Liberia, Costa Rica: Blue Zone Wellness | Winter 2025

Status

Open

Trip Destination

Liberia, Costa Rica

Approximate Price

See Cost Information Below

Trip Date

02/22/2025

TO

03/02/2025

Application Deadline

10/22/2024

Cost Information

Cost for Domestic Students: $500-$1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for International Students: $1000 (includes IFS + BWR Course)
Cost for Students Not Willing to Take the BWR Course: ~$5000 (Full amount of IFS)

Above costs are for International Field Studies, for other programs please see the approximate cost listed above.

Program Information

This opportunity is available to  all  Niagara College students who: 

    • Are currently enrolled in and returning to their  program at Niagara College: Open to All Programs.
    • Have not yet taken part in a Be World Ready IFS experience since beginning their studies at Niagara College 
    • Are in good academic standing at the time of selection and prior to departure 
    • Are actively enrolled in a program at Niagara College during the term(s) of travel 
    • Agree to enroll in and complete the General (SOCL 1128) or Liberal (IDPL 9103) elective course in the Winter 2025 term (January – April 2025) OR agree to pay the full amount of the trip if not participating in the Be World Ready Course (Up to ~6K, depending on IFS destination).
    • Students who do not wish to complete the 14-week Be World Ready course, during the Winter 2025 term will be required to attend 2 in-person pre-departure training sessions, complete the 3 module self-directed pre-departure training modules, and the post-experience in-person debrief. For this, you will receive a BWR certificate for your portfolio and a $500 BWR grant applied to your student account upon return.

Cost for Domestic Students for “Liberia, Costa Rica: Blue Zone Wellness” is: $500
Cost for International Students for “Liberia, Costa Rica: Blue Zone Wellness” is: $1000

 

Physical Intensity

Moderate - Walking around city, uneven terrain/inclines, sitting for day trips, longer periods of standing during site visits

Accommodations

8 Nights in Hotels, Round Trip Airfare

Meals

7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 Dinners

Steps to Apply

  1. First, complete the Eligibility Survey here to make sure you qualify.
    • 5 minutes to complete
  2. Click here to register for the “Liberia, Costa Rica: Blue Zone Wellness” IFS
    • Approx. 30 minutes to complete, you will need a digital photo of your passport
  3. Once confirmed, eligible students will receive the instructions, via email to make the $500-$1000 one-time payment by October 22nd, 2024 to confirm your seat on the IFS.**If not registering for the BWR course, you will be supplied the full flight amount to be paid upon confirmed registration, along with instructions for program payment by October 11th, 2024
  4. Receive email confirmation that your seat has been saved from [email protected].
  5. Get your suitcase out!

Liberia, Costa Rica: Blue Zone Wellness | Winter 2025

Join Be World Ready this Winter 2025 and experience the beauty and excitement of Costa Rica!  This country surely lives up to its motto. From its vast biodiversity, dedication to the environment, amazing scenery, to the enchanting and happy people that occupy it, the Pura Vida way of life will leave you forever wanting more! They say that seeing is believing and what better way to experience Costa Rica than by signing up today! Put travel and enhanced education on your calendar this Winter.  Costa Rica is waiting for you.

Learn firsthand about health and wellness in the Blue Zone community of the Nicoya Peninsula, which is one of five regions worldwide with a high number of people living over 100 years of age. Learn about why this region is known for longevity by studying their culture and lifestyle, as well as the physiology of aging and stress.  The program is based on the nine points defined by Dan Buettner, in his research for National Geographic about the Blue Zones in 2011 and added local cultural traditions. Buetnner has published 4 books around the topic and identified 9 common traits that Blue Zones share, as his “recipe for longevity”.

Educational and Resume Highlights

  • Learn firsthand about health and wellness in a Blue Zone community
  • Learn from the director of the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association
  • Visit the Marimba Forest, where you will learn Breathing and Yoga Nidra Exercises
  • Visit 1 of the 8 Indigenous Territories of Nicoya to learn about their crops, handicrafts, and their way of life
  • Learn from the Matambu Indigenous community
  • Stay at the Guachipelin Lodge where you will have a Canyon Canopy Tour

Tourist and Cultural Highlights

  • Tour the Marimba Forest
  • Hiking and beaches
  • Visit Poas Volcano National Park
  • Enjoy an immersive health and wellness experience

DEADLINE TO APPLY: OCTOBER 22nd, 2024

Travel Visa + Immigration Documentation:

