Picture this: It’s Monday in San José, Costa Rica. A student named Maya and her group are putting the final touches on a classroom mural, painting stars on a deep blue sky. Outside the door, a group of kids, bursting with energy, wait with soccer balls and questions in Spanish. By Friday, the classroom is transformed, the library is organized, and the team can greet everyone by name. They came for a week, but they’re leaving with a wider world. This is what an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) with Maximo Nivel feels like.
If you’re tired of the same old spring break, imagine one that’s still fun but also deeply meaningful, hands-on, and truly unforgettable. An ASB lets you volunteer abroad, sharpen your Spanish, immerse yourself in a new culture, and build skills that can change your life. You’ll come home with a story that sticks with you long after the tan fades.
What Makes an Alternative Spring Break Different?
An ASB isn’t just a trip; it’s a short-term, service-learning adventure. In a small group of 10 to 20 students, you’ll partner with local organizations to work on projects that matter, from education and public health to community development and conservation. These programs are typically substance-free and include guided reflection sessions to help you connect your work with your personal values and goals.
Why Choose Maximo Nivel for you ASB?
Maximo Nivel stands out because of its deep local roots and incredible on-the-ground support. We own and operate our own campuses in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Each campus is fully staffed with bilingual field managers and 24/7 support teams, so you’re never on your own.
Community-first projects: We work directly with local schools, clinics, and conservation teams to ensure our projects address genuine needs and have a lasting impact.
True cultural immersion: Our programs include options for homestays or student residences, and we offer weekly activities like salsa lessons, cooking classes, and language exchanges. You can also take optional Spanish classes to dive even deeper into the culture.
Complete flexibility: As the local operator, we handle every detail of the trip, from airport pickup to housing and project design. We can tailor the trip to your group’s specific goals, and you can even start on any Monday.
Budget-friendly: Since we own and operate our own institutes, we cut out third-party markups, which can save your group up to 30%.
Why Students Love ASB in Latin America
Students choose an ASB for a variety of reasons, and it’s not just about the service.
Real-world impact: You’ll see the tangible results of your hard work, whether it’s a newly renovated classroom or protected sea turtle hatchlings. We partner with local organizations to ensure the positive impact continues after you leave.
Personal growth: In just one week, you’ll rapidly develop skills in leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication. Daily reflection sessions help solidify your learning.
Resume-ready skills: An ASB gives you concrete, quantifiable experiences to put on your resume and talk about in interviews. You’ll have memorable stories about things like co-leading a medical campaign or building a community library.
Lasting friendships: Shared goals and challenging experiences forge a bond that can last a lifetime.
Authentic experience: You’ll work alongside our local partners, try new foods, and practice Spanish. It’s a chance to move beyond the typical tourist experience and truly get to know a new culture.
It’s still fun: This isn’t all work and no play. You’ll have plenty of laughter, adventure days, and inside jokes. Expect trips to the beach, volcano hikes, and visits to ancient ruins.
Choose Your Focus
Maximo Nivel offers several project tracks that you can blend or fully customize to meet your group’s goals.
Education & Youth: Help with reading circles, STEM days, classroom murals, and conversation clubs at local schools and community centers. You’ll build skills in cross-cultural communication and facilitation.
Community Development & Light Construction: Paint, repair spaces, build play areas, and install hand-washing stations. You’ll work with tools and safety gear provided by us and develop skills in teamwork and project management.
Environmental Conservation & Wildlife: Participate in beach cleanups, sea turtle monitoring, reforestation efforts, and trail maintenance in national parks. This work fosters skills in field data collection and ecosystem awareness.
Public Health & Medical Campaigns: After receiving training from our local Medical Specialists, you can assist with clinic intake, basic screenings, and prevention workshops. Licensed professionals lead the care, and you’ll perform non-invasive tasks, building skills in health communication and cultural humility.
Social Impact & Women’s Empowerment: Support women’s cooperatives, lead life-skills workshops, and assist with elder programs. This is highly relational work that builds skills in active listening and intercultural collaboration.
Where Can You Go?
Maximo Nivel operates four campuses in three of the most beautiful countries in Latin American, each with its own unique culture.
Costa Rica: Experience the “Pura Vida” mindset, with access to stunning Pacific beaches, vibrant rainforests, and national parks. Projects are centered around our campuses in San José and Manuel Antonio.
What’s Included in Your ASB with Maximo Nivel?
Our comprehensive package covers everything you need.
Before You Go: We offer planning calls, custom itinerary design, risk-management briefings, and fundraising tips.
On the Ground: You’ll get airport pickup, a welcome orientation, a bilingual coordinator, and 24/7 support.
Housing & Meals: Stay in vetted homestays or student residences with Wi-Fi. Breakfast and dinner are included.
Local Logistics: We handle all transportation to project sites with trusted drivers.
Activities: Enjoy weekly cultural activities like salsa and cooking classes.
Safety & Accessibility: Our staff are first-aid trained, and we can accommodate dietary needs and accessibility requirements.
How to Plan Your ASB
Planning your trip is easy and fully supported. In fact, since 2003, we’ve worked with hundreds of groups from all over the world, helping them design the ideal Alternative Spring Break. We’ve fine-tuned the process to make it super easy for you.
We’re able to offer unparalleled options because of our deep roots in local communities and our wide network of trusted projects. We’ll help you choose the perfect focus to fulfill your group’s goals, whether you want to work on a medical campaign, a construction project, or something else entirely.
1. Work with a single contact: You’ll work directly with a member of our Central Admissions Team to define your goals, build a custom itinerary, get a transparent quote, and handle all the paperwork.
2. Rely on our local team: A dedicated field manager and bilingual staff provide on-the-ground support, including airport pickup and a clear daily schedule.
3. Consider a multi-country trip: We can even design a seamless, multi-destination ASB across all our campuses in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru.
4. Get support for your group: We’ll help you with campus approvals, track verified service hours, and If needed provide a post-program summary to share with your community.
Ready for A Spring Break That Matters?
An Alternative Spring Break with Maximo Nivel is an investment in your personal growth and in a global community. You’ll return home with new skills, new friends, and a new perspective. Many students describe the experience as “one for the soul.”
Ready to co-design your ideal ASB? We’ll help you choose the right mix of medical campaigns, construction, conservation, and educational activities, all tailored to your goals and fully supported by our local teams.
What kind of impact do you want to make?