ARCC Gap: Central America -Costa Rica, Panama & Belize

Name: ARCC Gap: Central America -Costa Rica, Panama & Belize
Brand: ARCC Programs
SKU: 140112
Rating: 4.78 (23 reviews)

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4.78 Rating

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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

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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.

Age Max

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

Last Updated: Sep 03, 2024

Last Reviewed: Nov 02, 2024

Wish List

43 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.

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Video and Photos

ARCC Gap Central America: Scuba Diving in Belize

ARCC Gap Central America: Rafting the Pacuare River

ARCC Gap Central America: Sunsets on the Beach

ARCC Gap Central America: Surf Lessons in Costa Rica

ARCC Gap Central America: Project Based Learning in Belize

ARCC Gap Central America: Bunkhouse in Belize

ARCC Gap Central America: Pop Clinic in Bocas del Toro

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

BIPOC Support

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.

LGBTQIA+ Support

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Neurodivergent Support

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.

Accessibility Support

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 🌎

Sustainability

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.

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Ethical Impact

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 Reviews

4.78 Rating

based on 23 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Gap Year

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

Good for Adventure travelers, Students

Showing 9 - 16 of 23 reviews

This experience was life changing. It definitely had its challenges but the cultural immersion I experienced and the impact I had on others lives from the meaningful volunteer work I will never forget. It was also super fun and I got to learn a lot of new skills such as scuba diving and surfing. Amazing culture and and wildlife. These countries were beautiful and the people were so welcoming. I grew so much and am eternally grateful for this experienced thank you ARCC and my amazing counselors !!

Pros

Cultural immersion
Volunteer work
Adventure activities

Cons

Not much variety with food
Not everything on the packing list was needed
Group dynamics sometimes was difficult

I had an amazing time on this program! Our two leaders (Ryan and Madison) were amazing; both of them were super knowledgeable, fun, and supportive and really helped make the trip so enjoyable. Our group moved locations about every 5 days, and I loved how faced paced it felt. I had some truly incredible experiences in nature, especially in Costa Rica, where we got to hike and sleep in field stations in the rainforest, go on night patrols looking for sea turtles, and raft down and stay in lodges on the side of the Pacuare river. Our time in Panama was less exciting in my opinion and I sometimes felt that we stayed in one place for too long. However, working with Floating Doctors was an amazing experience. Finally, scuba diving in Belize and spearing lion fish was as fun as it sounds and maybe my highlight of the trip.

One important thing to understand about this trip is that it is very structured. You are with the group 24/7 which means you won't have much alone time but will become super close to everyone in your group. ARCC also has a lot of rules that could sometimes feel unnecessarily restricting, although our leaders gave us freedom where they could.

The activities and group experience this trip provides is seriously a once in a lifetime opportunity. Taking the leap and going on this program has been one of the best decisions I've made, and if you're thinking about doing this program I'm telling you right now you'll have an amazing time.

Pros

Meaningful and strong connections built with peers
Fantastic and capable group leaders
Amazing experiences in nature and with conservation

Cons

ARCC rules sometimes felt restricting
Not a huge focus on learning Spanish

Our cabins on the side of the Pacuare River

The indigenous community where we worked with Floating Doctors

The island in Belize where we stayed while diving

It is hard to articulate just how incredible and formative my experience on the Centro-Caribbean Gap Semester was. The group leaders (Madison and Ryan) were not only prepared and well-informed, but also incredible friends to everyone in the group. Throughout the program, I sharpened my Spanish skills, learned SO much about conservation and the role I can play in the efforts to protect our planet, and made valuable, life-long connections with those around me. This trip truly changed my life, and I couldn’t recommend it any more (especially to those looking to sharpen up their spanish skills!).

Pros

Spanish learning
Hands-on conservation work
Life-long, incomparable connections with peers and leaders

Cons

Some parts of the program were less busy/action-packed than others. We found ourselves a little bored at times.
Some accommodations were pretty small and/or not in the best condition.

