Location
Multiple Locations +3
  • Costa Rica
  • Panama
  • Belize
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Program Tags
Adventure Travel College Credit Conservation Cultural Immersion Hands-On Learning Language Immersion Medical Post-High School Scuba Diving Instruction Social Justice Volunteer Abroad Wilderness +2
Need-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, 529 Plan eligibility, BIPOC funding

Program Details

Activities
Animal Viewing Boating City Exploring Hiking Rafting Remote Exploring Scuba Diving Sightseeing Snorkeling Surfing Swimming
Timeframe
Fall Spring
Housing
Guesthouse Host Family Hostel Hotel
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
20

Pricing

Starting Price
16000
Price Details
Tuition includes all lodging, meals, and ground transportation. All airfare and SCUBA E-Learning are additional.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Some Equipment Meals Park Fees Tour Guide Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Equipment SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
What's Not Included (Extra)

SCUBA E-Learning

Sep 03, 2024
Nov 02, 2024
39 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

ARCC’s Central America Gap Program explores some of the most intriguing and majestic regions of Central America. Taking advantage of our deep partnerships, we dive into numerous conservation efforts that include protecting nesting sea turtles, learning about sustainability in Costa Rica's famed Cloud Forest, and conducting marine research on the invasive lionfish on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Shadowing doctors in the Bocas del Toro islands off the coast of Panama, we understand the barriers to medical access for remote indigenous communities. Rafting the pristine Pacaure River, the vibrancy of life in the jungle beckons us in the calls of toucans and howler monkeys. Exploring the underwater life of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, we gain insights into a world rarely witnessed while getting our SCUBA certifications. After experiencing three of the world’s most fascinating, and beautiful nations, we return to the U.S. with broader perspectives and a newfound passion to learn.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

ARCC Programs believes that social responsibility is an essential aspect of our programming and business operations. We strongly believe that cultural immersion, cross-cultural conversations, and reflection on these experiences can increase self-awareness, promote empathy, and foster growth. We recognize that our staff, student, and participant body is not as diverse as we would hope. We also recognize that there are inherent imbalances in access, particularly when it comes to international travel and outdoor experiences. Recognizing the current imbalances and accessibility issues within the world and more specifically within experiential/outdoor education/gap year programs, we are able to move towards a more just and inclusive world.

ARCC is committed to increasing accessibility for our programs and supporting socioeconomic diversity within our community. ARCC’s Voyagers Scholarship provides up to five scholarship opportunities per semester to students who identify within the BIPOC community. These scholarships can range anywhere from $5,000-$8,000, and also include gear lending and mentorship support throughout the gap year experience. The Voyagers Scholarship can also be combined with ARCC Financial Aid.
ARCC Programs believes that social responsibility is an essential aspect of our programming and business operations. We strongly believe that cultural immersion, cross-cultural conversations, and reflection on these experiences can increase self-awareness, promote empathy, and foster growth. We recognize that our staff, student, and participant body is not as diverse as we would hope. We also recognize that there are inherent imbalances in access, particularly when it comes to international travel and outdoor experiences. Recognizing the current imbalances and accessibility issues within the world and more specifically within experiential/outdoor education/gap year programs, we are able to move towards a more just and inclusive world.
Our Essential Eligibility Criteria outlines the requirements for participation in our programs to determine if our programs are a good fit for each student. While ARCC Gap is not a therapeutic program, we do provide an inclusive environment for students with neurodivergence. We have had students with various diagnosed neuro-differences (such as dyslexia, ADHD, ASD, TS, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, etc) find success on our gap semester programs.

During our interview process, we have open communication with students and families about the support ARCC instructors are able to provide students while on program. For students needing some additional support, we ask them to complete a “Plan of Action” with their at home support system. These plans may include additional information about communication/support preferences, coping strategies, and/or specific requirements to encourage the student to engage with the program effectively. Once on the program, our instructors will periodically check in individually with each student, help the student stay accountable to their Plan of Action, and provide general support to all participants.
ARCC Gap Travels to locations around the world that have varying levels of accommodations for students needing accessibility support. For this reason, please see our Essential Eligibility Criteria to see if our gap programs are a good fit for you.

Whenever possible (determined by specific location and program - ie. infrastructure, access to specific health care facilities, dietary options available, etc), we have successfully assisted students with anaphylactic allergies, chronic medical conditions, and other accommodations on programs. We recommend that you reach out with specific concerns to your Gap Director to find the right fit for you.

Impact

At ARCC Programs we recognize that all human action impacts our physical environment and the living beings on the planet. Everything on Earth plays a role in supporting life and we believe that it is our responsibility to have a net positive impact with our actions. We strive to balance the impacts of our programming by partnering with communities and organizations with similar goals toward bettering our planet for future generations.
ARCC believes that we (as an industry) need to shift the way we think about international service. We (as a society) have now come to realize that international volunteers often benefit from their service experience, while the impact on the community can be short-lived or even harmful. We at ARCC are taking the years of experience that we have in the international service learning realm, have reflected on previous mistakes, learned from our in-country partners, and have made changes. Our goal is to live, work, and learn alongside community members while also making a positive impact. We are committed to partnering with local community-driven organizations to focus on reciprocity while contributing to established long-term projects. It is our responsibility to engage in mutually beneficial community-driven projects and teach fair trade learning principles to our students.

