Costa Rica: Pura Vida Experience
Program Overview
Immerse yourself in a thrilling two-week adventure that blends exciting activities, cultural immersion, and meaningful service work. Explore life in a remote ranching village nestled high in the cloud forest as you roll up your sleeves and get involved in building crucial infrastructure. Get to know the local community by organizing a community soccer game with elementary school students, practicing Spanish skills, and learning about traditional Costa Rican culture.
Marvel at the natural beauty of the country as you raft through a verdant rainforest along the Pacuare River, spotting monkeys, sloths, and toucans overhead. Try your hand at surfing the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean on palm-fringed beaches, sample locally grown chocolate and coffee, and master the art of crafting delicious tortillas and empanadas by hand. From hidden waterfalls to unspoiled coastlines, experience the bounty of Costa Rica's rainforests while embracing the "Pura Vida" way of life and learning from local Costa Ricans.
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Program Highlights
What's Included
Quick Details
- Cooking
- Eco Tours
- Homestay
- Nature Tours
- Rafting
- Surfing
- Tours
- Community Service & Volunteering
- Experiential Learning
- Outdoor Education
Updated Oct 16, 2025
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- San Jose, Costa Rica
Eligible Nationalities
- All Nationalities
- This Program is also open to Solo, Group
Education Levels & Language
- Education
- Grade school to 8th grade
Accommodation Options
- Group living
- Guest House
- Other
Application Procedures
- Letters of Reference
- Online Application
Age Requirement
9-17
Duration
- 1-2 Weeks
- Summer
Starts At
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to all the most common questions about ARCC Programs.
What are the service learning 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: Constructing composting gardens in a small village, making improvements to community roads or buildings, reforestation of native trees, or building a community soccer field.
Where will we sleep?
During this program, we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small hotels, community houses, and a jungle lodge.
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 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.
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 on the packing list.
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