Overview
Costa Rica's volcanoes, cloud forest and two stretches of Pacific coast for a group of up to 28 teens. It starts with whitewater rafting near San José, then horseback riding and volcanic mud baths at Rincón de la Vieja and surf lessons and snorkelling around Flamingo Beach and Tamarindo.
Inland, the group goes canyoning and ziplining by Arenal Volcano and soaks in the hot springs, hikes the Santa Elena reserve in Monteverde's cloud forest and learns Latin dancing, coffee-growing and Tico cooking. The last week is on the southern Pacific coast: more surf lessons and sea kayaking at Dominical, a jungle hike to hidden waterfalls, monkeys and sloths in Manuel Antonio National Park and a sunset catamaran snorkel cruise.
A professional local guide travels with the leaders, and the group moves between stops in a chartered air-conditioned coach. All meals are included. There is a separate middle-school departure for grades 7–8, and on some dates the trip runs together with the 14-day version until day 14.
What's included
The itinerary
- Days 1–2 Central Valley — Arrival in San José, icebreakers and a first whitewater rafting day.
- Days 3–4 Rincón de la Vieja — Horseback riding in the national park, a hike near the volcano crater, the natural mud baths and downtime by the eco-resort's pool.
- Days 5–7 Flamingo Beach — A surf lesson with professional instructors at Tamarindo, snorkelling around the Catalinas Islands, karaoke and a beach bonfire.
- Days 8–10 Arenal Volcano — The town of La Fortuna, thermal hot springs, and a canyoning and zipline adventure in the rainforest.
- Days 11–12 Monteverde — The cloud-forest town, a hike through the Santa Elena reserve and an evening of Latin dancing.
- Day 13 Central Valley — A coffee farm visit at Café Doka to taste and learn how it's grown, and a Tico cooking class.
- Days 14–16 Dominical — Surf lessons at Playa Dominical, sea kayaking past rock formations and a hike in Diamante Verde to hidden jungle waterfalls.
- Days 17–18 Manuel Antonio — Manuel Antonio National Park, home to monkeys and sloths, and a sunset catamaran cruise with snorkelling.
- Days 19–20 Central Valley — The Central Market for handicrafts and treats, a farewell banquet and the flight home from San José.
Where teens stay
Hotels and an eco-lodge, in air-conditioned rooms shared with other teens, most with a pool: in the Central Valley, by Arenal Volcano with views of the volcano, in the Rincón de la Vieja area, near Flamingo Beach, on the river in Dominical a short walk from the beach, and by Manuel Antonio National Park, plus a hotel with cloud-forest views in Monteverde. The exact hotel at each stop is confirmed before departure.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day — Costa Rican rice and beans, meat dishes and lots of fresh fruit, with Western options on the menu too. Vegetarian, kosher-style, gluten-free (coeliac) and lactose-free diets and most allergies can be catered for if you tell us in advance. Tap water is mostly fine, but the group refills bottles from containers of purified water.
More photos
Frequently asked questions
Which departure is right for my child?
Groups are put together by US school grade, so each departure has teens of a similar age. Grades 7–8 (roughly ages 12–14, a middle-school departure): Jun 27–Jul 16. Grades 9–10 (roughly ages 14–16): Jun 30–Jul 19, Jul 20–Aug 8. The grade is the one your child is in during the 2026–27 school year — we'll help you match it to your school system. Dates are the operator's official start and end dates.
How do flights and arrival work?
The trip starts and ends at San José (SJO) airport, so you book a return flight there. Please check the operator's arrival and departure time windows with us before buying anything non-refundable. Staff meet your child as they come through customs and take them to the group at no extra cost, and teens flying in from overseas can arrive the night before the official start with the extra hotel night included. The operator also runs a chaperoned group flight from South Florida (sometimes New York), which teens can connect to — but from Europe there are direct flights to Costa Rica from a few hubs, so a US connection isn't necessary. On the last day the leaders help with check-in and stay at the airport until flights in the set window have left.
What exactly is included in the price?
Hotels and lodges, breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, all the activities in the itinerary, the local guide, chartered coach transport, airport transfers for flights within the set time windows, tips and local taxes. Not included: flights to and from Costa Rica, snacks, spending money, laundry (a wash-and-fold service about once a week), the operator's application fee, and travel insurance — optional, but we strongly recommend it.
Is there a discount for enrolling early?
Yes — at the moment the operator takes US$300 off the tuition for early enrolment, so the 20-day trip costs US$7,099 instead of US$7,399. It's a limited-time offer and the operator can end it at any point, so ask us whether it still applies before you decide. The price shown on this page is the full tuition.
What is the difference between the 14-day and 20-day versions?
Both cover the Central Valley, Rincón de la Vieja, Flamingo Beach, Arenal and Monteverde. The 20-day trip adds a week on the southern Pacific coast — surfing and kayaking at Dominical and the wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park. A limited number of teens leave on day 14 while the 20-day group carries on.
What does "small-group adventure" mean here?
Groups are capped at 28 teens, with a professional local guide alongside the leaders and a chartered air-conditioned coach between stops. The middle-school departure is only for grades 7–8, so younger teens travel with their own age group.
Does my child need a visa?
Families arrange travel documents themselves. Teens with an EU passport don't need a visa for a holiday-length stay in Costa Rica; the passport must be valid for the whole trip and border officers may ask to see the return ticket. If the route connects through the US — including the group flight from Florida — they also need an approved ESTA (the online US travel authorisation), so apply well ahead. For any other passport, ask us and we'll check what applies.
Who else will be in the group?
Mostly American teens — on most programs around 85% of participants come from the US, and the operator tries to limit how many teens from any one other country join each group. For an international teen that means a genuinely English-speaking group, which is a big part of the appeal.
How good does my child's English need to be?
At least a confident beginner level — the operator recommends A2 or above, since everything on the trip happens in English. Your child can ask for an English-speaking roommate, and one-to-one English conversation time with a staff member can be arranged daily or a few times a week.
Can my child come on their own?
Yes, and many do. The first days are built around icebreakers and getting-to-know-you activities, roommates are assigned and rotated, and the staff actively help everyone settle into the group.
Are phones allowed?
Yes. Teens can bring their phone, so you can call or message them directly. The operator also runs a communication centre that's staffed every day of the summer, with someone on call around the clock for emergencies.