Program Reviews

I visited Paraguay this past summer and resided in the tiny town of Santa Rosa. It was an absolutely amazing experience filled with exciting, memorable, and occasionally scary adventures. During my trip, I got to know some of my favorite people, including my incredible amigos friends, whom I adore, and all of these incredibly kind people who welcomed me into their families and communities. I will also always remember my project staff's generosity and their unwavering support. I'm incredibly appreciative of everyone who helped make this experience possible because it has changed the way I view my life and my future. Anyone who is willing to try new things and wants to have an experience of a lifetime should definitely check this out

My time on the Amigos: Marine and Mountain Exploration trip in Costa Rica was extremely worthwhile. All of the staff were super kind and supportive, as well as the host families who I stayed with. I was inspired by the local organizations we partnered with, and learned a ton about sustainable agriculture, sea turtles, and local life in the 2 places I stayed, Guayabo and Parismina. Additionally, this trip gave me the chance to experience things I had never done before, like making my own chocolate, seeing wild sea turtles, and milking a cow. While each trip is different, and will most likely not do exactly the same things I did, it will still definitely be a once in a lifetime experience.

AMIGOS has been a life-changing experience. Not only does AMIGOS broaden your worldwide perspective, but it teaches you so much about culture that other programs might not. Living with the community in pairs and exploring in groups enables you to experience a nearly fully immersed experience. I learned so much about regenerative farming practices and the organizations in Panama that are working to implement these technologies. AMIGOS also has so many different options. From long programs to short ones and from Costa Rica to Panama, AMIGOS has at least one program that will interest you!

I entered this project with an array of cheerleaders: Krista, Charlotte, Dorothy, and Mateo ('23 alumni). Their support was the reason why I continued with the application process, and I must say, it was worth it. The nine weeks I spent in Costa Rica were the most liberating and life-changing experiences. Not only did I learn more about Costa Rican culture, but also the meaning of how to love and live in the moment—pura vida. These lessons are some that I will forever cherish, and aim to use in my everyday life as a form of inspiration.

I loved going to Costa Rica over the summer through the La Pezeta program with AMIGOS. Although I was apprehensive of staying with a host family when I don't speak any Spanish and have never taken a Spanish class before, it worked out great and my host mom was super accomodating. I would just recommend doing some lessons on Duolingo before you leave. Additionally, not having a phone provided a great break from normal life and helped me immerse myself in the community. It truly is unique in providing a local experience rather than the typical tourist experience. It was one of the most fun times of my life, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's considering going.

I had an amazing time on my trip. The other volunteers and my host family were so awesome and I really enjoyed getting to know them. It wasn’t as much Spanish as I expected, which I was disappointed about, but I was glad to have the opportunity to use my knowledge with my host family. The staff was great when I had any sort of minor medical trouble. They were at times uptight and not trusting of us. Whenever we went walking we would have to be single file or in a pair as though we were little children unable to walk in the road. That felt diminutive but otherwise the trip was great!

My daughter participated in both the Chimborazo, Ecuador program and the Costa Rica program with AMIGOS International. She helped with a Sea Turtle program, built a trail, harvested potatoes, helped build a greenhouse, learned about the local ecosystem and indigenous cultures, helped cook local recipes with her host family, milked a cow, practiced her Spanish, and made many new friends. For parents who want their child to gain cultural awareness, practice a second language, improve their self confidence, and participate in community service, AMIGOS makes sure youth can do this safely, with appropriate supervision, and at a reasonable cost. AMIGOS provides pre-trip training for youth, has staff available for any questions or concerns, and helps students with fundraising for their trip.
AMIGOS has been sending students overseas for many decades so they know how to run a great program.

The Amigos program gave me a social and cultural experience I couldn’t find anywhere else and I am still infinitely grateful I had the opportunity to go. On this trip I got to meet a bunch of new and amazing people, from other volunteers and supervisors to host families and locals. I am still in contact with the other volunteers and my host family and message them daily! Every day on our trip was an amazing time getting to participate in volunteering and exploration activities and creating a tightly knit group of volunteers. The experience was also a great chance to actively speak Spanish in a real life situation and be able to communicate with people in my second language. I am so glad I chose to go on this trip and I would recommend it to every young student looking to broaden their world view and have an experience like no other!

I had an amazing experience with Amigos this summer. I took part in a 3 week program called Olas y Cerros, which was focused on environmental sustainability, conservation work, and youth leadership. We traveled to 3 main locations and stayed in a homestay with local "parents" for a large portion of the project, and my homestay experience was great. My "parents" were very understanding of anything I needed and our conversations every meal definitely helped my Spanish. I loved the projects we participated in with partner agencies, especially our work with ASTOP in Parismina, where we helped clean up beaches and watched turtle eggs hatch. I had very few, if any, negative experiences on my program and I came out of it with a better grasp of Spanish language, knowledge of Costa Rican culture, and self-awareness.

It's an authentic and completely immersive experience. Everyone will get a completely different experience depending on country/cohort. The program is great at mental/physical safety throughout, and ensures everyone has a great time, the staff are very supportive. It also prepares you well for going to your community. It can be difficult at times and requires independence and resilience, but is completely worth it in the end. You won't have your phone on the program which allows you to connect with people and make lifelong friends, and truly immerse yourself in the experience.