Middle school summer program to Puerto Rico - What to expect!
A United States territory in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico offers seemingly endless diversity and enchantment. This stunning island is a consistently popular destination for young travelers and the perfect place for a middle school summer program, that's why we’re headed back there this summer!
Want to know what your 6th - 8th grader could be doing this summer? Take a look below as we have set out the itinerary for this summer’s 14-day tour of Puerto Rico.
arrive in San Juan, hiking, kayaking, and environmental service work
Just like all the best summer camps, our programs are jam- packed full of exciting activities, opportunities for growth, and chances to have lots of new experiences. The Puerto Rico trip starts as participants land in San Juan, where our leaders will be ready and waiting to meet them. We also have an escorted flight from Miami, if students want to fly with a leader. Once everyone is in Puerto Rico, we take the short private transfer to our accommodation for the next two weeks.
After the first evening of settling in, playing games and getting to know each other, the trip can really start. We start by hiking through the lush El Yunque National Rainforest, before cooling off with a dip in the ocean and playing games on the beach. The rainforest has an abundance of wildlife to try and spot, with interesting trails, waterfalls and viewpoints along the way.
For the next section of our trip we focus on our service projects, helping local organizations to continue restorative work after Hurricane Maria. Our aim is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding about the wide and long-lasting impact of natural disasters that hit communities, and for them to gain an understanding about the various ways they can contribute to recovery efforts. In a place that still feels the impact of Hurricane Maria, our students will participate in replanting native species, assisting in school repairs, and other basic construction tasks. These volunteer experiences will also include speaking with local community members to learn about their experience during and following Hurricane Maria.
Following our service work, we take to the water for a truly unique experience - bioluminescent kayaking. This will involve paddling through a canal inside a nature reserve while marveling at remarkable backdrops of mangroves. The peaceful waters then open up into the incredible glittering water of the Bio Lagoon. Tiny bioluminescent organisms called pyrodinium bahamenses are responsible for this wonder of nature. They produce blue-green light from the top to the bottom of this bay every time you touch or move the water with your kayak, hand, or paddle!
Sampling the local cuisine, exploring Old San Juan, and snorkeling
Moving into day six, we’ll return to the rainforest in search of more waterfalls and other jaw-dropping scenery. After hiking the trails, we stop off for some distinctly Puerto Rican cuisine, as we sample some of the best local foods and treats.
For the seventh day, we’ll be discovering the vibrant historical town of Old San Juan, a place teeming with fun and culture. The winding streets and interesting stories make it a fun day of exploring. Later, we’ll make our way to El Escambrón Beach to swim, snorkel, and relax. With lots of marine life close to shore, this is a great way to cool off and see some of the underwater inhabitants!
The underwater excursions will continue into day eight, this time on the island’s eastern coast, where we’ll take in gorgeous reefs and look out for sea turtles, fish, and other aquatic wildlife.
Rio Camuy Cave, ziplining, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, and salsa!
The remainder of our middle school adventure program will give our teen travelers even more memorable experiences. These will include exploration of the world’s third largest underground river cavern system – the Rio Camuy Cave system – and an adrenaline-heavy zipline in the rainforest! We will also explore the colossal fortress and citadel of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, learning about its role in maritime history. We will round off our day with a beginner salsa class – few things are more Puerto Rican than that!
Over the final few days of the trip, participants will visit a family-owned coffee farm and a fascinating swamp forest, and then spend the last full day embarking on a “best of” tour of Puerto Rico’s rainforests and reefs. The traditional The Road Less Traveled (RLT) banquet will provide a reflective, but fun end as we spend time together before heading back home.
Availability at this stage is limited, but if you are interested in learning more about this trip, schedule a call with an RLT director to find out more!
