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About i-to-i What i-to-i trips and TEFL are, how and why we do what we do!
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On this trip you will be able to learn Spanish and get a chance to practise your new found skills with some amazing children as you help in day to day activities at local schools or day care centres. At the same time you will be able to experience the true magic of Costa Rica!
You will be met at the airport and taken to the Alajuela Backpackers hostel where you’ll be able to check in, relax and recover from your flight! If you arrive before 6:00pm a tasty welcome dinner is provided, and the rest of your time is yours to spend as you choose – exploring Alajuela’s bars and shops, getting to know your fellow volunteers or catching up on some sleep!
If you are on a flight departing Mexico on Saturday evening that arrives into San Jose at 00.10am on Sunday morning your airport pick up will be included however you will need to pay for an additional night’s accommodation - please arrange this with our office in advance.
As volunteers are not able to check into their rooms before 2pm on the arrival day, anyone arriving earlier than 12 midday that would like to have a room available for them will need to pay for an additional nights fee for accommodation - please arrange this with our office in advance.
An early morning start at about 8:30am when a member of the in-country team will pick you up from the hostel and take you to the i-to-i office for your orientation meeting. This will give you a good insight into Costa Rica - the culture, things to do and see, what to do in case of an emergency and much more! It can also be a good way to meet other i-to-i travellers and ask any questions you may have.
After orientation you will transfer to your homestay in Santa Barbara de Heredia. On arrival in Santa Barbara you will be introduced to your homestay family and you will be able to settle in to your new home! Before you relax too much though you will need to take a Spanish language test at the language school so that they can assess your level of Spanish and plan your classes accordingly. You will then also be shown how to get from your homestay accommodation to the projects.
Breakfast and dinner included
After breakfast you’ll have a short trip to the language school where you will have your first 4 hour lesson! Lessons take place from 8am to 12pm with a 20 minute break and you will be amazed how much you will learn in this time. After you have had lunch you will then go onto your project where you will meet the staff and children and get straight to work! There will be different activities to get involved in but you will be helping to look after the children by drawing, singing songs, playing games as well as getting involved in office work, cleaning, teaching basic English after school hours and various activities as per the needs of the project.
During the rainy season, your scheduled day may be altered to working with children in the mornings and then taking the Spanish lesson in the afternoon. Your exact schedule will be discussed with you when you arrive at the Language School.
Breakfast and dinner included
You will be carrying on with your language lessons in the morning and working at the project in the afternoon getting to know what the children like and keeping them entertained with your new found Spanish skills.
No previous experience is needed for the project but any specific skills you might have would be greatly appreciated! All we ask is that you are adaptable, flexible, enthusiastic, hard working and willing to give 110%!
Breakfast and dinner included
It’s the weekend and time to explore! On Saturday you will be taken to La Fortuna to see the Arenal volcano and to spend some time at the Baldi hotsprings – what a great way to finish your first week!
On Sunday you are free to do as you wish! Santa Barbara de Heredia is a beautiful mountain town with lots of things to do and see with plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding forests taking in waterfalls and beautiful scenery. If you are into bird watching then you won`t be disappointed or you could do some horse riding. One of the favourites of the area is touring organic farms and coffee plantations, we are sure you will find plenty to do, or you could just chill and enjoy!
Breakfast and dinner included
It’s time to bid a fond farewell to your new friends and host family and head back to the airport or off for further adventures! On departure day you will be taken back to the hostel in Alajuela. We also offer one free night in the Hostel Alajuela Backpackers before departure if you require, and the Hostel Alajuela Backpackers also offers transfers back to the airport.
Breakfast included
The projects we work with are local schools, day care centers and shelters located around the vicinity of Santa Barbara de Heredia. All these projects aim to give the children a better start in life with the general care and attention that all kids need from a young age and a good opportunity to gain a better education. Many of the children come from disadvantaged backgrounds where the parents need to go out to earn a living and place the children in the centres during the day.
