Ariane finished her feedback on Costa Rica with two words: “Simply AWESOME!” She had plenty of specifics before that, so here’s how the trip unfolds, with her highlights along the way.
A trip that crosses the country
The Sea Turtle Volunteering & Adventure Tour for Teenagers is a 13-day program for ages 15 to 17. It begins with a few days of exploring inland, then moves to a coastal eco-station for the volunteering. Three weeks before departure, the group meets their local coordinator and each other online, so nobody arrives cold. Ariane called it “a very valuable experience in a foreign country and very interesting programs.”
Night walks, a river float and tortillas
The first days are all about exploring. The group goes on a guided night tour to spot frogs and other nocturnal wildlife, has dinner with a local family, floats down a river with a chance of seeing monkeys, sloths and birds, and takes a tortilla-making class followed by a home-cooked lunch. Ariane noticed how smoothly it all ran:
“The program was very well organized, with great excursions (night excursion, boat trip).”
And the hands-on parts stuck with her too: “We also learned the art of making tortillas. We explored the wildlife.”
Then the turtles
After the excursions, the group settles into the coastal eco-station for the volunteering. Days revolve around sea turtle conservation, with beach patrols, nest monitoring and, when the season allows, hatchling releases. In between there’s reforestation, permaculture, environmental education and community projects. Evenings are for free time and group reflection, plus guided night patrols during nesting season. Coordinators and leaders are on site throughout.
The people
Two weeks of shared meals, shared dorms and shared early mornings will do that to a group. Ariane put it this way:
“I made some really good friends, and I feel like these connections will last a long time.”
Was it worth it?
Her answer was short and easy to read:
“An experience for life! With amazing people from all over the world.”
For parents
The program is designed specifically for teens, with a higher level of supervision throughout. A local group leader stays with the group, families get real-time updates and photos over WhatsApp from the on-site coordinator, and participants have access to GoEco’s 24/7 emergency hotline.
If your teen is curious about Costa Rica, sea turtles, or a first big trip abroad, get in touch with the GoEco team and we’ll help you find the right fit.
