Volunteer Adventure—2 weeks in Costa Rica

Phenomenal experience that provided a huge culture shock as well as an appreciation of what I have back at home. I loved the kids and the staff at the school and look forward to working with them in the future!

Gracias de corazón a todos por esta experiencia maravillosa. Ha sido un momento muy especial, lleno de buenos recuerdos, aprendizaje y grandes personas. Me siento muy agradecido/a de haberlo vivido con ustedes. ¡Mil gracias!

I had a blast. Was nervous at first because I thought I would be lost. However, the staff did an amazing job and making sure everyone knew what was available to them and how to get help. The people, culture and the nature here are wonderful!

I cannot express to you how this volunteer work has been life changing. To be able and bring a smile to even one person for a day is heartwarming. To see the not on their face even for a simple touch is gratifying.

Enjoyed helping conserve turtle habitat and survival. Immersion in the hot and humid environment was a challenge (I’m from Canada) but it was great. I will consider doing another project in the future

This trip was such a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the kids at the daycare and getting to know them. I was also able to significantly improve my Spanish skills. I would recommend this program!

I stayed in Café Monteverde in Costa Rica. A beautiful place to visit. The people on the coffee farm were very nice. My host lady was very nice too and she cooked very well. I learned how to do tortillas. That was great and I made some friends. There's soo much to see and to do in Monteverde. You have to go there. Thank you everyone for my wonderful experience 😊

I had so much fun! made so many friends! melissa, vanessa, nicole and dr. segura we literally amazing. I had so much fun with them. Actually one of the best weeks ever. Even when things were slow at the clinic we still had so much fun and learned so many things

i had a great time and learned so much. I am going to take so much from this and use it in the future. I also had great leaders that made this experience the best that it could possibly be. I am going to miss everyone on this trip

I loved getting to know new people and getting to interact with patients!! Our leader Melissa was amazing and you can tell she really cares about what she does. She is an inspiration! I loved getting to travel to different places, but would have liked to get out of the city a little more. I like the mountains and outdoors!

I had a fantastic time! All the people were so kind and caring. They were extremely patient and helpful. It was a great overall experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. I’m going to miss it all!

I had the best experience with Maximo Nivel!!! The team was amazing and it was great serving others. The nurse and doctor were amazing, and the translators were so helpful! Melissa was our team leader and she made our experiences so special.

amazing! 10/10! would recommend to anyone! it was great getting to experience the costa rican culture while being able to serve in the community. i felt so safe the entire time and the people here were very welcoming!

Maximo provided us with the most spectacular volunteering opportunity as medical professionals. I couldn’t have asked for anything better!! Everything was so organized from the moment we arrived, from cooking and salsa classes and volunteering.

My first time going abroad solo and Its been the best decision of my life, especially with Maximo. I felt so secure and safe. I felt o didn’t have to worry and I had support if needed. The program itself was so fun, and I’ll never forget the incredible memories made.

Me gustó mucho mi experiencia en costa rica con el equipo de máximo nivel, todos fueron muy amables y nos ayudaron en todo el proceso. El hospital dental estuvo muy padre y aprendí muchísimo sobre varias especialidades en el área dental.

I loved being apart of the travel volunteer program at Maximo Nivel! I had a great time and loved connecting with the local community. The stuff were very helpful and were great when it came to welcoming us to the city!

There were definitely ups and downs on this trip. First of all, I absolutely loved the people at Maximo Nivel. However, the locals I met weren't necessarily kind, and the trip overall didn't feel overly safe. When looking back on it, it was an important experience to have to shape who I am.

I came to Maximo through a class trip, and felt very fulfilled by the volunteer work that we completed! The staff at Maximo were all so helpful and welcoming, and I felt like I got to have a genuine exchange that helped the farms we visited and taught me a lot about the culture of Costa Rica and agriculture.

everyone was so sweet here, very welcoming and helpful. they were very accommodating and capable of handling everyone and their needs. if i were to come back to costa rica, i would 100% book with them.

Travelling with Maximo Nivel was the best choice that my school made. They are so welcoming and amazing, and made booking things so easy! I really loved my host stay with Marisol and Gilberth, they were so kind and accommodating! I would love to travel with Maximo again!

Maximo Nivel was absolutely amazing! Everyone was incredible and I learned so much on this trip! It was everything I could have ever wanted from a volunteer trip and I would recommend them to anyone! Pura vida!

I loved it in Costa Rica!! Thank you so much for having all of us. It was definitely an experience that cannot be underestimated! We did so much including visiting fincas, chocolate tour, bee tour, monteverde, and so much more!

I had the best time helping others in a different country. It was an amazing opportunity to help others who are struggling. I got to volunteer during the holiday program so we were able to plan activities for the elderly, children and people with disabilities. I loved the experience.

