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 San José
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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 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
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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
Enjoy lunch 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
Enjoy lunch in Monteverde
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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
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 San José
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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 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
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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
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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 San José
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Day 10: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
Your experience includes
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Round-trip airfare
Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.
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On-tour transportation
Land and water transportation
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Regional-style meals
Daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included in your program.
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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.
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Full-time Field Director
Your Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert Local Guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.
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Guided sightseeing
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides who join your group for select experiences on tour.
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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
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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.
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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.
