Dominican Republic | Mountain Air And Village Service Spring Break 2019

Rustic Pathways Group Travel, or “RPG,” works with academic institutions and individual groups of all ages from around the world. We work with you to help create the perfect group travel program that suits your needs, drawing on year-round operations in over 20 countries across the globe and an arsenal of the best international and local staff imaginable. RPG offers you the chance to create your own perfect travel program, whether it is based around intense service, deep local immersion, adventure and exploration, experiential academics, or simply the opportunity to relax and soak up the beauty of far away lands.

In almost all cases, Rustic Pathways Group Travel programs include all touring, activities, and admission fees as specified in the trip itinerary. We also cover all internal ground transportation, accommodation, and meals. Personal items such as souvenirs, laundry, Internet, snacks, and phone calls are not included. The cost of international and domestic airfare is also not included in the program price.

Most groups make payment to Rustic Pathways directly. For details on your group’s payment process, amounts, and deadlines, please see the “checklist” tab above.

RPG has some of the best staff in the business. We draw on a pool of all-stars from Ivy League schools to remote jungle villages, each with their own intricate knowledge of the regions they serve, a passion for the programs they create, and a dedication to enriching the lives of our group participants through service, learning, and adventure.

Safety is our top priority. Our staff includes Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Surf Lifeguards, Red Cross First Aid and CPR certified individuals to name a few. We run staff CPR courses, first aid training and refresher courses, and Wilderness First Responder courses to guarantee we have the most up-to-date training to ensure the safety of all of our participants.

Cooks take advantage of the abundance of fresh foods available in all of the countries we visit. Experiencing local cuisine is a major component of all of our culturally immersive programs, and should be seen as a key ingredient that makes these programs so unique. That being said, we can accommodate most dietary restrictions in all of our countries of operations as well.

We can cater for almost any dietary requirements, including vegetarianism. It is very important that you advise us of any allergies or special dietary needs at the time of your application.

Rustic Pathways works with Groups from a variety of backgrounds and bring a mix of skills and experiences to their programs. Previous exposure to most activities is not needed. We ask only that you bring a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.

Participants have limited access to phones during most programs. Internet access is usually available once or twice a week, and most people stay in touch through e-mail. You should not expect to use cell phones during programmed activities or group time on their trip. Limited cell phone use is available during free time, as determined by the trip leaders. Many of our programs travel to remote areas with limited or no cell phone service, and the ability to make calls is not guaranteed.

Yes. While Rustic Pathways’ programs are quite comprehensive and include almost all necessities, participants will need some spending money for optional expenses, such as souvenirs, personal phone calls, internet access, laundry and optional activities. We do not like hidden extra charges, and we include all of the essentials that make our programs great.

After enrolling in a Rustic Pathways Group Travel program, each participant will be responsible for correctly completing all required waivers and medical forms prior to departure. The waiver form will be emailed directly to each participant and parent/legal guardian. The medical forms will be distributed by your school group leader, and are also available to download from in the “Resources” tab to your left. For details on your forms and deadlines, please see the “Checklist” tab above. If you have any questions, contact us at groups@rusticpathways.com.

Rustic Pathways creates a detailed packing list for each of our Group programs. Please see the “Packing List” tab above for your packing list.

Rustic Pathways will work with you to the best of our ability to refund your money. In almost all cases, only program costs are refundable. International airfare as well as any internal flights within foreign countries may not be refundable, as is the case with some transportation charges. Depending on the number of days prior to the start of your program, the general cancellation terms apply:

More than 90 days prior to the start date – 60% refund of program cost.
89-45 days – 30% refund of program cost.
Less than 45 days – 0% refund of program cost.

Rustic Pathways does offer a travel and medical insurance program. Please contact your program coordinator or trip leader for more information.