Program Reviews

Global Routes Ecuador was the most impactful month of my life! I got a chance to learn about the history and culture of the Indigenous community in Ecuador and I was even in Homestay in the gorgeous house of the sweetest Indigenous woman. Throughout my trip, I was swimming in waterfalls, hiking the most beautiful mountains and having the most fun with my travel group. We would spend hours playing card games, singing songs and going on walks in town. I loved every moment I spent in Ecuador and I would do it all again in a heart beat!

It was an amazing program. My daughter came back with compassion, love and confidence.
They spent four weeks at a village and learned how to build house, how to milk the cow, how to make sugar from sugar cane... It is such a unique experience. In four weeks, they successfully built a community center for the village. They all cried when they left. Besides this, they have two weeks to stay with local families who only speaks Spanish. My daughter's Spanish got improved a lot! Also she started to be interested in Spanish culture. It was an amazing trip. GR did a wonderful job to make it safe and fun! It is a great team to work with. As a whole, if you are looking for a summer program for your high schooler, go for it!

If I had another child, I would definitely send him/her there.

I didn’t think I could have so much fun with a group of people I had just meet. Global Routes is an amazing program, I definitely see myself back in another country with them. My time with the group <3, the food, and just the overall experience was perfect! Somethings I did while in Ecuador with Global Routes include Hiking, Sightseeing, Community Service, Cultural Immersion, Camping, and in general just having fun everywhere we went! If you’re reading this review and thinking about going on a Global Routes Program… DO IT! It’s an unforgettable experience which no one can take from you <3

We got to immersed ourselves in the culture in various ways, bond with the locals and our host families all while having the opportunity to the exquisite views. The culture of the locals took my breath away, their dress and jewelry added to uniqueness.
We learnt about textile threading, music and instruments. This was the most fun part because we had the opportunity to share the dance with out colleagues and locals. It was amazing.
Then we were involved in tubbing and it was by far the best experience, using rubber tunes and gliding through the rapids. It was indeed an adventure.

My son was a Global Routes student in summer 2022. He was extremely nervous and more than a little scared about going on his first long adventure by himself, especially after 2+ years of Covid that made everyone way too comfortable going nowhere and not making social connections. It was very hard for him to say goodbye and then embrace all the new people and experiences. The staff, his host family and the other students were incredibly open, accepting, warm and gracious with him. They helped him find a successful pathway through what ended up being an extraordinary adventure. With support, he was able to embrace the hard parts, really enjoy the good stuff and grow tremendously.
When he arrived home, he was transformed. He feels more confident and comfortable in his own skin. This is visibly evident – he stands taller and is much more willing to try new things. For example, on his own initiative he decided to try out for the soccer team, which we feel he would not have been open to before his Global Routes experience.

So this was my second time going on a trip with Global Routes and once again it was THE BEST! I learned a lot about Hawaii, about myself, and I met so many amazing people and made new friends. I had a whole new outlook on life after coming back. I felt more confident, responsible, independent, and ready to go out into the world as an adult. I gained important life skills that will be important for college, adult life, and beyond.
One thing I particularly love about a Global Routes program is not having your phone for the duration of the trip. I think that really helped me to be more present & engaged, and I made deeper and more meaningful connections with people.
I would recommend Global Routes for any high schooler who wants a more meaningful travel experience, to be pushed out of their comfort zone, and a whole new perspective about the world.

This Global Routes' program was such an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to meet so many people from across the world who shared many common interests. I also had the privilege of being exposed to many sacred spots around the island thanks to the connections our leaders had with the local community. All of the people we met along the way were super welcoming and eager to share their knowledge with us. This time we spent farming and working with the land was always super rewarding beautiful. I'll forever be grateful for this experience and thankful for the people I met as a part of the journey.

This trip was by far the greatest trip that I have ever been on, and the greatest experience that I have ever had. I got to be with a group of people with the majority of them being some of the best friends that I have while traveling Costa Rica and going on amazing, super fun adventure and also immersing ourselves in the culture there. The trip was a 10/10 for me because all of the activities that we did were super fun, and even when we weren’t doing any activities I was still having fun which was definitely partially due to the amazing group that I was with. From this trip you also gain many new, life-changing perspectives that help you to grow as a person. I would without any question fully recommend this trip to anyone that is interested.

This LIA program was one of the best experiences of my life so far and I'm not just saying that. I learned, grew, and had so much fun on this trip. When we got to the town I met my host family and I am still keeping in touch with the people I met there. My host family was amazing and my Spanish improved a lot. I connected with the kids there doing the Friendship Camp even with limited Spanish skills and it was so fun. I am so happy I met the people in the town and also broadened my friendships with the other LIAs. Overall, this was an amazing experience and I really do recommend it to any teens who want to connect with a new community as they help out and immerse themselves in a new culture. Especially for Windsor Mountain people, this is a perfect follow up to LIT year but really it would be great for anyone.

The month of July 2022 was hands-down the most incredible month of my life by far. Being in Costa Rica fostered a period of personal growth for me that has been so eye-opening. This program introduced me to friendships that I know will be life-long and I am forever grateful for that. I also walked with newfound confidence and a broader perspective on the world. I truly cannot recommend this trip enough. I was also once sitting behind my computer scrolling through reviews and let me tell you that whatever anyone wirted won't do the trip justice -- you have to just sign up!