Cartago, Costa Rica Puerto Vallarta, MX Seville, Spain
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Physical Therapy Shadowing Abroad
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Cartago, Costa Rica

Cartago, Costa Rica, is a lively city located at the heart of the Central Valley at the foot of Irazu Volcano. This mountainous city is filled with captivating views, fascinating history, and rich culture. While still very accessible to San Jose, Cartago provides a more relaxed environment while still offering a myriad of things to do and see, including Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches and rainforests.

We cap all of our programs at 20 students per trip.

Winter 2025 Program: 2 Weeks, 40 Observation Hours

Saturday, January 4 - Saturday, January 18 Program Full

Summer 2025 Program: 3 Weeks, 60 Observation Hours: $4,195

Program Dates:
May 17 - June 7, 2025
June 7 - June 28, 2025
June 28 - July 19, 2025

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PT Shadowing

Clinical Shadowing

Toucan Abroad students shadow Licensed Physical Therapists for 2 or 3 weeks for a total of 40 or 60 Observation hours, depending on their program date selection (see Program Dates & Costs below for more information). 

During the program, students typically shadow 5 hours per day, Monday through Thursday, to accumulate 20 hours per week. All hours are logged with PTCAS forms and signed by the appropriate PTs to be counted towards students’ applications. 

Students shadow therapists in 2 or 3 different general outpatient clinics and may observe treatment specializations in athletic training, geriatrics, and pediatrics with neurological disorders. Students also may participate in group seminars and focused individual teaching of techniques provided by our partnering clinics.

Physical therapy in Latin America is practiced differently than in the United States, giving students the opportunity to learn methods and techniques they may see infrequently otherwise. Our partnered therapists are professional and dedicated to helping all our students learn to the best of their abilities.

Trips & Excursions

Excursions

While in Costa Rica, Toucan Abroad students have the ability to explore the region’s surrounding natural beauty and to experience its rich culture. Each week during the program, students’ schedules include a planned excursion, as well as free time for students to explore and enjoy Costa Rica together. 

Weekday excursions may include:

  • Hiking a volcano or to a waterfall

  • Visiting a local family-owned coffee farm

  • Swimming in natural Aguas Termales (Hot Springs)

  • Walking Tours of Cartago and San Jose

  • Learning Costa Rican dances like Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia

  • Playing soccer with local Ticos

Weekend Trips (Thurs-Sun)

In addition to weekly excursions, Toucan Abroad’s planned weekend trips provide students the opportunity to explore Costa Rica beyond Cartago. All students travel with the Toucan Abroad team once clinics let out on Thursday to maximize their weekend time. 

  • Weekend Trip Destinations:

    • Manuel Antonio Beach - On the Pacific Coast, a charming combination of rainforests, coral reefs, and beaches.  

    • Puerto Viejo - Known for its laid-back attitude and Caribbean lifestyle, this beautiful beach town has a unique blend of Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and Bribri indigenous cultures. 

Program Life

Housing and Meals

During the program, Toucan Abroad students primarily stay at Hotel Las Brumas in Cartago (on weekend trips outside of Cartago, students stay in trusted hotels/private housing as arranged by Toucan Abroad staff). Hotel Las Brumas is conveniently located in a safe, central part of Cartago, located near a grocery store, restaurants, and the clinics. 

  • Each student normally shares a room and bathroom with 1 or 2 other students.

  • Laundry service is available for a reasonable extra fee, priced per Kilo of weight.

  • Potable water, hot water, free Wi-Fi, and TV’s are available in all rooms.

  • Each day all rooms are cleaned by the hotel staff and provided with fresh towels.

During the program, students are provided free breakfast during the work week in Cartago (not on weekend trips) in the hotel’s restaurant Mi Tierra, available between 6-10 AM. Additionally, there are 5 or 6 included group meals, when the group is together on a planned excursion. For all other meals, students can visit the many nearby affordable restaurants and are also welcome to purchase groceries they can keep and prepare in the available on-site kitchen. 

Transportation

Costs for airport pick-ups/drop-offs and for group travel to planned excursions are included, and these trips are primarily conducted via private shuttle. Students’ daily trips to PT clinics, restaurants, and free-time activities are not included in program fees, and students primarily use Uber for local transport. Uber rides within Cartago usually cost around $4, so students should budget roughly $30 per week to safely cover in-town transport costs.

Travel & Safety

For many students, participating in Toucan Abroad means traveling internationally for the first time! The Toucan Abroad staff welcome and support new travelers, and they have designed this program to ensure everyone is safe, secure, and comfortable throughout their time abroad. 

Students are individually responsible for their flights to and from Costa Rica; however, the Toucan Abroad staff is happy to assist with travel planning and any questions students may have. 

Upon their arrival at the airport, students will be greeted by our friendly and professional Toucan Abroad staff, who will be easily identifiable by their uniforms and directions where to meet. Our staff will assist students with their luggage and accompany them to the designated transportation area, where they will board the shuttle that will take them to the hotel. During the ride, our team will provide information about the program, answer any questions students may have, and ensure a comfortable and safe journey.

Regarding safety, Toucan Abroad practices a range of protocols that are sent in written format to participating students before their trip and are discussed in detail as a group at the start of the program. 

  • Hotel Las Brumas, home for all Toucan Abroad staff and students, is a secure location in a safe area with 24/7 assistance and vigilance at the front desk. 

  • Unless otherwise noted, there is a curfew each night to make sure everyone is accounted for before going to bed. 

  • All students are assigned a partner when shadowing, so no one is alone when working or commuting. 

  • On all planned group excursions, the Program Director and Regional Director are always present to help in any situation. 

  • Toucan Abroad has partnered with trustworthy organizations involved in restaurant meals, excursions, activities, and transportation.

There is time for students to travel independently, and Toucan Abroad staff may not be present on small group trips. However, best travel practices, as well as safety protocols, are stressed in orientation to prepare students to travel independently with confidence. Toucan Abroad also strongly encourages students to travel in big groups on the weekends - for safety reasons, and it’s way more fun!


Program Dates & Costs

Winter 2025 Program (2 Weeks, 40 Observation Hours):

Saturday, January 4 - Saturday, January 18 Program Full.

Summer 2025 Program: 3 Weeks, 60 Observation Hours: $4,195

Program Dates:
May 17 - June 7, 2025
June 7 - June 28, 2025
June 28 - July 19, 2025

Enrollment Deposit:

All prices above include an initial enrollment deposit fee of $500. The deposit fee is non-refundable and paid upfront to secure the applicant’s spot once accepted to Toucan Abroad. The remaining balance must be paid in full at least 45 days in advance of the program's start date. Toucan Abroad will refund all fees in the event of program cancellation.

Flights are not included:

Students are responsible to book their own flights for Toucan Abroad.  We strongly recommend using Google Flights and Southwest to look for the best options.  Please reach out if you want any help or have any questions!

What’s Not Included:

  • Flights to and from Costa Rica

  • Daily transport to and from local destinations (PT clinics, shops, restaurants, etc.)

  • Individual meals/food outside of breakfast and planned group meals

  • Individual free-time activities

What’s Included with Program Fees:

  • Support for our Partnered Clinics

  • Airport Transportation

  • Private Housing for all Students

  • Daily Breakfast and Planned Group Meals

  • Travel Health Insurance

  • Orientation Packages

  • Group Excursion Transportation within Costa Rica

  • Group Excursion Costs (entry fees, lessons, tours, etc.)

  • Support from the Toucan Abroad staff