Students are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) or ETIAS on their own; Be World Ready is not able to apply for any travel visa(s) or ETIAS on your behalf. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation 11 weeks before departure to apply for a Visa as long as you have confirmed your appointment date at [email protected]. All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges upon reentry to Canada. Travel restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada may change at any time. All travellers are responsible for remaining up to date with any restrictions and requirements for travel and re-entry to Canada leading up to and throughout their International Field Study. Niagara College Canada will assume no responsibility for any changes to governing body travel restrictions, required documentation for travel or any refused entry as a result of change. Travellers are encouraged to review the Government of Canada Website for the latest restrictions and requirements for entry to Canada, as well as to check entry requirements to their destination country as a Canadian citizen. If an ETIAS is not acquired, a visa appointment is not secured, or if a visa application is rejected, Niagara College and Be World Ready are unable to refund any payments made. All payments made towards the International Field Study are final.

All international or domestic students, in full-time or part-time* status, and in good academic standing at Niagara College, are eligible for a Be World Ready grant to help offset the cost of their international experience. You must be actively enrolled in studies during the term of travel to participate. International Field Studies participation is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS since beginning their studies at Niagara College. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready International Field Study must enroll in and successfully complete. Eligibility requirements can vary from term-to-term, and from one opportunity to the next. Please complete the eligibility quiz linked on the specific opportunity page to determine if you meet eligibility requirements.

*Part-time students, are defined by Be World Ready as those actively enrolled in a Niagara College program, taking a minimum of 2 classes during the term of travel that contribute to their program progression and credential completion. Students taking a class that does not contribute to a program would not qualify to participate in a Be World Ready International Field Study.

Day 1: February 22, 2025

Passport? Check. A bit of spending money? Check. Excited for the most incredible break week ever? Triple check! Make your way to Toronto Pearson International Airport to check in for your direct flight to Liberia, Costa Rica! Get comfy, enjoy the flight, and try to catch a few winks as the excitement begins upon landing!

Your private transportation will stop for lunch, and deliver you to your hotel where you’ll be greeted with a Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: February 23, 2025

Wake up bright and early, grab some breakfast, followed by a relaxing Yoga Nidra! Enjoy a city tour of Santa Cruz in an open tour bus to see the town and learn about the rich history and culture of Santa Cruz. Grab dinner in town and then enjoy the traditional music of the Municipal Philharmonic!

Included (B, L, D)

Day 3: February 24, 2025

Enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast then grab your bathing suit as you head out to the Diria National Park where you’ll get to experience bird watching and wildlife, and take a dip in the scenic river with waterfalls! Once you’ve dried off, head out to the Marimba Forest to see the the beautiful trees used to make marimbas, the national instrument and symbol of culture and tradition of Costa Rica.

Enjoy lunch in town followed by a talk with the founder and director of the Nivoya Peninsula Blue Zone Association, Jorge Vindas. Enjoy some free time in the evening to grab dinner and explore the town!

Included: (B, L)

Day 4: February 25, 2025

Once again, enjoy a typical Costa Rican breakfast then grab your bathing suit as you head out to the ocean today! Visit the Factory of Blue Zones to learn about their support of the values, culture, and high-quality foods of this area. Afterwards, head to lunch at Lola’s Restaurante, one of the most famous beachfront restaurants in Guanacaste, named after a pig who still resides there today. After lunch, take a dip in the ocean before departing towards La Senda in Tamarindo where you’ll get to experience the biggest labyrinth in the world! Enjoy dinner from farm to table at La Senda.

Included: (B, L, D)

Day 5: February 26, 2025

Head out for the day to Nicoya to visit one of the 8 indigenous territories in Matambu and learn about their handicrafts, their crops, their way of life, and about finding purpose and belonging. After lunch, visit Coopepilangosta R.L., to learn how to brew and taste coffee produced using the Matambu Process. Proceed to learn about their pottery making process, then depart for Samara Beach with dinner at the resort.

Included: (B, L, D)

Day 6: February 27, 2025

Pack your day bag and head out for a lecture of healthy cooking! Learn about the role Costa Rica plays in promoting wellness. Take part in a cooking class  and enjoy your creation for lunch! This will be followed by a permaculture farm visit, to learn about permaculture principles to reconnect with nature.

Included: (B, L, D)

Day 7: February 28, 2025

Head out after breakfast to Samara for a free day at the beach! Optional activities with additional fees include surf classes or dolphin tours. Optional activities with no additional fees include volunteer work with Costas Verdes, and learning from the Global Wildlife Rescue Project as they patrol the beaches during turtle nesting season.

