- Program
- Pura Vida Service, Costa Rica
- Traveled
- June 2026
- Hometown
- Houston, Texas
In this first-person account, Lily Wilson of Houston, Texas, looks back on Rustic Pathways’ Pura Vida Service program in Costa Rica in June 2026, with photos from the trip.
Lily describes volunteering and a cultural exchange at a local school, and the immediate sense of community felt there.
Lily’s Trip to Costa Rica With Rustic Pathways
Hey, I’m Lily and I traveled to Costa Rica this summer with Rustic Pathways!
A Cultural Exchange at a Local School in Costa Rica
My favorite moment from my Costa Rica trip was getting to volunteer and have a cultural exchange at a local school. The immediate sense of community I felt was so magical and I will never forget this experience. Pura Vida!
Lily describes a cultural exchange at a local school and a sense of community. The memories concern the June 2026 session, and Lily first shared them on the Rustic Pathways Instagram account on June 28, 2026.
The program still runs as Costa Rica: Pura Vida Service. It runs 8 days for students ages 14–18 and includes about 16 hours of community service near Arenal Volcano, helping improve local schools and maintain park trails. See the program page for the current itinerary, dates and activities.
