9 or 10 days
San José, Arenal region, Los Chiles, Monteverde, Central Pacific Coast, Sarchí

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.
  • Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Enjoy dinner in San José 

  • Day 2: San José • Arenal region

    Take a walking tour of San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and learn about it with your Tour 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 dip your toes into 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

    Enjoy lunch 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

    Enjoy lunch in Monteverde 

  • 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 

  • Day 8: Central Pacific Coast • Sarchí • 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

  • 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 San José 

  • Day 10: Depart for home

  • Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica

    Meet your Field Director at the airport

    Enjoy dinner in San José 

  • Day 2: San José • Arenal region

    Take a walking tour of San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and learn about it with your Tour 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 dip your toes into 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

    Enjoy lunch 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

    Enjoy lunch in Monteverde 

  • 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 

  • Day 8: Central Pacific Coast • Sarchí • 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

  • 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 San José 

  • Day 10: Depart for home


Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness


EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development
See the resources you get
EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources


With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get


Your experience includes

  • Round-trip airfare

    Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • On-tour transportation

    Land and water transportation

  • Regional-style meals

    Daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included in your program.

  • End-to-end support

    Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    To capitalize on moments for building empathy, awareness, and adaptability in a global environment, we offer a number of different tools designed 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.

  • Full-time Field Director

    Your Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.

  • Guided sightseeing

    Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.

  • Entrances

    INBioparque, Poás Volcano, Hot springs, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Santa Elena Cloud Forest, Canopy adventure, Aerial tram, Manuel Antonio National Park, Crocodile River tour, Coffee plantation; with extension: Whitewater rafting in the Sarapiqui River

  • Worldwide support, safety and security

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.

  • Flexible payment options

    Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.


Programs in real life

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EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

Programs in real life

EF College Study Tours Instagram page     Instagram →

EF College Study Tours Facebook page     Facebook →

EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

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