Empowering Rural Communities with Surf For Life and Asociacion de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones

Pavones Health & Welfare Association or Asociacion de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones will build additional rooms onto their local health clinic to include a laboratory, diagnostic center and community consultation center.

Surf for Life will work together with the Asociacion de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones in the community project with the coordination of Surf and Ko, an organization that promotes ecological and community tourism in Costa Rica. 

In Pavones, we have 6 km of beaches with waves for all levels. We can surf the second-longest wave in the world as well as guarantee the longest rides for beginner surfers.  Walk along the Claro River in search of birds and other species, visit an indigenous community (walking or on horseback), learn about the preparation of the cocoa drink and produce your own chocolate, from bean to bar, enjoy the tide pools at sunset and taste endemic and delicious foods)

TRIP EXPENSES AND FUNDRAISING REQUIREMENT

The total commitment for your Surf For Life adventure is $2,750. This includes:

1. Trip Cost: $750

• This amount covers all of your expenses for the trip except for airfare, and optional additions like alcohol. (See 'What's Included/not included?' at the bottom of the page). Your trip cost will be due 2 months prior to the first day of your trip. 

1. Fundraising Requirement: $2,000

• This is your chance to make a big impact! Each participant is required to contribute or fundraise at minimum $2,000 as a direct donation to the in-country community partner and the bricks-and-mortar project we will be executing, as well as ongoing Surf For Life projects. This donation is tax deductible. Your donation is due before the first day of your trip. 

For the $2,000 donation, you have several options:

• Donate it yourself - Be your own hero!

• Fundraise for it - Rally your friends and family around a good cause!

• Leverage a company match program, if available - Double your impact!

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Surf For Life will support our participants in fundraising for the donation portion by sharing our own fundraising ideas- including contributions from friends and family, company matches, fundraisers, or other creative means. 

Pavones is a community surrounded by 5% of the world's biodiversity and forms part of the Golfo Dulce, one of the four tropical fjords that contribute to the health of the Pacific Ocean and is a refuge for many endangered marine species. 

In surf terms, it is home to the second longest left in the world!

The community is dedicated to fishing, livestock activities, and tourism attracted by the biological wealth and magic waves. 

In cultural terms, in addition to the coastal community, the Ngöbe population is also found in the highlands of Pavones, which protect sacred territories.

Asociacion de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones

the Association and the Clinic have been actively involved in the community for several years, working closely with local residents to respond to ongoing healthcare needs in a region where access to public medical services is limited due to geographic isolation.

Their work is deeply rooted in a strong community commitment, ensuring that healthcare is accessible to all, including indigenous populations and local families, often providing services at very low cost or, when needed, free of charge. This reflects a model of care centered on equity, dignity, and inclusion.

Through special discounts at Clinica Pavones for low-income families and projects providing essential medical supplies, we strive to lift the burden of healthcare costs from those who need it most. Our vision goes beyond Pavones: we aim to bring medical support to indigenous villages in the surrounding region, reaching communities that are often overlooked.

Education is a key part of our mission. By offering preventive health workshops in local schools, we hope to empower the next generation with knowledge that can protect and strengthen their health for years to come. Driven by compassion and a deep love for our community, we work every day to create a healthier, more connected future for all.

You can find out more information by clicking HERE

Community-Based Consultation and Clinical Laboratory Space in Pavones

Surf for Life will be part of a community-based consultation and clinical laboratory space in Pavones, designed to improve access to essential healthcare services such as general consultations, blood sample collection, and basic diagnostics.

The project is developed through a collaborative effort involving local partners, and will be jointly administered by the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS) and the Asociación de Bienestar Pro Salud de Pavones, ensuring both institutional support and strong community grounding.

The Impact:

This project will:

• Benefit the over 7,500 residents in the district including from 2 remote indigenous communities (Alta Mira and Vista Mar)

• Improve the access to basic diagnostic services (currently the nearest care can take more than 45 min on difficult roads)

• Help expand low cost and community centered healthcare options for underserved populations

• Promote a model centered not only on treatment, but prevention, education & resilience

Surf for Life Cancellation Policy

The total financial commitment of your trip includes:

●      the direct volunteer expenses (the Trip Fee paid at booking) and

●      the direct donation to the in-country partner and Surf for Life (either fundraised with outside sources or directly donated through our website at least one month prior to trip start).

