check out a typical lifeworks costa rica itinerary.
Since in-country logistics are subject to change for reasons outside our control - and our community service work changes with the needs of our partner organizations - please take the table below as a guide only. And, as always, feel free to give us a call at 800.808.2115 or +1.941.924.2115 for the most up-to-date information!
DAY |
DESCRIPTION |
1 |
Fly day! - Students fly together from Miami to San Jose with the help of Lifeworks' professional staff. Afternoon and evening activities include getting settled into a beautiful eco-lodge overlooking the San Jose valley, Lifeworks orientation and check-in, group games and personal introductions. Students enjoy their first of many fantastic Costa Rican meals, and try to get some sleep after months of anticipation and a day of excitement come to an end! |
2 |
Orientation - Morning orientation to the Lifeworks Costa Rica service projects. Bus to Picagres - a small, beautiful, mountainous, and welcoming rural village west of San Jose. Students become familiar with the site, the tools, safety procedures, and start to work! There is much to get done - the roof, windows, and floors need to be installed, and a couple murals painted, before the community school has a lunchroom. |
3 |
Caribbean coast - Morning bus ride through lush forests and dramatic mountain landscapes to the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast. Spend the day hiking through the tropical forests, exploring the beaches, and watching the prolific wildlife. Students engage in a lively Lifeworks Forum on their first impressions of this new and exciting culture and environment - all as the sun sets over the Pacific ocean. |
4 |
Caribbean coast - More exploration of the natural wonders around Manuel Antonio. Afternoon bus ride back to Santa Ana, where students get settled back into their beautiful eco-lodge accommodation. |
5 |
Picagres and Juan Sanchez - Morning community service project on the Picagres rural school lunchroom. Afternoon visit to Juan Sanchez and the indigenous reserve of Quittirris. Students learn about indigenous culture while touring traditional grass huts, religious artifacts, and burial grounds. Students are offered the opportunity to "juice" sugar cane - tribal style - and participate in a traditional ceremony of blessing. |
6 |
Picagres and Trapiche - Morning community service project on the Picagres rural school lunchroom. Afternoon visit to a sugar cane production factory, a modern and thus fascinating contrast from the traditional methods seen the day before. |
7 |
Picagres and Doka - Morning community service project on the Picagres rural school lunchroom. Afternoon visit to the coffee farms at Doka Estate. Students engage in the process of coffee production, and learn about some of the humanitarian and environmental issues surrounding its production and trade. |
8 |
Zip-line day! - Bus northwest of San Jose to the steamy volcano Poas, the largest active crater in the world. On the off-chance that Poas' emerald waters aren't breathtaking enough! - students spend the afternoon on the mountain side for an exciting zip-line tour of the forest and scenery below. The longest line is over 600 meters long! |
9 |
Picagres, Free Time, and Shopping - Morning community service project on the Picagres rural school lunchroom. Afternoon souvenir shopping and "free time" in Santa Ana and beyond. |
10 |
Cabecar - Morning bus to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Short stop to see the fascinating process of banana harvest. Students also explore the Cabecar Indian Reserve, learn about their cultures and customs, and undergo a small community service project on its behalf. Lifeworks forum night, and stay in another beautiful eco-lodge. |
11 |
Canales de Tortuguero - Students hop on board a river boat to explore Costa Rica's "mini-Amazon," the canals of Tortuguero. The day is filled with tons of wildlife watching - crocodiles, sloths, colorful birds, monkeys, and much more. Also an afternoon community service project cleaning up a local beach to restore sea turtle nesting sites. Most students are lucky enough to witness these majestic creatures lay their eggs and document important scientific information for research and conservation initiatives. Students rest this night after a full day in a comfortable, but rustic, rainforest grass hut! |
12 |
Canales de Tortuguero, Sarapiqui, and La Selva - Students work more on improving the state of the turtle nesting sites and explore more of the canals of Tortuguero. Afternoon scenic bus ride back through Sarapiqui and La Selva to Santa Ana, where students meet their home stay families for the first time. Students settle into their welcoming new homes, and enjoy some home-cooked Costa Rican cuisine! |
13 |
Rafting Day! - Class 2, 3, and 4 rapids is unavoidably fun for all! Evening and night spent with the students' host families. |
14 |
La Carpio - Community service project day in the San Jose slum of La Carpio. Projects include leading educational and cross-cultural programs for the underprivileged children of La Carpio, mural painting, help in the Humanitarian Foundation's medical clinics, and a bunk-bed construction project. It is hard work but rewarding for all involved. Evening and night spent with the students' host families. |
15 |
La Carpio - Morning community service project with the underprivileged children of La Carpio. In the afternoon students and staff gather the children for a field trip to San Jose's Children's Museum. It is a rare treat for the children of La Carpio to be exposed to a world outside of the slum! Evening and night spent with the students' host families. |
16 |
Picagres - Community service project day on the Picagres rural school lunchroom. Evening and night spent with the students' host families. |
17 |
Rafting Day! - Class 2, 3, and 4 rapids is unavoidably fun for all! Students also spend the day learning more about the unique biodiversity of Costa Rica, and stay in a beautiful eco-lodge at night. |
18 |
Hike Day - Students explore the natural beauty of the Rio Celeste, Costa Rica's jewel of the north. Light blue waters and lush forests complement a wonderful hike through the Tenorio Volcano National Park to, arguably, the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica. Evening spent with wonderful food and a lively Lifeworks Forum. |
19 |
Horseback Riding Day! - Explore more of the natural wonders northwest of the San Jose valley on horseback. Students soak their sores away in a rainforest hot springs, and return to their home stay families in the evening. |
20 |
La Carpio & Final Fiesta - Community service project day with the underprivileged children of La Carpio. The last day is always so hard! - so hard to say goodbye to the lovely children. Students spend their final evening at Ana's "ranchero" for the going-away "fiesta"! Music, an enormous amount of food, good friends, and host families make it a night to remember. |
21 |
So Hard To Say Goodbye - Students say goodbye to their host families and new friends at Lifeworks. Without fail there is a mix of emotions - there is excitement to return home; there is sadness to leave. Students fly together San Jose to Miami with the help of Lifeworks' professional staff and continue on to their respective homes and families. |
