How did you get involved with Rustic Pathways?

In 2003 I was working as manager for a white water rafting company, and then Chris Stakich and another girl, I think her name was “Kate”,  showed up to ask information about our rafting trips, I remember that we sat down and they told me that they were an American company who want to bring High School students. At that time I was working in a project with the an elementary school in the community of “Bajo del Tigre” very closed  from the Pacuare river. Thus I told them that we could do some community service on the second day of a three day rafting trip, and they told me “that is exactly the kind of trip that we are looking for”. That was the first time I found out about Rustic Pathways. In 2005 we already had a very good business relationship and Chris and I went for lunch one day and he told me that they were growing very quickly and that they wanted a full time Costa Rican staff and if I was interested in becoming part of the team.

I started working officially for Rustic Pathways on January 2nd of 2006, definitely I didn’t know what I was getting into. I was the only Costa Rican working with 5 other Americans, and I’m not going to lie, it was a cultural shock in my own country but I loved it and fell in love with the work culture and the new friends / family I chose to adopt.

Thinking about that time I don’t even know what was my job description / role, I didn’t even have a contract, one thing I know is that I was the local who can find anything and make it work. Working was not really work, it was more like hanging with friends and doing amazing things for clients, staff, and communities.

In 2008 I became the country director and it was one of the most challenging times because it was the financial crisis, but again the staff that I worked with it was the most important thing in order to get things done.

I have been asked multiple times why I have been with RP for such a long time? And the answer always is the same:

• I believe in what we do, I have seen students become program leaders and hear their stories of how much RP has impacted their lives.
• I’m grateful to have a job where I can help my country, seeing all the benefits in the different communities who have worked.
• The people I have worked with, I’m so honored to be part of an amazing team, I have learned so much with them and I 100% believe that I’m a better person due to Rustic Pathways Staff.

How do you embody Rustic Pathways’ vision and bring it to life?

Now that I’m father I can’t wait to have my kids be old enough to be able to join a RP trip, because I know the importance for teenagers to explore and experience what the real world is like with their goods and bads. We can try to teach this at home or at schools, but the reality is that traveling and experience first hand is probably the best way to create empathy and build better people for this world.

What makes Costa Rica the perfect place for international volunteering?

There are many aspects to me why Costa Rica is a great place for international volunteering. I will start with the most important one if you are traveling overseas, SAFETY. Costa Rica’s health care system is one of the best ones if not the best one in Latin America. This is due the fact that Costa Rica hasn’t had an army since 1948, so all the money that it used to be used for the army it became for the health care and education system. The health care system for under age (-18) is free in any public hospital or clinic, and there are medical facilities all around the country.

There are private hospitals in San Jose and many private clinics around the country as well.

Due to the fact that Costa Rica’s number income is tourism, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute has created a tourism police to help and protect our tourism.

Now in terms of volunteering, rural areas is usually where people come to support due to the needs there. Costa Ricans are very welcoming to foreigners and they love to get involve and show them their culture, there are also many NGOs that support rural communities in order to implement best practices to make sure money and labor are expend the right way.

I will add that the weather helps a lot Costa Rica because the average temperature is 70F to 81F. We have two seasons, rainy and dry season so there is nothing that could stop us from working and supporting communities.