At Rustic Pathways, we believe a safe, comfortable home base is essential to any meaningful student travel experience. This page provides detailed information about the accommodations our students stay in during service and adventure programs across the globe. From eco-lodges in Fiji to mountain bases in the Dominican Republic, each location is designed to support cultural immersion, student safety, and daily comfort. What is a “Base House”? A Rustic Pathways base house is the main accommodation where students stay during a program. Depending on the destination, this could be a hotel, guesthouse, lodge, or private villa. The term “base house” refers to the place that serves as home during the trip, where students sleep, eat meals, and become best friends. Parents, educators, and students can explore the housing, amenities, safety features, and service context of each base house. We aim for full transparency so you feel confident and informed before joining one of our programs. Note for Parents: The photos and descriptions on this page show examples of accommodations we have used in the past. They are intended to give you a clear idea of the typical standards, style, and comfort level of the places where students stay during our programs. While your child’s actual accommodation may differ from what is pictured, it will meet the same Rustic Pathways standards for safety, cleanliness, and student comfort. Note for Educators: When Rustic Pathways partners with schools for group travel programs, we work directly with educators to select accommodations that meet each school’s needs and preferences. Options may vary by destination and program type, but all base houses meet our safety, cleanliness, and comfort standards. See The Most FAQs About Accommodations
General Accommodation Information Safety & Supervision Rustic Pathways staff supervise students 24/7. Student-to-leader ratio averages 5:1–7:1 (Rustic Pathways promises 7:1 but delivers a verified 4.37:1 student-to-leader ratio). Staff live on-site for the entire program. All staff are certified in CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Responder. Nearest hospitals and clinics are pre-identified for each base house. Accommodations are locked at night, and staff remain on property at all times. Learn more about our safety standards → Rooming Students share rooms with other Rustic Pathways participants. In homestay programs, students stay with local host families. Rooms are always gender-separated unless noted otherwise for a homestay. Health & Hygiene Rooms and linens are cleaned before arrival and after departure. Bathrooms and common spaces are maintained regularly during the program. Pest control is standard at all base houses. Laundry Laundry access and costs vary by country and base house. Check your specific program page or contact us for details. Wi‑Fi & Communication Wi‑Fi availability varies by location. Check your program page or contact us for the most accurate connectivity information. Quick Navigation: Student Accommodations by Country 🇨🇷 Accommodations in Costa Rica 🇩🇴 Accommodations in the Dominican Republic 🇫🇯 Accommodations in Fiji 🇹🇭 Accommodations in Thailand 🇺🇸 Accommodations in the United States 🇧🇿 Accommodations in Belize 🇯🇵 Accommodations in Japan 🇬🇷 Accommodations in Greece 🇰🇷 Accommodations in South Korea 🇮🇹 Accommodations in Italy 🇪🇨 Accommodations in Ecuador Base Houses in Costa Rica Student Travel Programs in Costa Rica: Pura Vida Service Surf and Service Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Conservation Project (17 and older) Volcano and Rainforest Base La Fortuna, Costa Rica Beds: Bunk beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Surf and Service Base Playa Grande, Costa Rica Beds: Bunk beds Showers: Freshwater (cold) Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Base Houses in the Dominican Republic Student Travel Programs in the Dominican Republic: Beachside Service Marine Life and Coastal Restoration Mountain Air Service Base Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic Beds: Bunk beds Showers: Hot water is available, though temperature may occasionally vary based on local infrastructure. Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Base Houses in Fiji Student Travel Programs in Fiji: Sun, Sand, and Island Service Eco-Lodge Service Base Momi Bay, Fiji Beds: Bunk beds Showers: Hot, solar-powered Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Highlands Service Base Nausori Highlands, Fiji Beds: Sleeping mats with mosquito nets Showers: Cold Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Islands Service Base Somosomo Village, Fiji Beds: Cots with sleeping bags Showers: Cold Toilets: Self-composting outhouse Air Conditioning: No Base Houses in Thailand Student Travel Programs in Thailand: Thailand Adventurer Thai Elephant Conservation Project Come With Nothing Lanna Highlands Service Base Chiang Dao, Thailand Beds: Mattresses with mosquito nets Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Rural Isan Service Base Udon Thani, Thailand Beds: Single beds or bunk beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes Base Houses in the United States Student Travel Programs in the United States: Rebuilding New Orleans New Orleans Service Base Louisiana, United States Beds: Bunk beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes Base Houses in Belize Student Travel Programs in Belize: Caribbean Reefs & Mayan Culture Caye Caulker Beds: Bunk beds or double occupancy room Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes T.R.E.E.S Beds: Wooden bunk house Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet. Detached from the cabin. Air Conditioning: Fans help ventilate and keep the temperature down Base House in Japan Student Travel Programs in Japan: Tokyo Fusion Tokyo Fusion Service Base Tokyo, Japan Beds: Single beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes Base Houses in Greece Student Travel Programs in Greece: Island Turtle Conservation Italy & Greece: Cultural Immersion and Turtles Greece Service Base Kefalonia, Greece Beds: Single beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes Base House in South Korea Student Travel Programs in South Korea: Seoul Searching South Korea Naru Guesthouse Seoul, South Korea Beds: Single beds or bunk beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: Yes Base House in Italy Student Travel Programs in Italy: Tuscan Trails and Roman Wonders Northern Italy Adventure Italy Service Base Beds: Single beds Showers: Hot Toilets: Modern seated toilet Air Conditioning: No Base Houses in Ecuador Student Travel Programs in Ecuador: Wild Galápagos Eco-Service Teen Travel Accommodations During the Program The Wild Galápagos Eco-Service Teen Travel program includes several types of accommodations: Hotel in Quito (2 nights): Peaceful ranch-style hotel in a quiet village near the airport. Gender-separated rooms with hot-water bathrooms. Homestay in Yunguilla (2 nights): Stay with local families in the rural Andean community of Yunguilla. 2–3 students per home, cozy and welcoming. Hotel on Santa Cruz Island (2 nights): Comfortable hotel with beautiful views in the heart of Galápagos. Eco-Lodge Stay on Isabela Island (1 night): Glamping in a volcanic landscape with the chance to see giant tortoises. Beachside Hotel on Isabela Island (2 nights): Laid-back hotel just minutes from the beach, shared rooms for 2–3 students. Interested in staying at a Rustic Pathways base house during an immersive spring break or summer travel program? Click below to explore all Rustic student travel programs. Explore Rustic Pathways Student Travel Programs
Next Steps for Parents and Educators For more on supervision, health, and emergency protocols, see our Health & Safety page. For program schedules, housing, and meal details, visit your specific student program page. If you are an educator planning group travel, you can customize your trip here.