Included: (B, L, D)

Day 8: March 1, 2025

Enjoy an early breakfast, followed by a transfer to the Guachipelin Lodge for a full day adventure tour!

Included: (B, L)

Day 9: March 2, 2025

Pack up our suitcases and hopefully a couple of amazing souvenirs and head back to the airport for the journey to Toronto. We hope you had an incredible week and leave feeling inspired and already planning your return adventure!

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Selection Process: International Field Studies participation will be prioritized for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS since beginning their studies at Niagara College. Participants will be confirmed by Be World Ready based on not having participated in a BWR experience before, being in good academic standing now and before the departure of the IFS, being actively enrolled in a program at Niagara College during the term of travel, and confirmation that you understand and agree to your enrollment in the general or liberal elective course requirements to participate. Please note that if you have not been contacted with an offer to participate within a week of submitting your application, that means you’ve been waitlisted based on funding criteria. Not everyone who applies at the same time will receive a decision at the same time. Please be patient as we review all applications and consider eligibility and funding criteria. 

NEW Payment Process: Students will not be able to make payment until after Be World Ready has reviewed their application and confirmed eligibility. You will receive a link by email from [email protected] with instructions on submitting payment once your eligibility has been confirmed.

Disclaimers: Be World Ready does their best to execute the itinerary as outlined above, however all elements are subject to change based on availability or requirement to adapt due to circumstances outside of our control. Students are also reminded that it is their responsibility to research the entry requirements to the destination countries visited per their nationality and vaccination status.

* Price per student is in Canadian Dollars and reflects the Be World Ready (BWR) grant which has been applied to the total trip cost to heavily subsidize the rate per person for our Winter 2025 International Field Studies (IFS). To qualify for the full value of the BWR grant applied to this IFS, mandatory training and tasks are required to be completed, training and task expectations will be clearly communicated by BWR staff upon registration and further clarified at the beginning of the mandatory Be World Ready course. Failure to complete the requirements as outlined by BWR staff and by Be World Ready course faculty will result in the value of the grant being billed back to the applicable student account, up to a maximum of $5000.

INCLUDED:

  • Round-trip airfare, including 1 checked bag (maximum weight is 23kg/50lb and maximum size is 158cm/62 linear inches)
  • Accommodations
  • Travel Insurance
  • Meals as outlined in the itinerary
  • Ground transportation in country
  • Activities as described in the itinerary
  • Rate per student is inclusive of taxes and fees

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Visa Fees (if necessary)
  • Passport (or any associated costs)
  • Transportation to/from Toronto
  • Meals not outlined in the itinerary
  • Souvenirs
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Departure taxes (otherwise known as an Exit Tax) or additional fees for items not noted as included, if applicable. Example of additional fees could be overweight baggage.
The Be World Ready program at Niagara College prepares you for global success through education, exchange, and international experience. This program offers you the opportunity to experience culturally diverse learning environments, understand different perspectives and connect practical skills with a global mindset to help you launch your career.
An international field study is a 7 – 10 day experience that incorporates both vocational and cultural elements, while visiting some of the world’s most famous sights! Many of our international field studies are customized for specific Schools and programs at Niagara College, allowing students to apply the skills learned in the classroom in a real-world setting. All international field studies depart during the Niagara College break weeks to ensure that students do not miss any classes.
All international field studies will include roundtrip airfare (where applicable), accommodations, travel insurance, entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary, and some meals as outlined in the itinerary. A detailed list of inclusions and exclusions will be viewable on the posted webpage for any international field study on our website. Participants can expect to purchase some meals on their own and will need to bring spending money for any souvenirs, extra excursions, incidentals or items of a personal nature.

No. All aspects noted as included in the overall cost of the selected international field study are mandatory with no exceptions made. Our international field studies are built using group pricing and it is important that we do not deviate from the inclusions as it could negatively impact our ability to offer fair pricing to all participants.

In addition to affecting group pricing, these are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

No. Students are not able to book their own flight in any way or alter the flights confirmed by Be World Ready. The round-trip flights as confirmed by Be World Ready are part of the package pricing, and the group is to travel to and from the destination country together.

These are our Niagara College International Field Study policies, and we cannot deviate from them, as they are part of our risk mitigation and management.

Each international field study destination has different accommodation providers or themes. Accommodation types that are used may include a combination of dorm-style rooms, homestays, tourist class hotels, or occasionally hostels. We strive to ensure we use centrally located accommodation when in city centres, allowing our participants to explore their surroundings more easily. Private accommodation is not guaranteed.

