Make a Change with Las Olas Travel

By Katelyn Hawkes
Blog Content Contributor

As many of you know, I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at an animal sanctuary in Costa Rica. Two of the coordinators of my trip, Rachel Wilson and Lauren Markey, have founded their own traveling company, called Las Olas Travel, to bring waves of change to the communities of not only Costa Rica but around the world. They were gracious enough to sit down with me and talk about Las Olas, including trip information, internships with the company, and how it all got started. If you are interested in volunteering in another country and want to experience a new culture, check out the interview below!

What is Las Olas Travel?
Las Olas Travel is an international volunteer program designed to make a lasting impact in communities around the globe. Our program offers volunteers and interns the chance to make a positive impact while learning about and experiencing a new culture.

What inspired you to create Las Olas?
We have been working in Costa Rica for years and have really fallen in love with the communities and have decided to dedicate our work to them and places similar. Service work is our way to give back to these communities and make a lasting impact abroad and allow other people to be a part of this movement. We feel it is a great way to give our volunteers a global perspective they can use in their future endeavors.

​What do people who travel with Las Olas get out of the experience?
People who travel with Las Olas are able to learn about a new culture through experience. They are able to see the world in a different way and cultivate global perspectives. Not only do they get to volunteer hands on with children and animals, they are able to see first-hand the impact they are able to make. Sometimes it’s hard for people to see the impacts we make on other’s lives but Las Olas gives people just that.

​Tell me about the internship program this summer.
This summer we are offering our Lasting Impact: Costa Rica program. It is a 15 day program offered three different dates (june 1-15, July 15-30, and August 1-15). The volunteers on this trip will volunteer with two of our projects that need the most help. They will work with the animal rescue project and with local at-risk children. The vision of this program is to make a lasting change at these places. The real affect of volunteer work is seen after truly investing energy into the places, people, and cultures. Our volunteers will be given the opportunity to be a part of that impact.

​I am interested in volunteering, who do I contact?
You can contact us through our website as well as by emailing lasolastravel@gmail.com. Once emailed our coordinators will work with you to give you any information you need!

For more information, check out the Las Olas Travel Facebook page.