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.
• ★ Potable water, hot water, free Wi-Fi, and TVs are available in all rooms.
• ★ Rooms are cleaned daily 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. 

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 $6, so students should budget roughly $30 per week to safely cover in-town transport costs.

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!