Adventure Through Costa Rica

Costa Rica, a country in Central America with coastlines on the Caribbean and the Pacific, is renowned for its lush rainforests and rugged volcanoes. During this experience, travelers will hop from one hostel to another in search of greater and more thrilling adventures. After a relaxing first day in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, the group will travel to La Fortuna, a small town putatively considered the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park. Along the way, travelers will stop by the Poás Volcano, an active stratovolcano in central Costa Rica, and visit a community coffee project to learn about coffee production. Once the group arrives at La Fortuna, the real adventure will begin. From rappelling down waterfalls to whitewater rafting and paddleboarding on Lake Arenal, there is no shortage of adrenaline-inducing activities for travelers to experience. From La Fortuna, the group will then head to the cloud forest of Monteverde, where they will fly across the canopy on ziplines. Other activities on offer include visiting the butterfly garden, horseback riding and checking out the hanging bridges in the canopy to look for birds and other wildlife. 

This 6-day experience starts at $391 per person and includes accommodation, 5 breakfasts and 1 lunch and transportation. This trip is part of G Adventures’ and Hostelworld’s Roamies collection: a series of immersive small-group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travelers.

Experience the Amazon with a Host Family in Ecuador

The Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest, is home to over 3 million species and covers much of Brazil and Peru, as well as Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and Ecuador. During this experience, travelers will have the unique opportunity to live with the Quechua people, the Indigenous people of South America who speak the Quechua language, and learn more about both the rainforest and the people themselves. Beginning their journey in Quito, Ecuador, travelers will go by bus and truck into the Amazon Rainforest where they will spend the next four nights with a local Quechua family in the small town of Tena. In the town, travelers will be able to learn about medicinal plants as they explore the rainforest, go on a canoe ride to the amaZOOnico Animal Rescue Center, experience a shamanic healing ceremony and participate in a blowgun contest. Other activities include a natural mud face mask treatment and a cacao culinary experience and tasting. At the village, travelers will get to know the Quechua people on a personal level, sharing meals with them and learning about the secrets of the rainforest with local community members as their guides.

This is a seven day trip and costs $559. This trip is led by the sustainable travel company G Adventures. All G Adventures trips are led by a local guide, a CEO, Chief Experience Officer, and trip revenue is driven to help the local community.

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Explore the Land of Fire and Ice in Iceland

Looking to experience the wonders of a small island nation in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean?  Come see what Iceland has to offer! Stand in awe of the Northern Lights, explore the charming capital of Reykjavik, sail to the renown Vestmannaeyjar Islands, and see the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which erupted in 2010 halting air traffic across Europe.  If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, it will be fun recognizing the picturesque spots along Iceland’s coast where the series was filmed. You’ll also experience the stunning natural beauty of Thingvellir National Park, which contains hot springs, volcanic craters, and gorgeous waterfalls that create rainbows right in front of your eyes.  While in Iceland, you’ll stay at a boutique farm resort and enjoy breakfasts and dinners with the group.  After visiting Iceland’s many natural treasures, from glaciers to geothermal spas, you’ll come away fully impressed by the diversity of this unique country.  

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Be A Clean Water Courier

Waves for Water (W4W) provides clean water solutions worldwide through projects funded by the “Clean Water Courier” program. Operating across dozens of countries, W4W’s mission is to provide access to clean water to every single person who needs it.  The nonprofit’s philosophy is to empower people to take initiative, step outside their comfort zones and create unique personal experiences. W4W was born out of a love for discovery, travel and adventure and the group wants its volunteer model to similarly encourage and empower individuals during their trips.

For prospective travelers, Waves for Water has teamed up with surf company Hurley to develop an independent volunteer program called Clean Water Couriers. It is not a traditional volunteer model, but more of a do-it-yourself method meant to be utilized by travelers who want to make a positive contribution to local communities. Each person creates their own travel experience and then crowdfunds on the site to buy water filters to distribute while on their trip. W4W provides the online platform and serves as a resource for information about the filtration systems and how participants may donate them on the ground. Travelers can make a huge difference in the lives of people and communities in distress by packing a few water filters for their trips. The filters are compact and easy to use and can provide up to 100 people with clean water for up to five years. They cost $25 to $50 each.

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Waves for Water

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Volunteer With Marine Conservation in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef, located just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is considered to be one of the most diverse and spectacular marine features in the world. However, the Great Barrier Reef is also under immense threat. Climate change is threatening the future of the reef, and all the species that call it home. Yet, there is still a lot that humans can do to protect this pristine underwater environment. This volunteer opportunity brings travelers to Cairns in the north of Queensland. Once there, volunteers begin their marine conservation project where they will collect data on the reef, gather marine debris and help rehabilitate sea turtles. All these efforts contribute to research on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as help to protect Earth’s great wonders. 

This volunteer opportunity is offered by International Volunteer HQ. Packages are offered at either 1 or 2 weeks of volunteering, with one week costing $1,010 per person. Volunteers must be adept at swimming in the ocean. International Volunteer HQ focuses on providing volunteer travel opportunities around the world by partnering with local community organizations focused on long-term positive impacts.  

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