June 28: Airport Hotel
If you have reserved and paid for a hotel room, a Putney flight escort will meet you at the hotel and stay overnight with the group. We will send you an email one week prior to departure with details about the hotel reservation and instructions on how to meet your flight escort.
June 29: Departure Day, Newark to Liberia
In support of program and student safety, all details regarding specific travel and accommodations are available in the parent/guardian digital locker under Essential Information.
June 29 – July 1: Playa Hermosa
Spend the first three days of the program getting to know one another during a group orientation facilitated by the leaders. Set goals for your experience, review program standards and safety precautions, begin to understand Costa Rican culture and society, and explore your new surroundings. Enjoy the beautiful beach of Playa Hermosa. Play volleyball with local children, identify tropical species while snorkeling with Costa Rican guides, and share s’mores around a bonfire after the sun sets.
July 2 – 8: Playa Hermosa/Silencio
During this portion of the program, the group is subdivided into two smaller groups. Half of the group remains in Playa Hermosa for a week of exploring and adventure. Activities include hiking to spectacular waterfalls, learning about geothermals at Rincon de la Vieja National Park, visiting a local farmers’ market, and a surf lesson at Playa Grande with professional guides. The other half of the group travels to Silencio, our community service village located in the mountains near Lake Arenal. Stay in the local community center and work on small projects. Local contacts teach us the skills we need to know to complete our projects. Teach English to local children, learn how to milk a cow, and play soccer with new Costa Rican friends during this incredible week.
July 9 & 10: La Fortuna de San Carlos
The whole group reunites during a two-day excursion to Arenal Volcano where we stay at a sustainable eco-lodge. Indulge in delicious, fresh food grown in their organic gardens. Enjoy a guided ranch and botanical garden tour, and learn about how they produce their own energy. Take a yoga class, relax in a hammock, swim in the pool, and bond as a group. Explore the surrounding area with professional guides on horseback, by kayak and on foot. Spend an afternoon gliding through the air on a jungle zip-line adventure. Enjoy an evening soak in the natural hot springs together with your group.
July 11 – 16: Silencio/Playa Hermosa
During this portion of the program, the group is subdivided into two smaller groups again, swapping locations.
July 17 – 19: Playa Hermosa
Reunite as a whole group for the final days of the program. Participate in the Putney Olympics, relax at the beach, reflect on the incredible experience, and celebrate your adventure with new friends.
July 20: Return Day, Liberia to Newark
In support of program and student safety, all details regarding specific travel and accommodations are available in the parent/guardian digital locker under Essential Information.
July 20: Airport Hotel
A Putney flight escort will stay overnight with the group. If you have reserved and paid for a hotel room, we will send you an email one week prior to departure with details about the hotel reservation.