PUERTO VIEJO PROGRAM

This is a sample of
what you might experience if you were to volunteer in Puerto Viejo combining some of our most popular projects:

Day One
(Let’s assume this is a Sunday, though you can arrive any day you wish.)

• Arrive at airport
• You’re met outside by John, who will be holding a sign with your name on it
• John will drive you to your hotel (included in the price you paid) and make sure you have whatever you need – water, food, ATM, etc.
• Rest easily in your private room and sleep well through the night!

 Day Two

• Breakfast
• John will pick you up and will put you directly on the bus you need to get to Puerto Viejo (ticket price included). Your bus ride will be about 4 hours and the driver will stop for one, 15-minute bathroom / snack break along the way.
• 
  Laura will meet you at the bus stop in Puerto Viejo and will take you to your hostel or host family.
• You can rest for a bit, or go right away to join Laura for coffee and your orientation.
• Depending on how much time you have left in the day, you and Laura can take a bicycle tour of the area.
• Return back to your host family for dinner (or if you are staying at a hostel, maybe join one of your fellow hostelers at a local restaurant)
• Get a good night sleep

Day Three

• Your volunteer coordinator will meet you and bring you to the
  elementary school where you will be introduced to the other volunteers
  and staff. Any training necessary will also begin today. You’ll start
  to get to know the children and will find, even though they are shy,
  they will latch on to you very quickly and you’ll begin to make many
  new friends. Teachers will have identified which children need extra
  attention and tutoring. If you speak Spanish, you’ll be tutoring kids
  (often one-on-one) in their general subjects. If you only speak
  English, then you will be tutoring the kids in English. Oftentimes we
  schedule in fun activities like music or art, and sometimes sports.
  What you “do” often depends on what you feel comfortable doing and what
  your skills are.
• Lunch
• In the afternoon you might volunteer for a little while in the Daycare and Nutritional Center, helping with the many kids ages 1-5 with art projects.
• If you are taking Spanish lessons, Laura will bring you to introduce you to your new professor and you will start your lessons.
• If you’re not taking Spanish or helping out at the Daycare Center, you might enjoy some beach time, go on a Kayak Tour, do some souvenir shopping or just relax.
• Dinner
• Many of our volunteers get together after dinner to walk around town, get a drink or go dancing.

Day Four

•  Beach and River Clean-up Day! You’ll join our staff, other volunteers, children and adults from town in an effort to beautify the beaches, paths, and rivers.
• Once you’re done, you might enjoy a tour, such as the indigenous waterfalls or surf lessons.

Day Five

• Head back to your original set of projects for another fun day with the kids!

Day Six

• Volunteers often take 3-day weekends to do some traveling so
  they can get an idea of what the rest of Costa Rica looks like. So
  today you might:
• Depart for a river-rafting tour down the Pacuare River
• Arrive at our Exploration Center in Siquirres and have a hearty breakfast
• Take the van up river to the drop-in point
• Go through a safety course and start heading down the river with your guides and other travelers
• Stop for a picnic lunch along the way on the side of the riverbank
• Continue down the river, arriving back at the Exploration Center
  where you will rest, have some snacks & beverages and hang out with
  your new friends
• Be transported to the Arenal Volcano area and arrive at your hotel
• Kick back, relax and watch the lava flow running down the volcano

Day Seven

• Enjoy some of the tours in the Arenal area, such as a Canopy
  Tour (zip line), hiking, aerial tram, windsurfing on the Arenal Lake or
  relax in the wildly popular Tabacon Hot Springs center and get a
  massage in the jungle.

Day Eight

• Transportation back to Puerto Viejo

Days Nine through Thirteen

• Continue with your projects
• During this time you, if you haven’t already taken advantage of them, you will schedule your free, guided tours of some
  local attractions with your volunteer coordinator.

Day Fourteen

• Meet with our staff for a debriefing and to fill out your evaluation form
• Depart for the airport
• Or if you are staying in Costa Rica longer, depart for your next tropical and exciting destination!