Costa Rica Team Challenge

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
La Fortuna

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: This is a great opportunity for anyone who would like to make a positive impact on the local community or environment whilst sharing an incredible experience with a group of friends or colleagues. We can offer 2 different challenges, 1 is focused on the re-generation of local schools and community centres, the other is a conservation programme developing and maintaining trails through an area of outstanding natural beauty. Each of the experiences allow you to really stretch yourself whilst enjoying the stunning locations and famous friendliness of the Costa Rican people.

If you are keen to work with a group of friends and really challenge yourselves please give us a call. We can run challenges for a minimum of 5 people and can promise you an incredible experience in a stunning location!

*Challenge 1: Re-generation of a local school near the Arenal Volcano

Based in a school close to the beautiful town of La Fortuna very close the Arenal volcano (amazing sights and the opportunity to see the glow of the volcano in the evening!), you'll have all your skills tested as you race against the clock to complete the re-generation of a small school to provide a bright and clean study area for local children. Activities will be varied and to a large extent determined by you and the group - the outcome however, is defined: putting a smile back on the faces of the children and giving them a great environment for their learning.

Note: all materials required for the challenge are funded through the fee you pay to participate in the project

Day 1: Arrival day
Arrive at San Jose (SJO) airport. Airport transfer to hostel accommodation in Alajuela

Day 2: Orientation
Orientation - introducing you to what you will be doing, the project and life in Costa Rica
Transfer to La Fortuna where you will be staying. Check in to your Guest House accommodation and initial visit to the project site

Day 3-6: Project Activities
Work at the project: activities may include painting, cement work, wood work, infrastructure maintenance, cleaning, decorating, and digging!

Day 7-8: Weekend Excursion
Including:
* Forest canopy tour - giving a fantastic insight into the beautiful flaura and fauna of Costa Rica
* Transport
* Overnight hostel accommodation
* Opportunity to relax (resting your limbs from the hard work of week 1!) and explore the area

Day 9-13: Project Activities
Back to the challenge to make sure you can get all completed by the end of Day 13!

Day 14: Return to Alajuela
Farewell meal and overnight accommodation

Day 15: Departure Day
Return transfer to the airport to catch your flight home (and time for a good sleep!)

Accommodation:

This challenge uses a small Guest House in the picturesque town of La Fortuna as it's base. With shared rooms of up to 6 people the Guest House is clean but simple providing an ideal base to rest and recuperate after each days work. The town of La Fortuna itself is full of great restaurants and bars and there is no end of activities to keep you occupied in the evenings - if you've got the energy!

OR

*Challenge 2 : Repairing and maintaining forest trails near the Tenorio volcano

Staying in a local rural lodge you'll be working with the challenge team to ensure that the forest trails are maintained and in good order to allow not only visitors but also the local community to benefit from the natural beauty on their doorstep. This is important not only in terms of enjoyment and learning but also the on-going education of the wider community of the possibilities inherent in the forest -rather than cutting trees down for agricultural land!

Note: all materials required for the challenge are funded through the fee you pay to participate in the project

Day 1: Arrival day
Arrive at San Jose (SJO) airport. Airport transfer to hostel accommodation in Alajuela

Day 2: Orientation
* Orientation - introducing you to what you will be doing, the project and life in Costa Rica
* Transfer to the project site
* Check in to your accommodation

Day 3-6: Project Activities
Work at the project: activities may include path maintenance, construction, digging and sign making!

Day 7-8: Weekend Excursion
Including:
* Forest canopy tour - giving a fantastic insight into the beautiful flaura and fauna of Costa Rica
* Transport
* Overnight hostel accommodation
* Opportunity to relax (resting your limbs from the hard work of week 1!) and explore the area

Day 9-13: Project Activities
Back to the challenge to make sure you can get all completed by the end of Day 13!

Day 14: Return to Alajuela
Farewell meal and overnight accommodation

Day 15: Departure Day
Return transfer to the airport to catch your flight home (and time for a good sleep!)

Accommodation:

For this challenge you'll be staying in a small lodge in dorm style rooms. The lodge is basic but clean and a great base to enable you to get the most out of your challenge.

NOTE: Minimum numbers apply to the challenges - please call our travel team for further information

Highlights:
* Experience the 'Pura Vida' of Costa Rica whilst making a positive impact on the community
* Understanding Costa Rica from the inside - a real travel experience
* Getting to know and make friends in the local community

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need:

Although we don't make Spanish language skills a requirement, in order to get as much out of your time in Costa Rica as possible and to contribute as much as possible to the challenge you should do your best to learn as much Spanish as possible before your trip- and at the very least take a Spanish phrase book with you!

You should be in reasonable physical shape as you will be getting involved in building and physical work and you must be willing to be 'hands on', willing to get dirty (!) and to get involved in whatever is required. All the challenges will be based outdoors for a great deal of the time so be warned - Costa Rica receives a lot of rain throughout the year and can be very hot (in between the rain!)

Cost in US$: USD 2195.00 for 2 weeks

* Accommodation: Shared accommodation in dorm, 4 to 6 people per room
* Food: Three meals a day
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 50,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 400 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994