Rooms will vary in style on each trip; however, they are commonly twin share (2 people to a room with separate beds where possible). Single rooms may be available for an additional room fee provided adequate notice is given to Be World Ready staff. We strive to ensure you have comfortable, affordable accommodations anywhere you travel.

Students will be given the opportunity to meet their fellow travellers before the deadline to submit their roommate requests. Be World Ready does their best to accommodate rooming requests, but please note that final rooming arrangements are subject to room occupancy requirements and availability. A rooming list will be created by Be World Ready staff and shared with our accommodation providers before your departure. All participants will be emailed and will have the opportunity to identify their preferred roommate(s). While we will make every effort to ensure all preferences are met, we cannot guarantee it.

As long as they are current full-time Niagara College students and meet the program eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, we are not able to accept any persons to participate in any of our international field studies that are not current full-time students at Niagara College.

In addition to regular communications shared with participants leading up to the departure of their international field study of choice, Be World Ready requires students to attend the Be World Ready course, which includes but is not limited to, online trainings and pre-departure training sessions. During the pre-departure training sessions, students will be presented with the overall expectations of the trip as well as in-depth details concerning their itinerary.

During their time abroad, students will be able to communicate with their trip leads directly, 24/7, with any questions or concerns.

All participants are required to hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return to participate in any opportunity involving outbound travel.

You are responsible for researching and applying for any required visa(s) on your own. Be World Ready is unable to tell you what visa you require and how to apply. Be World Ready will provide you with supporting documentation as needed to apply for a Visa. While Be World Ready is not able to advise or guide you in a heightened level of detail through any particular visa process, you may consider hiring a travel visa service to assist you with the visa application process, such as CIBT visas. Please note that Be World Ready and Niagara College do not endorse any third-party vendors, nor have any influence or control over any outcomes or services rendered. We cannot apply for a visa on behalf of any participant.

All international students will need to ensure that their Study Permits and Student Visas are not expired before the date of return from the international experience, to ensure that there are no challenges with reentry to Canada.

Yes, while it is great to have a Nexus card, all participants must hold a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond any expected date of return in order to participate in any opportunity outside of Canada.
Depending on your destination country, we encourage you to book an appointment with a travel health professional regarding any additional vaccinations and medications you may need. It is strongly encouraged that you book an appointment with the Campus Nurse to go over this information. To do so, please visit the medical office to book an appointment at your respective campus.
Be World Ready takes the safety of our staff and students very seriously and has a rigorous risk management assessment when creating all opportunities. Be World Ready staff monitor destination country risk levels as communicated by the Government of Canada. Your safety is the most important aspect of this trip. Be World Ready and Niagara College take all possible precautions to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable experience while travelling abroad.
Students who sign up during the active promotional period for the international field study will be presented with a payment schedule to follow. At time of registration, students will be only required to pay the full non-refundable deposit that is disclosed at time of registration. Students who are permitted to sign up late will be expected to catch up on any payments missed according to the payment schedule advertised. In some instances, there may only be one payment due date.
Complete the eligibility quiz linked on the webpage of the International Field Study you’re interested in to find out if you meet eligibility requirements.
No. Students will not directly receive grant money as the full value of the grant has already been applied to the final payment to offset the total cost of the learning experience abroad. For students who do not complete all grant requirements by established deadlines (including the time of submission), the full grant amount may be charged directly to their student account. Details on grant requirements will be shared with you as part of the mandatory Be World Ready (SOCL 1128 or IDPL 9103) course, which all students participating in a Be World Ready International Field Study must enroll in and successfully complete to receive funding.
Students are only permitted to travel on an IFS to their home country if the IFS is program specific. IFS’ that are open to students from all programs do not permit students to travel if the destination is their home country. The purpose of the grant funding is to help students gain global competencies that they would not otherwise be exposed to, and as such, travelling to destinations they’ve previously lived in does not support this goal.
Students have the potential to travel and receive funding through Be World Ready up to 2 times; students can travel once on either an International Field Study, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange, and they can potentially travel again for a Work Abroad opportunity (if eligibility requirements are met – please note that if more applications are received than work abroad grants available, priority will be given to those who have never travelled on any type of Be World Ready experience before). So, if you’re wanting to travel on an International Field Study, note that participation on an IFS is permitted only for students who have not yet experienced a Be World Ready IFS, Summer Institute, or Semester Exchange since beginning their studies at Niagara College.

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