The Road Less Traveled Village Experience

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: The Road less Traveled Village Experience: Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a cultural and natural paradise, but most travelers see only the large, tourist resorts. This Road Less Traveled program, however, offers a unique opportunity in the middle of a secluded natural rainforest to help an untouched community create a sustainable future. While helping the community to help themselves, volunteers will be treated to enormous cultural learning and spectacular contact with the lush rainforest.

Work Project:

A decade ago, the government set aside a national forest reserve for the spectacular Carara Rainforest, which borders the village. The villagers love their nature paradise and appreciated the action. However, since then, the tiny village has struggled for sources of income, as their crops are being eaten by protected wildlife. As a first step toward creating sustainable eco-tourism, the community needs help clearing paths, marking trails, learning English, etc. No special skills are required.

Food & Lodging:

Do not expect squalor. Prior volunteers have constructed 2 darling "cabinas" in traditional Costa Rican style, furnished with fans & comfortable beds. These include Western-style bathrooms and showers, though the water is unheated (unlikely to be missed in the tropical climate). Volunteers are fed plenty of fresh, healthy, abundant, Costa Rican dishes. Electricity is available, though on a relatively limited basis.

Leisure Activities:

Nature hikes (to waterfalls, etc), horse-back riding, canopy tours, cooking lessons, fishing, bird-watching, surfing (in Jaco), bat- watching, see crocodiles, incredible star gazing, and many other activities.

Arranging Your Airfare:

You will need to arrange to be in San Jose by 12:30 on the Saturday your program begins. The program ends at 10am the following Saturday and it takes approximately 4 hours to get you back to San Jose. The airport is one of the return drops off stops our driver will make. You would not want to arrange a flight any earlier than 4:30pm on the return.

Highlights: Costa Rica is noted more for its natural beauty and friendly people than for its culture. The overwhelming European influence erased almost all indigenous culture, and because Costa Rica was a country of subsistence agriculturalists until the middle of the 19th century, cultural activity has only begun to blossom in the last 100 years.

Qualifications: No special skills needed.

Cost in US$: 1,050.00

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 3-85

This Program is open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3-10

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Globe Aware's Mission Statement: Globe Aware seeks to promote lifelong advocates for a better world and to sustain the world's cultural and natural resources. The organization, together with the local community hosts, develops effective local solutions to global problems in non-religious, non-political, multi-international environments. The aim is to expand and foster cross-cultural peace and understanding between Americans and the rest of the world, to preserve culture and promote sustainability. Globe Aware expeditions provide volunteers the opportunity to live and work side by side with a host community. The hosts provide a safe and interesting setting in which to learn, help, and have fun. The volunteers help to empower the host communities in creating renewable, self-sufficient programs. While Globe Aware's financial assistance benefits the community economically, it is actually the involvement and collaboration between the volunteers and community that is the greatest mutual benefit.

Year Founded: 2001