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.

Help at a local animal rescue shelter by building or repairing kennels, walking dogs, laundering blankets, or creating safe play areas. Each day, make a difference in the lives of the animals, then enjoy activities like soccer with locals, hiking through scenic mountains and farmland, cooking traditional Costa Rican dishes, learning salsa, merengue, and bachata, and exploring San Ramon’s historic sites and 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 projects, we’ll dive into working with animals at mobile veterinary clinics, assisting with exams, intake, post-ops, and observing procedures. It’s a hands-on introduction for aspiring vets. In the afternoons, we’ll relax with a waterfall hike in Liberia.

Enjoy a fun, relaxing half-day on a catamaran boat tour excursion, taking in the scenery of Guanacaste’s Pacific coast! Discover ocean life with the opportunity to snorkel. Once you’re off the boat, enjoy one of Costa Rica’s world-renowned beaches — enjoy the sand, sun & sea!

This is the second to last clinic day in the morning, where students will continue to learn about veterinarian practices in the field alongside our partners. In the afternoon, students will depart for the last adventure of the trip, traveling to a tropical forest for a ziplining adventure.

This will be a full day in medical scrubs assisting local veterinarians with important procedures. These campaigns bring opportunities to community members to not only care for their pets, but also learn about the importance of animal welfare.

Pack up and get ready for our final hotel. In the morning, reflect on the past 12 days of adventures, friendships, and experiences. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to the departure hotel for a celebratory farewell dinner.

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.