high in the cloud forest and leave a positive mark by building essential infrastructure alongside locals. Engage in spirited soccer matches with local students, putting your Spanish to the test and building bonds with the community. Take on the rapids of the Rio Pacuare and ride the gentle waves of the Pacific, challenging your body and mind. Fully embrace the “Pura Vida” lifestyle as you learn to make traditional tortillas and empanadas, indulge in locally crafted chocolate and coffee, and soak in the warm, joyful spirit of Costa Rican life.
Costa Rica
Cloud Forest Community Initiative
14 days
Trip duration
9th – 12th
Grades
14 days
Jun 27 - Jul 10, 2025
Jul 16 - Jul 29, 2025
Miami, FL
Arrival & Departure
$4,895
Tuition
14 days
Trip duration
Jun 27 - Jul 10, 2025
Jul 16 - Jul 29, 2025
9th – 12th
Grades
*Airfare for group flight from Miami additional
Overview
Highlights
- Support Essential Building Initiatives in a Rural Village
- Master the Art of Surfing on the Serene Pacific Coast
- Whitewater Raft Through the Legendary Canyons of the Pacuare River
- Dive into Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” (Pure Life) Lifestyle and Culture
- Host a Community Soccer Game and Cultural Exchange with Local Youth
- Zipline Through the Towering Rainforest Canopy
- Discover Hidden Waterfalls and Natural Waterslides in the Jungle
- Complete 10 Hours of Service Learning
Want to learn more about traveling with ARCC or have more questions about this program?
Schedule a Call with Marisa Abrahams
Service Learning with the Savegre Community
Work side by side with community members in Costa Rica’s lush Savegre highlands to support sustainable living initiatives. Each day, you contribute to local projects that strengthen the community’s infrastructure, from enhancing communal spaces to helping with farm tasks like planting and harvesting. Gain hands-on experience with sustainable farming practices and learn how the community integrates environmental stewardship into daily life. You may also be asked to assist with greenhouse projects focused on cultivating native plants, playing an important role in local conservation efforts. As you work with the community, you develop a deeper understanding of their values and traditions, creating a lasting connection to this beautiful region.
Service
Mollejones Cultural Exchange & Homestays
Live in a small, highland village where you immerse yourself in the rhythm of daily life with a local family. Begin the day by helping prepare traditional meals, using fresh, local ingredients straight from the farm. In the afternoon, you care for farm animals, gather produce, or learn to tend to the land alongside your hosts. As you work together, you practice Spanish in an authentic setting, deepening your language skills while engaging in meaningful conversations. Whether you’re participating in community activities or simply sharing stories around the table, every moment offers a chance to connect with the culture, traditions, and values that make this village so unique.
Culture
Exciting Rio Pacuare Rafting & Jungle Thrills
Feel the rush as you raft the breathtaking Rio Pacuare, surrounded by thick jungle and cascading waterfalls. After the excitement, unwind at an ecolodge overlooking the river, falling asleep to the sounds of wildlife. Glide through the rainforest canopy on ziplines, then refresh in crystal-clear waterfall pools. Finish your adventure surfing on the Pacific’s white sandy shores, guided by expert instructors.
Adventure
Jungle
Common Questions
All food, lodging, transportation, and activities are paid for with your trip tuition. Group airfare is additional and the cost depends on the program.
In order to be sure there are enough seats available on international group flights, ARCC books the international tickets in advance and families are invoiced for the cost of the international airfare.
Families are also responsible for booking flights or arranging transportation for students to meet their leaders and other group members at the program’s arrival airport. The leaders and students then fly internationally together as a group.
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate, and cultural differences. You will receive this packing list in the comprehensive Welcome Packet that is sent to all students after they enroll in a program.
The specific service projects that each group will work on depend on the needs of the communities at the time that the groups are there. Possibilities include: Repairing roads, constructing bridges, making improvements to community buildings or schools, planting trees, or environmental education and village clean-up.
Costa Rica is a relatively clean and safe place to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your program. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more detailed information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first-aid kit and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
During this program, we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small hotel, community homes, or jungle eco-lodge.
Typically we will take a private 20-person shuttle from place to place. When traveling to more remote areas we will occasionally split into two groups and use smaller 4-wheel drive vehicles.
No. US and Canadian Citizens do not need a visa for this program.
You will want to bring two pieces of luggage: your main bag and a daypack. Your main bag should be a backpack, travel backpack or large duffel bag. This larger piece of luggage should be approximately 4,500-5,000 cubic inches or 70-75 liters, and should be able to hold everything on your Clothing & Equipment List. The daypack should be large enough to hold an extra layer of clothing, a water bottle, sunscreen, some snacks, etc. Some travel backpacks come with an attached daypack that you can zip off and use. Otherwise, your school backpack is a good option. When you travel, you should plan to check your large piece of luggage and bring the daypack on the plane as your carry-on.
Please keep in mind that while you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.
You will also need to pack an EMPTY small duffel bag inside your main piece of luggage. When you get to Costa Rica, you will use this duffel bag to store certain items that you will not use during specific sections of your program.
No. English is widely spoken in Costa Rica and your leaders and local guides will speak both English and Spanish.
Have questions? Speak to one of our Program Directors, give them a call at (415) 332.5075 , they love talking about their trips!
