Location
  • Costa Rica
Length
1 - 4 weeks
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Dormitory Hotel Lodge Tent
Language
English
Age Min.
12
Age Max
21

Pricing

Price Details
Costs vary depending on program. Between $ 1,195 and $1,895 per week, plus international airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica. Students traveling from the United States will travel on our escorted group flight from the United States, international participants can choose to take our group flight from the USA or arrange their own airfare.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare
Jan 11, 2024
Jan 02, 2020
83 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Since opening Costa Rica operations in 2003, Rustic has expanded to include the most spectacular regions of this Central American paradise. From the Pacific to the Caribbean, from rainforests to rivers, from service to adventure, our programs here encompass the breadth of what Costa Rica has to offer. Our team of talented local staff members challenge veteran travelers with new experiences and introduce more novice adventurers to the joys of travel.

With our large staff of local Ticos, you’ll quickly feel at home in Costa Rica and easily slip into the lifestyle of pura vida, a phrase meaning “pure life.” Embrace the idea of living life to the fullest as you learn to relax, appreciate nature, and experience everything Costa Rica has to offer.

Video and Photos

Popular Programs

Surf and Service

Learn to surf or take your skills to the next level during this one-week program. Live at our base house and soak in the laid-back culture of beach town life. When you’re not surfing, work on infrastructure projects supporting the communities around Playa Grande. You’ll also have the chance to go on a private catamaran and go whitewater rafting!

Turtle Conservation Project

This program is designed especially for students who are passionate about turtle conservation and want to embrace the authentic and rustic park ranger lifestyle! Live at an actual park ranger station, take cold showers, and work alongside the rangers to protect this incredible species. Take walks along the beach at high tide to track sea turtle behavior. When not working hard, zip line, surf, and enjoy the beautiful beach views and sunsets.

Sea Kayaking

Surf the hidden breaks and enjoy the secluded beaches of Dominical. Set off on a three-day sea kayaking expedition through the Golfo Dulce in the Osa Peninsula. At night, camp on the beach and enjoy dinner next to a bonfire as you exchange stories about the day’s adventures. Venture into Corcovado National Park, keeping an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and scarlet macaws. Participate in a variety of infrastructure service projects to support the communities you visit.

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating
based on 113 reviews
  • 5 rating 93.81%
  • 4 rating 5.31%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0.88%
  • Impact 4.85
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.8
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 5
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 4
  • Safety 5
Showing 97 - 104 of 113 reviews
Default avatar
costarica13
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volcano Service Base

I went to Costa Rica for the this summer and it was amazing! The volcano trip is a little more than half community service and half adventure. There is a bit of driving to the adventure activities but the zip-lining and rafting were worth it! I had a medium sized group and we all got really close over the course of the trip! The leaders are amazing and I wish there were more activities we could all do together. The service projects can get pretty strenuous especially with the humidity but it was very rewarding.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish I could have seen the impact of my service more clearly.
33 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Larissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience!

I went on two programs with Rustic this summer- Sarapiqui and BriBri and they were both great! I had so much fun and really made some great friends. Everything was really organized and we were always busy doing community service or fun activities such as white water rafting or zip-lining. The staff was also very helpful and they became really close with the students over the week. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who loves to travel.

What would you improve about this program?
The only complaint I have is that some of the community service projects were pointless and did not help the locals such as hauling rocks up a mountain that were just put on the ground.
34 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Carlotta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best summer of my life

We helped the local community in the morning by helping build a house, collecting rubbish and creating garbage cans with recycled water bottles; in the afternoon, we learned how to surf. Special activities such as rafting, repelling, yoga lessons and boat trips were organized, to make us have even more fun. After two weeks of staying in Costa Rica in the Service and Surf program, I spent the last day crying because I wanted to stay there forever. I had never had so much fun, I made great friends as well as helping others and learning how to surf. The house we stayed in felt so much like home, the food was wonderful, the counsellors were always there when you needed any kind of help. It was one of the best experiences in my whole life.

What would you improve about this program?
Most of the service work had to do with the local community: English lessons and building houses. I would have preferred having all the service have something to do with helping the people. As much as painting signs for the national park and collecting garbage is helpful, you can't really see all the difference you're making.
31 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
KylieW
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TURTLES!!

I had an amazing time on my trip! Everything was very well organized from the very first day. We stay at a very rustic " tree house on the ground" on the western coast. Each nigh we would search the shores for eggs and turtles and during the day we would dig in the hatcheries and pull weeds. In free time we could play games, rest in hammocks, or go " extreme wading" (which was really swimming but there is a strong riptide so we weren't actually allowed to swim) I had an amazing time and so did the rest of my group. I would recommend this for first timers and returning Rustic members

What would you improve about this program?
There isn't really a chance to get all the items you may need ( i'm talking to female members here) so stock up before you come or suffer the uncomfortable consequences
30 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Taram
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Heart of the Jungle

This trip was a lot of fun. The first 2 days of the trip, I hated it because i didn't know anyone and the service work was pretty annoying but then i realized that its good to give back to people and we started touring costa rica. its a beautiful country and the people are super friendly and laid back. my councellors were super nice

33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Halle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Surf and Service

The Surf and Service experience is the best of both worlds. Spend your mornings surfing and afternoons providing service to the local community. If your looking for a way to gain service hours while still having lots of fun and adventure this program is for you.

33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Anna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best week of my life

This trip was fantastic, it was a great way to practice some spanish, and experience a whole new world. I really enjoyed it, and everything was great. Accommodations, surfing, food, zip-lining, just amazing. Honestly, this was the best week of my life, I was able to spend it with some really amazing people, who I am still in contact with!

35 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lilpuglet
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life under a volcano

Was incredible. I learned so much about sustainable living while staying at the ecobase by Arenal. The food was incredible and I met lifelong friends on this trip. The hot springs in town were also amazing!

What would you improve about this program?
I would have stayed longer in Costa Rica to travel around a bit more. The program remained on base most of the time which had a certain kind of beauty to it. We were able to get comfortable and get to know each other, but it left me craving more of Costa Rica.
32 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi there Cesca, I would recommend checking out our blog channel all about prepping for your program. It won't be specific to Summer Camp Leadership, but might help. (Link below.) I would also check out our student lead Facebook group – Rustic Pathways Travelers 2018. Hopefully that helps, but please feel free to reach out to us at hello@rusticpathways.com if you have any additional questions...

Basically, Rustic Pathways has a program called group travel, and you can choose which country you want to go. For the Costa Rica group travel programs, the prices range between $1945 and $2355.