This is the prefect project for anyone who loves children and wants to help. The schools and centres have dedicated staff but in many cases far too few to go around! By providing love and attention to children who’ve had a difficult start to life you’ll have a big impact on their lives. You should be flexible, proactive, have perseverance and be ready to work in a new environment, there will be various different activities to get involved in from playing games with the children to office work and helping in the kitchen!
You should also be prepared to handle difficult situations as the children come from very difficult backgrounds and may have been affected by child abuse, or have parents with drug problems or alcoholism. A genuine love for this kind of work is required, but you’ll get back so much love and gratitude from the children that their smiling faces means all the hard work is more than worth it!
The staff at the project are very dedicated to their work, but because of the pressures of household duties and the daily running of the centre they don’t always have as much time as they would like to spend with the children, playing games and giving them the love and attention they need. Your extra pair of willing hands will make a real difference to the centre, it’s staff and little residents.
You’ll be needed at the schools or centres for 2 to 4 hours each day. You will be involved in drawing pictures, playing games, singing, exercising with the children, and teaching basic English to the children after school hours and helping them with their homework. Many of them have not had the chance to speak with Westerners so it will be a great opportunity to practice their pronunciation. You will also get involved in day to day tasks around the centres such as helping with lunch, office tasks, cleaning and general maintenance work. Four hours of your day, Monday to Friday, will be spent at the language school working on your Spanish lessons. Your weekend is free time for you to relax and enjoy!
As the project has few resources you may like to bring some money with you as supplies can be bought locally so you can also help the local economy too, you will be surprised how much further your money will go in country too! Donations are not expected but would be very much appreciated. Think about games to play that do not need a lot of resources to keep the children amused. Please also note that there are several cultural considerations to consider when working at the centre. We ask you to cover any visible tattoos, piercings and ‘outrageous’ hairdos (we love them, don’t get us wrong, but they don’t tend to fit in with rural areas overseas as much…) and to dress modestly. It will also really help if you can speak some Spanish.
It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.
Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….
We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More
Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.
Once you book on to a project you'll receive an online account that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.
It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.
Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!
Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More
Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More
Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More
The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More
We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects through our Big Giving initiative to provide resources to those projects that really need it.
We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.
Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here
It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i-to-i experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won’t work. The good news is that no matter where your coming from we have already found a policy to suit you.
The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i-to-i, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking.
EU Customers – find out more here >>
Australian customers - find out more here >>
All other customers - find out more here >>
As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i-to-i team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you’re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.
During your time at the project you will be staying with a Costa Rican family in home stay accommodation. All of our home stays are located within a short walking distance of each other and are operated on a shared basis of two people sharing. We have been sending volunteers to these families for many years and all provide clean and safe accommodation whilst being extremely friendly. You will not only be welcomed into their home, but also their family.
Your new family will have limited English, but you will find you enjoy your time and get more out of the experience if you practice your Spanish as much as you can during your time with them. This is where your lessons really come into play! So remember - don’t be nervous about giving it a try!
You’ll have a shared bedroom with another project participant of the same gender as you. If we aren’t able to place two people together, we’ll make sure you’re as close together as you can be. Each bedroom has two single beds and storage space for your luggage. Basic bedding will be provided but you are welcome to bring a sleeping bag if you plan to go travelling at the weekends. We’d recommend that you bring your own padlock to keep your valuables secure.
There is a shared family living space so you might like to take items such as playing cards or books to bring in to the family space. Your new family will be keen to spend time chatting and getting to know you and we’d encourage you to get as involved in family life as much as possible.
The bathrooms will be on a shared basis with the family and have running water, shower and Western style toilet. There isn’t a huge demand for hot water because the weather is already hot, and you’ll find that you won’t miss hot showers all that much!
Breakfast and dinner are included; expect traditional Costa Rican basic food such as rice, beans, salad, meat, poultry, pasta, fish, etc.
