Program Reviews

The amount that I gained from this program went way beyond my expectations. My spanish improved to the point where I was much more confident in speaking spanish to others. But perhaps the largest gain was the ability for me to open up a lot more, and become so much less introverted. By living with 20 other members for 3 weeks, I was able to become more social and create close bonds with my fellow AMIGOS members. Finally, I was also able to deeply appreciate the community of Costa Rica-- their fun and loving culture, amazing food, and large commitment to sustainable development.

I enjoyed our volunteer experiences (cleaning up a beach, painting benches at a park, and creating a garden). I also met great people from Costa Rica and different states in the US. I lived with a host family and loved eating all of the typical Costa Rican food. We went to a local middle school and interacted with the young students. We made cheese on a dairy farm, which was fascinating. I wrote in my journal every day. It was a good experience not having my phone. I learned a lot of card games and became really good friends with my roommates.

I would 100% recommend this program to anyone interested in trying it out. I was beyond satisfied with how much I grew throughout this program; whether it was improving my Spanish, learning about the culture and people, or even just creating lifelong connections and bonds with others in the program. The AMIGOS coordinators and staff were very respectful and kind, as well as hard-working. My experience with AMIGOS was probably one of the best experiences of my life. I especially appreciated how comforting the people and environment there were. Beyond grateful to have been able to attend this program.

My trip to Los Santos with AMIGOS was a memorable experience for sure.
The dining and lodging accommodations were very high quality and super enjoyable, and the project staff were nice. Although, it seemed as though some of the first year staff members could’ve used more training. The social aspect of the trip was rocky. I would’ve appreciated better communication skills from the project staff.
The educational aspect was great. We got to tour farms and build relationships with families from the area. I really appreciated how the activities were strategically and effectively planned, plus the fact that we got free days.
AMIGOS also took great care to educate all of the volunteers about the country and its history, stressing the importance of cultural humility and educating us on social Justice issues as well.

I have never experienced anything quite like my trip to Panama with Amigos. It was an amazing opportunity to completely immerse myself in another culture and practice my Spanish skills. I was able to have authentic experiences that would not have been available to me otherwise. Additionally, I was able to meet the best people from both Panama and around the world. Making connections with many different people that I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise was certainly one of the highlights of my trip! Also, I loved being able to try new foods, explore the beautiful nature, and learn about how the lives of people in Panama were different from, but also similar to, my own.

My experience with AMIGOS this past summer changed my life. I realize that that this phrase is often thrown around on review websites to the point that it has lost its weight, but I honestly cannot think of a better way to describe the impact this program had on my life. Being someone who is very passionate about social and environmental justice, this program taught me so much. Getting to learn from the locals in Monteverde about how they are implementing sustainable practices in their everyday lives was absolutely inspiring and gave me so many new ideas about ways to live more sustainably when I returned home. Additionally, AMIGOS has crafted an incredible curriculum centered identity and privilege that we got to experience through group conversations. Both of these factors contributed to an incredible learning environment where I learned so much about the world that I was never taught in school. As wonderful as these aspects of the trip were, the most impactful part of this trip has to be the way this program put things in perspective. Everyday life on the trip looked much different than it does at home in the states. We hardly used devices of any sort, and only had access to the clothing and materials we carried with us in our bags. Though some may put this factor off as a slight inconvenience that is made up for through the other aspects of the trip, to me, this was one of the most empowering parts of the trip. I proved to myself that I did not need my phone or constant access to air conditioning to truly live and learn. In a lot of ways, I was able to fully immerse myself in the moment because I was not itching for my phone or worrying about the heat. In addition, being in a different part of the world with its own unique culture really put things in perspective for me. The people I met on the trip did not immediately ask me about my schooling or what college I wanted to attend upon meeting me. Having perfect grades and a perfect resume was not how we weighed one another's worth, which is a much needed reminder for many American teenagers. AMIGOS taught me that making an impact is not about how much money you make or how "successful" you look on paper. At the end of the day, our impact lies in how we treat the world around us— both human and natural. Thanks to AMIGOS, I plan on using my impact to its fullest.

I really liked my experience on this trip. First of all, the setting was beautiful. This was my first time out West and the mountain vistas were incredible. Pretty much everywhere we went was breathtaking. Secondly, the activities and work we did were great. Whether it was working on a farm, learning about wolves and bighorn sheep, or whitewater rafting, each experience felt educational and invigorating. I probably tried more things in those 3 weeks than any other. Perhaps most importantly, the people I went on the trip with were great. All three Amigos staff members on the trip made it as good as possible, and the 13 other participants were all uniquely interesting. Half the fun came from getting to know everyone, and I definitely made some great friends. I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in conservation, the outdoors, getting to know others, and experiencing some independence!

I had the most incredible time on my Amigos trip in Ecuador. I got to live on "La Granja," a family owned farm where I milked cows, harvested herbs, planted trees, cooked fresh meals, and swam in waterfalls with my cohort. When we were not working, my group had many interesting conversations about race, gender, stereotyping, colonialism, and identity. Through these conversations I was exposed to diverse perspectives and got to know myself better than I ever have before. I always get homesick while away from family, however in Ecuador I built a new family. I still stay in touch with the friends I made even though we live thousands of miles away. I LOVED Ecuador!

My AMIGOS experience gave me a chance to grow, learn, and have experiences I never could have dreamed of. This program had large focuses on cultural humility, community, and service. I feel like I learned so much on this trip, from classes about biofuels and solar energy at a local university, to lessons on the history Central America and cultural humility led by our supervisors, to hands on experience volunteering. Some of my highlights include repairing a clay and brick oven, exploring the Canyon of Somoto, and the many city tours focused on history and culture. But I think what made this truly great was the volunteers and supervisors I was experiencing it with. Everyone was incredibly kind and supportive, and it was so fun to spend three weeks with a group of teens like me with a passion for learning, meeting new people, and giving back to our communities. Some of my fondest memories are just the long bus rides spent talking or the nights playing cards.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic we were not able to do much volunteering, and we also didn't get to spend much time with the local communities practicing Spanish. Because nearly all of the volunteers on the trip were from the US, we almost always reverted back to English when talking among ourselves. As a result, I don't think my Spanish improved significantly over the course of this trip. However, with these covid precautions I felt incredibly safe, and these challenges would be present in any trip like this during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall this was an amazing experience that let me grow and learn about the world around me. This was one of the best experiences of my life, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a volunteer trip in Latin America.

Culturally humility and sustainable development were at the core of this experience. The focus on those two concepts opened my eyes to impact that a community can have on others. In a group of 20 students, we experienced the passion and love of so many other people. We made a family that can never be torn apart. This immersion trip to Nicaragua was exciting, fun, and passion-filled. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking for an immersion experience that will allow them to learn, grow, serve, and lead.