Pura Vida is our 10-day service summer adventure to the lush tropical rain forests of Costa Rica designed especially for middle school students. Our trip will find us working to protect the endangered Leatherback turtle, contributing to a rural community, and taking full advantage of the many natural wonders that Costa Rica has to offer. We'll try our hand at whitewater rafting, we'll zip line through a rain forest, and we'll visit some of Costa Rica's best beaches. Come and see for yourself the true meaning of Pura Vida! Click on Read More to learn more.

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Costa Rica is more than just a summer vacation destination, its a true adventure. From lush tropical rain forests to the rugged beauty of the coastal waters, Costa Rica offers something for everyone. We arrive in San Jose and travel to our cabins at Finca Pacuarito in the heart of a banana plantation. We take time and get to know one another and the country as we settle in, and prepare for our first hands on experience of an international service project which takes us to the land between the Caribbean Sea and the Tortuguero Canal.

We travel by boat to the Pacuare Nature Reserve. Rich in wildlife, their special mission is to protect the critically endangered Leatherback turtles which nest in large numbers along its 6 km beach. Considered one of the most important nesting sites in Central America, we spend the next three days here in a comfortable lodge overlooking the beach.

Under the supervision of a marine biologist, we patrol the beach by night. Each turtle we meet is tagged (if not already tagged), measured and examined for any special features or signs of injury. If the turtle has already laid its eggs, we try to disguise the nest from poachers. If she has still to lay, we may collect the eggs in a bag while she lays and then place them in an artificial nest which we dig nearby so that they can more easily be camouflaged from poachers.

Once we have finished our project at the Pacuare, we move to our second work site and join together with the local community and children to restore structures to their original condition and to experience life with the families of Esmerelda.

When our work is done, we head off to the exciting rapids of the Río Pacuare for a whitewater rafting adventure. We relax in waterfalls, bask on flawless beaches, and experience some of the best Class III and Class IV rapids available in the Americas.

We spend a day on the ropes in the tops of trees and hike through the rainforest alongside a creek and swim under waterfalls. We stop for lunch and visit a butterfly farm on the way back to San José, concluding our journey with a traditional feast celebrating Costa Rica’s monumental conservation efforts to protect this amazing land.

Settling In

Arrival in San José, Costa Rica; orientation; transfer to Finca Pacuarito; prepare for service projects

Our Work

3-day conservation work at Turtle Reserve; 1-day service work at rural school

Our Play

Transfer to Pacuare River for whitewater rafting; zip-line through rainforest; hike to waterfall; trek to butterfly farm

El Fin

Farewell banquet in San José, homeward bound

A Certificate of Service indicating 20-24 hours worked will be issued upon completion of the program.

A RLT leader will be accompanying the students on Pura Vida to Costa Rica on a group flight departing from Newark (EWR) Airport for each of the sessions. In addition, an RLT representative will be on hand at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to coordinate students onto flights bound for San José. Please call the office for more details: 1.800.939.9839.