Program Reviews

I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in this pura vita trip, and it was truly a life-changing experience. The organization was well-structured, ensuring that every aspect of the trip was meaningful. From the moment I arrived they tried to make you feel comfortable. Also the people I met I will never forget. I felt safe the whole time and the events were really fun. I went alone but i quickly made a ton of friends so by the end of it I did not feel alone like I came into the trip.

I had a lot of fun in the time that I was at the pura vida service and I loved helping out with the local community. It was fun to make friends both with the locals and with the other students who came on this trip. We went on a lot of adventures, such as zip lining and white water rafting. I made a lot of memories while I was here and I definitely will try to bring back what I learned to my hometown. I loved trying the local food, I also loved being able to make some of my food. I would definitely come back.

All the students were very inclusive and made me experience a joy! I enjoyed learning about the Costa Rican culture, language, and food. The community service has not only impacted the community here but has changed my mindset on how I view the opportunities I have back at home. In addition, the activities were a blast. It was my first time white water rafting and I felt so safe. The views and environment here is so clean and beautiful. I love how the program leaders are easily approachable and enjoy playing games and making jokes with the students.

i had a lot of fun and i felt very taken care of by my program leaders. they truly were the highlight of my trip! i got to try a lot of new foods and experience activities like ziplining and rafting that i never would have done otherwise. i also got to experience a new culture and felt immersed because of the people who helped our group. i would definitely suggest someone in high school to go with a friend and have a fun trip! even just a week is awesome and you will never forget it. as someone who travels a lot but never alone, i got to experience something new and i loved it

My experience left me feeling highly satisfied with both the productivity of the program, but also what they meant for my cultural identity. As I’ve matured, I’ve found that embracing my Korean ethnicity and expressing myself through my heritage gives me a strong sense of purpose and inspires my personal growth. I was able to experience South Korea for a second time, just one year after my first visit, and from various perspectives that I previously missed. The journey was not only enjoyable, with lots of great food and laughs, but it also let me appreciate the cultural richness, bustle, and enthusiasm of the nation that makes it so special.

This trip experience was truly amazing where i got witness everything great about Korea. From the students and senior citizens we met to the markets and food we visited, this program truly encapsulates everything there is to Korea. Throughout this trip I was able to take step away from my normal life in New Jersey and take a different perspective on the world and just realize that I and my community are only small parts of what makes this world great. Our guides were absolutely amazing and navigated us everywhere and our experience defiantly wouldn’t have been as great without them.

This trip was truly an opportunity to experience the diverse aspects of life in Korea in little over a week. We were able to immerse ourselves in Korean culture through cuisine, faith, and service activities. We traveled throughout the country by bus, visiting major cities like Seoul and Busan as well as cultural landmarks such as Korean Buddhist temples. My favorite parts of the trip was teaching senior citizens and school-age kids English, as well as learning how to cook glass noodles. Would absolutely recommend this experience to future travelers.

Though there was less service than expected, the service trip to Japan exceeded all other expectations. The group leaders were well informed about the locations, we were taken to various different places, all with a different kind of impact, we were encouraged to think about the purpose of the trip for ourselves and how we could accomplish our goals in Japan. It truly was a very well thought out and carefully planned trip, with an amazing team to support the students. I highly recommend. Thank you.

Great trip, with fabulous people and incredible views and venues. Loved Sydney David as the instructor, were incredibly accommodating.

it was extremely refreshing to be here and even though i came alone i met the most amazing people and i’m going to miss them all a lot. a bunch of me and the friends i made will be visiting each other after this trip and i had a great time with the activities, sight seeing, the service project, and my friends! even when it was hot and tough the time we spent together and what we were doing was 100% worth it. 10/10 recommend i hope you all go on one of these trips and have an amazing time like we did