Costa Rica Summer Service Program for Teens | Bri Bri Caribbean Service Project

The winding dirt road leads you across small creeks and through endless fields of banana and plantain trees to the spectacular slopes of the Talamanca mountain range. The journey through these ancient mountains brings you to a Bribrí village where a new cultural experience awaits you.

Bribrí Immersion
The Bribrí people belong to one of Costa Rica’s largest indigenous groups and have lived in the mountains and valleys
of Talamanca for hundreds of years. They have held onto their traditional beliefs and customs while integrating into mainstream Costa Rican society. Talamanca is Costa Rica’s poorest region, and yet it possesses some of the richest biodiversity and tropical forest ecosystems in the country. This program will take you straight into the heart of the Talamanca countryside to a Bribrí village where you will gain insight into this fascinating and little-known indigenous way of life.

A Diverse Caribbean Experience
Immerse yourself in the rural way of life of this small Costa Rican community. In addition to learning about the culture of the Bribrí people, you will play an active role in much-needed development projects with the local schools and other
community organizations. You might help the town repair the health clinic or work on a recycling project to help beautify the village. Pick up a few Bribrí phrases while you teach English to children at the local elementary school, or play a fun game of soccer with the village team. After a hard day of service work, you can spend your free time hiking to nearby waterfalls or cooling off with a refreshing swim in the nearby river. At the end of the day, you’ll head back home just in time to enjoy a hearty Costa Rican meal prepared by a local women’s group.

When the week has come to an end, take a well-deserved break and check out a different side of the Caribbean. Cahuita and Puerto Viejo are relaxed beach towns with a reggae vibe where you can chill out on white sand beaches, hike through a coastal national park, or go shopping for local crafts and souvenirs for your friends and family back home. Join us for this excellent mix of Servicio comunitario, exploration, and indigenous culture in the heart of Talamanca.
Who Should Come?
If you want to get to know one of Costa Rica’s indigenous communities first hand and give back through meaningful
service, then this is the program for you. You should come with an open mind and a positive attitude and be prepared to work hard on rewarding service projects.

For more information please email costarica@rusticpathways.com.

Day 1 (Tuesday)
Depart United States for San Jose, Costa Rica
Upon arrival at the San Jose airport you will be greeted by Rustic Pathways Staff and taken to the base hotel. Spend the evening meeting other students on the trip and enjoying Costa Rica!

Day 2 (Wednesday)
Suretka, near the town of Bribrí in the South Eastern region of Costa Rica
Depart from the base bright and early on a 5 to 6 hour bus ride down to the small town of Suretka in the province of Limon. Have lunch on the way, sampling some of the regions exquisite Caribbean dishes and arrive in the afternoon at the base. After settling into the house and the village, your group will get a chance to get to know your guides and each other by playing teambuilding games in the green surroundings of their new home. You will then eat dinner at the base and recover from the long day with a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 (Thursday)
Service and fun with the Bribrí people
After a fairly early wake up and breakfast, the group will head out to the Servicio comunitario project locations and begin work with local villagers until lunch time. Projects may include teaching English and assisting in small scale construction work. After lunch, continue working on the different projects, making new friends with children and youth of the community. In the evening, meet with the local teachers to learn vocabulary from the Bribrí language and gain a unique insight into the indigenous culture. After dinner, the group will have some down time to enjoy and relax in the beauty and warmth of the Bribrícommunity.

Day 4 (Friday)
Sun and Sand
Enjoy a day dedicated to total relaxation on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. Soon after breakfast, the group will take a short drive to the beach for a full day of sun and sand. Once on the beach, you will have opportunities to snorkel, play in the sand or stroll through souvenir shops at their funky beachside locations.

Day 5 (Saturday)
Back to work
Wake up for to another day of satisfying service and fun at the Bribrí village. In the morning, work on a recycling project with the local children or help refurnish the community health clinic. In the late afternoon, take a short hike to a hidden waterfall and cool off from all your hard work in the refreshing pool underneath the falls. Return to the base for a delicious dinner and evening activities with the group.

Day 6 (Sunday)
Waves of the Caribbean
Enjoy your Sunday experiencing the white sand and palm trees of the beaches of Puerto Viejo. In the morning, participate in an optional surfing lesson with some of the most experienced surf instructors of the region. In the afternoon, enjoy the white sand and palm lined beaches before heading back to the Bribrí village for a delicious Sunday dinner.

Day 7 (Monday)
One last day of service
Wake up for one last day of service and fun at the Bribrí village. Spend the morning finishing service projects and enjoying the community that has been your home for the last week. In the evening, participate in a traditional closing ceremony and a formal dinner with Bribrí friends and community leaders.

Day 8 (Tuesday)
Heading back to San Jose
Wake up bright and early to enjoy the last breakfast at the base house. After packing up and saying goodbye to Suretka and its wonderful people, you will head back to San Jose to have one last group dinner together before returning to the base hotel and getting a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s day of travel.

