The exact order of your phases may vary. For example, you may participate in the environmental project before the community project. 

Raleigh Costa Rica connects young people with indigenous communities to work together in tackling the challenges they face. Through our infrastructure projects, we aim to increase access to education, raise awareness through campaigns and workshops, and improve access to water and sanitation.

About one of our community projects

The Alto Chirripó Indigenous Territory is on the Caribbean slope of the Talamanca mountain range and is one of the most remote areas in Costa Rica. 

About 8,000 Cabecar indigenous people maintain their own culture and identity. However, Alto Chirripó has low school attendance and literacy levels and high poverty levels. One of the key barriers to culturally appropriate development is a lack of education due to poor facilities and difficult access. 

Volunteers work with local community groups and Parents Associations to tackle these challenging problems by helping to build or repair school infrastructures and plan action days with community leaders and school staff.

Where will I be staying during this phase?

You will be staying in a school classroom set up as a bedroom. You will use all the school facilities (bathrooms, showers, kitchen). 

At the end of each phase, everyone returns to the training centre for a couple of days before you move onto your next project. You’ll catch up with the rest of the Expedition team and start to prepare for your next project. 

We'll ask you to give us some feedback on your first project, so we can review our approach and learn from your experiences. This is also your chance to get in touch with friends and family. 

Once recharged and energised, you’ll be ready for the next phase –possibly in a new team.

Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and has conservation areas that are natural sites of global interest. However, due to its inaccessibility and lack of infrastructure it is not considered an attraction for the typical and frequent tourists, which could generate significant income. Its environment is also vulnerable because of limited budget, shortage of staff, illegal deforestation and pollution. 

Raleigh volunteers will be supporting The National System of Conservation Areas mission to protect Costa Rican biodiversity. Volunteers will support the maintenance and conservation of existing ecosystems and assist local communities to preserve such a biodiverse nature.  

Tasks include:

- improving trails

- sign making

- waste management plans 

- awareness raising activities on the importance in preserving these ecosystems.  

Led by specialist Raleigh staff and Volunteer Managers, you’ll trek approximately 260 km through the rainforest and up volcanoes on various stunning routes that tourists don’t get access to.

On this trek, every day is different, including the weather and the accommodation. Go from camping on top of a mountain and sleeping under the stars to camping in a community centre.

Everyone starts and finishes trek together. 

The trek is designed to be challenging, but no matter your trekking experience, you will learn to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

It requires courage to do something beyond your comfort zone, and there will be highs and lows. Supporting one another through these moments, not giving up and sharing your achievements will be some of the most memorable and defining moments of your Expedition.

Leadership and experiential learning

With all our projects, you will all take it in turns to lead the group for a day. This is a chance to develop your leadership skills but most importantly, to learn about the power of team effort and the strength of working together to achieve your goals. 

Throughout trek, volunteers will also take part in orienteering and navigations as well as develop planning and logistics skills. This is all part of your experiential learning experience and an opportunity to build your skills, confidence, and resilience outside of a classroom setting. Whether it’s scrambling up hills, lighting a fire or falling asleep in your tent after a long day of trekking under a beautiful starlit sky, these are some of the memories that will stay with you forever.

“On trek, you take turns to be day leader. It’s pretty indescribable, that feeling at the end of the day when everyone’s achieved something, and you had a role to play in that. I enjoyed that the most.” Freddy

“It forces you to step out of your comfort zone and develop as an individual, and your abilities to communicate and compromise.” Faith

Three phases, 10 weeks, lots of new friends and amazing experiences. All Expeditions end with everyone coming together for a final few days back at the training centre. 

This is a chance to catch up with friends and celebrate all you have achieved together.

Your journey doesn’t end with Expedition. 

- You will be to be part of a global movement of over 55,000 alumni 

- Join a Raleigh International alumni society full of venturers dedicated to taking action towards a fair, inclusive, and green world