Custom Programs

Costa Rica

Conservation, Spanish & the Heart of the Rainforest

Cross-Cultural Immersion, Environmental Conservation, Global Competencies, Spanish Immersion

8 days to 6 weeks

Dive into the rainforest, get outdoors, practice your Spanish, and contribute meaningfully to a host community. Costa Rica has it all. On this unique Global Routes trip, groups have the opportunity to make deep connections with a host community. Participants learn to speak, cook, and participate in the traditions integral to reciprocal exchange.

Dates

Available All-Year Round

Ages

14+

Availability

Spaces available

Group size

Varies depending on group

tuition

Based on number of students, length & scope

International airfare is not included in the tuition. Roundtrip airfare to Costa Rica is generally $600-$1,000.

Program overview

Live and work with members of your host community as you gain a new appreciation for rural life and learn about the critical link between development and environmental protection.

Improve your Spanish as you work alongside community members on a service project or enjoy a warm meal of gallo pinto with your host community. In the rainforest, you’ll climb giant trees, forage for medicinal plants, learn Costa Rican homestyle cooking, and zip-line across the canopy. Whitewater raft on the Savegre river, through deep canyons and lush tropical rainforest. Relax, swim and take surfing lessons in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Spend time near a small rural village outside of San Isidro de El General. Here, in the hilly farmland of southern Costa Rica, you rise in the mornings to the sight of clouds enveloping the valley below. During the day, join your group and community members as you pass cinderblocks from hand-to-hand towards the completion of a construction project.

highlights

Practice your Spanish while playing soccer, cooking, and connecting with a host community.

Set out on a whitewater rafting trip through a beautiful forested canyon, where waterfalls tumble from all directions.

Relax on tranquil tropical beaches, explore a local waterfall, and spend an afternoon learning to surf.

Want the day by day itinerary?

How to enroll

Take the first step here

We’re excited to collaborate with you! From ideation to delivery, our team of experiential education experts will make your lessons come alive, keep your students engaged, and provide unforgettable custom experiences!

Collaborate with our team to develop a custom program

Submit your Custom Programs Interest form

If you’re curious about Global Routes, we encourage you to start your exploration with our Custom Program Interest Form. It’s obligation-free and takes only a few minutes.

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FAQ

What’s the program model or pedagogy?

Focus on Social and Environmental Justice

- Immersive experiences
- Deep reflection and debrief
- Rooted in the experiential education learning cycle
- Authentic travel opportunities
- Collaboration with local experts and innovators

Each custom program we design is unique and built from scratch. We can tailor any program to meet the unique interests, goals, dates, and budgets of our partners.

What is a custom program?

Global Routes is an industry leader in the field of experiential education. We have led over 10,000 students on immersive and transformative experiences abroad since 1967. Our primary mission is to support educators in their curriculum goals by facilitating exceptional global learning experiences.

In addition to offering 4-5 week open-enrollment summer programs for high school students, we also love working with schools, camps, and groups to design and develop custom programs and courses.

“Each year, students return from their Global Routes service immersion program with a thirst to travel, a broadened view of the world, and a new perspective on what really matters to them.”– Marta, Teacher and Director of Global Learning

Who can build a custom program with Global Routes?

We design and deliver experiences for educators, administrators, and group leaders – basically anyone who has a group interested in experiential education as a modality for learning!

How do I begin?

Start by completing our Custom Program Interest Form. From there, a staff member will reach out to you to learn more about your goals and offer more insights into the custom program process!