Homestays offer an experience that no hotel or hostel will match. They give you a chance to fully immerse yourself with the local people and provide an opportunity to see a unique way of life through the eyes of a local and take a glimpse at the diverse culture that a country can offer.
Live and work like a local
Rural living is hard work, but you could say that the juice is worth the squeeze—especially if the juice turns into tasty sugar. On our Service, Hike & Homestay course, students get the chance to experience one of the sweetest traditions in Costa Rica. They learn how to produce sugar from start to finish using a trapiche.
A good trick to this great treat – mix the sweet stuff with peanut butter!
Speak like a native
Students coming from around the world get a chance to put their Spanish theory into action in a real life scenario rather than the classroom. They may even learn some Costa Rican phrases along the way.
As well as Spanish, students can also get a taste of the local dialect. Did you know that there are six indigenous languages in Costa Rica —with Bribri being one of them? Check out our students learning some Bribri vocabulary and teaching some English as well!
Support the local community
Ecotourism has significant advantages over conventional traveling. Families that live in these rural areas have very little and they often receive little attention by tourism. Our courses support them and give them a monetary boost that they wouldn’t otherwise receive. It makes a lasting impression on our students by providing genuine contact with a Tico family, stimulating cross-cultured growth and understanding.
Learn a New Skill
Have you ever milked a cow, made cheese and then eaten it for breakfast the next morning? Well that’s exactly what you’ll do on our Summer 19+ Costa Rica Rainforest Trek. It’s not too easy for the locals to venture down to their local Walmart for a weekly shopping spree! They eat the food that they produce and live off the land.
Off the Beaten Path
Be one with the nature and the wonder that surrounds it. In the homestays, you will see what it’s like to live without wifi and television. As the sunsets you can take a deep breath of that clean air and take in the shimmering starlight above.
Home-cooked local cuisine
Costa Rica is known for it’s use of fresh ingredients, such as fruit and vegetables, as their food supply is in their back garden. The ingredients for your evening meal would have been hand-picked that morning and served on your plate the very same evening. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to taste a Costa Rican tamale for dinner and arroz con leche for dessert!
And did I mention coffee
Costa Rica is known for producing some of the best coffee in the world. Depending on the time of the year, you’ll able to pick the coffee, grind the beans and then use the traditional chorreador to filter it (it gives it a much richer flavour due to the cloth filter).
Become more cultured
Have you ever left a country and wondered whether you got a solid idea of what the culture was actually like? On our hiking courses, you get an authentic experience that the majority of tourists will miss out on. You will enjoy the slower rhythm of living that inspires the “pura vida” lifestyle. You’ll be able to share stories with family members and they will return the favour, giving you a rare glimpse of their unique way of life.
“I thought it was really interesting to see how the locals lived and the simplicity of their lives really made me think about how I live. I think it’s really important to realize that even if you don’t have a lot, you can still be happy.”