Coast Rica Orosi Valley Testimonials

We were working directly with an active member of the church we were building benches for. We got feedback from families who fed us lunches and dinners that they appreciated the work we were doing. Federico was great! We were really grateful to have him all to ourselves! The information he shared our first night there about cultural differences and what to expect was very helpful. 

The free time was perfect! A couple hours to do our own thing each afternoon/evening was good to reflect on the day and refresh before having a meal with a local family. The extensive touring was very informative and fun without being rushed.

We loved the food, getting to learn more Spanish, learning new skills that were used to help the community, and getting to know so much about the country and valley. We are so grateful for this opportunity and all that Federico provided during our stay as well as how helpful Norma and Kimberly were in planning and preparing to go.

Lori Bane
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
March, 2025

Amazing to see another culture and how they live. My children were amazed at how small houses were but everyone seemed happy. More is not always better. We were able to communicate even though there was a language barrier. It was a wonderful experience.
Our guide, Federico, was amazing. He knows so much about the local culture and community. He was a travel guide, interpreter, chef, driver and friend all wrapped up into one. He is an incredible person. - Jennifer Hilger, July 2014

We worked hard all week to extend a concrete patio and put up the first part of a concrete barrier on one side; we could clearly see the results of our hard work at the end of the week! We had Wednesday off for some touring around the area and a trip to the hot springs, which was awesome. We also got rained out of our work on part of one afternoon, and none of the students complained about having a little downtime at the house! We also had the chance to visit a coffee farm after finishing work one day, which was very pleasant. There was PLENTY of food, and we all enjoyed all of it! Our hosts were so gracious and generous with their hospitality. We especially liked all the local fruit and juice. We also had a great breakfast every day at the house.

Federico was a wonderful guide for the program; he knew all of the people we worked with, was clear in his directions to our group as we worked, and gave the students enough independence to make their contributions feel important. The one thing we liked the least...well, this is nobody's fault, but the narrow, windy roads sometimes made a few of us feel a little carsick! But Federico was an excellent driver. It was a great experience for everyone. We were very well-prepared with the guidebooks and with communications with Federico. Always, we met as a group after dinner to talk about the plans for the next day, and then Federico would confirm everything before we left the house in the morning. Our students really appreciated meeting the local families, and some even tried out their Spanish!

Kristin Benjamin
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
June, 2025

“We got to do a significant amount of cultural immersion and exchange with the local community: understand their way of life and values, participate in their traditions (tamales on Christmas, for example), eat in family members' homes every day, and share our perspectives with them. We could see where our program fees would improve the local community (construction materials, families hosting us for meals, etc). We worked on a project that was right-sized for our small group of 2 people (building tables at a local community center) and were able to see the results at the end.

We had enough personal downtime to process our experiences within the community, especially with a small group of 2. Accommodations were good. There was enough space, and we enjoyed having coffee and snacks in the kitchen and trying local Costa Rican cooking. Some of the things we liked best were the cultural exchange and project work, a leisure trip to local hot springs, and our coordinator, Federico!

Federico was great. He spent a lot of time with us, communicating what to expect and soliciting our feedback on how to get the most out of our time in Orosi Valley. He did lots of translation. We also tried using our limited Spanish to interact and apps like Google Translate to carry on direct conversations.”

Keith Torluemke
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
November, 2024

Federico was super accommodating and tried to respond to every request that someone in our group made -- whether it was about food, free time or something else. From my perspective, everything went very smoothly. I thought the food was delicious. I especially liked the lentil patties at Gustavo's house. Going to try and make those at home one day!  - Emilia Askari   February 2015

I wanted this experience to be a "reset" for my life and personal outlook. That goal was achieved. Since returning home I've made some major decisions that I will implement in the next year (No, I;m not retiring to Costa Rica! But you never know. The pull is strong.). One of the things that interested me about Globe Aware was its stance against volunteering in orphanages. I agree completely with that. (...) My experience with the local family was extremely good. - Mary Lou Bernardo, November 2012

Seeing the homeowner so happy with what was being done, and how active and interested the community is in the project really showed us how meaningful our work was. It was good to see how happy and content people are with the basics when they are surrounded by a loving family. Federico was very good at explaining his country and culture and how it is different from the U.S. -   Ann Ackerman    January 2015

Alex,

Everything went really well!  Federico and I had no issues meeting up at the airport, and from there everything was great.  He was a blast to spend time with, and helped provide a lot of perspective on the local culture, not to mention the wildlife and vegetation.  He's practically a walking encyclopedia.  He also set up transportation for me to visit the LaPaz waterfall park on the morning of my departure, which turned out to be really cool and something I'm very glad I did.  I wasn't aware of it until the night before I left when Federico suggested it.  But getting to see toucans so close up was cool, and the area where they let you hold test tubes of nectar while hummingbirds whiz around you was probably a once in a lifetime experience.  The waterfalls were really dramatic too.  And I got to really experience the true meaning of cloud forest after getting rained on while there.  

“This was my 5th time volunteering with Globe Aware (Cuba, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and now Costa Rica). Federico was our Costa Rica coordinator and he was EXCELLENT. He was very friendly and knowledgeable, accommodated our schedule needs, and made us feel very welcome. I would recommend the Costa Rica Orosi Valley to my friends and family. The project was a good mixture of hard work (mixing cement to make concrete) and "easy" work (helping decorate a community center for an event).”

Kyle Rowley
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. November, 2023

The food was wonderful. It was lovingly prepared and served. We were humbled by the sincere hospitality and welcoming spirit of the persons with whom we dined. Many thanks to each of the families who opened their homes and shared a few hours of their lives with us. We are richer for the experience. (...) Our accomodations were exceptionally good.

The experience turned conventional thinking on its head. I left the country asking, 'which was the rich nation/people and which one was poor?'

