Costa Rica: Surf and Service

Accommodations for the Costa Rica: Surf and Service Program

Students participating in the Costa Rica: Surf and Service program will stay in two comfortable locations, offering both city and coastal experiences. Each site provides
safe, student-friendly lodging with 24/7 supervision, comfortable amenities, and spaces to relax after full days of adventure.

San José

Students spend their first and last nights in San José at either the Best Western Irazu or the Quality Hotel, both located about 25 minutes from the airport. These hotels serve as Rustic Pathways’ central hubs for arriving and departing students. Rooms are shared with fellow travelers and include private bathrooms. Students may also meet participants from other Rustic Pathways programs during these nights.

Playa Avellanas

For most of the program, students stay in a surf bungalow near Playa Avellanas on the Nicoya Peninsula, just a three-minute walk from the beach. The house features six bedrooms and six and a half Western-style bathrooms with wood and tile finishes and a thatched roof. Most students sleep in bunk beds.

Outside, there is a spacious dining area, a pool, and a deck with hammocks, rocking chairs, and lounge seating—perfect for relaxing and bonding with new friends. This coastal base provides a safe, social environment ideal for teens learning to surf and engaging in community service.

Service Projects in Costa Rica

Rustic Pathways partners with local schools and community leaders in Costa Rica to identify meaningful service projects that benefit the environment and local families. While we strive to deliver all advertised projects, please note that specific activities may vary depending on community priorities and partner availability.

Types of Service Activities

During the Surf and Service program, each student completes about 12 hours of community service designed to create long-term local impact and promote cultural connection. Service work may include:

• School Infrastructure Improvements: Help renovate or build facilities such as changing rooms, storage areas, or tiled floors at Matapalo Elementary School.
• Community Garden Projects: Assist with planting, maintenance, and education initiatives that promote local food sustainability.
• Beautification Efforts: Work alongside community members to paint classrooms, build fences, or enhance outdoor learning spaces.
• Local Leadership Collaboration: Partner with Costa Rican leaders who guide each project to ensure it meets genuine community needs.

Supplies and materials are purchased locally using a portion of the program fees paid by Rustic Pathways families, ensuring that the impact extends beyond the trip itself. Students often describe these service experiences as transformative—helping them gain new perspectives, build empathy, and feel connected to the communities they serve.

Meals and Water During the Costa Rica Program

Most meals are prepared and enjoyed at the surf bungalow near Playa Avellanas, with a few opportunities to dine at local restaurants. Meals are made with fresh local ingredients and offer a balance of Costa Rican favorites and familiar comfort foods. Each meal features a set menu with alternatives available for students with dietary needs or restrictions.

Typical Meals

• Breakfast: Gallo pinto (rice and beans) with eggs, toast, fruit, and juice
• Lunch & Dinner: Traditional Costa Rican dishes like casado (rice, beans, salad, and chicken or fish), along with occasional meals such as hamburgers, pasta, or burritos

Water and Hydration

Tap water at the base house is safe for brushing teeth, but students will be provided with purified drinking water throughout the program. To help reduce plastic waste, each participant must bring a reusable water bottle—this is a required packing item.

This trip was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Some of my favorite parts of the trip were helping refresh school, connecting with the project manager of the school, and practicing my Spanish while becoming immersed in the local night market. But most of all, I loved getting to be by the ocean, surf, trying new foods at the house, and make a ton of new friends I still talk to now! Pura vida

– Lina, Rustic Pathways Alumni

This was my first trip with the program and it is safe to say I will be doing another trip next summer. I had the most fun i’ve had in years. I made so many memories that I will tell for months even years.

There was never a dull moment during the trip. We went surfing, zip lining, and swimming at sunset. However, the list of fun does not end there. We also went to the best smoothie/ acai bowl restaurant, a night market, and even spent a day on a catamaran.

A whole different aspect of the trip was all the friends I made. I went to this trip with my friend molly, but by the end of the week everyone felt so close. Our whole trip still talks and we are even planning on meeting up at the end of the summer.

– Anabel Geraci, Rustic Pathways Alumni