Turrialba Experience
An eight-day service learning program in Costa Rica's Turrialba highlands: community projects, conservation workshops, and mountain adventure
Community Work and Highland Discovery in Turrialba
Students Do Real Work in Turrialba's Communities
Turrialba sits at roughly 2,100 feet in the valley that bears its name, an agricultural town in Costa Rica's Cartago province that most visitors bypass on the way to the Caribbean coast. This program takes students into the community rather than past it: three days of hands-on infrastructure work at a local school or community organization, alongside residents who bring context that classroom study can't replicate. A guest speaker on Day 2 frames the visit, covering Costa Rica's approach to conservation and the environmental and social systems that define this part of the country.
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A Waterfall Hike and a Working Dairy Farm
Between service days, the Turrialba valley offers a different kind of education. A moderate trail through the forest leads to Trillizas Waterfall, three cascades dropping into a cold river with a natural swimming hole at the base. The afternoon brings Finca La Florita, a small local dairy farm and an immersive introduction to Turrialba cheese: a semi-hard cow's milk variety with a designation of origin recognized across Costa Rica. Students meet the cows, try milking, and taste the finished product fresh from the source.
Day-by-day itinerary
This eight-day program moves between community service in the Turrialba valley and the region's natural highlights — a waterfall hike, a working dairy farm, and an evening bonfire with your local guide. Students spend three days contributing to a real infrastructure project at a local school or community organization, with conservation workshops and group reflection woven throughout.
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Day 1: ¡Bienvenidos a Costa Rica!
Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), where Offbeat staff will meet the group and escort you to your hotel in San José for check-in and a welcome orientation. Depending on arrival time, you'll join the group for your first Costa Rican dinner at a local restaurant.
Lodging: Hotel in San José
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Into the Turrialba Valley
After breakfast, the drive east to Turrialba takes about two hours, passing through sugarcane fields and coffee farms before reaching the base house that will be home for most of the program. After settling in, an afternoon guest speaker leads an educational workshop on conservation, the environment, and the ecological and social systems that make Costa Rica unique.
Lodging: Turrialba Base House
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Community Context and First Day of Service
The morning begins with a seminar walking students through the community's history, its current needs, and the role of the service project in addressing them. In the afternoon, students get to work: a hands-on maintenance initiative at a local school or community organization, guided by local leaders and volunteers who provide context throughout. The evening winds down with a movie night and snacks.
Lodging: Turrialba Base House
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: A Full Day of Service
Today is devoted entirely to the community project. Students return to the site and put in a full day of work, with a midday break back at the base house for lunch and a recharge before heading back out. Water breaks and group activities are woven throughout the day. The evening is yours: pool time and karaoke.
Lodging: Turrialba Base House
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Trillizas Waterfall and Finca La Florita
After breakfast, the group sets out on a moderate hike through forest trail to Trillizas Waterfall — three cascades tumbling into a clear river with a natural pool for swimming. In the afternoon, you'll visit Finca La Florita, a small local dairy farm, for a hands-on tour of Turrialba cheese production: meeting different breeds of milking cows, trying your hand at milking, and tasting the finished product straight from the source.
Lodging: Turrialba Base House
Day 6: Final Day of Service and Group Reflection
By now students know the project, the people, and the rhythms of the work. Today is the final push — completing the service project alongside community partners before sharing lunch together. After the last shift, the group gathers for a structured reflection: sharing what they've experienced, what surprised them, and how to carry those lessons home. That evening, your local guide leads a bonfire with stories and s'mores.
Lodging: Turrialba Base House
Day 7: Closing Activities and Back to San José
The morning is for final reflection and closing activities — a dedicated space to wrap up the Turrialba experience before leaving the valley. After lunch, the group travels back to San José for a farewell dinner together in the capital.
Lodging: Hotel in San José
Day 8: ¡Buen Viaje!
After final photographs and goodbyes with the local team, you'll head through immigration and board your flight home. The people you've met and the work you've done in Turrialba are yours to carry forward. Pura Vida.
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