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Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San José
Length
4 to 10 weeks
Project Types
Climate Change Community Development Youth Conservation Environmental Conservation Wildlife Conservation Human Rights Indigenous Rights Professional Development Tourism

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Age Max
24
Timeframe
Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Hostel Tent
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)

Pricing

Starting Price
3520
Price Details
4 week Expedition $3520
7 week Expedition $4975
10 week Expedition $5300

Fundraising is not essential, but if you choose to fundraise we offer lots of support to help you do that. We have supported thousands of young people to reach their fundraising target.

All our projects are driven by the needs of the communities we work in. If the community does not have 100% ownership over the projects we do, we simply do not do them. Our close partnerships and relationships on the ground, with community leaders, local NGO's, and Governmental departments, ensure that our projects are necessary and impactful.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Accommodation Activities Some Activities Airport Transfers Equipment Meals Some Meals Transportation Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa Wifi
Dec 07, 2023
Sep 02, 2022
Wish List
19 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Joining a Raleigh Expedition in Costa Rica is a truly life-changing experience that will not only see you take part in pertinent community and environmental projects, but will equip you with new skills and experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Immersing yourself with local communities in one the worlds most biodiverse countries you will work alongside local NGO's, communities, and Park Rangers to preserve vulnerable natural resources, improve access to education for indigenous communities, and take part in a once in a lifetime trek across a truly stunning landscape.

Raleigh expeditions are a truly immersive cultural experience that combine adventure, personal development, and impactful projects to create truly life-enhancing journeys. Do it for you, do it for the planet!

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Video and Photos

Play Video
Volunteers and community members work together during the community project
Setting up camp
Getting ready for Trek
Trekking
Camp setup
Playing a game of tug of war
Rain Forrest
School
Community

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Program Highlights

  • Our programs run for 4, 7, and 10 weeks throughout the year, so you can join during your gap year or in the summer.
  • Be with people your age: Apart from team leaders and staff, you will be grouped with people aged 17-24 from all around the world. Getting to share your adventure with a group of like-minded people the same age as you is unique to Raleigh.
  • Develop essential teamwork, leadership, intercultural learning, and active citizenship skills and knowledge. These are the foundations of becoming an active future leader.
  • Diverse and inclusive: Volunteers join diverse teams of young people from across the globe as well as volunteers from the country you are based in.
  • Real adventure: Raleigh Expedition is an exciting and fun experience that will push you out of your comfort zone. You will get to experience true adventure in a safe and supported way.

Program Impact

So far we have planted over 100,000 trees, given 900,000 people access to clean water & sanitation, all while transforming the lives of over 55,000 young people through the power of volunteering abroad.

Why don't you become part of a global community dedicated to supporting youth-led action on the worlds most important issues?

Raleigh International is all about supporting, equipping, and inspiring young people to create and make change long after Expedition is over. From creating sustainable start-ups, to challenging gender inequality and calling for action on the climate emergency and human rights, the skills you learn on Raleigh will stay with you for the rest of your life.

If we are going to finally overcome poverty and injustice, find sustainable ways to protect our planet, and achieve the UN Global Goals, young people must be the ones taking the lead and driving the solutions.

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Program Reviews

4.73 Rating
based on 26 reviews
Leave a Review
  • 5 rating 84.62%
  • 4 rating 11.54%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 3.85%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 4.65
  • Fun 4.6
  • Value 4.45
  • Safety 4.75
Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Adventure travelers
Showing 25 - 26 of 26 reviews
Default avatar
Lucy
37
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life-changing and inspiring

Oct 14, 2015

Raleigh is the most incredible charity. They are supporting, inspiring, they work really hard, they're experienced, and I had the most amazing volunteering experience with them.

I love that they work with young people. I love that they focus on how their projects can have long-term impact and be sustainable.

Through my volunteering I felt like I made a real difference - to the people in the community that I worked in and to the other volunteers in my group. I also learned a huge amount about myself, about working with and leading a team, and about sustainable development.

Costa Rica is a stunning country. I went to an indigenous community in Chirripo, and it was the most magical place I've ever been to. The people, the nature, the way of life and the stars. Everything about it was just wonderful.