Santa Barbara de Heredia is a small quaint mountain town about 35 kms from San Jose where you can find the real Costa Rican way of life! It is a compact town with colonial houses that nestles on the lower slopes of the Barva volcano about 5km north west of the town of Heredia.
You will be staying with a local homestay family during your stay who will let you know all about their home town.
All of the homestays are a short bus journey from the projects so you should budget approximately US$15 a week.
Costa Rica, dubbed the rich coast by Columbus, was a melting pot of cultural diversity long before the Europeans came, with Mesoamerican and South American groups settling on the land. The area was not defined by one tribe or group but a mix of indigenous people. Faced with Indian resistance and tropical diseases, it took the Spanish around 60 years to colonise the country and Cartago. The central highlands was founded as a colony in 1563. The colony soon diminished in importance, however, as there was not a large Indian workforce to sustain it, it was far removed from major trading routes. Costa Rica became somewhat of a poor relation to other Spanish-seized nations despite the gradual establishment of cities in the fertile central highlands during the 1700s. Costa Rica’s status saw a turnaround in the 19th century as it gained full independence (1838) and achieved economic growth through coffee exports. Today it has a healthy economy driven by its growing industries that include tourism and electronics, and is the most affluent country in Central America.
A peace-loving and forward thinking nation, Costa Rica held its first democratic elections in 1889 and abolished its army in 1948 to invest in the country’s social and cultural needs. Despite a brief dictatorship and a six week civil war in the first half of the twentieth century, Costa Rica has achieved political stability and has managed to escape military dictatorships and violence that has befallen its neighbours.
Costa Rica is like Dr. Who’s tardis: it’s a small country but there is a vast array of species and natural beauty residing within its borders. It contains round 5 per cent of the world’s biodiversity and a quarter of the country is designated a national park or reserve. With 26 national parks, Costa Rica is renowned for its progressive approach to conservation and ecotourism. Parque Nacional Corcovado boasts the largest primary rainforest on the American Pacific coastline and is home to around 140 mammal species including the endangered Baird’s Tapir, jaguars and howler monkeys, as well as crocodiles and sharks on the coastal track of the park. The country’s turtle haven, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, lies on the Caribbean coast and its where Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback turtles lay their eggs. Getting to the park is an adventure in itself since it can only be reached by sea or air.
To get closer to the clouds, Costa Rica’s volcanoes provide the perfect vehicle. The country houses around 100 volcanoes with only a handful active. Volcán Irazú, the country’s highest volcano at over 3400m, is active and its last major eruption was in 1963. It makes for a worthwhile trek to the summit where it’s possible to see the Pacific and Caribbean on rare clear days. For night owls, the active Volcán Arenal is best viewed from afar when the sun goes down for a chance of seeing it spouting spectacular explosions of hot orange lava. The Arenal Hanging Bridges, which consist of 15 suspension bridges in front of the volcano, provide great views of the volcano and the surrounding rainforest. Close to the volcano is Laguna de Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica, often hailed as one of the best windsurfing spots in the world. White water rafting, horse back riding and fishing are also popular activities in the area.
With an abundance of wildlife, rainforests and natural wonders to choose from in Costa Rica, it is also worth exploring the acclaimed Monteverde cloud forest. Lauded for its enormous range of plant and wildlife species, it’s a full on jungle experience with muddy trails and thick clouds hovering overhead. Adding to the area’s uniqueness is the Quaker community which settled close by in a town also known as Monteverde in the 1950s.
Sandwiched between the Pacific and Caribbean, Costa Rica has no shortage of fine beaches, whether white or black sand, tranquil or high spirited. On the pacific coast, Domincal is a cosy beach community and popular surfing destination with various national reserves and parks within easy travelling distance. One of the highlights on the Caribbean coast is Punta Uva which is picture postcard personified. The Nicoya Peninsula, meanwhile, is among other things, a hub for idyllic beaches from the secluded charms of Mal Pais to surfers’ paradise Santa Teresa.