This program was such a unique and rewarding experience. Each week was a different place, exploring, adventuring, and doing service. I was expecting to go in with more of a backpacking mindset however most of our stays were in beds, with bathrooms ect… Throughout the trip I saw incredible wildlife, made countless friends and ate delicious food. My instructors were wonderful and extremely knowledgeable about everything we did. I would highly recommend this program for ANYONE especially those taking a gap year.

Pros

Scuba certification
Beautiful beaches and rainforests
Lots of personal development

Cons

One week sleeping in hammocks(not too bad)
Group drama occasionally

This was an amazing experience! The places we visited were beautiful, the people we met were inspiring, and our experiences were unforgettable. Our instructors, Jess and Eli, are amazing at their jobs and made a tremendously positive impact on my experience as a whole. One of my favorite elements about the trip was the ability to try new things and push my boundaries every day. The opportunities I had on this trip were once in a lifetime and I would 100% recommend anyone to take this gap semester!

This trip was great! Jess and Eli were awesome. I’m not sure what to write for 400 more characters. It was a really cool trip. All the activities were a good blend of fun and educational. I never had any complaints about the housing, food, or anything of that nature. One of my favorite parts of the trip was receiving my SCUBA certification on a private island in Belize. It really cannot be beat. Panama and Costa Rica were also really cool. We spent some time living in the jungle, which was sweet.

I definitely recommend this trip!! I learned how to scuba dive, I got better at snorkeling, we explored so much, I learned about so many different communities, and all around had a lovely time. Eli and Jess (the instructors) were like siblings and mentors and friends and I’m so glad we had them on the trip. :-) I really enjoyed our slower moments throughout the trips— ones I spent meditating, stargazing with the group, watching the sunrise, or journaling. It was a fast paced program, so it was really nice to slow down.

Pros

Many new friends
Conversational Spanish skills
Traveling skills

Cons

Pretty long trip
Sometimes not great living conditions
Pretty small group

I was very reluctant to go on this trip, and was so nervous about being far away from home, meeting new people, not speaking the native language, and having to deal with COVID. I told myself I needed to step out of my comfort zone - and I most DEFINITELY did. We went all over Costa Rica (spent the most time there), Panama, and Belize (we didnt go to Cuba because of COVID and bad politics at the time in the country) and moved around every 3-5 days by bus. There were definitely some loooong travel days (be prepared for 5-12 hr bus rides and complicated flights). But we were in the mountains, on the beach, and everything in between. One of my favorite things in Costa Rica was working with baby sea turtles. Then in Panama we went to a privet resort, were in Panama City and also provided basic health care to a rural community. In Belize we went scuba diving and got certified (one of my favorite parts - wish we spent more than 10 days there)! I spoke 0 (literally) Spanish but by the end of the program I had completed a 1 week homestay and language school with a local and could order my food in Spanish. I had awesome instructors (shoutout Laura and Carl) and a great group of people. The group was so so close only a week in and were basically siblings by the end. If you are reading this, this is your sign!

TIPS/THINGS TO KNOW:
- bring extra money for snacks because the meals can get very redundant
- bring a sweatshirt because in the mountains it can get cold
- filter ALL your water (would not recommend a SteriPen)
- accommodations have a very wide range
- pack lightly (very hard but you have too) because your bag gets really heavy fast
- journal every day to remember all the cool stuff you do :)

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

When I got SCUBA certified in Belize on a privet island. I was so exited the whole trip to do it (because it was at the very end for my group). But when I started learning all the skills for the certification I started getting anxiety about being under water. But when I went on my first boat dive (where you go out in the middle of the ocean and actually go diving off a boat) I was soo nervous but as soon as I got down low and saw amazing coral and wild life, it was the most amazing this I have ever experienced. I felt like I was in a movie as I swam through a sea of moon jellyfish!

where we slept in hammocks at the rural community in Panama

caught in the rain in Bocas del toro in Panama

Costa Rican beach (one of a million you will see!)

