Volunteering Gap Year Programs in San Jose,Costa Rica

I was in Quepos for 6 weeks did Spanish classes, surf classes and two volunteer projects (working with kids and teaching english). I made a lot of new friends, got more independent and experienced an amazing country like a local.

Everything is part of the experience. Learning how to go with the flow is an essential part of staying here. I’ve made so many new friends, locally and from around the world. The workers are fantastic and super accommodating, as long as you’re reachable and communicating. I’ve enjoyed working with kids and every new day brings about something new to learn. I love my Spanish classes and we’ve been correcting things I learned in school and building off of it. I’m really excited for the rest of my time here. ¡Pura vida!

I stayed in Costa Rica for 4 months and for my Gap Year with Maximo and it was the best choice I could’ve made. I did the customized path with Spanish Immersion and Volunteering with Children. They were extremely accommodating to my needs and made sure I had the best experience. From the close proximity to many beaches to my classes to my host family. This program was everything I could’ve dreamed of and more. So much so that I already planned my next journey back for the New Year!

I loved being in Costa Rica, it honestly was the best experience I met so many people from all over and we made so many fun memories. I would definitely come back to Costa Rica I loved my host family they were truly amazing and so kind I will definitely recommend doing this.

My time in Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel was definitely one that I will cherish and hold near and dear to my heart for forever. There were so many amazing people to meet and so many amazing experiences to be had. My host mom, Marisol was an amazing host and made us all feel very comfortable and happy, all while keeping a fun and lighthearted atmosphere in the house. The campus in Quepos, Costa Rica is very comfortable and well made and I enjoyed spending time there as well!

I had a very nice time here in Costa Rica, my family was very nice and ever was welcoming to me. Both of my projects were fun and I have learned a lot since being here! I am exciting for my trips to Guatemala and Peru

I had the best time volunteering at Maximo Nivel, I like that they put a very thoughtful approach to my trip! I felt safe throughout my entire stay, I really appreciate the careful thought that the staff put in not only for my experience but everything else involved.

It’s given me a lot more confidence about what to do next, just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you haven’t got those skills and experience. Something I do notice where I’ve perhaps helped younger people is it’s all new to them whereas I’ve seen it all before. That experience does count for quite a bit, so that has been validating.

Learned so much. Beautiful country. Great people willing to help. The staff was so helpful and my host mom was so wonderful. I met so many awesome people and everyone I worked with was super helpful. I absolutely love my host mom and I just feel really lucky to have had this experience.

The Centre where I’m volunteering in Cambodia is an amazing place for any traveller — young or old. The local staff are very welcoming and are always ready to help with any situation or need that comes your way. The program offers cultural immersion and an enjoyable volunteering experience that I would recommend anyone to try.

2 years ago I did a the Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica trip with pacific discovery and it was amazing. The organisation itself is really good and made the group feel like a family. All the activities were not only absolutely fantastic but also inspiring.

Máximo Nivel is a program that offers fantastic Spanish courses and flexibility to travel around Costa Rica. The Spanish instruction was fantastic and it was the perfect place to improve my fluency! Highly recommend

I was able to meet friends from all over the U.S. and a few from the Netherlands. We all shared love for trying new things and got to help each other to get out of our comfort zones a little. It wasn't always easy, everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences and things didn't always go as you expected. We all grew so much during those 3months and our instructors Tari and Jack were inspiring. This experience made me start to work my way into the outdoor education field after seeing the impact it had on me. Now im starting to work with kids and taking them on hikes and getting to share fun stories of the things i experienced with Pacific Discovery and how it's made me even more curious and determined to find my next travel opportunity.

This program made me grow a lot mentally and was a journey of self discovery as well as an outer journey of learning about new interesting cultures and ways of life. I would definitely recommend if you want to make friends and gain an eye opening view of the world.

The person that started this program and the person who has left are 2 very different minded people. I have come to learn much about myself and what I like by spending time reflecting and challenging both my mental and physical states. This trip provided the space and time away to focus on this part of myself and I am forever grateful for this experience.

I joined the raleigh Costa Rica spring 2022 10 week expedition. I was the only American in the expedition which lead to me leading a lot of new people from completely different cultures whether it be England, Germany, Costa Rica, etc. During my 3 phases of community resilience, nrm and trek I believe I was able to improve my social and leadership skills. I felt I had projects that made lasting change and bettered communities. Although there was a lot of hard work we all felt very accomplished at the end. I suggest this program wholeheartedly because of involvement in environmental education, social and leadership skills, and creating a lasting impact.

I chose Outward Bound Costa Rica because of the unique cultural experiences they offered, as well as the variety of adventure activities. The most meaningful part of my course was doing service work in Nicaragua and playing with the kids. The service was fulfilling and working with the community around and having interactions was awesome. Through my OBCR experience, I learned that I am strong and capable of flourishing on my own away from home and I have a huge passion for travel.

It's such a unique opportunity to authentically experience such a beautiful country, it was the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. I learned that I'm capable of so much more than I had imagined and my love for the outdoor education grew even more.

It's an amazing opportunity to learn more about the World, and grow as a person. Doing the service projects in Nicaragua - it was amazing to see just how much the kids and the school teachers appreciated something as simple as a mural. OBCR will push you to your limits, physically and mentally, while being the experience of a lifetime.

It has be an opportunity to mentally re-center myself and put priorities into perspective. I'm much more mentally strong in physically stressful and challenging situations than I thought. The hike was insanely hard but pushing through each day and being able to think back to each challenge I overcame was very gratifying. i think pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and finding new things to enjoy are so important when it comes to living life and growing as a person and OBCR has helped me do that.