Location
  • Costa Rica
Length
2 to 4 weeks
Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Timeframe
Summer Winter
Housing
Guesthouse Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Pricing

Starting Price
2395
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 28, 2024
Dec 04, 2020
18 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Enter the lush and diverse landscape of Costa Rica, and embrace “pura vida”: the pure life. This epic adventure takes you through the rich highland jungles of the cloud forest to the culturally diverse Caribbean seaside beaches. This cross-country journey includes zip-lining, night safaris, a 2-day white-water rafting trip, and incredible wildlife such as sloths, jaguars, and dart frogs. Push your comfort zone while living on a jungle farm and immersing yourself in the numerous and vibrant cultures of southeastern Costa Rica, all while leaving a positive impact on the communities you visit.

Combine your trip with Nicaragua and save $400! (21 Days)

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with GIVE Volunteers for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

Impact

GIVE's mission is to inspire growth, empower global citizens, and ignite sustainable change worldwide. To truly inspire growth and achieve sustainable travel internationally, GIVE has adopted the Asset-based community development (ABCD) model, a set of proven best practices in sustainable development that mobilizes a community’s assets and resources as the basis for development. Furthermore, through providing hands-on and eye-opening learning experiences that foster authentic connections between participants and host community members, we can empower global citizens who will continue to spread GIVE’s values and ignite sustainable change worldwide.
Exploring the world with GIVE is all about responsible travel, but what does that really mean?
Mindful Tourism + Community Partnership = Economic Growth & Community Empowerment.

Part of what makes GIVE trips so special is being fully immersed in the cultures and communities we visit. However, we take extra steps to ensure we minimize our influence and always respect local cultures. We prepare all participants before travel and ensure they understand the culture and how to dress appropriately.

Program Highlights

  • Zipline through the iconic Cloud Rainforest
  • Be surrounded by rainforest wildlife such as sloths and exotic birds
  • Support food security of indigenous communities through permaculture
  • Embark on a 2-Day Whitewater Rafting Journey
  • Immerse yourself in the rich Costa Rican culture

Program Reviews

4.95 Rating
based on 40 reviews
  • 5 rating 95%
  • 4 rating 5%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.95
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.9
  • Value 4.9
  • Safety 4.95
Showing 1 - 8 of 40 reviews
Default avatar
Lola
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GIVE Volunteers Nepal

My experience with GIVE in the Himalayas was the once-in-a-lifetime type. We started off exploring Kathmandu. We then made our way from city to town to village, using cars and then hiking to get to Langtang. In between, we stayed in tea houses and enjoyed the local’s hospitality and traditional food. All the way to Langtang we observed the breathtaking Himalayas towering us from all around. We did construction work in the village and met many wonderful people. I’ll never forget the views and the love.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take appropriate hiking clothes with you. And a good raincoat and rain pants.
Be patient throughout and train before you come. The mountains are tough.
Journal!
123 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Kennedy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Give review

I did not expect to love this trip as much as I did, I went into it not knowing anyone and ended up forming beautiful bonds and relationships with my fellow givers. The hike to Everest Base Camp was nothing like I've ever done and it was challenging but worth it. I cannot recommend traveling with give enough because they are wonderful to work with and they opened my eyes to how I can make an impact with my travels. The group I went with are still very near and dear to my heart, we laughed and cried together when it got tough, but I made it through the trip and came out a much better person than I was before. I cannot thank the wonderful staff we had assisting us enough because it was them that made it so wonderful.

121 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sam
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A sense of purpose

Volunteering in a small village in Nepal was incredibly humbling. Working alongside some of the most motivated, inspiring people I have ever met in one of the most beautiful places in the world is an experience I’ll never forget. It’s incredible to say that I have Nepali friends and to know that I am a friend to some of them. Aside from the locals, I had the opportunity to meet and work with the most likeminded people I’ve ever encountered, despite surface level differences. The special thing about GIVE is the people it attracts. There’s a certain something deep inside of people that motivates them to take a leap like this, and it’s this particular something that is now at the root of some of my closest friendships. I am so thankful for the opportunities that have arisen since the first big leap and cannot wait for the next!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
What surprised me most was how easily a group of people from such different backgrounds could come together and laugh at some joke or enjoy a meal together — how quickly a group of complete strangers could form a lasting bond.
115 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alexis
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GIVE Nepal Volunteer Excursion in the Himalayas

