

COSTA RICA
PURA VIDA EXPERIENCE
A 14-Day Cultural & Service Program






Costa Rica

Program Details
Dates: | June 20 – July 3 July 7 – July 20 |
Duration: | 14 days |
Tuition: | $4,195 |
Arrive: | San Jose, CR* |
Depart: | San Jose, CR* |
Grade | 7th & 8th |
*Optional Leader Escorted Flight from Miami
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Program Highlights
- Work on Critical Building Projects in a Rural Village Community
- Organize a Community Soccer Match and Cultural Exchange at a Costa Rican School
- Learn to Surf the Peaceful Waves of the Pacific Ocean
- Zipline Through the Breathtaking Rainforest Canopy
- Whitewater Raft the Canyons of the World-Famous Pacuare River
- Explore Hidden Rainforest Waterfalls and Natural Waterslides
- Immerse Yourself in “Pura Vida” (Pure life!) Culture of This Amazing Country
- Community Service Hours
Spotlight Project
Mollejones Community Visit
Enter a unique Costa Rican village founded by local families who settled in this stunning mountain landscape over a generation ago. Due to its remote location and tiny population, this community does not have the same resources available to those in larger urban areas. Through community infrastructure improvements, working at the local school, and cultural exchange, we experience the warmth and simplicity of Costa Rican culture while assisting with the needs of this amazing place.
Program Overview
Step out of your comfort zone for a two-week adventure that combines exciting adventures, unique cultural immersion, and impactful service. Live and work in a remote ranching village high in the cloud forest and get your hands dirty building much-needed infrastructure. Organize a community soccer game with students from a rural elementary school and build your Spanish speaking skills while living in a traditional Costa Rican community. Experience the beauty of this majestic nation by whitewater rafting through a lush rainforest on the Pacuare River with monkeys, sloths, and toucans above. Learn to surf the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean off Costa Rica’s beautiful palm-fringed beaches. Sample sweet chocolate and coffee grown and harvested by local families, and learn the art of hand-making delicious tortillas and empanadas. Experience abundant rainforests, untouched coastlines, and hidden waterfalls, while learning to live the “Pura Vida” (Pure Life!) culture from local Costa Ricans.
Photo Gallery
Program Details
San Jose
On the outskirts of the culturally rich capital city of San Jose we have a fun orientation to Costa Rican life and culture. Here we are able to adjust to “Tico time”, taste our first local fare, bond as a group, and brush up on some basic Spanish phrases to use over the course of the trip
Rural Cloud Forest Village
Traveling to the high mountains, we spend time in a rural region that ARCC has been visiting for over 20 years. This is an opportunity to live and work in a small Costa Rican village. It’s a chance for us to practice our Spanish skills and participate first-hand in the daily lives of village residents and learn more about their history and culture, from preparing traditional meals to exciting soccer matches. We conclude our stay with a huge community celebration, complete with a feast and traditional dances and games, where we are the guests of honor!
Rainforest Rafting Adventure
The volcanoes and mountains of the Andean-Sierra Madre chain form the spine of Costa Rica and provide the waters that eventually become the world-renowned Pacuare River. As we paddle the Class II-IV rapids of this pure and pristine river, we pass silvery waterfalls, a wilderness of dense vegetation, and the calls of tropical birds and monkeys. We overnight at a beautiful river lodge deep in the rainforest, where we experience amazing canopy ziplines and soak in refreshing waterfall pools in the heart of the jungle.
Savegre Farming Community
ARCC groups have visited communities in the coffee-growing high country of Savegre every summer since 1994. We get a unique glimpse into a culture where daily life may be very different from our own lives back home. Side by side with our village hosts, we lend a hand to help with daily tasks and ongoing projects in the community. We may repair communal buildings or roads in the village, assist with farm animal care, or work on a greenhouse project to grow saplings of native plants. The hard work and bonds we build during our stay are something we will not soon forget.
Surfing the Pacific Coast
The search for gold historically drew explorers to this country, but now Costa Rica’s coasts are rich with amazing places just waiting to be discovered! Gorgeous beaches, superb waves, and quirky surf culture are all treasures to be found in Costa Rica. The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters provide an opportunity to practice our surf skills, learning from professional surf guides that can practically guarantee we will be riding waves with confidence by the end of our hands-on lessons. In the evenings we gather around a beach bonfire while watching some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
Returning to San Jose, we spend the last night together as a group enjoying a traditional ARCC “Final Feast”, celebrating with our new friends and reliving the adventures from the past two weeks, eager to return home and share the stories with our family and friends!
Program Reviews
“This trip is amazing!”
— Tristan S., Red Hook, NY, ARCC Student“Stella had a great time, she learned a lot about the culture and wildlife of Costa Rica. She used her language skills and helped people which made her very happy.”
— Parent of Stella Von S., Brooklyn, NY“Even though my daughter had been to Costa Rica with our family, it was an amazing adventure to travel on her own and be responsible for herself!”
— Parent of Elizabeth C., New Canaan, CT“ARCC is super safe, fun, well-planned and makes you feel so comfortable!”
— Grace E., Minneapolis, MN, ARCC Student“The people you meet on this trip make you open your eyes and you become part of a strong, bonded family.”
— Luis C., Westport, CT, ARCC Student“It’s a trustworthy and reliable company. We have no regrets sending our daughter on a trip under their supervision. A summer well spent!”
— Parent of Ankita S., Danville, CA“Best summer of my life!”
— Stella Von S., Brooklyn, NY, ARCC Student
Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Costa Rica summer program:
A Surfing Song
The sun comes up, The sky is blue My first day of surfing And real camping, too. Rashguard on, I’m ready to roll, Determination in my soul Chorus Not sure what to expect Don’t know what to say I remember the sound of the waves crashing For the first time that day. Me and the…Read more
Building a Library
We woke up extremely early this morning and we sat down to a breakfast of…banana pancakes! We walked to the site where we would be working and building for the next few days. We split into two groups, one that sanded the wood, and one that sawed and hammered the wood into place. My group…Read more
Our New Home
To add some details about the town we are staying in: it is really small and scattered with only about 80 people living here (I have seen only about 20 so far). They must walk up and down the roads (or by horse or Jeep) to get to the center of town (which is not…Read more
Saving the Sea Turtles
Today we came back to San José after finishing our turtle unit. We were at the turtle reserve for three days and we learned a lot about turtles. On Saturday night, we saw a leatherback turtle laying eggs. She was ENORMOUS!! The day before, we saw baby turtles crawl into the ocean. I can’t believe…Read more
Teaching English, What a Day!
Today we taught English to local 5th and 6th graders…what a day! After a delicious breakfast of omelets and fruit, we worked hard to finish preparing our lessons. We set up games of Bingo, quilt making with sentences, charades, and flashcards. We taught them family and farm animal vocabulary. The kids were very energetic and…Read more
Wildlife we’ve seen so far
Blue Morpho Butterfly Glass Frog Coati Fer de lance snake Toucan!! Iguana Jesus Christ Lizard Anole Lizard Land crab Jellyfish Sand Dollars (alive) Hermit Crabs Green Sea Turtle Howler Monkey Spider Monkey White-Faced Capuchin Monkey Leatherback Sea Turtle SlothRead more
Common Questions
What is the packing list for this program?
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.
What is the weather like in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, the weather is a lot like Florida in the summer time. During the day it can be hot, sunny and humid (80’s-90’s). Late afternoons often bring showers, which will cool us off. Some days you will go to bed with only a simple cover as it is often warm enough to sleep without your sleeping bag. When we ascend into the high elevation rainforest and cloud forest, the temperature becomes cooler (in the 50’s at night).
What are the service projects like?
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. Past projects have included: teaching at a local school, constructing composting gardens in a small village, making improvements to community roads or buildings, reforestation of native trees, or building a community soccer field.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling on this program?
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).
Where will we sleep?
During this program we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small simple hotels, jungle lodge, and community houses.
What is the transportation like once we are in Costa Rica?
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. We also take a short ferry ride during the turtle project portion of our program.
What is the food like?
On this program, you will experience typical Costa Rican fare – rice and beans. This staple is supplemented with a delicious assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. The group will also be creating the menu and preparing the meals during some sections of the program. Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date. Students should inform ARCC of any dietary needs before the start of the program.
How much money should I bring?
We suggest you bring about $75 per week on your program. This is for souvenirs, laundry, and other incidentals. ARCC pays for all meals, lodging, transportation and activities. There is some time to shop for souvenirs in San Jose and elsewhere during the program. We recommend you bring some of your money in cash and the rest on an ATM card.
In Costa Rica the official currency is the Colon, but US dollars are widely accepted. We suggest that you carry about $25 of your money in small denominations (1’s and 5’s). Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted. We do not recommend Traveler’s checks. ATM’s are found in San Jose, but are limited outside the city.
As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, all students traveling to Costa Rica need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after your program start date. Be sure to make a photocopy of your passport and keep it in a separate place. If you lose your passport and you have a photocopy, it is much easier to replace.
Do I need a visa?
No. US and Canadian Citizens do not need a visa for this program. Visa requirements for other countries vary by country; please consult the Belize Immigration website to see if your specific country requires a Belize entry visa.
What is the time difference between Costa Rica and the USA?
During the summer, Costa Rica is on Mountain Time. Therefore, on your program the time will be 2 hours earlier than in New York (Eastern Time) and 1 hour later than in San Francisco (Pacific Time).
How often can we take showers and do laundry?
Students are taught how to hand wash their clothes by their leaders, and will have the opportunity to do so throughout the program. Due to the remote locations we travel to, students do as the locals do, and use the warm Costa Rican sun to line dry their clothes. For ease of travel, quick dry clothes are recommended.
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on 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.
Do I need to speak Spanish to join this program?
No. English is widely spoken in Costa Rica and your leaders and local guides will speak both English and Spanish. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to practice speaking Spanish with your host families and other locals that we interact with during the program.
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19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
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Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC