The Great Scavenger Hunt in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: June 30 - July 15 and July 14 - July 29

Description: The Ultimate Costa Rican Experience

The Great Costa Rican Scavenger Hunt is six years in the making. The idea has been passed down from director to director in Costa Rica, and we are finally turning this one-of-a-kind service adventure into reality. Become one of the first to join us in this great Costa Rican hunt for adrenaline-pumping adventure, creative and meaningful service, high competition, and lots of fun. This is the ultimate Costa Rican experience.

An Adventure with a Cause

The first step in the journey is determining the service project that your group will support. Youll live with a warm, welcoming family in a small rural village with major needs. Meet with the village leaders to determine the communitys priorities and then decide as a group which projects will benefit most from your support. Say farewell to the village and set out on your quest. As you travel around Costa Rica, you will take part in incredible adventures and cultural challenges. The more challenges you master, the more money youll earn for your community service project! David Venning, the owner of Rustic Pathways, has pledged to donate money to the project for each task you successfully complete. It will be up to you to rise to the challenge and earn the funds necessary to finish the project. At the end of your epic journey, youll return to the village and present the money you have earned to the local leaders. Ultimately, the community members will finish the project after you have left; your reward will be the grateful smiles on the villagers faces and enough memories to last a lifetime!

Away We Go!

Youll depart the village with a service goal planted firmly in your mind as you head towards your first challenge in the Caribbean  a rafting adventure on the world-famous Pacuare River. Then youll scour the laid-back beach towns of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo for interesting images during a photo-scavenger hunt. Afterwards, set off for a series of adventure challenges near Arenal Volcano, including zip lining, rappelling, and perhaps even hiking to a hidden crater lake in an extinct volcano. Along the journey youll stop to bungee jump from a 280-foot bridge. Each team member who takes the plunge will earn money for the project, but please be warned, its scarier than it looks when youre actually standing 280 feet above a rushing river. Then head to the golden sands of the Pacific coast for a surfing competition, a salsa dancing challenge, and a cultural presentation of Baile Folklorico. Take good notes - youll need to learn the steps to succeed in a future challenge.

Once your group completes all of its challenges, you may even be rewarded with a day off to relax on the beach or a laid-back sailing trip in the clear Pacific waters. As your journey progresses, your guides will plan surprise trips and crazy contests  expect the unexpected and prepare for the unusual!

Hunter Gatherers

As you move from one challenging adventure to the next, youll be on the hunt for a long list of objects and photos that must be gathered to earn more money for your teams chosen community service project. You might find yourself deep in the jungle photographing brilliant scarlet macaws, trading T-shirts with local soccer teams, searching for volcanic rocks, and completing a myriad of other unexpected small tasks during this fantastic loco scavenger hunt that will benefit the village.

The True Meaning of Pura Vida

Throughout your epic journey you will experience some of the best adventures Costa Rica has to offer, learn about Tico life through cultural competitions, and support a meaningful service project determined by YOU that benefits a wonderful Costa Rican community. This trip is a must for students seeking the true meaning of Pura Vida and the opportunity to participate in up to 25 unique community service hours! From adventures and service in breathtaking landscapes to crazy bus rides with incredible people, and off-the-beaten-path excursions, this will be the Costa Rican experience of a lifetime. Let the games begin!

Highlights: RACE around Costa Rica on an epic scavenger hunt adventure that will benefit a Costa Rican community in need.
        
TRAVEL from the Caribbean to the Pacific in search of bizarre items and insane photos  from dreadlocks to blue parrots to live turtles, the list will blow you away!
        
DESIGN and implement your own service project to benefit a Costa Rican community, and earn money to support the project with each successful completion of a series of fun and exciting group challenges.
        
RAPPEL, surf, swim, sea kayak, raft, bungee jump, and drive your way through Costa Rica's spectacular landscapes.
        
COMPETE as a group and in teams for daily prizes  from ice cream sundaes to a trip to Costa Rica's finest hot springs.
        
IMMERSE yourself in Tico culture through a series of unique challenges, including a salsa competition, a Gallo Pinto cook-off, a traditional Baile Folklorico presentation, an English-Spanish tutoring competition, and many more exciting cultural activities.
        

Cost in US$: 3,295

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 14 and up

This Program is open to American Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement: Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded: 1983