JOURNEY OF FRIENDSHIP
An Intercultural Experience in Costa Rica

Registration Form (English PDF file)
Registration Form (French PDF file)

Themes
Community, intercultural experience, conservation, service.

Overview
The focus of this expedition is a co-operative agricultural community located in the central lowlands region of Costa Rica. This community has a unique and very successful organizational framework and a strong environmental ethic. Students will live and work with the people here and will be immersed in both the culture and the pristine ecology of the area.

Trip details
12 days
Departure dates: To be announced
Cost: $2395CAD, Flight from Toronto included
Medium fitness required

Custom trips for groups possible at other times

Eligibility
Open to high school students 15 years and older.

Supervision
Our staff are highly trained, experienced leaders and guides.

Benefits to participants
Students who take part in this expedition will see first-hand what a group can accomplish when people work co-operatively. They will have a stronger appreciation for the importance of environmental conservation, will enhance their understanding and appreciation for other cultures and will enjoy unparalleled pristine nature. They will be more aware of their personal capabilities and will feel more confident in their ability to look after themselves while travelling.

Itinerary

Day one
Upon arrival in Costa Rica, stay at a small hotel in Alajuela, a typical bustling central american city. This is an opportunity to get acclimitized to the country and experience a little of its urban culture.

Days two to nine
Travel inland to a unique cooperative community. This will be a cultural and learning experience, living and working with people for whom community is a major focus in their lives. Families live independently but share major decisions on community life and work. This is an opportunity to experience day-to-day rural Costa Rican life and culture. The families in these communities are warm, accepting and very hospitable. While in the community you’ll be billeted with a family, living in their homes and sharing their lives.

Activities
Spend time with members of the community, working, playing and learning about rural life in Costa Rica.

  • Work in the mornings on some of the community’s projects. The community grows pineapples, yucca and other tropical products. You'll work in the fields with our hosts and help with other community projects.
  • Hike in the afternoons to local nature attractions. Possibilities include primary rainforest preserves, waterfalls and volcanoes.
  • Spend evenings with community members playing music, sharing stories, and learning a little of the history of the community.

Days nine to eleven
Travel to a beautiful nature retreat in the mountains. This is a chance to relax and reflect on the experience of living in the community before heading home. Enjoy cloud forest hiking and local culture, in a very different part of the country.

Days eleven and twelve
Return to Alajuela in the Central valley. Enjoy a celebration meal together prior to returning home.

Day twelve
Transfer to the airport for our flight home.

Registration Form (English PDF file)
Registration Form (French PDF file)