Summer High School Programs in Costa Rica

This GLA program was such a life changing experience for me. During the trip I not only learned about different cultures, but I meet so many awesome new people. The other students I meet on this trip, I still talk to often. This trip allowed me to take into consideration what future careers I may be interested in. The staff were amazing and made the experience so much better. I would recommend this trip to everyone.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that I will always cherish. I learned so much getting to work in a turtle hatchery, and I even got to release baby turtles. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to this program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough, the experience I had was truly once in a lifetime.

West Coast Connection delivered an exceptional experience for my son on his Costa Rica trip this past June. The itinerary struck the perfect balance of adventure, cultural immersion and fun. He loved everything from helping at the wildlife sanctuary and constructing a new basketball court for a local school, to zip-lining, surfing and relaxing in the mud baths with new friends from around the world. As a parent, I appreciated how thorough and reliable the communication was from start to finish. The trip leaders were professional, enthusiastic, and clearly dedicated to creating a safe, positive environment. My son came home proud of the work he did, the connections he made and more curious about the world. This trip exceeded every expectation for both of us!

My daughter gained a better understanding of Costa Rican culture and experienced an overall wonderful adventure. The Arcos staff is very caring, thorough, and personal. I rate their availability and coordination 5 out of 5. I would recommend this program to future participants.

Arco's pre-program communication was impeccable. There were regular updates at just the right time with plenty of information. I was always informed. Arcos should be a model for every study abroad program. My high schooler's Spanish increased. We appreciated the eye-opening excursions and cultural activities that exposed Aden to Coast Rican life and its people. Definitely a life changing program. Come ready to try delicious food and make new friends.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that will always be cherished. I learned so much getting to work in a turtle hatchery learning all about the dangers to turtles and helping to build turtle nests. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to the program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough.

The greatest benefits of the program were the cultural exchange with Costa Rican people (especially the homestay family, kids at the school and residents of Atenas), sense of independence and confidence, resilience from navigating challenging situations, improved Spanish, exploration of a new place, food, and lots of fun activities.

Arcos provides extensive communication and support with the service details. It was a great experience! My son loved the journey! The program was very accommodating. He enjoyed joining the gym in Atenas and especially loved painting the school and interacting with the students for his community service project.

Arcos staff were promptly responsive to the few questions I had. My son adored his host family, praising their kindness and generosity. He loved the excellent food and appreciated his host mother doing all his laundry and changing his sheets daily. He felt so well-cared for he didn't want to leave! He enjoyed the city, visiting the market and playing basketball with local kids. It was a wonderful and memorable week, thanks to Arcos and the host family.

My daughter was a rising 10th grader and was on the Costa Rica service and adventure trip. She had such an incredible experience! She loved exploring the different areas of Costa Rica, the beautiful beaches, the stunning rainforests and waterfalls- and most importantly the life changing service experience. She wants to go back again and again!

The Arcos program in Costa Rica was a fantastic experience for my daughter. The greatest benefit was the independence she gained. I also appreciated the direct contact with the program director, Catalina, who was great about keeping me up to date with my daughter's activities.

Dylan found this experience incredibly meaningful as a way to give back to communities less fortunate. On top of that he had great fun and adventure with his friends. Thank you for an incredibly experience.

My son did the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica with his classmates. The greatest benefits were language and cultural immersion mixed with fun exploring. My advice for future participants is to pack light and reapply sunblock often. It was a wonderful experience--thank you Arcos!

Our son's experience with Arcos Journeys Abroad in Costa Rica was invaluable. He gained independence and knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. We are especially grateful for Arcos's assistance in getting him on his return flight, which required extra help after we overlooked paying the unaccompanied minor fee. Thank you, Arcos!

My daughter participated in the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica. I highly recommend Arcos Journeys Abroad and give them 5 stars for their excellent coordination, staff, and availability. The greatest benefit for my child was the knowledge gained and achieving such fluency in the language. I would certainly recommend this program to future participants.

This summer I went to Costa Rica with GLA teens, and I had an amazing time that I will always cherish. I learned so much getting to watch vets work, and I even got to assist with the animals that were admitted. I also got to learn about the community and culture of the area, partaking in special activities very unique to this program. Overall, I could not recommend this program enough, the experience I had was truly once in a lifetime.

The communication with Arcos Journeys Abroad was fantastic. My son appreciated the Costa Rican culture and autonomy he was afforded in the small town of Atenas. I encourage you to give your child the experience living with a host family - it’s such an amazing experience.

This was an amazing life experience for me and I highly suggest anyone thinking about going to just go, it's worth it. I increased my skills of water polo for sure, and it was a good way for me to practice meeting new people, this was really good because I am going to college soon, so it was a good practice.

I truly had the best time at GLASS. If anyone out there is considering it, if it's possible for them they should go! The other thing is if the price is daunting, many of my local businesses helped me out and either gave me things to sell or just made a cash donation. One more thing, Costa Rica is so gorgeous and introduced me to so many new experiences which I am so grateful for. The girls are a huge part of it but don't forget we also get to see Costa Rica in all it's glory!

GLASS was one of the best choices of my highschool career. Filling out the forms months before it I was nervous and excited, but the program made me the most happy and fulfilled than any summer job, party, or trip. GLASS allowed me to make connections to other girls across the country and learn valuable lessons about connection and communication through service. The girls that I met there helped build my confidence to meet new people and are real friends that I still talk to today.