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Global Works

4.93 Rating
147 reviews
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Why choose Global Works?

Since 1989, Global Works has connected students with communities through service, cultural exchange, language immersion, and adventure. Teen Summer Trips offer open enrollment for high school students, plus a dedicated middle school program in Costa Rica. Our 2027 summer destinations are Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Spain. School Group Travel offers customized programs for educators and their students across Latin America, Europe, and the United States. In each destination, local partnerships help shape meaningful service and learning experiences.

Website
www.globalworkstravel.com
Founded
1989
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Frequently asked questions

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Community Photos

FIMRC
At the zip lining at volcano
summit squad!
Summer 2025
Playa blanca, Puerto Jiménez
rooster
before hiking 3 miles
ziplining!
us with our favorite staff member
group photo
Mud fight
Picking up trash on the beach
Group photo
Pura vida!
.5 of our amazing group including our amazing leader Talia
watching a Fiji sunset!

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Community Awards

  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award
  • Go Overseas Award

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Global Works believes that travel is a vehicle for growth and social change. We value a culture of inclusion of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and socioeconomic status – this starts in our home office and extends to the teachings of our staff and program partners around the world. Global Works strives to be a team and develop accessible programs representative of the many backgrounds and identities of those we seek to serve. At Global Works, we acknowledge that travel is not always accessible or open to all communities. We are actively working to change that and expand opportunities for travel. We are taking steps at Global Works now.
www.globalworkstravel.com

Reviews

Drexel
17
Male
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med and Public Health

Pre-Med Costa Rice Trip

Oct 23, 2026

My pre-med trip to Costa Rica was a life-changing experience that helped me better understand what I want to do with my life. Getting exposure to different healthcare experiences and seeing the impact of medicine on people’s lives ensured that healthcare is for me. This trip gave me a clearer sense of purpose and reminded me why I want to become a doctor. This experience was the perfect balance of Pre-Med and fun. From helping people in free clinics to surfing at the beach, it was a very well rounded adventure. I highly recommend this trip for anyone considering Pre-Med in their future.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Take more pictures of the wildlife.
Copeland
14
Non-binary
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med and Public Health

Best trip ever!

Oct 22, 2026

I had so much fun on the Pre Med trip. I have been on other global works trips before but this one was by far my favorite! I made so many friends that I am still in touch with and I learned so much about my self. One of my favorite memories of the program was playing Kent with everyone by the pool after working at the clinic. Surfing was amazing and I even saw a stingray! The wilderness first aid course is really fun and engaging and the instructors who taught it were so great. The instructors on our trip were so kind and made this program such a great experience. I am so grateful that I got the chance to go on this trip!!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing on this trip was the amount of animals we saw! We saw a few toucans and even met a tarantula that we named Lewis!
Pros
  • Learning more about medicine
  • Meeting new people
  • Exploring a new country
What other participants should know
  • Working in the clinic was so fun
  • Bring extra swimsuits
  • You don’t get your phone
FIMRC
Kelly
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
France: French Immersion Adventure

Global Works French Immersion Review

Oct 12, 2026

I went on a 3 Global Works Trip this summer to France and it was truly such a remarkable experience. I learned so much about french culture and about myself, met so many life changing people, and tried things I never would have expected. I started learning french last year in 9th Grade, and I can say that my french improved without a doubt. The amazing trip leaders (Gabi, Mohammed, and Lena) gave us many recommendations on how we can grow our french, and I wrote down 10 new french words a day in my journal.

Not only did I learn more french, I learned more about myself and become much more of an open minded person after this experience. I did not come with any friends, and I am grateful for that beginning struggle because I met people from all over the world (USA, France, Denmark, Spain) and learned about people with completely different life experiences.

My two favorite parts were the hike, which I hiked to the summit, because of the strong encouragement of my friends and the trip leaders. I also really enjoyed my home stay in Carcassonne with two french grandparents, where I got to celebrate La fête nationale. La grand mère would stay up with me late at night practicing my french pronunciations and spelling which I am so grateful for.

Overall, I could not recommend this experience more. If you decide to embark on a Global Works Trip, you will discover so much about yourself and the world around you, learn a language, and complete service work that is actually meaningful to the community.

Charlotte
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Costa Rica Teen Summer Trips

Costa Rica: Service and Sand

Oct 12, 2026

This program was definitely the highlight of my summer. The people I met were so nice and have become some of my best friends. It was such a valuable experience that I look back on with so much joy. I loved pushing myself out of my comfort zone by trying new things like surfing and also having the support of others who encouraged me but did not pressure me. I loved getting to meet people in the community we stayed in. The highlight of this trip for me was definitely the people — I think I laughed more in these two weeks than I have ever before.

