Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San José
    • Playa Blanca
    • Monteverde
    • Cartago
    • Nosara
    • Puerto Limón
Length
1 to 52 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Age Min.
17
Age Max
90
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Apartment Guesthouse Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
725
Price Details
Maximo Nivel has been offering volunteer abroad programs since 2003. We are a locally-based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Our volunteer abroad program fees are affordable and transparent.

New volunteer programs start every Monday year-round
Professional Field Managers
Volunteer abroad programs available from 1-52 weeks
All-inclusive—accommodations, meals, and many extras
24/7 in-country support
Academic credit available
No registration or processing fees
All-inclusive program fees from $665
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Feb 12, 2025
Dec 14, 2024
151 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Costa Rica is known for having progressive environmental and social policies, and Costa Rica is widely considered one of the planet’s most sustainable countries. At the same time, Costa Rica is still a developing country with a low national income and a number of socio-economic issues. This means Costa Rica offers a wide variety of ways to get involved in volunteer abroad projects, contribute to sustainable programs, and provide help to vulnerable populations. There is a lot to do in a country like Costa Rica and international volunteers are needed and welcomed!

Maximo Nivel provides volunteer abroad projects at our institutes in San Jose (capital city) and Manuel Antonio (beach). Projects are also available off-site in Guanacaste (beach), Caribbean (beach), and Monteverde (cloud forest), which are rural areas and offer a more “off-the-grid” experience than San Jose or Manuel Antonio.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

At Maximo Nivel, we deeply value diversity in all its forms. We maintain an open-minded approach, recognizing the significance of varied perspectives, intelligent discourse, and the transformative power of a positive mindset. We warmly welcome and respect individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of politics, gender, gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Whether it’s volunteering, Spanish immersion, TEFL certification, international internships, university courses, or GAP year experiences, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are wholeheartedly invited to participate in our programs.

Impact 🌎

At Maximo Nivel, we work in close partnership with our local communities in Latin America to ensure that volunteer projects align with genuine local needs, fostering meaningful and relevant impact. We emphasize sustainable initiatives designed for enduring change, rather than short-term interventions. By promoting cultural sensitivity, we facilitate enriching exchanges rooted in mutual respect, and our commitment to local employment further integrates and supports the communities we serve.

Program Highlights

  • New volunteer programs start every Monday year-round
  • All-inclusive—shared accommodations, meals, and many extras
  • Academic credit available
  • No Registration or processing fees
  • 24/7 in-country support

Popular Programs

Working with Kids in Costa Rica

When you are volunteering with kids in Costa Rica, you are directly impacting the 1 in 5 families that live in poverty. Your day will be focused on helping underprivileged children with homework and fun activities.

Teaching English in Costa Rica

When you do this program, you are giving access to a skill that most kids learn in private language centers: speaking English. By volunteering with Maximo Nivel to teach english, you are giving a leg up to under privileged kids.

Conservation Projects in Costa Rica

When you think of Costa Rica, the first thought is usually the incredible beaches, and we are determined to keep it that way. Volunteering in this conservation project helps us keep Costa Rica preserved.

Construction Projects in Costa Rica

When you volunteer on this project, you will have a high tangible impact on the community by building homes, schools, and community centers. These projects are led by a local foremen and are focused on community development.

Program Reviews

4.89 Rating
based on 221 reviews
  • 5 rating 90.5%
  • 4 rating 9.05%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0.45%
  • Impact 4.8
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.65
  • Safety 4.8
  • Benefits 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Facilities 5
  • Safety 4
Showing 33 - 40 of 221 reviews
Default avatar
Ellie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

holiday week program

We as a family were looking for an opportunity to volunteer, expose our children to a different culture, and gain a new perspective on the world. We had never volunteered before. The program was well organized, safe, knowledgeable, and fun!!!! We stayed with a host family and it was enriching. An example of our daily activities include painting murals for an orphanage and spending time with the elderly. Afternoons were free for excursions or spanish classes. Highly recommend this program. The staff are kind and caring. We look forward to coming back to volunteer.

Pros
  • Fun
  • Organized
  • Impactful
Cons
  • none
84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Eliana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica Medical Campaign Winter 2022

I had such a great experience! The staff was super helpful and showed us around the area. Our host family was so sweet and we had great food every day. I loved being immersed in Spanish and the culture of Costa Rica. Working with the community was so fun. I loved going to different places each day. It was great to learn about medicine in general here in Costa Rica. I wish we could have stayed longer to help more people in the community. We loved all of the activities. I couldn't have asked for a better trip.