My trip to Nepal with GIVE was immersive and impactful. Throughout the trip all of the volunteers were given opportunities to meet with the locals, learn their language and culture, and understand their traditions. Hiking through the Himalayas was one of the most magnificent experiences I've ever had, as well as challenging. While hiking was rewarding for its physical challenge, the work done and relationships formed with the people of Langtang was most rewarding when realizing the impact it made. In addition to the adventure and connections made in Nepal, all of the volunteers and GIVE leads were incredible to meet and share a great experience with.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
The hiking on this trip is no joke, so make sure you like to hike and that you are prepared to climb up to 16,000' elevation.
125 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Molly
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

GIVE Nepal

Traveling to Nepal was my second trip with GIVE, and it was beyond incredible. We trekked through the Himalayas for several days, during which I learned so much about both myself and the world. Upon arriving to Langtang, we were greeted with nothing but hugs and smiles. There is great devastation within this community, yet you would never know based on the love and gratitude you are showered with. From the people you meet, food you eat, and beautiful places you see, this is a life changing experience you do not want to miss.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
My only regret is not including the EBC add on!
117 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nicholas
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Nepal-Tibetan Frontier July 2019

This trip with GIVE was a defining memory in my life thus far. Being exposed to the wonderful cultures in Nepal and the Tibetan frontier was amazing, and GIVE made the entire experience fun and seamlessly integrated.
The group leaders are experienced and do an excellent job of creating a feeling of community within the group, which is especially important for adjusting to a very different environment.
The landscape was beautiful, the volunteering was impactful, and the trip was fun! I will certainly be returning to Nepal before too long, hopefully with GIVE.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make sure you are in good hiking shape, once in the mountains there is hiking everyday at considerable altitude and the trip will not be as enjoyable if you are struggling.
124 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maarten
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What You're Looking For and More.

GIVE delivers on the experiences they describe; if you are authentically compassionate and open-minded you will leave this program with invaluable insights, friendships, and memories.

Although there's no way to guarantee your satisfaction with every detail of the trip, the volunteers, interns, employees, and leadership of Growth International Volunteer Excursions are visibly committed to creating meaningful, memorable settings for personalized experiential learning and development.

You'll be with good people.

What would you improve about this program?
I had no complaints after my experience with GIVE.
118 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jody
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Nepali experience

I went on the GIVE Tibetan Frontier trip in summer of 2019. If you are a prospective traveler, know that the hiking here can be intense, there is a day that involves hours of uphill, and you will be doing some form of hiking for some period of time basically every day of the trip. While sometimes this was exhausting, it was also rewarding. I would definitely do some cardio exercise before going on this trip. I absolutely loved the Nepali people, especially our guides. They will tell you their stories and welcome you like family. They will make sure you are cared for on hikes and be amazing DJs and dance party hosts. Life is a small Nepali village is incredibly different, and getting to experience a traditional family home, a yak farm, and spend time with the community members is a great part of this trip. In our group, a lot of people only got to do education and work with the kids once or twice. Unless something changes with the program, I think this is important to know so that if this is something you're really interested in, you will likely not get to spend a lot of time with the kids. The time that I spent with the school kids was a lot of fun, and they are really cool and sweet and taught me a lot. The Nepali atomsphere is very laid back and I always felt safe in the village. There were times during transportation by car where I felt anxious about safety. If you have any issues with riding on the edge of a mountain, this is something to be aware of. I'm from a very flat and low elevation, but I did not have any trouble with adjusting to the altitude. The volunteer work was labor intensive. We carried sand bags uphill. We chiseled rocks and mixed cement and built walls for a school. I recommend helping build the wall because it's very satisfying work. There were also some paint jobs available, which was also enjoyable. Overall, this is a trip to go on if you really want to connect with young Nepali people, and work alongside them to make a difference in the kids lives in this area. The kids here often have to leave their families to get an education, so helping to build a school is something that is really valuable and amazing for these people, and that is the motivation that will get you up the mountain!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We saw the yak harder get attacked by a yak and then saved by one of our guides. It was pretty crazy.
122 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers