Central America - Honduaras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua

I had a fantastic time in Central America. I got a whole lot out of the past 12 weeks. I've learned some Spanish, learned about other cultures and more. I think my time in Central America has changed me very much. I have a new outlook on things and on the rest of my life.

J. Bloomer, Central America - Fall 2000

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Guatemala

Guatemalan People

Orientation:

You will have 2-3 days of orientation at a beautiful resort to get your feet on the ground and to learn more about the program and each other. During this time you will work on communication skills and team-building activities and will set your intentions for the semester.

Village Construction Project and Environmental Conservation:

Spend one week living in your first homestay in a rural village working during the days on a construction project commissioned by the local school. This is one of the most authentic volunteer places during the entire semester and is always listed as a highlight of the program. The week of environmental conservation is spent working with Peace Corps volunteers in the highlands of Alta Vera Paz. These projects are focused on working side-by-side with the locals to futher their own environmental protection. This is usually fairly tough labor so be prepared! This is also the site to launch from for a visit to some of the most fabulous water falls in Central America: Semuc Champey

Language Study:

Spend 2 weeks studying Spanish with a private tutor for 4 hours each morning in a small town in the Peten region while living with your own homestay family. Afternoons are free to spend with homestay families or to participate in optional cultural activities (traditional cooking, outdoor conservation work, etc.) On the weekend explore the spectacular Mayan ruins of Tikal. Another 2 weeks will be spent studying Spanish and living with families in Quetzaltenango, in the western region of Guatemala.

Horseback Riding in Honduras

Trek:

Hiking through the Guatemalan highlands surrounding Lago Atitlan, the group hikes for 3 days through local communities where English and Spanish are rarely spoken in favor of the local Mayan dialect. Hiking is through corn fields and to remote areas that very few westerners ever see even in pictures.

Spiritual Retreat and Personalized Internships:

Spend 1 week in a small town on the edge of Lake Atitlan. Time here is spent learning yoga and meditation, doing volunteer work in the community and/or studying one of the local art traditions (glass-work, massage, reiki, cooking, etc.)

Nicaragua

Ecolodge and Art Community:

Spend 1 week in a small town on the coastal town of San Juan del Sur. This community is focused on arts and healing, and our group works in conjunction with their staff to construct housing and support the intentionality of this community. Their intention is to be as green as possible using methods from composting toilets to solar panels.

Costa Rica

Lake Atitlan

Turtle Conservation Work:

Spend over a week volunteering with an environmental organization on Costa Rica's Caribbean or Pacific coast (depending on the season). You will work at night patrolling 15 kilometers of beach for leatherback sea turtles that come ashore to lay eggs. You tag and take measurements of the turtles (which can be up to 7 feet long and 800 kilos!) and move the nests and eggs to a protected part of the beach. Days are spent sleeping, working around the base camp, and enjoying the beach.

Exploration & Free Travel:

Take a week where the group designs, plans, orchestrates, budgets, and implements their own itinerary. The group can divide into two separate Carpe Diem-led groups throughout the region and past groups have chosen to go rafting, explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, or climb the active volcano of Arenal.

Honduras

SCUBA:

Fly to the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras for a week of rest and recreation. You will live in a hotel on the beach and take a course leading to PADI Basic Open Water SCUBA certification. Higher levels of certification are available for those with previous dive experience. When not diving, you will have time for lazing on the beach and other leisurely pursuits.

Program Details

Dates:

Fall 2008: Sept. 10 - Dec. 3, 2008
Spring 2009: February 11 - May 5, 2009

Group Size:

Up to 12 Students & 2 Adult Leaders

Eligibility:

Ages 17 and Up

Academic Credit:

Up to 15 quarter hours of college credit available

Language Requirement:

None

Admissions:

No deadline - applications accepted on a rolling basis until start date.

Starting & Ending:

San Francisco, California. Our travel agent will price the best deals and notify participants.

Program Fee:

$7,900 Program fee includes all food, accommodations, and scheduled program activities for the duration of the program. International airfare, health insurance and spending money are extra. International airfare estimated at $1400.