Overview
Experience the breathtaking natural beauty of Costa Rica as your group joins an ongoing community project in Heredia. In addition to their project work, your students will stay with a local family, visit a local wildlife rescue center, take a dance class, and tour a coffee plantation.
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly to Costa Rica (San José)
Meet your Resident Director and travel to Heredia
Your 24-hour Resident Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Heredia city walk
Take an walking tour of Heredia; a refreshingly pleasant and relaxed Costa Rican city which is a great location for anyone looking for a truly unique Costa Rica experience. The city is emblematic of the Costa Rican lifestyle; showcasing pleasant plazas, lush green spaces and parks, and friendly people enjoying their days.
Health & safety program orientation
Participate in an orientation session covering health, safety, and program expectations.
Begin homestay
Our home for our stay will be with our homestay families in Heredia, where three meals will be provided daily. Heredia is the capital city of the Heredia Province, one of the most beautiful provinces of Costa Rica. Nestled in the foothills of the dormant Barva Volcano, Heredia is surrounded by lush green hills dotted with coffee plantations, tropical forests, and national parks. Heredia offers visitors the ideal location for exploring the region's natural beauty.
Daily reflection and group discussion
“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey. Each evening of the program, time will be set aside to update your Reflection Journal and share the thoughts and impressions that emerged during the day.
Overnight in homestay
Day 2
Begin service-learning project
Your group will engage in meaningful service-learning activities and projects, which contribute to WorldStrides' Four Community Cornerstones—Community Enrichment and Infrastructure, Education and Literacy, Environment and Conservation, and Nutrition and Health.
Pizza party dinner
Overnight in homestay
Day 3
Service-learning project continues
Doka Coffee Plantation tour
Visiting the largest coffee plantation in Costa Rica will allow you to learn everything about the process related to cultivation, processing and good practices, as well as your natural and cultural environment.
Overnight in homestay
Day 4
Service-learning project continues
Artisan open-air market visit
Spend some time in the Costa Rican artisan open-air market that sells everything from handcrafted jewelry, elaborate woodwork, and dairy products.
Costa Rican Latin dance class
Enjoy a traditional dance class conducted by professional instructors at the Universidad Latina.
Overnight in homestay
Day 5
Service-learning project continues
Zoo Ave wildlife rescue center visit
Explore Zoo Ave and marvel at the vibrant scarlet macaws, elusive owls, majestic raptors, and various species of toucans. You'll also encounter a stunning array of brilliantly colored birds from Costa Rica and beyond. Get up close with impressive iguanas, graceful deer, playful monkeys, and a formidable 12-foot crocodile. Zoo Ave is a sanctuary for animals that are injured, donated, or confiscated, providing them with a safe and caring home.
Overnight in homestay
Day 6
End homestay
Travel to Arenal
Arenal is famous for its volcano, an unavoidable presence while traveling within this part of the country. It is tall, imposing, perfectly symmetrical shape makes it instantly recognizable.
Baldi Hot Springs visit
Visit the Baldi Hot Springs and take the opportunity to submerge yourself in the natural medicinal waters. The springs include several pools of varying temperatures, all surrounded by nature.
Day 7
Canopy zipline tour
Soar through the treetops for the unmatched close-up of the New World’s best wildlife refuge. Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then step into thin air and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird-eye view from your new aerial perspective. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.
Travel to Heredia
Overnight in homestay
Day 8
End homestay
Travel to San José
Recognize perspectives and communicate ideas
Throughout the program, we will set time aside time for discussion, guided reflection, and time to write reflections on self-discovery and what we have learned. "We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience" - John Dewey
Return home
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Community-based projects
Scenes from Costa Rica
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.