If you come across random large stone spheres, these are just another of country’s unexpected and unique features. The existence of the spheres, which range from a few centimetres to 2 metres in diameter, were discovered in the 1930s and it’s not known why, what or who, but they are believed to have been made around 200BC to 1600 CE. Around 300 have been found so far in various part of the country.
It’s simple: dry, hot weather is like honey to a bee for tourists, but during the rainy season, you’ll find less crowds and usually cheaper hotel rates. To avoid the crowds and also a chance of dry weather, late April and May along with mid October to mid December are the best bet since the dry season tends to run from late December to mid April. The rain may hamper sunbathing but it doesn’t take away from the natural diversity of the country. Easter week is one of the busiest times especially in and around beach resorts. It’s hot year round with the coast boasting the hottest temperatures, averaging 89ºF (32ºC), while the highlands are relieved by cooler temperatures at night.
Like most Latin American countries, if you want to get around, bus is the way to go. Since the population is largely concentrated to the centre of the country, this is where roads and buses are most abundant. San Jose is the main departure point and depending on where you want to travel to and from, it is sometimes easier to return to San Jose to take the next leg of your journey. Buses vary from crowded old school buses to air conditioned luxury. But you get what you pay for and for long distance journeys on direct buses will get you to your destination an hour or two earlier than the cheaper corriente or normal variety that stop on demand. Buses are at their most crowded during major holidays, especially Easter, and at weekends and on Mondays and Fridays. In San José the majority of buses leave from what is commonly known as Le Coca Cola, the former site of the bottling factory and most services stop at 10pm.
Car rental is a popular option but it can be expensive and you need to be prepared to deal with unruly drivers and the occasional potholed roads. For long journeys, flying is good way to get to your destination quicker and domestic airlines like Nature Air and Sansa offer good rates and fly to cities as well as remote destinations.
Taxis are a good way to get to remote areas and around towns and cities. Agree on a fare before you set off, and for shorter journeys make sure the metre is switched on. It’s worth noting that taxi drivers tend to identify areas by landmarks rather than by address so it helps if you know what your destination is near.
The cosmopolitan bustle of capital city San José is far removed from the natural wonders of Costa Rica, but with most journeys beginning and ending in the city it’s a good place to while away a few days. Although there are few reminders of its colonial past what with skyscrapers, department stores and fast food chains dominating the city skyline, its museums, plazas and surrounding areas provide an alternative look at Costa Rican life. Museo de Jade, one of the country’s most renowned museums, offers a look at the world’s largest collection of American jade, together with various archaeological exhibits. Built in 1897, Teatro Nacional, the national theatre, is one of the city’s most striking buildings with marble staircases and gilded ceilings. For immersion in city life, the main market, Mercado Central, is good way to meet locals and find a bargain, while for people watching, head to the parks such as Parque Nacional and Parque Central.
San José is also the country’s transport hub and is the best base to explore from. Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo is a the closest national park to the city, less than an hours drive away, and amongst its lush vegetation it’s possible to capture the sight of quetzals, eagles, jaguars. You can also view the park from the comfort of cable cars and see flora and fauna that would otherwise go unseen by taking the hiking route. La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a nature park one hour from the city that features five waterfalls and a butterfly observatory. Also within striking distance of the city is one of the oldest national parks in the country, Parque Nacional Volcán Poás, with this being Costa Rica, an active volcano is the main attraction.
www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet are leaders in the travel guide sector and their website is a great source of travel information.
www.fco.gov.uk
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website provides up-to-date political news, travel advice and information on visas.
www.natureair.com
Airline Nature Air offers domestic flights, as well as services to Nicaragua and Panama.
www.flysansa.com
Domestic airline Sansa has flights to major and remote locations and the site also has links to domestic airlines for Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.
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