- Program
- Pura Vida Service, Costa Rica
- Traveled
- July 2026
- Hometown
- Chicago, Illinois
In this first-person account, Elsa Conrad of Chicago, Illinois, looks back on Rustic Pathways’ Pura Vida Service program in Costa Rica in July 2026, with photos from the trip.
Elsa describes helping kids at a local school, working on pathways at a National Park, and a Sunday Funday of zip lining, shopping and a farm-to-table dinner.
Elsa’s Pura Vida Trip: Service at a School and a National Park
Hi! My name’s Elsa and I recently went on the Pura Vida trip in Costa Rica! I had the best time ever being able to meet new people who lived there and spending time helping kids at a local school along with working on pathways at a National Park.
One of my favorite days was Sunday Funday when we all went zip lining and shopping downtown, and finished off at a farm for a farm to table dinner.
Hugs at the Local School, and a New Perspective
I was so happy being able to hug all the kids at the local school and just seeing their faces light up. I feel so grateful for the things I have at home that I used to take for granted, seeing that there’s so many people who don’t have the luxuries I do.
I want to continue doing service work and volunteering at home so I can leave an impact and better my community.
What Elsa Took Home From Costa Rica
Going into my trip I was so scared I wouldn’t meet anybody, and leaving I made the best connections that I hope are lifelong friends, I’m so grateful for this experience and the friends I made. Pura Vida!!
Elsa describes coming home grateful and wanting to keep volunteering. The memories concern the July 2026 session, and Elsa first shared them on the Rustic Pathways Instagram account on August 4, 2026.
The program still runs as Costa Rica: Pura Vida Service. It runs 8 days for students ages 14–18 from a base house in La Fortuna and includes about 16 hours of community service near Arenal Volcano, improving a local school and maintaining park trails, with ziplining and whitewater rafting. See the program page for the current itinerary, dates and activities.
