Program Reviews

I am incredibly grateful I decided to go on this trip. I was able to immerse myself not only into another culture, but also physical therapy in another culture! The therapists taught me so much about what they do and they were so excited to have us. I was also able to be hands on with the patients, which is something you can’t do in the US! Puerto Vallarta was a beautiful city to explore in Mexico and I got to try so many new things I had not done before. Not to mention forming a whole new group of friends who feel like family now. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything! It has impacted me in so many ways and it makes me so excited to start my own physical therapy journey! If you get the chance to go with toucan abroad, do it! You won’t regret it. You’ll grow in ways you never thought you could.

I wouldn’t trade my experience with Toucan Abroad for anything. They provide the opportunity to shadow hands on with a vast variety of clinics ranging from pediatrics, orthopedics, neurological, sports rehab, and geriatrics. When you’re not shadowing you get the chance to explore the beautiful country. From activities from horseback riding, zip lining, surfing to relaxing on a beautiful ranging of beaches there is truly something for everyone. As cheesy as it sounds, I truly made some lifelong friends! Phil and Fernando have created such a phenomenal program that helps people grow both personally and professionally. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign!

Joining this program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! In three short weeks I learned so much about physical therapy, experienced life in a whole new way, and formed many new friendships. Shadowing PT in Puerto Vallarta is very hands-on and immersive. The therapists were so kind, caring, and eager to share their knowledge with us. The program directors worked hard to ensure that we all had a great time and were able to experience as many new things as possible. Some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet are pre-pt and together we made this an experience of a lifetime! Once a Toucan, always a Toucan!

I enjoyed the balance between educational experiences and the time to explore a new country. The program directors do an exceptional job finding ways to give us an unforgettable experience by planning excursions and group dinners. In addition, the physical therapy clinics I had the opportunity to shadow at were absolutely amazing and made me fall in love with the career even more. The experience as a whole exceeded my expectations and I will be forever grateful for Toucan Abroad and the friends I made through the trip.

Going on this trip with Toucan Abroad has changed my life for the better. It gave me the opportunity to learn about physical therapy hands on with likeminded people who have the same career path. Additionally, the adventures we took such as zip lining, boating, surfing, and 4 wheeling are memories that will never be forgotten. The staff running this program are amazing and encourage so much learning and exploring. If I could go on this trip every year I would, and if you are debating going on a Toucan Abroad trip, I would highly recommend it!

Going on Toucan Abroad was one of the best decisions that I have made. It is such a unique experience that allows you to get hands on experience while exploring Costa Rica at the same time. All of the physical therapists are so welcoming and make sure you get the most out of your time in their clinics. Not only did I walk away from this experience with a much deeper knowledge of physical therapy I also met such amazing people along the way. I recommend it his program to anyone who is interested in PT

Applying to Toucan Abroad was a big step outside my comfort zone. I did not know what to expect. However, I’m so happy I decided to go. Toucan Abroad was an amazing experience and opportunity. I received hand on experience at different physical therapy clinics and learned different techniques that’s not very common in the States. I also developed real genuine bonds with the other members and physical therapists while having so much fun living in the Costa Rican culture . I would 110% recommend!
#safe #structured #lifelongbonds

Toucan Abroad is an incredible program that not only offers you hours of observation in physical therapy, but also allows you to enjoy an incredible country and meet amazing people. Therapists are the best, they will always be willing to teach you and make you feel like home. They are excited to meet new people, people who are passionate about physical therapy as much as they are. Before this trip, I never imagined the impact that this country and these people would have on my life. I take with me a lot of knowledge and incredible memories, but above all, friendships that I hope to keep the rest of my life. Thanks to the people I met and the therapists I worked with, I came back home more inspired than ever, willing to continue studying and become a great physical therapist. If you applied to this program and were lucky enough to be chosen, do not think about it to much and take the opportunity, it will be an experience that you will never forget.

This program is so much more than just physical therapy shadowing, it is a life-changing experience both professionally and personally. At the beginning of the program, I was very apprehensive, nervous, and extremely out of my comfort zone, but that completely changed after the first day of the trip when we all immediately bonded and it felt like we had all known each other for years! From a professional/academic standpoint, ToucanAbroad allowed me to learn more in ten days of shadowing with physical therapists than I would learn in an entire semester studying in college. The hands-on, patient-centered experience outweighs anything you can learn sitting in a lecture and the physical therapists truly want to share their knowledge and education with you. This experience opened my eyes to so many different treatment techniques that I have never seen in the states and that will influence my future career when I become a physical therapist. Outside of shadowing, we explored Costa Rica and created memories that will last a lifetime! Phil and Fernando made sure we all felt comfortable and safe throughout the trip and if any issue arose, they knew how to handle it. They always gave us recommendations of places to eat/things to do which really helped us make every second of the trip memorable! This program exceeded my expectations and I will highly recommend it to anyone who is interested! Costa Rica will always have a place in my heart and so will the people who I shared this amazing experience with! Pura Vida!

Toucan Abroad was by far one of the best study abroad programs I have done! I’ve studied abroad before but those experiences do not compare to the experience I had in Costa Rica. The physical therapy shadowing was excellent and very interactive. We were able to work one on one with patients and learn about different modalities that aren’t used in the US! In addition to the shadowing, the overall experience in Costa Rica was so fulfilling. The program directors Phil and Fernando helped us immerse ourselves into the culture and get the most of this amazing experience. They were always giving us recommendations and always ensured we were safe and comfortable. At the end of the two weeks we all became a family and can’t wait to reunite one day! I’m forever grateful for Toucan Abroad.