Program Reviews

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.

Hi There! I attended the Costa Rica Monterverde and Costa Atlantica program this past summer. I can honestly say that it was the best 3 weeks of my life. I fell in love with Costa Rica and would have stayed for ever if given the opportunity. I think the lessons on sustainability, diversity, conservation, etc. were really valuable, especially with the hands on approach. My favorite part was partnering with ASTOP, a turtle conservation agency in Parismina, and seeing baby leatherback sea turtles get released into the ocean. I could not recommend AMIGOS more because it allowed me to immerse myself in a new language and culture in ways I probably would never have been able to. From cooking, dance, and bracelet making classes to beach cleanups and ziplining, it is clear that the program offered really unique experiences. With amazing food, activities, and people, it was better than I ever could have imagined.

Our older daughter participated in Amigos for many years, and we were unsure what the reimagined "pandemic safe" program would offer. Amigos did not disappoint. Our younger daughter was able to immerse herself in the host country culture, meet new friends, challenge herself and speak Spanish. One unexpected highlight was the food. She is a picky eater and found herself loving the fresh fruits and vegetables prepared for her group. Overall, she matured and came back a more confident and informed citizen. I highly recommend Amigos!

I had the most amazing time on my AMIGOS trip this past summer. I went on the Ecuador La Sierra trip and my project pod stayed on a farm and in an indigenous community. We worked at the farm, went on lots of hikes, explored the city of Cuenca, and learned how to cook delicious foods. Some of my favorite activities were seeing a cow birth, milking the cows, using biological materials to build a wall on a side of a home, making soup for lunch, and painting a mural. I learned about sustainable agriculture in Ecuador through talking to the people at the farm and working at the farm every day, whether we were harvesting vegetables, raking leaves in the forest, or making compost. I believe I improved my Spanish because we spoke to everyone at the farm in Spanish and had Spanish classes every morning. The group activities we had within our pod were really engaging and we were able to develop strong connections as a group. Through this program, I've developed lasting friendships with the other volunteers in my pod, and I am so grateful for our supervisors who were so supportive and inspiring. This experience with AMIGOS is one that I'll never forget, and I would recommend AMIGOS to anyone!

I had an incredible experience with Amigos last summer in Session B of the La Sierra, Ecuador program because of the friends I made and the new experiences I had. Since we began our trip with a long layover in the Quito airport, our group immediately bonded. We were all extremely excited to arrive in Ecuador and begin the program, so we quickly found commonalities between us. The strength of the friendships we forged was clear at the airport when we were returning home because it was painful to say goodbye to one another. The friends I made weren’t just from the US because two students from Ecuador participated in the program with us. Every day we ate our meals together, worked on the farm together, and went through new experiences together. Building strong friendships and connections with the people I met, made the program so wonderful.

In addition to the people I met, the new experiences I had really widened my global perspective and gave me a greater appreciation for cultures other than my own. I loved working on the farm planting vegetables and helping with the compost. Many highlights of the trip occurred when taking care of the animals on the farm. I remember being given the opportunity to wake up at 5 am and help milk the cows at Kinti Wasi, and seizing that opportunity was a fantastic decision. It was surreal seeing the sunrise over the mountains as the cows were all around us eating the grass of the field. I would encourage everyone to try Amigos!