Costa Rica Volunteer Programs | Most Affordable & Trusted

I had an amazing time here in Costa Rica and mostly thanks to the local staff that helps us in any situation.
I managed to achieve my goals here: To spend time with kids and learn a lot from them
My stay with the host family was also very nice, the host-mom treated us like her own kids and cooked very good food for us while telling us a lot of interesting stories (which helped us to improve our spanish!
People in Costa Rica are incredible and had a big impact on my experience here
Finally, the are so many beautiful places to visit: La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Poas Volcano, Isla Tortuguero, National Park of Manuel Antonio ...

the most amazing group of kids! never felt so much love and excitement walking through the door. truly a life changing expierence. the staff at the program was so great an helpful with the volunteers and the kids. The host mom was so accomadating and always prepared meals she knew i would eat since i am such a picky eater. The country was amazing with so many helpful and nice people. There was so much to see and do, there was never a dull moment. my favorite part was playing with the kids each day and watching the smiles light up on their face with how much fun they were having.

This experience was astonishingly impacting to my overall goals in life and where my journey can go from here. One of my favorite moments from the entire trip was the level of enjoyment that was seen from every child that we came into contact with. At every day care we went to, children came up to us and did not worry about the language barrier because it seemingly didn't matter. Our trip organizer, Makayla, was a tremendous help in anything that we needed whether it be a translator, an instructor, or even just a friend.

I met so many people on this trip that I will never forget. The team at maximo and the translators were very helpful throughout this process. Our host mom, Marlene was very welcoming and provided us with great accommodations. I had a great time emerging myself in a new culture and feeling safe while doing so. I learned more about medicine than I ever would have back at home. Going to daycares and helping kids was one of my favorite parts. Communication barriers did not matter, which made the day.

I am a pre med student with basic medical knowledge being a sophomore in college. I don't have much experience besides other volunteering and shadowing doctors for my interest in my future occupation. I have Spanish experience from high school and language was never a barrier or problem. The translators were kind and amzing all the way to the doctors, nurses, managers, staff, etc. I feel I have made a significant impact on Costa Rican communities and would do it all over again if I could. :) :) .

This experience equipped me with the opportunity to undergo experiential and hands on learning in the field of medicine and healthcare and allowed me to directly create an impact on others' lives beneficially. I was able to form valuable relationships, interact with others with backgrounds and opinions different from mine, practice and hone my medical skills, and helped solidify my want and goal to pursue a career in medicine. If nothing else, this trip was a lot of fun and rewarding! Got to make new friends and channel my passion to help others!

As someone who has never traveled abroad, I was very excited for my experience with IVHQ. Upon arriving in Costa Rica, I was pretty quickly submersed in the local culture that I knew quite little about. The trip was a learning experience in its entirety. I was able to learn how to exchange money, interact with those who speak only Spanish (when I speak very little), and assist those who needed it most. On this trip, I had so many opportunities to expand both my cultural and medical knowledge. I also was grateful to become extremely close with my peers and field manager. I felt that I not only developed my communication and interpersonal skills, but was able to experience a life I would have never imagined. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to go on this trip, and I highly recommend it.

This experience was unique because both my medical and Spanish knowledge have been furthered due to this trip! Also, shoutout to Makayla for being an awesome and helpful field manager. I will miss you Maximo! I did this program previously in Guatemala and I feel I have learned so much since my first campaign. The staff and environment have been tremendous and I am so glad that I was able to get to see the scenery of Costa Rica! Marlene, our host mom, was wonderful and provided us with whatever we requested.