I'm not going to lie, Raleigh is tough. It's definitely a challenge, but I would 100% recommend it to anyone thinking about volunteering.

What would you improve about this program?
I would tell more people about it!!
58 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Rebecca
41
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Trail dig digging and trekking Costa Rica & Nicaragua

Oct 4, 2015

My life was a bit of a cross roads earlier this year and I was at a point where I really needed to do something for myself, something challenging that would help me to rebuild who I was. I have always loved traveling and seeing new places but this time I wanted to do something more than just travel. I am a qualified nurse so after attending a Raleigh open evening, I applied, had an interview and was given a place as a volunteer manager (VM) and medic in Costa Rica and Nicaragua for 10 weeks over the summer.

From the first week we arrived at VM pre-expedition training at field base in Costa Rica it felt like home. All the VM's bonded really quickly and it felt like we had known it each other for years. It was really amazing to meet a group of people with a similar outlook on life as myself and who were in very similar situations to me. While we worked really hard throughout the expedition there was also so much laughter and fun.

The 10 week expedition is divided into 3 phases and 3 different projects. There is 2 water and sanitation projects in Nicaragua, 2 natural resource management projects in Costa Rica and 2 youth leadership treks in either Costa Rica or Nicaragua.

For my first phase I went to the south of Costa Rica on a natural resource management project to a national park called Piedas Blancas with 10 venturers and 1 other project manager. Piedas Blancas is a 40,000 hector national park which consists of both primary and secondary rain forest. Costa Rica is home to 4% of the world's biodiversity and 2% of that can be found in Piedas Blancas. So as you can imagine it is one of the most beautiful and stunning places I have ever visited. Here we started building a new trail within the park that will eventually lead to the beach, and hopefully making the park more accessible to visitors. We also visited a local school to help engage local people with the park.

For my second phase I was a VM and medic for a youth leadership trek in Nicaragua. Here myself and another VM went with 12 venturers to the north of Nicaragua and we trekked about 250km south over 16 days across mountains, through villages, over plains and up volcanoes. We carried all the equipment, food our personal kit ourselves. We gave up all our comforts and slept on floors and washed with buckets. Each of the venturer's took it in turns to lead the group to help them develop their confidence and leadership skills. Every night we stayed in a different community along the way and met so many very kind and helpful people. It was definitely one of the most physically and mentally challenging things any of us had ever done. We all achieved things we didn't know we were capable of but we absolutely loved it. We finished with a massive sense of achievement and feeling we could now do anything if we set out minds to it.

For my third phase I was based at field base in Costa Rica, here I was the medic on call and part of the field base staff. I gave medical advice to all the groups out on project when required. I also managed any medical treatment and volunteers required as well as being part of the day to day running of the program.

I would definitely recommend Raleigh to anyone looking to volunteer abroad. It is a very well organized program which focus' on sustainable development and young people.I have made so many amazing friends that I will hopefully keep for life. I have definitely changed for the better and have so much more self confidence than I had before. I now really feel like I can make a difference and help to change the world.

What would you improve about this program?
I wouldn't change anything about it, it was awesome.
56 people found this review helpful.
Helpful

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Sophie Rhodes

Program
Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica

Why did you choose this program?

I already had experience with Raleigh International following a 3-week expedition to Borneo with them while I was still at school, so I knew that their expeditions were well structured and organized. When I decided to travel during my gap year between school and university, I knew I wanted to do something worthwhile that would also allow me to see parts of the world that were off the tourist trail, as well as push me to do something that was out of my comfort zone - Raleigh was perfect, and from my previous experience with them I knew that I would be supported and kept safe the whole time.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

As soon as my application to join an expedition was reviewed and accepted and I had paid my deposit, I was sent an information pack by Raleigh International which contained all of the information I needed to know about how to prepare for my expedition.

The guidance touched on everything, from which vaccinations I required and what kit to pack to how much money to take with me and when and where to book my flights to and from. I was given the contact details of a member of staff at Raleigh head office who could help me with fundraising ideas and provide me with support in the lead up to my expedition. Raleigh also set up a Facebook group for all of the volunteers that would be traveling on my expedition so that we could get to know each other beforehand and coordinate our flights so we didn’t have to travel alone.

