We are so excited to offer this site visit opportunity to dedicated members of our community for the first time since 2019. The trip will be led by Sara Nathan and will start and end in San Jose, Costa Rica.  

Costa Rica is a global leader for its environmental policies and accomplishments, which have helped the country build its Green Trademark. The pioneering Payments for Environmental Services (PES) program has been successful in promoting forest and biodiversity conservation; making Costa Rica the only tropical country in the world that has reversed deforestation. 2024 marks the 42nd year of AMIGOS programming in the country.  

Trip Agenda 

Dates:

Sunday, July 21 – Friday, July 26, 2024 

 

Preliminary Trip Agenda:   

Sunday, July 21 

  • Attendees arrive to San Jose  
  • Dinner (optional pending arrivals) 

Monday, July 22  

  • Travel to Project Site #1: Turrialba, Cartago  
  • Partner agency (RETUS) welcome and visit with AMIGOS students 
  • Cultural activity and dinner 

Tuesday, July 23 

  • Volunteer with students on their service projects 
  • Lunch with host families 
  • Visit Monumento Nacional Guayabo 

Wednesday, July 24 

  • Visit and tour with partner (Nortico Cacao Farm) 
  • Travel to Project Site #2: Los Santos, San Jose 
  • Partner agency (Bean Voyage) welcome 

Thursday, July 25 

  • Host Community and Student Visits  
  • Travel back to San Jose in late afternoon (option for late night flights or other departures) 

Friday, July 26 

  • Flight departures 

 

Price:  

  • $2,800 for single room 
  • $2,500 for a shared room 

A formal registration form and invoice will be sent to attendees at a later date. 

*Attendees are responsible for purchasing airfare. All other trip expenses are included. 

 

Attendees: 

A group of approximately 12 attendees will be led by Sara Nathan and members of our Programs Team.  

  • Stephanie Falkenstein, Subir Kumedan, Kuchal Kumedan 
  • Dan Ponti 
  • Sreya Vemuri 
  • Kellie and Chad Motsinger 
  • Dorothy Nugent (STAFF) 
  • Sara Nathan (CEO) 

The idea to organize Supporters Trips came from AMIGOS board members who wanted to offer valued stakeholders the opportunity to reconnect with AMIGOS in the field today. The first AMIGOS Supporters Trip in 2018 visited Chimborazo, Ecuador. In 2019, a group visited Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica. We are excited to resume the tradition in 2024 and highlight our Costa Rica programs!  

 

It was an amazing trip from start to finish. We gained insight into the Tica culture and the work that AMIGOS and Casa de la Juventud are ably doing in Costa Rica. As well as renewing friendships and making new ones within our group we enjoyed making other acquaintances during our travels, including the CASA team, family coffee producers, local Amigos families and supporters, park rangers, and whale watch entrepreneurs.  Most of all we enjoyed our group conversations about AMIGOS’ past, present, and future and the richness of the discussion by our passionate group members. You are very special people and give us faith that AMIGOS will be alive and well in the future.          

-Lisa and Milt Roney (DC Chapter and AMIGOS Parents)