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Graham Phelps

Program

ARCC Gap: Central America -Costa Rica, Panama & Belize

Job Title

International Program Instructor

Graham grew up in Durham, New Hampshire in a beautiful house tucked away in the woods. He spent most of his childhood playing all kinds of sports and exploring in the woods. He has four sisters with whom he is very close. In his down time he loves to cook, spend time with friends, snowboard, surf, watch/read Game of Thrones, and participate in just about any kind of sport outside.

Tell us more about your educational, international, and professional experience:

I attended the University of Vermont where I was in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. My four years at UVM were the catalyst to my appreciation for the environment and how important it is that we all contribute to preserving the beauty we find in the natural world. I also pursued a variety of opportunities working with developing youth in my jobs as sports coordinator for a local YMCA and as a snowboard instructor for children with autism through Vermont Adaptive Sports.

While at UVM I developed my passion for exploring the world and discovering new cultural experiences. I studied abroad in Perth, Australia and organized a service trip to Peru to the small town of Lobitos. The latter was a life-changing experience for me that sparked my interest in “Voluntourism” and the cultural richness of Latin America, eventually leading me to live in Ecuador for four months.

I have been leading programs for ARCC for four years now in many amazing places such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Cuba, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Thailand, including two gap semesters in Asia and Latin America. No matter if on a two week trip or a 3 month long gap program, I have watched these trips transform students. ARCC has provided me with an incredible platform to broaden horizons and spread love to all corners of the world which I can't wait to continue this Spring on the Patagonia/Cuba Gap Program.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite memory traveling with ARCC is from a backpacking trip I led in California. My group was camping for the night in the Lake Tahoe Basin. We all decided that we were not going to set up our tents and all slept together under the stars outside.

That morning we all woke up at 4am to see the sun rise over the lake from a beautiful outlook on the ridge. We all watched the sun rise in silence and as I looked around I noticed a lot of the kids were crying. I was really confused so I went and asked one of the girls if she was ok? And she whispered to me "we are all from the city and have not seen anything this pretty before, the tears aren't because we are sad, this is amazing".

I went back to my rock in silence and felt so humbled to see how powerful that morning was for those students.

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How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

The last four years working with ARCC has created so many incredible learning opportunities. I have discovered a lot about the world and about myself on these amazing trips. I have gained an appreciation for cultural exchange and the sentiment of love that can be spread person to person no matter what cultural differences exist.

I have grown a lot as a leader and have learned the true meaning of empathizing, both with the students on my trips and with the different cultures I have come across.

It is amazing how far a smile can go, and I have found that no matter where you are in the world they seem to always be contagious.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Wow, this is a hard question. So many of the programs offer lots of different experiences so it would not be easy to choose just one. Nevertheless I would choose the Patagonia and Cuba Gap Program, which I am actually going to be leading this spring!

This program visits some of the most magnificent nature preserves in the world while in Patagonia and offers perspective to the importance of continuing the protection of these places. The Cuba section is also extremely enlightening but more on the side of cultural exchange and the power of peace through meaningful human to human interactions as we start to heal our country's relationship with this amazing country.

This trip has a healthy balance of experience in both urban, rural, and completely natural areas. The culture in the Andes and the Caribbean are both completely different and equally amazing!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The biggest reason ARCC has had so much success leading trips all over the world is because of how intentional we are with every aspect of the trips. Nothing we do with ARCC is done carelessly, there is a reason for everything we do.

As a leader I always adopt this philosophy, from how I debrief group initiatives, to the traditions I bring to my trips. The office staff also echo's this sentiment and they are very intentional with the service and educational opportunities they pursue and aim to make the experiences as enriching as possible for their students.

About ARCC Programs

ARCC has been offering summer and gap programs for young adults since 1983. We offer an opportunity to live and learn in some of the greatest classrooms on earth. Our programs take students on a journey of discovery of local peoples, places, cultures and ideas through project-based learning, rich cultural immersion, personal reflection and...