Who we are

Tropical Adventures began in 2005 by bringing volunteers from around the world to help with a variety of projects across Costa Rica. We began by augmenting other existing projects, and then over the years moved into building our own projects. We have worked with schools, orphans, rural economic development projects, with national parks, sea turtles, wildlife rescue centers, the indigenous and sexually exploited homeless children, and more.

In the last 15 years we have branched out from just providing  volunteer service experiences for individuals, families and groups to also providing:

• Unique, off-the-beaten-path (volunteer and non-volunteer) experiences to build memories that will last a lifetime
• Opportunities for parents to show their children how differently other people around the world live
• Instructional design and logistics for colleges and universities who want to offer courses for credit in Costa Rica for their students.
• Team-building experiences for groups
• Large family reunions
• Guided, transformational retreats for people in transition and for those healing from trauma

Our philosophy

Our philosophy is that by helping individuals explore the world through volunteering, they have the opportunity to recognize their own gifts and talents. Through the collaboration between our staff, our volunteers, and our fellow community members here in Costa Rica, we empower people to be positive change agents – in their personal lives, their local communities, and beyond.

Deeply integrated in who we are and what we do is our commitment to cross-cultural understanding, education, conservation, wildlife, and community development. Being based in the country with the densest biodiversity on the planet, it is only natural that much of what we do is directly related to our environment.

Our founder, spiritual psychologist Scott Pralinsky, opened the doors of Tropical Adventures with the belief that by helping visitors connect to nature and distance themselves from the complexities of modern life, they would learn to become more aware, appreciative, and centered.  And it is our hope that these people return home or resume their travels, taking with them what they have learned and sharing it with their families, communities, and those they meet along the way.

We invite you to join us on a mind and heart opening journey of self-discovery in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Come, lend a hand! And you’ll find you will receive much more than you have given.