What was your funniest moment?
I honestly can’t pick just one. We created so many inside jokes and even though I had only known these people for 2 weeks, I felt like I’d known them for years. Everything they said made me laugh and smile. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be all the girls deciding that we “didn’t wanna swim” and once we got to the ocean, we regretted it and went into the ocean in our clothes.
Pros
  • It was a small group so I got to know everyone well
  • I made lifelong friendships
  • I got to volunteer in a community and make a difference
What other participants should know
  • Lots of bugs
Hamish
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Ecuador: Galapagos & Andean Service Adventure

Ecuador/Global Works Experience

Oct 6, 2026

I have participated in Global Works summer trips for the past four summers, and there is reason I keep coming back. These trips have become the time I most look forward to in my year. Global Works has given me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, create long-lasting connections, build as a leader, and explore some of the most incredible places in the world. The service projects are always incredibly impactful and exciting to do. The home-stay part of the trip is something that sets Global Works apart from many other summer trips. They have given me the chance to experience life from a different perspective, forming connections with a community that is not my own. The group leaders are and have been incredibly fun, organized, and committed to providing the best experience for all of us. At times where I was not feeling well, the leaders were attentive and found a way to help under all circumstances. Something I love most about Global Works is its commitment to immersing kids into a country, culture, and community. It's easy to be a tourist, but with Global Works I have always felt such a strong connection to the places we visit, the people we meet, and the work we do. Ecuador was an incredible trip, it was a mix of service work and home stays in the mountains as well as an amazing Galapagos experience. Ecuador is not a place I thought I would ever visit, but I am happy I did with Global Works because they made it a truly unforgettable, immersive, and overall amazing trip. This goes for any chosen program, each one is uniquely different, but all of them are unforgettable experiences.

What was your funniest moment?
In Ecuador the funniest moment was our hike to the largest volcano in the Galapagos. We spent about an hour hiking in the rain and navigating mud and horse poop. We played games the whole way up and had a really fun time joking around as we trecked our way to the top. As we reached the top, the view of what was supposed to be the volcano was masked in fog. Nevertheless, it didn't discourage us from having fun. We took thumbnail photos at the top, pretending like the view was there and rewarded ourselves with snacks. It became more funny than disappointing.
Pros
  • Visited many different places, days were always busy. There was not a thing I wish I would've seen in Ecuador because we were taken everywhere.
  • Homestay community was incredible and the service project was collaborative and rewarding.
  • Galapagos experience was surreal.
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Programs

Displaying 1 - 9 of 9

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Annika Thiim

Program
Panama Summer Service Adventures
Annika Thiim

Why did you choose this program?

I chose the Global Works program based on the high ratings I had seen on the Internet. Many of these teen travel review sites included the experiences written by alumni my age, which was amazing and reassuring. The website is also very professional-looking and easy to navigate because it included all the important details and had updated information.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The program assisted with all the details regarding the itinerary and where we would be staying during the trip. However, for the flights, I had the option to either book my own direct flight to Panama or take the group flight from Houston to Panama, which was led by Global Works. I ended up taking a direct round-trip flight from my home to Panama instead of the group flight, and everything worked out perfectly.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Make sure to keep an open mind. You will constantly be pushed out of your comfort zone, which is why it is so important to be open to new experiences. The most rewarding part about this trip for me was coming out of it with a new outlook on the world, and the feeling of awareness that came with this.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average day consists of breakfast, work, lunch, work, leisure time, and then dinner. However, every day was scheduled differently. Our work was never too demanding as we took frequent breaks to eat and play games. Some of the work we did included: the painting of a church, tending to a garden, cleaning a library, and helping in a non-profit restaurant kitchen.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear going into this experience was being alone in a foreign country, away from my family. This turned out to not be a problem once I was there because I felt so comforted by my group members and trip leaders. It was exhilarating to experience a completely different environment with people from all of the US. At the end of the trip, I was left with a feeling that the world was more interesting than ever and I am looking forward to many more adventures in the future.

Staff Interviews

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

Fritz Moriarty

Program
Costa Rica Teen Summer Trips
Job Title
Director
In 2004, Fritz became co-owner and director of Global Works. Fritz is committed to running high-quality, meaningful international programs with Global Works. Come wintertime, you’ll find Fritz ripping it up on his tele-skis in the Colorado back country. Fritz knows how to find the perfect balance of valuable work and fun in his life, just like a GW program!
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What is your favorite travel memory?

It's hard to pick just one. My first experience living with a host family was in Costa Rica as a volunteer for WorldTeach. I was extremely nervous about my ability to communicate in Spanish and with the concept of living with people I'd never met for the next 11 months. My thoughts were racing as I followed directions and took a bus far up to the mountains in rural Costa Rica. After a 1/2 mile walk a located the house and knocked on the front tour. A little girl opened the door and gave me a big hug. Within minutes I was enjoying a plate of arroz con pollo (rice and chicken) followed by a dance party in the living room with all the kids in the family. I learned a lot about hospitality that day.

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

In my experience the most important factor in success for a company is in the quality of the services they offer. It's easy to tell when something has been rushed or when there is little care or intention. If you put passion and care behind what you do then others will notice and even feel the same way you do about your business.

We are fortunate at Global Works to be surrounded by passionate people committed to global education and student travel.

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

A few more gray hairs for one! On a more serious note, the most important thing I've learned is how to listen first and to better avoid judging a situation or people. There isn't necessarily one way to get something done, and it's more fulfilling to accomplish something as a team than to make your point or always be right.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

I don't know enough about other companies and their culture, but I can say for sure that was have the most wonderful community of staff who love what they do and consistently put the needs of others before there own. I think we have a strong ethical foundation and are always looking to make decisions that benefit as many people and things as possible.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

We constantly here from students and parents about how this experience has positively impacted them and their communities back home. One of the most amazing stories involved a student from the US who had been adopted form Panama. Coincidentally our trip in Panama had a project planned at the same orphanage this student had come from. She joined our program and was able to return there during the trip and provide a truly breathtaking perspective to her group.

Even more amazing was that following the trip she had inquired with our Panamanian guide about the possibility of tracking down her birth family. Somehow he was able to track them down in a village located in the Darien Gap, one of the most remote areas in Central America. She was later able to connect with her birth parents directly.

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