Upon learning that I am a beekeper here in the US, our coordinator arranged for me to meet a beekeeper in Orosi. This kind woman and her sister took us into their farm and shared no less than two hours of their time showing us how she kept her bees and how they cultivated their land and prepared their produce for market. They sent us away with bags of produce that would have cost hundreds of dollars had we bought it here in Raleigh at the farmers' market, and the most amazing part was that they had never met or spoken with anyone at Globe Aware prior to the telephone call from our coordinator a few days before our visit. This anecdote was emblematic of the entire visit. Similar experiences occurred daily in the homes and on the farms of the people whom we met. Their sense of welcoming, of community, and family pride was one I have never before experienced. I am overcome with emotion when I speak of this experience sharing it with firends here in the US. They must think me mad because I often have to stop mid sentence to compose myself to finish my story. Bravo Globe Aware!" - Geoff Morrison, March 2013

The project was something that the community needed to be done and it was fun to do it. We enjoyed the kids in the school who were eager to learn and show us their culture! What we liked best was meeting the people in the community and eating meals with the families. Federico was incredibly helpful and fun!    Patricia Oppenheim    February 2015

The local people were so appreciative and welcoming. There was plenty of free time to unwind. The food was great and they even made vegetarian meals for my daughter. It was amazing to see another culture and how they live. My children were amazed at how small the houses were but everyone seemed happy. More is not always better. We were able to communicate even though there was a language barrier. It was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Federico, was amazing. He knows so much about the local culture and community. He was a travel guide, interpreter, chef, driver and friend all wrapped up into one. He is an incredible person. - Jennifer Hilger July 2014

The accommodations were much better than the literature led us to believe. Wonderful time. Federico is the best. Lovely people and community.
Always a gift to step outside our "rat race" and see a group who are verrrrry content with their lives and appreciative. A gem of a country. - Patricia Fitzharris, November 2014

“I really enjoyed helping out a local family and also worked on a project to sand and paint benches for the community center. I felt like these projects were meaningful and helpful to the community. There was plenty of free time, so I got to explore some of the community.

I definitely enjoyed the food and always got seconds if I wanted them, and the accommodations were amazing. I really enjoyed the setup of the lodge. I really enjoyed Federico and how he interacted with our group and got to know us.”

Tessa Omer
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. March, 2024

“Costa Rica Orosi ValleyThe project at the community center and church was meaningful to the community, and therefore it was meaningful to us - we appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the restoration and beautification of these important structures. The visit to the school was also a highlight. My observation is that both my children and the Costa Rican children were impacted by the experience.
The opportunity to connect with members of the local community and experience a level of cultural immersion was the best part of the program. We met individuals and families of all ages and generations, each with their own interests, passions, and stories to tell. We gained exposure to the language, family life, typical homes and businesses, schools, church, farming, and so much more.
A highlight was visiting Paco's farm - it was beautiful, and we enjoyed bearing witness to the pride and joy he felt. My kids loved their time at the local elementary school, connecting with kids of all ages through play and comparing the US vs. Costa Rican way of life. They learned how much they had in common! And it was wonderful for all the kids to practice English/Spanish together.
We chose to participate as a family, and this was the perfect project for us - everyone had work to do that was appropriate for their age/skill level and allowed them to grow. We worked both individually and together, which was great. My daughter has already spread the word about Globe Aware to her friends and is interested in returning to this project with one or more of them. I haven't had a chance to think about which other programs interest me/us, but we are definitely interested in learning more and considering the options!”

Jennifer Maniscalco
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica.
July, 2024

“I know we really helped this family. In addition, we worked on a community project as well. I liked the location, the people, Federico, and the work. We so love our experiences with Globe Aware. They are meaningful, fun, and mind expanding!”

Sandy Reilly
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. November, 2023

This trip once again reinforced how incredibly fortunate we are to have the things we have in the US. Everywhere else people make do and live with so much less. It's humbling. Federico made the program for me. He was gracious, patient and always looking out to provide the best experience for all of us. He went over and above what I expected and was a really wonderful host for my family, my friends and all the people in the group. When we had a health issue with one of the boys he made sure everything was taken care of and Nick got to the clinic. He was always thinking ahead around what he needed to do to help maximize our experience as part of the program and as a guest in Costa Rica. He integrated with the group and became a friend - not just a guide or manager. The combination of his wit, humor, personality and listening skills are wonderful. Katie was only with us a couple of days but all the kids loved her and appreciated how well she connected with them. My 2 daughters (& husband next time) look forward to future vacations with Globe Aware.  - Karen Gilboux June 2014

My volunteer project was to help out at the . And the woman who maintains the center was extremely thankful for our help. The food was delicious. The woman who cooked most of my meals was named "Mama Lu" and she made more then enough and was always trying to give me second helping. Also she was accommodating to another volunteer who was a vegetarian, which I thought was excellent. Most of the meals were cooked with fresh vegetables her family farmed that day. Talk about farm to table cuisine! People were so welcoming. I never felt like a visitor I felt like I knew these people for years it was a surprising experience. Also I'm native New Yorker and it was nice to see how people relax and aren't so fast paced in everyday life. - Stephen Ward   April 2014

Without Globe Aware, we would never have visited Orosi Valley and had this experience. This is such an exclusive experience but also so rewarding at the same time. The balance was perfect. The first half of the trip focused on working, then the second half was on leisure activities. Before beginning work at the community center, we had the chance to meet the local families that would use the community center. Having this understanding beforehand made our work project meaningful.

Sarah Park
Orosi Valley, Costa Rica. July 2022

I felt like our group had a positive impact on the community and was able to learn about Costa Rican culture.

The food was outstanding and was very accommodating to our groups dietary needs. - Rebekah Dunstan, March 2015