What Do Parents Ask?
Flights & Cost
How do flights work?
Students fly into San José International Airport (SJO), where Rustic Pathways staff will greet them upon arrival. Group transportation to and from the airport is included. The program’s start and end dates include international travel time. There are no internal flights within Costa Rica, as all travel between destinations occurs by private, air-conditioned vehicle.
What's included in the price?
Included: Lodging, all meals, in-country transport, all activities, 24/7 staff.
Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, personal spending ($150–200).
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?
Yes. Payment plans are available for all families, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid →
Is travel insurance required?
Travel insurance is not included in the program tuition. Rustic Pathways recommends that families purchase travel insurance. Get a quote from our recommended provider →
Supervision & Safety
Who's supervising my child?
Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process, and programs maintain a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1). All Program Leaders are first-aid certified, and every program includes at least one leader with 3 or more years of field experience. Program Leaders range in age from 22 to 45.
Are rooms gender-separated?
Yes. San José hotel (first and last nights): double/triple rooms with private bathrooms. Camaronal Wildlife Refuge (5 nights): rustic gender-separated dorm rooms with shared bathrooms. Staff are in adjacent rooms throughout the program.
What about medical emergencies?
All Program Leaders are first-aid certified. Nearest hospitals are mapped out in all locations. Our health & safety team reviews all medical forms before departure and works with families to plan medications, allergies, and dietary needs.
Communication
Can I reach my child?
Yes. Wi-Fi is available at the San José hotel (first and last nights) and occasionally at the refuge main area. Phone use is not permitted during service activities. Families can reach the Rustic Pathways 24/7 emergency line at any time.
How will I know they're okay?
Staff provide regular updates. Rustic Pathways’ 24/7 Global Operations Center monitors programs in real time and is reachable by families at any time.
What is the phone/device policy?
Rustic Pathways allows students to keep their phones and does not confiscate them, but encourages students to actively participate in the program experience. Students may contact home as often as they like.
Wi-Fi is limited: available at the San José hotel and occasionally at the refuge main area.
Group & Logistics
How big is the group and how old are the participants?
This is a college program for students ages 17–22. Groups are kept small for meaningful hands-on conservation work alongside National Park rangers at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge.
Can international (non-U.S.) students join this program?
Yes. Students from 53 countries join programs like this. International students fly independently to San José (SJO) where Rustic Pathways staff meet the group on arrival. After enrollment, our team helps coordinate flights matching program schedules, passport and visa requirements for Costa Rica, and USD payment options.
Do students come with friends, or on their own?
Both. Many college students travel solo and connect through the shared group experience. Ice-breakers on Day 1 help students get to know each other quickly.
What is the accommodation like?
Two locations: (1) Comfortable San José hotel on arrival and departure nights — double/triple rooms, private bathrooms. (2) Camaronal Wildlife Refuge volunteer quarters for 5 nights — rustic dorm-style, gender-separated rooms (4–8 students), shared bathrooms with flushing toilets, situated right on the nesting beach. Amenities are simple; the experience is immersive and purposeful.
Can friends room together?
Rooming requests are considered. Final decisions are made by staff to ensure safety and group balance.
Program Details
Can the program itinerary change?
This itinerary reflects what we intend to deliver, and we work hard to make that happen. Since programs operate in real-world conditions, activities may change due to weather, health and safety factors, transportation, site availability, or local circumstances.
If plans need to change, our team will use its judgment to adjust the schedule while prioritizing student safety and preserving the program’s purpose and quality.
Will my child have unsupervised time?
The program is highly structured. Night patrols are staff-supervised at all times. Some age-appropriate free time occurs in Samara town (Day 6) and at the beach club (Day 5), which is staff-managed. Students are never left without supervision during conservation fieldwork or overnight activities.
Can you accommodate dietary needs & food allergies?
Yes, with advance notice. Meals include gallo pinto, eggs, fruit, chicken, fish, rice, plantains, traditional Costa Rican dishes, and occasional pasta/BBQ. Purified drinking water is available at all times. Students should note dietary needs and allergies on their medical form at enrollment.
How much spending money?
$100–150 is recommended for souvenirs and personal purchases. Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican Colón (CRC), but U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. No currency exchange is needed for most purchases.
Do we need a visa?
Most U.S. citizens do not need a visa for Costa Rica (stays up to 90 days). International students should confirm visa requirements based on their citizenship. After enrollment, Rustic Pathways helps coordinate SJO flights and answers travel-related questions.
Support
What if my child gets homesick?
Program Leaders are trained to support students experiencing homesickness. Learn more about how Rustic Pathways prepares students: rusticpathways.com/student-travel/prep/homesickness-anxiety.
Do you support neurodiverse students?
Yes. Learn more about Rustic Pathways’ inclusion practices: rusticpathways.com/about/inclusion.
Is This the Right Fit?
Who thrives on this program?
College students (17–22) passionate about wildlife conservation, comfortable with rustic conditions (simple dorm rooms, shared bathrooms, basic amenities), and able to stay up for late-night or early-morning turtle patrols on the beach. Students who want hands-on fieldwork alongside park rangers, not a resort experience. Those who want to earn service hours toward environmental science, conservation biology, or sustainability coursework.
What will students do each day?
Structured conservation service mornings and afternoons (beach cleanups, hatchery monitoring, trail maintenance), night beach patrols with headlamps at high tide (timing varies, may be late night or early morning), cultural experiences (art class with women’s group, surf lessons, dolphin watching boat trip, Samara town). 26 service hours total, documentation provided.
Who may not suit this program?
Students who require comfort accommodations, can’t tolerate humid beach conditions, or are uncomfortable with irregular sleep schedules due to night patrols. Also not suitable for students with significant water/ocean fears, as Day 6 (surfing) and Day 7 (snorkeling) involve ocean time.
Why This Destination?
Why Camaronal?
The Camaronal Wildlife Refuge on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is a critical nesting site for Olive Ridley and Leatherback sea turtles. Students work directly alongside National Park rangers on active conservation tasks, this is real, needed fieldwork, not a tourist experience.
What makes it unique?
Students live at the refuge for 5 nights, right on the nesting beach. Night patrols happen at high tide (which varies), students may be woken at 2am for a patrol or go out just after sunset. The program is the real thing.
What cultural richness is included?
Beyond conservation, students visit a local women’s artisan cooperative, explore the fishing town of Samara, relax at Carrillo Beach (one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful), and experience dolphin watching and snorkeling off the Pacific coast.
What about sustainable tourism?
Costa Rica is a global model for conservation and ecotourism. Students see firsthand how national parks, local communities, and international programs can work together to protect biodiversity.