The staff at Maximo, the host and volunteer place was very nice and accommodating. I would prefer to know where I’m staying or working before landing. Otherwise the experience was wonderful. Thank you

Nuestra Senora is a good place to volunteer, residents and staff needed and appreciate all the help. I would recommend the Maximo Nivel thru IVHQ. Theres lots of activities the staff organized, you will never be bored. Dance lesson, cooking lesson. My temporary family ( Wendy Garcia ) along with her family are excellent.

This volunteer program was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life!! Recommend to everyone. You meet new people, experience amazing things, and help the surrounding community. It teaches you to appreciate new things in life.

I had a great time with my program! I went through IVHQ with my brother. Everyone at Maximo Nivel was helpful. They addressed any concerns promptly and they were very detailed in their program orientations. I would definitely recommend!!

I had an amazing time! All the locals at my project were so friendly and Maximo Nivel was very supportive. We completed night patrols in a group and also had plenty of exploration time in our village. I signed up through IVHQ and would highly recommend !

I really enjoyed my experience volunteering in Costa Rica however I think it should be made more clear that a level of Spanish is needed in order to have a successful and easy experience in the country. The program I selected specified I did not need to know any Spanish however once I got here it benefited me to buy the classes. The Spanish classes were very helpful and I feel much more confident now! Thanks Maximo!

This place was absolutely wonderful! This was my first time really leaving the country, so it was really new for me! It was very fun and interesting, and I loved seeing the different people, culture, and most of all, the food. At the Veterinary Hospital I loved seeing all the dogs that came in and taking care of them, walking them, feeding and even seeing varying surgeries done on them! I absolutely loved it and am almost certain that I will come here again!

I had an amazing time here in Costa Rica, it was super fun and the people were amazing like Anastasia and Liam. Volunteer was so fun I wish I could stay longer !! It was one of the best experiences I had !!

I loved my time here . Volunteer was really fun and the staff was amazing mostly Andres, Anastasia ( big crush(kidding)) and Liam ( so funny ). I wish I could’ve stayed longer ?. Gonna miss the Maximo family !

Hello, my name is hafid amhaoui, I'm happy to contact with you, and I want to volunteer with you please, I have experience and I want to share it with you, as soon as possible, you can contact me at any time.

It was an amazing experience! I learned so much from the staff and felt supported the whole time. The opportunities we were given taught me so much and allowed me to become more confident in the skills.

This is an amazing experience. The first week is truly about giving back and you really get exposed to so many cool things. The things that weren’t ranked a 10 were things that can’t even compare to what was ranked a 10. In my opinion, the experience is so much more important that sleeping in a nice hotel. You get to give back to a group of amazing and appreciative people and that makes every single thing worth it.

I had an amazing experience getting hands on learning all over San Jose. I really enjoyed working with the locals and learning for the different Maximo staff and doctors all that they know about the area and the medical field. It was so great to be able to practice my Spanish and communicate with the locals while providing them care too.

You get a chance to do a lot of things that most people won’t get to. You also get to see how other cultures live and really see an immediate impart from what you’re doing. It’s incredibly rewarding and would definitely recommend

This was so eye opening and such an amazing experience. I learned so much about the culture of Costa Rica and about the people living here. I felt that these medical campaigns really helped out the communities and I loved it!!!! Would do it over and over again!

The staff and doctors were amazing at teaching us and helping us understand the basics of vital signs, Spanish, communicating with the community. Everyone was great and made it the experience of a lifetime. You make such strong friemdships with the girls on the trip.

It was such great experience! I was able to learn so much in such an interactive way. Not only were we able to make such an impact on the local Costa Rican community, but with ourselves as well. There are many experiences I had here I know I wouldn’t have been able to have anywhere else! Thank you!!

I thought everything was very well organized. I love getting to be around everyone. Everyone was so nice and I loved every second of it. I can not express how much this community means to me! Thank you!!!

Perfect way to dip your toes into the medical field and gain new knowledge about all things healthcare! The people here are extremely helpful every step of the way and put together a wonderful experience.

Great experience working with kids! Really enriching! To take care of little children, playing, having fun with them, see them having a smile in their face was such a nice experience and filled me with joy and happiness!

At Maximo Nivel, I got to volunteer at a local daycare. My first experience in Costa Rica was full of great times. The kids were wonderful and the city is beautiful. Maximo does a great job of providing any help you might need and then some.

I had the best time while in Costa Rica, I was able to learn spanish with a local, make friends around the world, I was able to do things that I wouldnt have thought i would be able to do, like learn how to surf. I got to see sloths,monkeys, bats, snakes, and so much more, i wouldnt have been able to do this without the help of Maximo Nivels help and support.

Let‘s start with saying that almost everything was as I wanted it to be and more. The people from Maximo are super nice and helpful, no matter my questions or problems. I never felt alone or as a burden. The project was much fun and after a day of work you could see your impact. Also all of the local construction workers helped you and tried to let you be part of the project. I had to work on my own, but was always helped if needed. My host mom Noemi is the sweetest person alive and made my trip even better. My room was large, had a bathroom and she is just the nicest person alive. Long story short: Everybody I met helped me make this experience the best it can be.