Day 9 (Wednesday)
Homeward bound or off to new adventures
If you are heading home, you must say your last goodbyes to your new friends and head off to the airport bright and early in the morning. If you are heading off on another Rustic Pathways adventure in Central America, get ready!

***PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary above is not set in stone and may be changed by the staff running this program as they see fit. It is designed to give you a good idea of the day to day schedule and activities that the students will be participating in.***

1 - How long is the flight to this country?
1A – Direct flight from Newark to San Jose takes approximately 5.5 hours.
Direct flight from Houston to San Jose takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

2 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
2A – Yes. All flights between Costa Rica and the USA will have a flight leader starting in both Newark and Houston. Return flights to the USA will also have a flight leader as far as Newark and Houston. Flights from Costa Rica to Peru and Mexico will not be escorted.

3 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
3A – Students from the United States and Canada will be automatically issued a 90 day tourist visa upon entry into Costa Rica.

4 – What Costa Rican province(s) does this program pass through?
4A- During the Bribri Caribbean Service Project students will briefly pass through provinces of Heredia and Alajuela during their travel to the Bribri village. The majority of their time will be spent in the province of Limon, where the village is located.

5 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
5A – Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above). You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information. Yellow fever vaccinations may be required to enter Costa Rica if you have traveled to some international destinations including Peru prior to your trip to Costa Rica. Please check the Center for Disease control website for more information.

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
6A – On Tuesday afternoon students will depart from the Bribri Village for San Jose. They will have a final dinner with their group en route then sleep in a hostel rented out for Rustic Pathways students in Heredia. Wednesday morning students will meet with their new group and go off on their new program.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
7A—The drive from San Jose to the Bribri village is approximately 6 to 6 hours depending on weather and other driving conditions.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A—The Bribri program takes place in the Caribbean, a very green, tropical area of the country. Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s during the day with occasional rain showers.

9 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
9A—The Bribri Caribbean Program does not include formal Spanish language instruction; however students will have multiple opportunities to practice Spanish with people from the village. Children at the local schools are especially eager to help Rustic Pathways students with their conversational Spanish. Students may also have the opportunity to learn vocabulary from the Bribri indigenous language.

10- What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
10A- Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. In the Bribri villEdad, Students will work on small scale construction projects that will help improve community and school infrastructure. Students will also facilitate educational and cultural projects with local children and youth. During the first two weeks of Julio, Costa Rican school children are on vacation, so students should expect to work with students in more informal environments.

11 – How physically strenuous is this program?
11A- The Bribri program is appropriate for most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for light physical activity including short hikes and some manual labor during the service projects.

12- What costs are not included on this trip?
12A—The majority of costs associated with the program are included on this trip. Students should have extra allowance money if they wish to buy souvenirs of their stay in the Bribri village as they will have opportunities to buy artwork and handicrafts from local artisans. Students should also bring extra money if they wish to purchase additional snacks or soda from the grocery store. During their day-trips to the Caribbean beach town of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, students may also choose to participate in optional activities that are not included in the trip costs.

13 – What are the optional activities available at an additional cost on this program?
13A-Optional activities may include but are not limited to a snorkeling trip in Cahuita ($40) and surf lessons in PuertoViejo ($40). Please note that these optional activities are subject to change. Occasionally Rustic Pathways staff identify new opportunities throughout the summer that we feel will enhance the students overall experience. Optional activities may also be canceled.

14 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
14A—Students will be eating traditional Costa Rican food prepared by local women’s groups that provide catering services. Breakfast may include gallo pinto (a mix of rice and beans) with eggs and bread. Lunch and dinner will be the traditional “casados” which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish. Students will also experience specialty dishes from the Caribbean which are known for their distinctive coconut and curry flavors.

15 - Can we cater to specific diets?
15A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. There will be ample access to fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and grains for those who are vegetarian. Vegan diets can be accommodated, but with a little more foresight and planning as this is not a diet commonly encountered in Costa Rica. Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met. Please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.

16 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
16A—Water in Costa Rica is generally potable, so students should feel comfortable drinking tap water unless otherwise advised. Bottled water is available for purchase at local supermarkets and grocery stores.

17 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
17A—During their time at the Bribri village, students will stay at a lodge that is located within walking distance of the town center. Between four to six students will sleep on bunk beds in each of the large rooms. Boys and girls will sleep in different rooms.

18. What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- The bathroom facilities are located in a separate building directly next to the students’ rooms. They have running water and American style toilets and showers; however hot water is unreliable.

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – There are typically more girls than boys however the exact numbers vary from week to week.

20- What is the ratio of guides to students?
20A- Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students. Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our program managers and a full background check.

21-Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
21A-   Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

22 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
22A—Students should pack enough clothes and personal items to last through the end of the Bribri Caribbean program. Laundry is not easily available in the Bribri village. If students are connecting to another Rustic Pathways program, they will have the opportunity to do laundry in San Jose the day before transferring to their new program.

23 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
23A-Students will have limited access to internet at internet cafes in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in Costa Rica from the guides or at local convenience stores which can be used to call home from the public phones in the village.