Pura Vida! Study abroad for everyone. Let's face it. Everyone benefits from an enriching experience abroad, but not everyone can take off for a month to live on the other side of the Atlantic. That is why we offer this closer to home alternative. The Pura Vida Experience is a trip to neighboring Costa Rica designed for middle and upper school students and, yes, the families are invited too! The PVE is a shorter option for students and families that seek an exotic adventure for a week to ten days--perfect for Winter, Spring and Summer breaks. Like all SV programs, the Pura Vida experience is a chance to make personal discoveries in an incredible country, all while having the time of your life with friends and family. So what can you expect from the PVE? • Fly through the rainforest canopy hundreds of feet above the forest floor
• Practice your Spanish learning to cook from the locals
• Visit one of the world's most active volcanoes
• Help the locals by spending an afternoon volunteering with underprivileged children
• Catch some waves at the beach of one of Costa Rica's most famous national parks
• And much, much more!
 The Pura Vida Experience Vital Information
How much does the program cost?
The program fee varies according to seasonal rates and the options students their families select as part of their program. An estimated price range is $1,500 - $2,500.
How do I enroll?
Click on the "Enrollment" button at the top of the screen and follow the steps of our simple application process.
How do I find more information?
Download the PVE Info Packet - Click here
What is the Pura Vida Experience?
Study abroad is not just a summer away or a jaunt overseas. Life provides us with ample opportunity to experience and learn from another country and its people. In this case, that opportunity is in a neighboring country just two and half hours from Miami. The SV Pura Vida experience was designed to offer a cultural experience close to home for shorter periods that coincide with American school vacations times. This seven to ten day trip is perfect for middle and high school students who want to take advantage of the Winter and Spring breaks. It is also a great opportunity for families to share the experience with their children. While the PVE is not as long as our month-long Spain program, it offers students the chance to see one of the most diverse countries in the world, practice their Spanish and even help the community in the process.
What does the PVE include?
The Pura Vida Experience can be tailored to fit the specific needs of each student group, but Student Voyage has designed the trip with several key focus points. First, students and their families will experience the veritable natural playground that is Costa Rica. From dangling from the treetops in the rainforest canopy to surfing in the Pacific, it is nearly impossible to be board in Costa Rica. Second, through the help of our national guides and cultural activities, students will learn about the Costa Rican people, affectionately known as Ticos, and their culture. Lastly, students will have the opportunity to spend a day volunteering with disabled Tico children. Meeting these individuals and experiencing their vibrancy despite serious challenges is perhaps the most revealing look into the heart of Costa Rica.
Why Costa Rica?
The truth is that Costa Rica possesses a unique blend of characteristics that make it a fascinating and enriching travel destination. In fact, the reasons are endless, but here are a few: • While holding only 0.1% of the world’s landmass, it contains a full 5% of the world’s biodiversity.
• Located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, its proximity makes it a perfect location for week-long Spring and Winter break trips.
• Costa Rica abolished its military in 1948, the only Latin American country to do so, and it has had the most stable democracy in the Latin World for nearly a century.
• Costa Ricans, known as Ticos, live according to the “Pura Vida” lifestyle, which is an emphasis on relaxed living and a positive attitude.
• Tico Spanish is slow and clearly pronounced, similar to Colombian Spanish making it a great country to refine one’s comprehension and speaking skills.
• And most importantly, because it is an opportunity to glimpse, albeit briefly, the hearts and minds of our neighbors in Central America.
Like all Student Voyage programs the PVE helps us shorten the human distance between ourselves and other inhabitants of the planet. With each encounter we build a small bridge by recognizing that in the global sense we have more that unites us than divides us—and we have a lot of fun in the process!
If you do not find the answers to your questions on this page or in the Costa Rica menu please call us at 727-490-4289 or email us at
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