Very fun trip and wished i could stay longer than 1 week. Every worker and volunteer was very kind and hard working. I would recommend construction to anyone who is willing to work with there hands and get dirty. Overall great experience.

I had so much fun and loved the experience. Everyone here was very welcoming and open. My spanish teacher was amazing, as was everyone else at Maximo Nivel! I definitely recommend this trip for anyone who wants to experience Costa Rica authentically.

From the moment I stepped out of the airport until the moment it was time for me to depart, I felt not only welcomed but also very secure! From the host family to the staff at Maximo Nivel and the staff at the school, everyone was very friendly and caring. I was able to reach out to anyone for help or support at any time, and they were always happy to help. Special shout out to Ashleigh and Ashanti at Maximo for being awesome coordinators!

My experience abroad was great but it was very interesting. I was able to immersed myself in a different culture to obtain a better understanding on how Central American people live day to day. It was a humbling but also an unforgettable experience. I encourage anyone contemplating on traveling abroad to go. It will open your eye to the world and hopefully you can make a small difference while you are abroad.

I originally signed up for health care but got more than imagined. The combination of services, both professional and humanitarian more than met the needs of my volunteer experience. The love and caring by all who serve an underserved population is outstanding. All members in the community share in their drive to meet as many needs as possible. Maximo Nivel and Cost Rica itself combine the volunteer experiences one needs as we age to give back and gain more than we give.

This was the best experience of my life. I am a single, female and doing volunteering while traveling is important to me. Maximo helped me get acclimated and helped place me where I could volunteer that was impactful. I met some great friends, and had amazing adventures along the way. I will definitely be engaging in another volunteer program for my next adventure.

I did the healthcare program in San Jose Costa Rica and absolutely loved it. It was the perfect combination of work and play as the placements were about 4 hours per day. The Maximo Nivel staff was so supportive once I was in the country. I was a little nervous in the beginning because I only had a week to make an impact and experienced a degree of culture shock on my first day here. However, after the orientations, meeting my host family, and the arrival of another volunteer, I felt right at home. I did not feel unsafe at any point of my program and was well prepared. It may seem as though you are heading into your program slightly blind, but you get all of the information you need as soon as you are picked up from the airport and taken to your host family. All the other volunteers are wonderful and you are all in different points of your journey so you can learn from each other. Even though I only volunteered for one week, I got to know the employees of the volunteer well and am so grateful to have met them. In my opinion, you should have a basic level of Spanish speaking ability if you are coming for a short time. It makes the world of a difference in connecting with patients and your placement staff. I highly recommend this experience to anybody looking to volunteer abroad in a meaningful and fun way!

I'm so grateful to have participated in the Medical Volunteer program in Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel. The staff at Maximo are professional, warm and very patient with volunteer questions. My family stay experience added an additional level of engagement with the community. My host family was terrific and did an excellent job of making me feel at home. My accommodations were spotless and very comfortable. The work at my project was very rewarding. I'm a nurse in my home country and worked in a clinic serving the homeless in San Jose. I had a great amount of patient interaction and made lots of new friends in the warm and welcoming staff. I highly recommend Maximo Nivel and their programs.

Had one of the most amazing experiences. Met friends who were also travelling alone, doing similar things to myself. Teaching english to kids the first week then doing the jungle/beach tour was the perfect combination and open my eyes to the culture. I made friends ftom all over the world and we will be staying in touch!! Couldnt reccommend it enough. Had the time of my life.

I had a great experience volunteering with people from all over the world. I was placed in Ostional where I saw Olive Ridley and Green sea turtles lay eggs on the beach. We also got to see baby turtles hatch and crawl to sea which was a very unique experience.

Abby Armstrong is a Rock Star! This was my first experience with Maximo Nivel (COSI). The Adventures in the first week were terrific, well organized, lead by enjoyable and professional locals and included: white water rafting, Rainforest, waterfall hike, catamaran excursion and zip-lining, of course. These were all daily journeys that somehow did not get disrupted by rainy season, I'm not sure how Abby arranged that! My second week was volunteering - teaching English. While this sounds like an easy 'lay up', it's more involved than I thought. My performance on day 1... in my mind I did terrible and was frustrated with myself for not being better prepared. Abby provided excellent and much needed guidance to enable days 2, 3, 4 & 5 to be awesome! (I'll always remember 'phrasal verbs'! ;-)) I had great experiences with kids from 4-12 years old and adults, we even had the opportunity to be active judges in a Spelling Bee at a local school hosted by Orlando - it was great. Overall I give this experience a 10 knowing that it would not have been the same without Abby's support & guidance. A very great memory for me of Costa Rica - thank you Abby! Just Be! Good luck with everything! Sean