Environment & Culture in Costa Rica
There’s nothing quite like the rainforests of the “Rich Coast” to get the adrenaline pumping.
At its heart, the Central American country boasts an epic landscape that is home to nearly 5 percent of the world’s biodiversity. Discover how fragile these endangered ecosystems are as you travel through different rainforest preserves and unearth dazzling displays of color and sound.
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Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in the San José region
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Day 2: San José • Arenal region
Take a walking tour of San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and learn about it with your Field Director
Enjoy lunch on your way to Arenal
Visit Arenal Volcano, one of the largest active volcanoes in Costa Rica
Visit the Arenal hot springs and take a dip in the naturally heated pools
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
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Day 3: Arenal region • Los Chiles
Take a day trip to Los Chiles, a bustling community only a few miles from the Nicaraguan border and overflowing with Costa Rica’s trademark biological splendor
Take a boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and see the rare and endangered animals that have made the refuge their home
Enjoy lunch at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
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Day 4: Arenal region • Monteverde
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs
Travel to Monteverde, a region consisting of flora and fauna across six ecological zones
Enjoy lunch in Monteverde
Enjoy dinner in Monteverde
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Day 5: Monteverde
Visit the community-run Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, where you will:
- Learn about their mission to promote environmentally conscious development practices
- Enjoy lunch
- Plant a tree in the EF Reserve and leave a positive mark on the earth
- Walk through the clouds on a canopy adventure (Note: To ensure safety, there is a 220lb weight restriction imposed on canopy tours)
- Enjoy dinner
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Day 6: Monteverde • Central Pacific Coast
Travel to the Central Pacific Coast, an area popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its beautiful scenery and exotic wildlife
Visit Rainforest Adventures and experience:
- Aerial tram ride
- Nature hike
- Butterfly garden
- Local plant & animal life
Enjoy lunch at Rainforest Adventures
Enjoy dinner on the Central Pacific Coast
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Day 7: Central Pacific Coast
Visit Manuel Antonio National Park, which boasts a diverse array of marine life and white sand beaches where you can sometimes spot dolphins and whales
Enjoy lunch on the Central Pacific Coast
Enjoy a crocodile river tour to get an up-close view of crocodiles and exotic birds from the safety of your boat
Enjoy dinner on the Central Pacific Coast
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Day 8: Central Pacific Coast • Sarchí • San José
Travel via Sarchi, a crafts center known for its brightly painted ox carts, on your way to San José
Visit a coffee plantation to learn how these beverages are produced and sip on samples
Enjoy lunch in Sarchí
Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner
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Day 9: Depart for home
Add more days
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Day 9: San José
Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion and use teamwork to navigate your course through the free-flowing waters of the Sarapiquí River rapids
Enjoy lunch in San José
Enjoy dinner in the San José region
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Day 10: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in the San José region
-
Day 2: San José • Arenal region
Take a walking tour of San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and learn about it with your Field Director
Enjoy lunch on your way to Arenal
Visit Arenal Volcano, one of the largest active volcanoes in Costa Rica
Visit the Arenal hot springs and take a dip in the naturally heated pools
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
-
Day 3: Arenal region • Los Chiles
Take a day trip to Los Chiles, a bustling community only a few miles from the Nicaraguan border and overflowing with Costa Rica’s trademark biological splendor
Take a boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and see the rare and endangered animals that have made the refuge their home
Enjoy lunch at Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
-
Day 4: Arenal region • Monteverde
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs
Travel to Monteverde, a region consisting of flora and fauna across six ecological zones
Enjoy lunch in Monteverde
Enjoy dinner in Monteverde
-
Day 5: Monteverde
Visit the community-run Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, where you will:
- Learn about their mission to promote environmentally conscious development practices
- Enjoy lunch
- Plant a tree in the EF Reserve and leave a positive mark on the earth
- Walk through the clouds on a canopy adventure (Note: To ensure safety, there is a 220lb weight restriction imposed on canopy tours)
- Enjoy dinner
-
Day 6: Monteverde • Central Pacific Coast
Travel to the Central Pacific Coast, an area popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its beautiful scenery and exotic wildlife
Visit Rainforest Adventures and experience:
- Aerial tram ride
- Nature hike
- Butterfly garden
- Local plant & animal life
Enjoy lunch at Rainforest Adventures
Enjoy dinner on the Central Pacific Coast
-
Day 7: Central Pacific Coast
Visit Manuel Antonio National Park, which boasts a diverse array of marine life and white sand beaches where you can sometimes spot dolphins and whales
Enjoy lunch on the Central Pacific Coast
Enjoy a crocodile river tour to get an up-close view of crocodiles and exotic birds from the safety of your boat
Enjoy dinner on the Central Pacific Coast
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Day 8: Central Pacific Coast • Sarchí • San José
Travel via Sarchi, a crafts center known for its brightly painted ox carts, on your way to San José
Visit a coffee plantation to learn how these beverages are produced and sip on samples
Enjoy lunch in Sarchí
Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner
-
Day 9: Depart for home
Add more days
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Day 9: San José
Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion and use teamwork to navigate your course through the free-flowing waters of the Sarapiquí River rapids
Enjoy lunch in San José
Enjoy dinner in the San José region
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Day 10: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
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Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
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End-to-end support
Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.
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EF Global Learning Toolkit
We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.
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Guided exploration
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.
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Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
