- Program
- Surf and Service, Costa Rica
- Traveled
- August 2026
- Hometown
- Andover, Massachusetts
In this first-person account, Isabelle Buonopane of Andover, Massachusetts, looks back on Rustic Pathways’ Surf and Service program in Costa Rica in August 2026, with photos from the trip.
Isabelle describes being nervous about meeting new people, surfing at Avellanas every day, and cleaning up trash at a nearby soccer field so local kids have a cleaner, safer place to play.
Isabelle’s Favorite Trip: Surf and Service in Costa Rica
Hi! My name is Isabelle and I went on the Costa Rica Surf and Service trip! This trip was 100% my favorite trip I’ve ever been on.
I was so nervous about meeting new people at first but I gained amazing new friends who I can’t wait to visit! From smoothie runs after surfing to the catamaran was all so so fun!
Surfing at Avellanas and Service at a Soccer Field
Surfing at Avellanas every day was so amazing. The beach is incredible and the instructors were always willing to help and were so kind!
For service, we cleaned up trash at a nearby soccer field. Although we didn’t have much time to help, knowing that kids will now have somewhere cleaner and safer to play makes the experience so meaningful.
What Isabelle Took Home From Costa Rica
Overall, I learned and gained so much more from this trip than I had going into it. Thank you to the Program Leaders, surf instructors, chefs, Clean Wave, and new friends for making this such a memorable trip!!
Pura Vida
Isabelle describes the new friends and the sense of service that came home from Costa Rica. The memories concern the August 2026 session, and Isabelle first shared them on the Rustic Pathways Instagram account on August 17, 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 with the Clean Wave Foundation. See the program page for the current itinerary, dates and activities.
