- Program
- Surf and Service, Costa Rica
- Traveled
- June 2026
- Hometown
- Helsinki, Finland
In this first-person account, Alina Rak of Helsinki, Finland, looks back on Rustic Pathways’ Surf and Service program in Costa Rica in June 2026, with photos from the trip.
Alina describes a first time traveling so far from home alone, finding out how hard the bigger waves were, and a group that became like a family.
Alina’s First Trip Alone, From Finland to Costa Rica
Hi, my name is Alina, I’m from Finland, and I participated in the Costa Rica Surf & Serve camp this summer. It was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.
I’ll be honest, I struggled a little in the beginning. It was my first time traveling so far from home alone, being away from my family and friends, speaking another language and experiencing a completely new culture and climate. But everyone was so kind and welcoming, and I quickly made friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
Learning to Surf on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast
I learned an incredible amount in such a short time, both about myself and about many other things. Surfing was so much fun! At first, I thought it would be quite easy, but as soon as we went out into the bigger waves, I realised how difficult it actually was. It was amazing to see how quickly everyone improved and became really good at surfing.
Throughout the trip, our whole group grew together and we became like a family.
What Alina Took Home From Surf and Service
I also want to give a special shoutout to the program leaders, who took such great care of us throughout the whole trip. They made me feel safe, welcomed and at home. I’m really grateful for all the support, encouragement and kindness they showed us.
I’m so grateful for this experience, for all the wonderful people I met, and for the beautiful memories I’m taking with me.
Alina describes the friendships and memories that came home to Finland. The memories concern the June 2026 session, and Alina first shared them on the Rustic Pathways Instagram account on September 2, 2026.
The program still runs as Costa Rica: Surf and Service. It runs 8 days for students ages 14–18, with five days of surf lessons in Nosara, Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast and about 12 hours of beach and community service. See the program page for the current itinerary, dates and activities.
