ANIMAL RESCUE & VETERINARY PROJECT

Arrive in San José, where the GLA team will welcome you. We’ll then drive to our Home Base, a vegetarian hotel in the mountains outside San Ramón, about 2 hours away. The staff here care deeply for animals and nature. Tonight, we’ll get acquainted and prepare for the next two weeks!

What can we learn about animal welfare in a rural Costa Rican village? A lot! Today, we’ll explore the projects of our first service partner supporting animal welfare. In the afternoon, a guest speaker will share insights on “Tico” culture. After a delicious dinner, we’ll reflect on the day’s lessons in our first nightly mentor group.

Each day, we’ll support a local animal rescue shelter by building or reinforcing kennels, walking dogs, laundering blankets, and creating safe areas for them to run freely. Your work will make a direct impact on the lives of many animals.

After service, enjoy a variety of activities: play soccer with local community members, hike through scenic mountains and lush farmland, cook a traditional Costa Rican dish with locals, or learn salsa, merengue, and bachata from a local instructor. We’ll also visit San Ramón, explore historic sites, and shop for handicrafts at a local artisan market.

Today we’ll take a break from service and head out to the region of La Fortuna where we will go on a fun chocolate tour, relax in natural hot springs and enjoy the surrounding landscapes.

We’ll say goodbye to our first Home Base in San Ramón and have breakfast before departing for our second Home Base in Liberia. The 3.5-hour journey will fly by with good music, games, and scenic views. After a quick orientation at the new Home Base, we’ll dive into pool games and familiarize ourselves with the property and rules. To kick off our service, we’ll meet our partners and learn about the veterinary services they provide to various communities in Costa Rica.

We’ll continue our service project by surveying the town, counting animals, and assessing their needs. We’ll also help promote the local shelter’s pop-up vet services. Conducting interviews and community diagnostics is a common method used by development groups to ensure their aid meets real needs. You’ll have the chance to meet local community members and their furry friends!

Afterward, we’ll have dinner, prepare our vet scrubs, and head to bed early to be well-rested for another full day of service tomorrow.

After reviewing our upcoming projects, we’ll dive right into animal care! Over the next few days, we’ll assist at mobile veterinary clinics run by a local group, providing care to animals in need. You’ll gain hands-on experience with the clinic process, shadow veterinary staff, and help with physical exams, intake, post-op care, and even witness surgery! This is an excellent introduction for those aspiring to become veterinarians.

Later, we’ll take a break from service for some adventure! Get ready for a ziplining experience through the forest canopy, followed by a relaxing soak in natural thermal hot springs, surrounded by beautiful nature.

Enjoy a fun relaxing day on a Catamaran boat tour excursion, taking in the scenery of Guanacaste’s pacific coast!! Discover ocean life with the opportunity to snorkel.

Today will be a full day in medical scrubs, assisting local veterinarians with vital procedures. These campaigns offer community members the chance to care for their pets while also learning about the importance of animal welfare.

On your last day of community service, you’ll assist our partners in the pop-up clinic, educating rural communities about the importance of spaying and neutering, proper grooming, and animal nutrition and dental care. In the afternoon, you’ll pack your bags and head to our final hotel in San José, near the airport. Take time to relax, reflect, and reminisce about the incredible experiences you’ve had with your new friends. End the day with a celebratory dinner, honoring your accomplishments and the animals you’ve helped.

In the morning, it’s time to say goodbye to your peers and staff. We’ll travel together to the airport in San José, where GLA staff will assist with check-in and bid you farewell as you head home.

Costa Rica, the land of “Pura Vida,” will surely leave a lasting impression, filled with new friendships and unforgettable experiences you’ll cherish for years to come.