Costa Rica: Montañas y Mar
A 12-Day Introduction to Costa Rica
Project Overview
Discover Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity while helping protect it! In Montañas y Mar, you’ll join local conservation efforts — from sea turtle protection to natural resource management — while exploring ecosystems on the Pacific coast near Marino Ballena National Park and in the mountain landscapes near Chirripó National Park.
Training & Preparation
To prepare for your upcoming program, training focuses on two essential live webinars:
Project Information (PIP) Webinar — Meet your in‑country staff, learn about daily project activities, and ask questions.
Health & Safety Webinar — A family representative attends to review key safety protocols and program procedures.
Ready to lead, ready to learn! Once you land, you’ll spend 2 days getting grounded. Orientation introduces you to local culture and daily life. Project staff lead sessions on health, safety, and project activities and expectations so you feel confident and prepared launching into programming.
Closing strong, Carrying forward! In your final two nights, you’ll come together with fellow volunteers to reflect, celebrate, and prepare for the journey home. Debriefing helps you process your experience, navigate reverse culture shock, and wrap up travel logistics. It’s a supportive space to share growth and learn how to tell your story to family and friends.
What to Expect
Experience More, Discover Yourself.
AMIGOS projects are designed to challenge and inspire. You’ll dive into hands‑on activities, connect with local communities, live with a host family, and experience life tech‑free. Every moment builds connection, leadership, and friendships that last far beyond the program.
A look at what volunteers do in the Montañas your Mar project.
- SERVICE
- Trail and sign maintenance in reserves
- Reforestation day to plant trees
- Community river cleanup and monitoring
- CONNECTION & IMMERSION
- Participate in a youth exchange with local youth from a nearby community!
- Learn to cook some special Costa Rican dishes
- Visit a local farmer’s market
Volunteers develop connections with the people who make each project possible: host families, local youth, community members, partner organizations, AMIGOS staff, and fellow volunteers. These relationships are central to the AMIGOS experience, creating space for cultural exchange, shared learning, and collaborative service.
This program has a summer camp-like structure where volunteers live and work together with their cohort and AMIGOS staff for the full 12 days. It’s a great first step into international service travel for students who aren’t quite ready for an independent homestay experience, while still building independence, friendships, and cross-cultural skills.
“My favorite part of AMIGOS was connecting with fellow volunteers and the community. I felt connected with a girl named Dalana. She was one of my buddies at the circus, and she was very nice. We performed tricks together, and she taught me how to use circus equipment in Spanish.”
Over the years, we have observed that volunteers who choose a full digital detox report higher satisfaction, stronger community bonds, and fewer instances of homesickness or emotional distress. Our experience, supported by emerging research on technology use and mental health, demonstrates that disconnecting from devices allows volunteers to connect more deeply with themselves, their peers, and their host communities.
Full Technology PolicyCurious about the daily experience? Explore a sample itinerary for this trip.
Safety and Support
AMIGOS prepares volunteers with health and safety training before departure and project-specific guidance during in-country briefing. Volunteers learn what to expect, how to make responsible decisions, and where to turn for support if needed.
Throughout the project, staff develop emergency plans for each volunteer and location, conduct regular risk assessments, and are available 24/7 through AMIGOS’ in-house Health and Safety On-Call System, supported by a team of medical and mental health professionals.
Cost and Financial Aid
Program fees covers all essential costs, including lodging, local meals, in-country transportation, group excursions, and a 24/7 emergency support network. What’s included:
- 12 days of immersive programming and activities
- All meals and accommodations
- In-country transportation
- 24/7 safety and support system
- Pre-departure and training, online or in-person
What’s not included: flights, travel protection, gear.
More About Fees & FundingOur transparent, all-inclusive pricing and flexible financial aid and fundraising options maximize value for your family.
Participant Voices
Preguntado frecuentemente Preguntas
Montañas y Mar is the only AMIGOS program designed specifically for 13–14‑year‑olds. It’s perfect for students who want their first introduction to travel and service abroad in a supportive, structured environment. Volunteers live and travel together with their cohort and AMIGOS staff for the entire program, with no host family stay, making it a great fit for youth ready to build friendships, practice teamwork, and explore Costa Rica’s environment through hands‑on conservation projects.
This program gives you the chance to practice your Spanish while volunteering with two leading environmental conservation organizations. You’ll dive into Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity by contributing to projects like wildlife inventories, trail maintenance, and turtle nursery setup. You’ll also explore how both community and private reserves protect natural resources, gaining hands‑on experience in conservation while connecting with peers and local youth.
AMIGOS has operated in Costa Rica for more than 35 years and in that time has built strong relationships with our partner agencies and host families. We are so excited to be continuing these relationships in the summer of 2027!
No. We do not offer college credit on any middle school program.
You can earn 24 service hours on this program.
Volunteers stay in dormitory‑style lodging at multiple sites, including hostels and eco‑lodges. AMIGOS staff are on‑site throughout the program, providing support and ensuring a safe, welcoming environment.
Most meals feature traditional Costa Rican cuisine — plates with rice and beans, meat or eggs, fresh vegetables, and salad. This project is vegetarian‑friendly, with host families and cooks able to adapt meals to meet dietary needs.
Your project takes place during Costa Rica’s rainy season (June–August). Expect daytime highs in the 80s–90s°F, with nights cooling into the high 60s–70s°F in San José’s higher elevation. Humidity is consistently high, and afternoon showers or heavy downpours are common, especially along the coast.
In Puntarenas, you’ll find tropical lowlands with beaches, mangroves, and rainforest — hot, humid, and lush. In San José, the Central Valley’s elevation brings cooler evenings and a more temperate feel, surrounded by mountains and volcanic ranges. Both regions are rich in biodiversity, so you’ll likely encounter tropical birds, monkeys, and vibrant plant life.
Costa Rica has a lot of unique slang, here is a taste of it!
pura vida = life is good, cool
tuanis = cool
mae = dude, friend (used like “bro”)
brete = work, job
choza = house, home
AMIGOS uses an Asset‑Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, meaning service activities respond to the priorities identified by partner agencies and local communities. In Discover programs, volunteers live together in group lodging and join daily service activities in specific environments rather than long‑term community projects.
Past service activities have included:
Cleaning and revamping partner agency headquarters
Environmental clean‑ups (rivers, streams, beaches)
Beautification projects (painting, planting, signage)
Working in gardens and green spaces
Reforestation and conservation efforts
Because activities are prepared in advance, volunteers focus on hands‑on participation and teamwork, building friendships with peers while contributing to meaningful activities for our local partners.
Ideal for first-time travelers interested in conservation, the Costa Rica: Montañas y Mar project offers a shorter introduction to service, cultural exchange, and environmental learning in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. Volunteers travel with their cohort and AMIGOS staff, support local conservation efforts, and explore the connection between mountain and coastal ecosystems.
- Meet the health criteria for AMIGOS participation
- Receive required immunizations
- Be age 13-14 on the project start date
- Passport valid 6 months after project start date
