Everything You Need to Know About Camp Pura Vida 2023
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We want to let you in on a little secret…
Camp Pura Vida is NOT your typical summer camp experience.
This isn’t some “I just paid a fortune to send my kid to a drab multi-purpose room where they will make me yet another awesome finger painting for the trash bin (sorry-I meant the scrap book) while I get to shlep to the office for my usual 9-5 grind” kind of camp. No, no, folks. Camp Pura Vida is liberation for the entire family! It is adventure, it is relaxation, it is delicious food and having fun with other families. The best part is, everyone is invited—grandma, grandpa, aunties, babies and friends—no one is too old or too young, bring them all!
Here are 5 reasons why Camp Pura Vida stands out from the rest:
For Camp Pura Vida, the family travels to Costa Rica together.
During the day, kids ages 3-17 are engaged in a super rad and educational summer camp program.
Parents are free from 9am-3pm to do what you please—explore, rest, work or mix-and mingle with others in the travel tribe.
You have a travel tribe! And these folks are AMAZING! If you are a culture loving, adventure seeking type of family, we are your people.
The Family Go Global travel team is here for all of your pre-trip planning and on-the-ground concierge needs.
You read that right—while the kids are actively engaged in learning and fun at Camp Pura Vida during the day, adults are free to explore and enjoy! So whether you are a digital nomad working your day-to-day from abroad, or you are on full vacay mode and want to take a surf lesson or hike up to the waterfalls, (or simply catch up on a good book and much needed nap!) the day is yours to do what you like!
In the afternoons and evenings families spend leisure time together or meet up with friends for a beach-side sunset and dinner. There are also an array of short trips that you can take on the weekends, such as a visit to the closest local volcano or adventure activities like river rafting or zip lining. Plus! As an added bonus, in addition to rocking out with your own family, the Family Go Global travel experience means you get an entire tribe of friends to explore with and support you on your journey.
See! Camp Pura Vida is that GOOD LIFE. That Pure-Life/Good-Life that only Costa Rica can offer. We’re talking about pristine beaches, rainforest magic, typical dishes to warm the belly, and some of the kindest people you will ever meet. That is the Tico or Costa Rican way! Let Family Go Global be your ambassador of goodness. We create a unique cross-cultural family travel adventure that balances best-of tourist activities with authentic and off-the-beaten path local experiences and we keep your kids actively engaged in a summer camp learning opportunity that doesn’t feel like school! Psssst… did we mention that our Chief Travel Officer is Costa Rican? Yup, we have the inside scoop!
At this point you are probably thinking, WHAT?
I get to be on a real vacation with time to myself AND still have my kids in tow?
How do I make this happen?
By any means necessary, you just have to make this happen! Convince your boss to let you work remotely for a week or two. Cash out on those vacation weeks. Use your miles or credit card points to book flights. Do whatever it takes. Trust us, it’s paradise and you will want to be there!
Getting To Camp Pura Vida
Your entire family travels to Costa Rica together at your convenience. You can stay for a week, or two or three! Camp is offered for three weeks between July 10 - 28th and you can pick the weeks that work best for your travel schedule. Families arrange their own flights and accommodations based on their desired schedule and personal preference. We just recommend that you make it to Guanacaste no later than the Sunday morning before camp to participate in the welcome dinner and orientation.
The closest airport to camp, under an hour drive, is Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), which offers international service from many major cities. The other option would be to fly into the capital, Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO), which is a 4-5 hour drive to Guanacaste. You can rent a car for the utmost flexibility in getting around or we can help you arrange transportation from either airport. If you chose not to rent a car our on-the-ground partners can arrange airport transfers to your hotel or rental.
Where to Stay
In terms of accommodations, our Family Go Global Concierge Service is at the ready to connect you with the best option for your family. The Guanacaste region offers a variety of options in terms of places to stay. For those seeking luxury accommodations or a beach-front stay, you can rent a luxury home, stay in a boutique hotel or opt for one of the regions all-inclusive resorts. There are also a plethora of private home or apartment rentals available. Our recommendation would be to stay in the Playa Grande, Huacas or Tamarindo areas to be closest to the school. We will offer an optional shuttle daily pick up for the kids to and from camp between Playa Conchal (N) and Playa Langosta (S), the cost is based on the number of kids being transported and there is a minimum amount of sign ups needed to offer this service.
The Day-To-Day
From 9am-3pm, youth campers are actively engaged in Camp Pura Vida, our bilingual summer day-camp experience held at an exclusive private school location not far from Tamarindo Beach. The school is located in a quiet residential area and is a secured environment with 3 acres of indoor and outdoor space. The campus features state of the art classrooms and is replete with a resort style swimming pool, soccer field and art studio. Day-to-day camp activities run the interdisciplinary gamut, providing campers with a well rounded summer learning experience. These include storytelling, performing arts, visual arts, sports, surfing, oceanography, eco-sustainability, gardening, engineering animal care and more.
Core teachers and Camp Counselors are made up of a combination of international and local teaching staff that are knowledgable in a variety of subjects. They are trained in youth-centered and project based teaching as well as socio-emotional development—allowing them to meet each student where they are at academically and socially. The schools overarching values of respect, peace, kindness and communication are at the core of the camp experience and a lot of emphasis is placed on communicating cross-culturally and working as a community to problem solve and leave a positive impact on each other and the planet.
Parents are invited to tour the school and attend a welcome orientation on your first Monday morning of camp. We will even have some delicious Costa Rican coffee and treats for you (Pura Vida!). By 9:30 we send you off to enjoy the rest of your day. After camp, in the afternoons and evenings you get to spend that quality time and make memories with your family. You may take a sunset stroll at the beach, or meet up with other members of the tribe for dinner and some extra play time. Either way, how you spend your free time is up to you.
Should we plan to stay in Costa Rica longer than a week?
If you can swing it, ABSOLUTELY! Many families chose to make a summer of it and stay for several weeks, spreading their time between Camp Pura Vida and exploring other regions of the country. Some of the destinations within driving distance that are definitely worth checking out would be San Jose, Arenal Volcano, Rincon De La Vieja Volcano, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio National Park. If you have the time, we also highly recommend that you explore the Caribbean Coast as well for a completely different cultural vibe, check out Tortugero, Cahuita National Park and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.
That said, if you only plan to attend a week of camp you can still have a very rich travel experience without switching your hotel base. There is so much to experience in the Guanacaste region alone, even within a 2 hour drive of camp, which makes an array of day trips and adventure activities possible. The first thing to do is to reserve your space at Camp Pura Vida. We will then send you a destination guide with a bunch or recommendations and you can start building your Costa Rican vacation around camp.
Again, count on the Family Go Global concierge to help if you want a coast to coast experience.
Ultimately, we know that the Camp Pura Vida experience will be a life-changing experience for you and your family. But don’t just take our word for it, why not hear it straight from the source, our Family Go Global Travel Tribe. These are folks that have been on one or more adventures with us and have experienced first hand the joy of traveling with Family Go Global. There is nothing like being supported by knowledgeable travel experts, especially when it means you get to spend more time having fun with the ones you love!
About Family Go Global
Since 2013, Family Go Global has hosted globe-trotting families on unique bilingual summer camp experiences that put learning right up there with FUN. We have hosted hundreds of people across the globe and partnered with world class international schools, globally acclaimed art studios and the top language institutes in Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Costa Rica. Our summer camp experience is designed to fully immerse you in the local experience and helps build international bridges across the globe by engaging our youngest citizens in meaningful cultural exchanges that help to foster appreciation and respect for all of humanity.
Exploring the world with Family Go Global looks a little bit like this…