Our cancellation policy was developed to primarily honor the contracts with our in-country community partners, local businesses and the SFL team. Additionally, we want to give grace and flexibility to our volunteers with their ever changing schedules and unexpected circumstances that come up. Without your financial support, these projects wouldn’t be possible. Things happen, plans change. We get it!

We highly recommend that you purchase insurance that includes a clause “cancel for any reason”. Please read the policy carefully to ensure that you will be covered. Travel Insurance should be purchased 2-3 weeks from your initial deposit date.

Surf for Life Cancellations:

●      If your trip needs to be canceled by Surf for Life due to any unforeseen reason beyond our control (such as a natural disaster, political unrest in the trip destination country), Surf for Life is not liable for refunds or travel costs (your direct volunteer expenses). This allows us to honor and protect our local partners in extreme circumstances. In purchasing your own travel insurance, you will alleviate any financial burden on yourself and Surf for Life.

If the community project is no long happening due to the unforeseen circumstances that caused the cancellation of the trip, you will have the option to either continue to use any money fundraised to donate towards our non profit partner on the ground or to have your donation refunded to you or whomever contributed towards your trip. We will reach out to discuss what you would like to do with your directly donated funds.

●      SFL requires  a minimum of 5 participants per trip. If your trip is canceled due to not enough participants, , we will notify you as soon as possible at a minimum of 60 days prior to the trip start date. We will issue a full refund to you of any money paid or give credit payment towards another SFL trip should you choose to do so instead. .

Volunteer Cancellations:

●      Cancellation more than 60 days before the start date of the trip:

○      Transfer your Trip Fee and direct donation directly to another SFL trip within 365 days

○      Apply as a credit for a future trip within 365 days

○      Receive a full refund minus the $50 administration fee.

If you choose to transfer your trip fee or receive credit you will not be charged the $50 administration fee

●      Cancellations within 30- 60 days before start date of the trip:

○      Transfer your Trip Fee and direct donation to another SFL trip within 365 days

○      Apply as a credit for a future trip within 365 days

○      Receive a refund of Trip Fee minus the $50 administration fee

○      As the project commitment has been made at this point which is only possible through your direct donation, we are not able to refund your donation at this time. If you have not yet made your donation towards the project, we will invoice you for this amount.

If you choose to transfer your trip fee or receive credit you will not be charged the $50 administration fee

●      Cancellations within 30 days of the trip:

○      There will be no refund given after 30 days.  Any unpaid/remaining balance after cancellation within 30 days is still due and we will invoice you for the amount.

***The majority of your financial commitment is a direct donation to Surf for Life and our local community partner. If you need to cancel your trip but would like to make a full or partial donation to support this project, please let us know and we will provide you with a donation receipt for your records.

***(For any questions, comments or curiosities regarding our cancellation policy, please email trips@surfforlife.org

Please note this is a sample itinerary of day to day activities; our actual itinerary might change according to needs of the community, weather, etc.

Day 1 (Saturday): 

Arrival to Pavones from Golfito 

Welcome dinner and activities

Day 2: (Sunday) 

Morning: Introduction to the community and project to be carried out 

Afternoon: Hiking by the Río Claro 

Surf at sunset (optional)

Group dinner

Day 3 (Monday)

● Morning: Community service project and early surfing 

● Afternoon activities: Surf class (for those new) or Surf Session (for those with experience)

● Group dinner 

Day 4 (Tuesday)

● Morning: Community service project and early surfing 

● Afternoon: Visit the indigenous reserve (walking or on horseback) 

● Surf at sunset (optional) 

● Group dinner  

Day 5 (Wednesday)

● Morning: Community service project and early surfing 

● Afternoon: free time 

● Surf at sunset (optional) 

● Group dinner   

Day 6 (Thursday)

● Morning: Community service project and early surfing 

● Afternoon: Creole cooking class 

● Surf at sunset (optional) 

● Group dinner

Day 7 (Friday)

● Morning: Community service project and early surfing 

● Afternoon: Chocolate Workshop 

● Surf at sunset (optional) 

● Final group dinner  

Day 8 (Saturday)

● Breakfast and transportation back to Golfito