Program Highlights

  • Partner with a Non-Profit Bringing Healthcare to the Indigenous People of the Remote Bocas del Toro Islands
  • Study Spanish During a Week-Long Spanish Immersion School
  • Surf the Waves on Costa Rica’s Stunning Pacific Coast and Raft the Exhilarating Pacuare River
  • Complete your SCUBA Certification and Participate in a Lionfish Eradication in Belize
  • Visit Mayan Ruins and Learn more about Mayan Culture with Local Partners

Program Dates

Application Deadline
Program Dates
-
-

Current Jobs

View the latest job postings by ARCC Programs.

Program Reviews

4.78 Rating
based on 23 reviews
  • 5 rating 78.26%
  • 4 rating 21.74%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.35
  • Support 4.65
  • Fun 4.75
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.7
Showing 1 - 8 of 23 reviews
Default avatar
Thomas
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ARCC Central America

This program was really awesome! We did a bunch of engaging and super fun activities. We visited so many different and amazing places throughout our trip! We started in Puerto Rico, then drove down to Panama, then we took a flight to Belize for our last stop! My favorite area/activity that we have done/been on this trip was definitely helping floating doctors in bocas del toro, really awesome place, its so cool instead of taking taxis to places, you have to take boats! since it is pretty much just water!

all in all really cool program would recommend!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
While we were touring this farm in La Fortuna (start of our trip) me and another guy in the group ate a california reaper! It was really awesome experience and I learned that I can handle spice pretty well!
Pros
  • group travel
  • set itinerary
  • companionship?
Cons
  • Group travel
  • constant socialization
  • not a lot of rest/free days
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Livvy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ARCC Central America Gap Program

This program provides unique experiences and adventures you might not necessarily find on your own. The itinerary is well planned and detailed, keeping your group busy with projects and service work most of the time while still including free days to explore on your own. You will become very close with your group and build strong relationships with others. The memories I made were some that will stay with me for the rest of my life. During the fall, there is a lot of rain and also be prepared to eat a lot of rice and beans!

What was your funniest moment?
Getting stuck in deep mud while walking with all my bags on!
Pros
  • Group bonding
  • seeing new cultures
  • having unique experiences
Cons
  • lots of rain
  • rustic living conditions sometimes
  • lots of same food
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Evan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What to Know About ARCC

You eat a lot of rice and beans, get rained on a lot, and learn so much. Be sure to be organized and not lose things like I did and always keep and open mind. Bring a portable charger and a kindle. Also have a learners mindset and be in the role of the student when in these new countries. Always keep your phone charger and always double check that have everything absolutely everywhere you go. All of these points I cannot stress enough because as great as the trip was, I made some mistakes that I want others to avoid making.

What was your funniest moment?
Eating a Carolina reaper and gagging for 2 hours.
Pros
  • Learn so much
  • See so many places
Cons
  • Plans changed at times
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Elizabeth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ARCC Central America

This program has many opportunities that were amazing and changed my perception of the world and of my possible future plans. I was pushed out of my comfort zone a lot and was forced to constantly roll with change; whether that be a change in plans or constant movement to new areas. The food and living situation was not always comfortable but always sufficient and never negatively impacted the trip as a whole. I did end up getting sick a bunch and of ranging times. Some small pieces of the trip seemed unplanned or last minute and did not go smoothly. This trip was also significantly more expensive than I originally expected and the side costs were large.

Pros
  • Amazing experiences
  • Lots of educational learning
  • Meeting new people/ new relationships!
9 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Hadley
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ARCC Central America

This program was amazing start to finish! I had the privilege of being immersed into new cultures and made valuable connections along the way! Not only was the food amazing, but also the places we have visited. We went from mountain to jungle to beach! The instructors created a wonderful sense of community where we could all work together on various things. I have learned so much about my self and gained a lot of new skills I can use for the rest of my life. Could not recommend a better gap semester experience!

7 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sorin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ARCC Central America 2024

It was a super enriching experience ! We did have lots of service but all of it I really did enjoy! My favorite service we did was Turtle Trax and Floating Doctors even though I at first was kind of dreading that experience ! The food here was also really great although it is a lot of rice beans and meat. I also had a very good time being on the water for about half the trip which allowed for swimming and surfing! Overall it pushed me out of my comfort zone quite a bit but that in turn helped me grow and I greatly enjoyed myself along the way!

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was when Camden ate a Carolina Reaper and started throwing up.
Pros
  • New activities every week so you never get bored !
  • Great food, lots of rice beans and chicken
  • Being on the beach a lot of the time and being able to surf and swim!
Cons
  • Not a lot of alone time.
  • Rains a decent amount.
10 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Webber
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome Trip ARCC CAM

This trip had a great mix of service and adventure. The service we did on this trip was extremely enriching and very fun. The adventure aspect of this trip was extremely fun while being very safe. Overall this trip was an incredible experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun and enriching gap program.i learned so much about Central America a the culture there while also learning so much about myself. The instructors were great and very supportive. I have almost no negative things to say about this trip.

What was your funniest moment?
One of the students threw up after eating a Carolina reaper.
Pros
  • Awesome adventure
  • Enriching Service
  • Super cool people
Cons
  • No drinking
  • Little free time
  • Less freedom
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Logan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Arcc

This was a once in a life time experience that I’m so glad I participated in. I meet amazing people and did amazing things. Everyday there was something different. We got to do things and go on adventures I would have never imagined. There was a mix between fun and educational and helpful. We did a lot of activities that include waterfall guides, relaxing on the beach, zip lining, and more. We also learned a lot about the different countries not used from planned lectures but from the different people we met, as well as did a lot of influential work helping communities.

Pros
  • Connections
  • Experience
  • Adventure
Cons
  • Heat
  • Homesickness
  • Sudden change
102 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers