Most Affordable & Meaningful Volunteer Program in Costa Rica

Lauren made me feel so welcome from the moment I applied. The project was amazing and you are living like a local. You build a family from the moment you arrive and it’s obvious how much Lauren cares about the volunteers. The projects are sustainable long term and so rewarding, I did the marine conservation which included patrols for turtles and dolphin monitoring. I felt supported through it all and the Spanish lessons were so helpful. The food was delicious and the chef and her family make you feel at home. There is a great opportunity to learn your Spanish and experience the Costa Rican culture. Every single person I met was so friendly and welcoming and despite travelling solo I never once felt alone.

I planned to do a 2-month volunteer staying with children in the local IMAS children’s center for low income families and helping with the dogs at the domestic animal rescue. Unfortunately, Covid-19 pandemic developed after one month and a few days into my program. Luckily, the program director was efficient in quickly reacting to the situation in various ways: emergency food preparation, emergency coordination with the embassy and airport, and offered continued housing as long as I needed it for until the situation resolved. During the crisis, I especially appreciated the program director making me feel as a part of her family, she cooked all sorts of delicious local dishes for me to try out and I was able to spend quality time with her baby Sofia, watching her learn how to walk. We developed a close relationship during quarantine, spending most mornings walking and getting to know each other through the countryside and beautiful scenery. I recommend the program if you want to experience the charm of Costa Rica in daily life. The program really helps participants to immerse into the culture, make unforgettable experiences and acquaintances and also to improve or learn Spanish. At the same time you can enjoy nearby touristic attractions like going to the amazing waterfalls, enjoying time on the beach, boat trips, museums, indigenous tribes, and experiencing the local cuisine. For me it was an unforgettable, amazing experience!

It’s an excellent program to explore and volunteer, as well as learn some spanish and eat good food! Some of the activities included waterfalls, hikes, ziplining, and my personal favorite, visiting the beautiful beaches. During my time here, I felt very safe in the houses and I felt comfortable walking in the neighborhood at night when I want to get a late night snack. The program is also very structured and organized. They feed you every morning, lunch, and evening. They are also excellent at listening to your dietary needs and concerns. It’s a great program for any universities and companies who want to have a good time

If you are thinking about exploring Costa Rica this is a great program to do through your school or friends! We went to a waterfall, beaches, and zip lining. Each activity was a lot of fun and a great experience. It was so phenomenal being engulfed in this culture. While staying at this house we eat Costa Rican based food like rice and beans and many juicy fresh fruits! This trip is definitely worth it and is highly recommended for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture as well as enjoying themselves.

This is a great program for students looking to be involved in the culture and education in Costa Rica. This experience gives you the ability to understand and be involved in the typical life of a Costa Rican resident. Volunteers will eat food native to the country. We also engaged in many diverse activities including ziplining, cultural museums, hiking waterfalls, and visiting local beaches. As the group does all of the excursions together, the bonds formed will be life long friends! Even bonds have been formed with our van driver as well!

This is my second year coming to volunteer in Costa Rica with Hibiscus Travels, and it was wonderful! There is a variety of options for excursions and service projects. We went to multiple beaches and a waterfall and zip lining. Our service project was working with toddlers in the mornings to teach English and play with them. Hibiscus Travels really works hard to make this experience exciting, memorable, and rewarding. I hope I get to return again next year and for more years to come. Pura vida!

This was a fun trip!! I was happy to see a new place such as Costa Rica! I enjoyed exploring and seeing new parts of the country. I enjoyed the hiking and going to the water fall. I also enjoyed seeing several beaches. It was nice to interact with young children, but also go on fun excursions. I also thought it was cool to experience the culture of Costa Rica. I would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to experience a new culture while volunteering. I am happy I was able to go on this trip! It is something I will always remember!

I loved working with the children! It was a great experience and everyone we worked with was very nice. Teaching and shaping the children’s minds was such a rewarding experience. We also went to so many fun experiences. Zip lining and the waterfall hike were both wonderful experiences. Overall, the trip was a success and I would love to come again in the future. I would recommend this experience to anyone who asked me about it. I will never forget what I have experienced or learned throughout this trip.