Raleigh covers all in-country expenses, including travel insurance for all volunteers, so the only things I had to organize myself were vaccinations and flights, but as mentioned before, Raleigh was on hand to offer guidance on this where required.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Try and make the most of every single day on the expedition! Accept that, just as in your day to day life, some days will be better than others and realize that the highs and lows you experience will be heightened but don’t forget where you are. You may never again get the opportunity to have those experiences and they only make you a stronger and more rounded individual. It’s so easy to trek for 19 days and stare at your feet the whole time but remember to look up because the views will take your breath away! Play with the local children, try the food you’re not sure about and embrace the adventure!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

No two days are the same on a Raleigh expedition and the structure of each day is dependent on whether you are on your environmental, community or adventure (trek) phase. Typically, days on expedition start early so that you can avoid the midday heat whilst working on the project sites or trekking. Breakfast will consist of porridge or rice pudding (or whatever else you can concoct from the ingredients provided to you by the Raleigh team) or, if you are sleeping in a homestay, maybe more traditional local food. Lunch and dinner will also be cooked by yourself and your fellow volunteers so try and get creative where you can!

During your downtime, when you are not working on the project sites or trekking, you can choose to do what you like, although most volunteers opt to play card and other games together in the evening. Some use this as an opportunity to write in their journals or take some time alone or reflect on their day. If you are staying among the local people, you may have the chance to attend church services, teach English and even play a game of football with the children during your time off. Days on Raleigh are tiring and more often than not quite physically demanding so most of the time you will find yourself tucked up in your sleeping bag well before 9 pm!

The projects themselves involve a lot of manual labor such as digging trenches, mixing and laying concrete and occasionally carrying heavy loads but guidance is provided throughout and Raleigh works closely with the local people and cooperatives to ensure that everyone is supported and knows what they are doing.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear before going away on the expedition was that I would feel really alone and homesick and wouldn’t make any friends. Once I arrived, however, I quickly realized that everyone else shared my fears and we were all in the same boat, and from that point onwards, my worries disappeared.

Nobody knew me beforehand; therefore, no one had any preconceptions about who I was and I was free to be myself without people judging me for the shy, somewhat guarded girl I was at school. This helped my self-confidence immensely because I was able to see that I could make friends easily and I did have a good sense of humor or I was likable (which I had never fully believed when I was growing up).

Because of Raleigh International, I am so much more confident in myself now and whenever I travel now, one of the last things I worry about is whether I will make friends because I know that I most likely will.

Any last thoughts?

A Raleigh expedition is a challenge and most volunteers are tested mentally, physically and emotionally at some point during their time away. However, my expedition was undoubtedly the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

I will never be able to shake the pure unadulterated joy and excitement I felt when I turned on the taps outside of our host family’s house (following the construction of a gravity-fed water system) and was told that it was something that they had waited their entire lives for, something they considered to be a dream come true. Raleigh expeditions not only have a lasting impact on those who volunteer: they also have a lasting and established impact on the communities involved in them and that is what I love the most about this charity.

My expedition was over 5 years ago now, but I still speak at information events for prospective volunteers in London because I still remain so passionate about what they do and the experiences they offer through their programs. It’s safe to say Raleigh International was and still remains a big part of my journey!

Location

Location:
San José
Currency:
Costa Rican Colón
Weather:
Jan-Mar
79 F / 57 F
Apr-Jun
81 F / 63 F
Jul-Sep
88 F / 73 F
Oct-Dec
86 F / 73 F

Costa Rica is known for its Pura Vida lifestyle and San José is a great place to get familiar with the lifestyle. One of the best ways to discover San José is through the arts; whether you like theatre, dance, or music, this is the quickest way to the heart of Costa Rica.

About Raleigh International

Raleigh International run life-enhancing journeys and transformational experiences for young people through international volunteering Expeditions to Costa Rica & South Africa. At the heart of Raleigh is empowering & equipping young people to create positive change in the world. So far we have supported more than 55,000 young people from over 100...

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