COSTA RICA
THE PACIFIC ADVENTURE
For Middle School Students
Embark on an unforgettable summer experience full of service and adventure, designed intentionally for middle school students. Work on community development projects that benefit Costa Rican youth and sustainability goals and make memories with new friends that you'll never forget!
Program Overview
On this adventure, students will focus on a number of causes, working on Community Development and Youth & Education projects. Get ready to volunteer on projects benefitting local communities and Costa Rican youth on this well-rounded program. Live in a coastal community and work at local schools, while also filling your days with adventure! Students will participate in exciting activities like ziplining, river tubing, and beach days, as well as cultural activities like a local farm tour, cooking class and dance lesson.
On GLA’s Costa Rica: The Pacific Adventure For Middle School Students program you will:
- Zipline over treetops, tube a river through lush canyons and relax in thermal hot springs
- Volunteer at a local elementary school to support infrastructure projects and learn through cross-cultural exchange
- Surf waves on iconic breaks during a surf lesson, stay grounded with a yoga lesson, and enjoy beach volleyball and soccer games
- Learn about sustainable farming techniques and local green initiatives
- Explore the coast by catamaran and snorkel among diverse marine life
- Take part in a sea turtle workshop to learn about the species that call this part of the Pacific home
Program Menu
COSTA RICA
THE PACIFIC ADVENTURE
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Costa Rica! Fly into San José, the capital of Costa Rica, where GLA staff will welcome you and take you to our family-run Home Base in the province of Alajuela. Unwind after your journey, take a guided walk around town, and enjoy a welcome orientation and dinner.
*Please note that community service is done at local schools, so can only happen on weekdays. The order of the itinerary will change from session to session, depending on the days of the week we are able to do service.
Day 2: Travel to Service Community
Finish orientation and safety training, then travel to your Home Base near San Carlos, meet your hosts, get acquainted with the property, complete swim tests, and enjoy an afternoon on the lake with paddleboarding or kayaking.
Day 3: Service & Cultural Activities
Begin community service at a local school or center, improving infrastructure and supporting students, then learn Tico Spanish and visit a sustainable pineapple farm to see ethical farming in action. In the evening, enjoy a dance lesson exploring Costa Rica’s popular styles like salsa, merengue, and cumbia.
Day 4: La Fortuna Adventure Day: Chocolate Tour, Waterfall Hike & Hot Springs
Travel to La Fortuna for a chocolate-making tour, a rainforest hike to a stunning waterfall where you can swim, and a relaxing afternoon soaking in natural hot springs beneath the Arenal Volcano.
Days 5-6: Community Service
Continue service projects at local schools, improving learning spaces and connecting with children through games and activities. In the evenings, take part in leadership workshops that build teamwork and explore global issues like access to education.
Day 7: Return to the City
Head back to your original Home Base for the final days of the program, exploring local markets, tasting tropical fruits, and visiting a tortillería to sample fresh handmade tortillas before wrapping up the day with mentor group reflections and evening activities.
Day 8: Manuel Antonio Adventure & Beach Day
Travel west to the Pacific coast for a full day at Manuel Antonio National Park and the beach. Explore the rainforest and spot wildlife like monkeys and sloths, then swim, relax, and shop for souvenirs in the nearby beach town with staff chaperones.
Day 9: Zipline Adventure Day & Final Reflections
Enjoy a full day of adventure with ziplining through the rainforest, a guided hike, a butterfly garden visit, and an aerial tram ride above the canopy. Back at Home Base, take part in final Mentor Groups to reflect on your experience, followed by a farewell dinner celebrating your time and friendships in Costa Rica.
Day 10: Departure
It’s time to say goodbye—or hopefully, hasta luego!—to Home Base and your program staff. Your GLA staff will assist with check-in and remain with your group until you’ve crossed successfully through airport security.
Program Map
COSTA RICA
THE PACIFIC ADVENTURE
Program Details
Dates & Tuition
2027 Session Dates
June 18 – June 27, 2027
July 02 – July 11, 2027
July 16 – July 25, 2027
What's Included in Tuition
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
to hold your spot on-program.
Program at a Glance
Every GLA Program is Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
Joey Sobel | 2023 Alumni Parent
“I was EXTREMELY apprehensive about sending my 14 year old daughter off on a trip without me. She gave the trip, the counselors and the itinerary rave reviews. She has made a couple of lasting friendships and definitely came home with more confidence. She is very eager to go on another GLA trip!”
The Program Experience
Service Learning
Make a direct impact on the lives of Costa Rican youth through hands-on volunteer work with local primary schools. Assist with essential school refurbishment and campus beautification projects while building meaningful connections during cross-cultural exchanges with students from nearby towns. Throughout your service, embrace the Pura Vidalifestyle as you live and learn alongside welcoming local partners. Test your culinary skills in a traditional cooking class, sampling delicious regional treats prepared on the wood-burning stoves of Guanacaste and practice conversational Spanish as you engage with community leaders to discuss local development and educational access in rural Costa Rica. Plus, participate in an interactive sea turtle workshop to learn about local Pacific species, studying tracks, nesting behaviors, egg health and the conservation efforts underway to protect them.
Adventure
Packed with outdoor excitement, this program lets you experience the best of Costa Rica’s natural wonders. Encounter Costa Rica’s wildlife on land while walking tropical paths, and at sea as you sail on a catamaran. Take on the rolling rapids at Rincon de la Vieja National Park on a river tubing excursion, then zipline through the lush jungle canopy and take in spectacular views as you soar above the treetops. Keep your energy high with a pick-up game of soccer (“fútbol”) or beach volleyball during your stay, then relax with a mindful yoga session. And try your hand at learning to surf in Costa Rica, a world-class surfing destination, with a local surf lesson.
Country Spotlight
Experience authentic Costa Rican living as you spend time in a rural beach town.
Lodging: Your Home Base for this program is an ecolodge with rustic, rural beach vibes, surrounded by lush gardens and fruit trees. Immerse yourself in beautiful flora and fauna, with monkeys often spotted around the property! Students will share well-ventilated cabins or dorm-style rooms with fans (but no air conditioning), and have access to shared bathroom and shower facilities.
Meals: Meals will be healthy, locally sourced and primarily plant-based, with daily chicken or fish options, served alongside rice, beans, vegetables and fresh fruit.
COSTA RICA
THE PACIFIC ADVENTURE
Photo Gallery
COSTA RICA
THE PACIFIC ADVENTURE
Explore Similar Programs or Internships - Coming Soon!
BELIZE
REEF EXPLORERS & CULTURAL DISCOVERY (MIDDLE SCHOOL)
From Mayan culture to youth literacy and reef snorkeling: experience the ultimate hands-on Belize adventure designed internally for middle school students!