Pros
  • The staff
  • Working with the community
Cons
  • Too short
85 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ellie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica Winter 2022

I had such an amazing time with this program.<i learned so much so fast in a very welcoming enviorment. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to volunterr in a place so beautiful filled with even better people. The staff at Maximo is so kind and want to make sure oyu get the best experienece that you can get no matter how long you are there for. I felt I could go to them with any questions and there was going to be no judgment. I 100% recommend this program if you want to help people, explore new culture, make new friends, and make a difference in the world.

Pros
  • Learning how to interact with people who speak a different language
  • Making new friends in my group and in Maximo Nivel
  • Learned about the culture of Costa Rica
Cons
  • Early monrings
87 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Niharika
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Campaign

Overall, this was the most gratifying and unique experience ever.Although, we did not make a huge difference in the local community, I am glad we could make our small contributions. The staff were a great team to work with and they made sure that we had a good experience here. The home stay gave us an authentic experience, in which we were able to truly understand the costa rican culture. The family was very inclusive and helped us have a smooth transition. The patients and the people we helped were very appreciative of our work as well.

80 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Patricia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica winter 2022 medical campaign

This experience has been an amazing experience! I had a wonderful time here at San Jose Costa Rica, with the support of the Maximo Nivel team. My favorite part of the program is being able to travel and shadow alongside a local doctor during the trip. I had the pleasure to interact with children as well in local day cares. Maximo Nivel did a wonderful job in introducing the local culture to us, hosting cooking classes, salsa classes, and cool tours around the area. I learned a lot in this trip, got to apply what I learned in school to practical use, knowing that I have made an impact.

Pros
  • staff support
  • atmosphere during experience
  • being able to shadow a doctor during volunteering
Cons
  • wasn't used to the shower system
  • I did not know enough Spanish coming in
  • tour guide during San Jose wking tour
82 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rebecca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Campaign Costa Rica

This was a great program with a lot of hands on experience. I only stayed in San Jose for a week with a group from my university, but we were able to do a lot in our short stay. The staff was very helpful and accommodating even when I arrived late due to flight delays/cancellations. Our host family was wonderful and provided excellent food and living accommodations. I spoke Spanish prior to the program, but those in my group who did not speak any Spanish were still able to participate fully. I only wish that our campaign was longer and that we could have spent more time here. I am very grateful for this experience and would recommend it to anyone working in or interested in working in healthcare. I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.

Pros
  • Living with a host family
  • Transportation
  • Staff
Cons
  • Short campaign
84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rebecca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sea Turtle Project

From start to finish Maximo Nivel was extremely helpful in providing support throughout my trip. You have access to team members at any time of day or night. Airport transportation was very organized and smooth. Maximo staff thoroughly explain everything you need to know for your journey and the staff at your destination do an amazing job at teaching. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included so you will spend very minimally during your stay. I highly recommend Maximo Nivel, especially for any first-time volunteers.

Pros
  • great customer service
  • affordable prices
  • convenient
84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
madison
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

my experience in childcare program

maximo nivel is a great volunteer program. All of the staff here is very nice and helpful and supportive with anything you may need during your time here. The childcare program that I was at is great as well. The staff there is extremely friendly and helpful as well despite the language barrier. Maximo is great because you will meet so many new like minded people and maximo offers a place of socialization as well as free cooking and salsa dancing classes. this is a great program for young travelers or someone who has not traveled alone before such as my self. It can be scary at first being a young person alone in another country and it is important to feel like you have people to support you on your journey and maximo did a great job of providing that for myself and many others. i have met so many amazing people here and made some really great memories. I am sad to be leaving and I would love to come back some day. I definitely reccomend this program to anyone who is interested.

Pros
  • Friendly supportive staff
  • Convienent location
  • Great opportunity to meet new people
83 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

From my experience plan 2 months earlier is good for volunteer:)

Yes, at least the basics. Try a few classes on online sites like Duolingo and/or a phrase book. It will make your life much easier and minimal communication is required. Don't expect most of the people we interact with to know English, apart the volunteer organization and travel agencies, or at least it was my experience in Costa Rica. And they will appreciate the effort !