Walking Tree Travel

Gabriel, Paul and Luke were not only amazing as guides for a month, but also as friends, leaders and all around people. Their leadership on this trip made me want to push myself, not only in Costa Rica, but further in life to graduation, college, jobs and a family. I realize I can put passion into reality. One highlight would be the natural hot springs by La Fortuna volcano. The sensation of sitting in a natural hot spring in the jungle while cool rain is coming down was unreal. Since my Walking Tree program, I have decided to study abroad in college and major in Spanish. The memories I have, the connections I made, and the knowledge I gained have put me on an exciting path

It is evident to me that the combination of experiences Hannah had on this trip had a profound impact on her. This trip and all she has learned about herself, is sure to affect how she handles the challenges ahead. Thank you so much for a well-run program. Hannah enjoyed it immensely and she will clearly carry the memory of her experience forward into college.

I cannot begin to describe the incredible life-changing experiences Casey has shared with our family. I know her time was well spent - a perfect blend of fun and service. Not only did she learn and live the culture of Costa Rica, she also has made some special friendships that I have no doubt will be lifelong.

The program provided a great way of seeing Costa Rica not just as a tourist, but as a traveler.

My trip to Costa Rica with Walking Tree was one of the best experiences of my life. It gave me the opportunity to go on some amazing adventures, try many new things, explore a beautiful country, and meet wonderful people. It is impossible to describe how rewarding it was to overcome the various challenges we faced, but I know that the trip has forever changed me and the way I view the world. It was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget.

I really liked how our leaders helped us make our experience and personal growth last. They gave us tools to remember our experience and bring our lessons home with us. My favorite meal in Perú was the swordfish that I ate the last night in Lima. I could see the ocean from my seat at the table. However, the highlight of the trip for me was climbing Wayna Picchu. Nothing was more rewarding than waking up at 3:20am after two days of hiking to climb over a kilometer to what seemed like the top of the world. It was amazing to be the first one at the top and have the entire peak to myself for five minutes.

The Walking Tree program attracts the most global, involved, perceptive, uninhibited, and altogether alive people I have ever met. My friends who knew me before the trip have told me that since I returned, I have changed from a timid bystander to a powerful, self-aware human being. And I love who I am for the first time in my life.

My favorite part of the Costa Rica trip was meeting new people. The leaders were great, my peers were awesome, and the people of Costa Rica were amazing! It was one of the greatest months of my life.

I was immersed in an incredible, ancient culture and made lifelong friends from all over the United States. I was challenged to try new things and step out of my comfort zone, but the result was life-changing – and Perú stands out as one of my best memories!

I cannot begin to describe the incredible life-changing experiences Casey has shared with our family. I know her time was well-spent - a perfect blend of fun and service. Not only did she learn and live the culture of Costa Rica, she also has made some special friendships that I have no doubt will be lifelong.

Michelle's trip to Costa Rica was life-changing, from the friends she shared the trip with to the amazing family that hosted her in Las Brisas. She has a real feeling of accomplishment from the community service they did.

It was more than a vacation - I was a Costa Rican for 3 weeks. I learned that although we are different people, we are not actually different from them. The love of their family, their community and their culture is the same love that we have for our family, community and culture.

Dear walking tree staff, Nora Engel-Hall (Costa Rica Immersion B) LOVED every day, every moment of her experience. She came home yesterday ebullient, filled with gratitude for the 'family' their group created together and thrilled and moved deeply by the closeness she experienced with her home stay family. She loved the hard work,( her particular expertise became mixing concrete, something she is sweetly proud of.) She enjoyed playing endless games of tickle tag with the village children, the beauty of the environment, the intimacy with her host family, her spectacular little brother and sister, the hikes to waterfalls, zip-lining and rafting, the fabulous role model-ness of the leaders, Marc and Kaitlin, and she cared deeply about every group member...in fact she has spent the better part of today trying to electronically connect to as many folks from the trip as she could scare up on Skype or Facebook. So thank you for organizing this great experience...Further, Nora's Spanish is very strong after 2 weeks with her Spanish only family home-stay. Nora confided to me this morning that wants to grow up to be a combination of Marc (who she swears is just a misplaced Engel-Hall family member who for some wild reason we've never met) and Kaitlin. What a great adventure she had. Kudos to all of you!

My daughter's favorite part of her Costa Rica trip was the home stay. She learned so much about another culture and grew so close to her family. It is an experience that will stay with her forever.