Based in Tulum, we will start the week by exploring the sublime natural beauty of Sian Ka’an. This Biosphere Reserve is composed of a delicate balance of ecosystems, complete with tropical forest and coral reefs, blue lagoons, hundreds of bird species and other animal life, and untouched beaches. We will visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Muyil before enjoying a boat ride through the turquoise lagoons, mangroves and Mayan waterways. On our way back, we will float back down through these clear, fresh water canals using our life jackets as a floating seat!

The next few days, we wake up the mind and body with morning yoga classes in preparation for our continued daily Spanish lessons. Don’t worry, we won’t be stuck in a classroom for this, but are instead being taught outside in the shady garden. After a few hours of absorbing everything we possibly can, we delve deeper into the culture by learning to cook authentic Mexican food and having a cultural exchange with local children. Every day has something new in store for us!

After leaving Tulum, we will meet our diving instructors in Cozumel and get into the headspace of the underwater world. We will be living and breathing diving for a few days! We will be doing our learning in the pool first, ensuring we have all the skills for a lifetime of safe scuba diving ahead of us. Following this, we will head out on the sea to do dives from a boat.

Our time in Mexico has unfortunately come to an end. After spending our final day in Mexico relaxing on the white sand beaches of Cozmel, it’s time to fly to one of the happiest countries on earth - Costa Rica! This might stem from the laid-back Tico outlook combined with the incredible model of eco-stewardship Costa Rica boasts.

We travel straight to an animal rescue center that is dedicated to protecting and helping endangered Costa Rican wildlife with all means available. This rescue center is home to a variety of animals that were rescued from the illegal animal trade, which is unfortunately still functioning in parts of the country. The goal is to help the animals recover from both physical and psychological wounds that have arisen from their past suffering.

We support the center with volunteer work such as working in the animal kitchen, assisting with the sloth garden, helping with the compost, and enriching their homes. We’re sure that after a couple of days you’ll feel as at home at the center as the spider monkeys and won’t want to leave!

It's time to head to Monteverde, right next door to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. We will fully immerse ourselves in the culture of Costa Rica by living under the same roof as local families for a few days. This homestay gives us the opportunity to live and breathe the local culture, make friends as well as memories, and explore destinations in a truly authentic way.

While in Monteverde, we'll experience the coffee culture and learn about the process of sustainable coffee farming. We will also head out for a hike through the Cloud Forest Reserve, keeping our eyes open for the incredibly diverse flora and fauna on offer. This is also home to what we know as The Great Divide, meaning that as you stand on the separation between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, we will be on two continents at once!