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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Outdoor adventures across Puerto Rico
Explore beautiful Puerto Rico while exploring its many outdoor adventures. You’ll get a glimpse into the time of the Spanish Empire as you stroll through Old San Juan. At El Yunque, the only tropical forest in the US National Forest System, hike through the lush canopy and swim in crystal clear waters. Kayak in the world famous Bio Bay and see the glowing plankton up close.
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¡Bienvenidos a la Isla del Encanto! Arrive into San Juan Airport where Rustic Pathways staff will meet you and escort you to your lodging to check-in. Get to know your group and we will have an introduction to Puerto Rico, its history, its culture, and it’s complicated relationship with the United States.
You’ll spend the next 2 nights in shared rooms in a comfy hotel in San Juan.
Spend the day exploring old San Juan in all its colonial charm. Learn about the history of the city, check out its plazas, and enjoy the laid back nature of this Caribbean city. Mid-afternoon head over for your first taste of the Caribbean and enjoy an afternoon on the beach.
Take in the beauty of the lush forests and breathtaking views while we transfer from San Juan into the mountainous center region. We’ll stop off to visit both fincas where we’ll do hands-on learning this week. You’ll get to know the team at each finca and learn about how they are creating sustainable farming opportunities in Puerto Rico.
Settle into your new shared rooms in a comfy hotel in Jayuya for the next 3 nights.
After breakfast, we visit the longest zipline in the Americas – as long as 28 football fields! Fly through the forest canopy on multiple ziplines and keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife from this unique perspective. Enjoy time in the afternoon to explore Jayuya or just hang out by the pool and relax.
We spend the next two mornings working with our partners at fincas introducing unique and sustainable farming techniques to Puerto Rico. We’ll harvest and process breadfruit, and learn about its many uses. In the afternoons, we’ll relax by the pool or visit the Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Cagüana, one of the most important Taíno archaeological sites in the Antilles. Here you will learn about the indigenous culture, explore ancient plazas, petroglyphs and tools made by the Taínos in this 800-year-old site.
Today’s adventure sees us hiking into the rainforest to visit a beautiful waterfall swimming hole. You can try out the natural rock slides and enjoy the refreshing river. Then in the afternoon we head to the beach to take kayaks out into Puerto Rico’s famous Bioluminescent Bay. This mangrove-circled bay is one of the world’s best places to experience the bioluminescent plankton that give this place it’s name.
We’ll get back to our new shared rooms in Fajardo after this packed day.
After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to this Island paradise and head to the airport to fly home. We hope you enjoyed your stay in Puerto Rico!
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Consider no checked bag. We strongly recommend that you consider packing only a carry-on size bag. This prevents your luggage getting lost or separated from you, keeps your bag manageable, and helps you be more mobile on your travel day. Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for daily activities and outings.
A 40-50 liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothes
Toiletries
(travel sized in ziplock bags)
Students will stay in same-gender shared rooms in San Juan and Loquillo. There will be 2-4 students per room. Bathrooms have toilets and showers.
Students will spend two nights camping at a developed site. Large, shared tents and bedding will be provided. Shared restrooms will be readily available.
This program involves service, sports, and adventure activities that require students to be physically active.
Students will be eating traditional food prepared by a combination of local cooks and restaurants. Breakfast may include toast with eggs, fruits, and cereal. Lunch and dinner will be typical dishes, which consist of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish or veggie dishes.
Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – We can easily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other common dietary requirements on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!
Water from the tap is safe to use for brushing teeth etc, but, students will be provided as much bottled water as they can drink. Don’t forget to bring along your own reusable water bottle, so we can minimize our plastic usage.
Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. Since the base is located in the mountains, the temperature will go down into the 60s in the evenings. The weather does not vary much between June and August. Synthetic fiber clothing is recommended because it dries quickly.
Students will arrange their own travel. They should fly in and out of San Juan Airport (SJU).
Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken. We want to encourage students to disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the experience and get the most out of their program. Thus, students will not have access to wifi. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once your student is in country.
Checked luggage fees, personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally suggest $100 – $200 for spending money and incidentals.
Students should pack clothes they are comfortable rewearing and will last throughout the program. Laundry might be available at some of the hotels, at an extra cost, but is not guaranteed.
For community service, students are expected to wear long work pants or capri pants. Leggings will not be appropriate for service here. On beach days, students are expected to cover up appropriately while going to and from the beach – shorts and a t-shirt are acceptable.
Ensuring the safety of your teen as they travel with Rustic Pathways is a top priority. Please review our Health and Safety measures.
Our Travel Protection Plan helps protect our participants, their belongings, and their travel investment in those unforeseen circumstances that may arise during travel. Learn more about the plan offered through our partner.