15 days | Piedras Blancas & Manuel Antonio | Ages 14-18 | $3,410 USD

Journey through the thick tropical rainforest as you hike along spectacular valleys, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers that lead you from a series of trail campsites to a mountain eco-lodge. Discover fresh animal tracks, impressive plant life, and rugged trails as you navigate your way far from the tourist route.

After your rainforest expedition, head into a region known for its monkeys, sloths, and beautiful coastline. Spend time relaxing, boogie boarding, and playing games on one of the top ten tropical beaches in the world.

Give back to nature while participating in environmental service projects at our rainforest base before heading to your whitewater rafting adventure. Build communication skills as you navigate raging whitewater rapids and explore your own personal strengths throughout this exhilarating experience. Finish your 15-day program by ziplining through the cloud canopy and celebrating your course achievements!

Dates:    Jun. 22 – Jul. 6, 2024 (Session #1)
               Jul. 20 – Aug. 3, 2024 (Session #2)

Cost:     $3,410 USD  |  £2,824 GBP  |  C$4,341 CAD |  €3,326 EUR

Tuition includes all room and board, technical gear, course activities, and in-country transportation. Airfare to/from Costa Rica is not included in the listed tuition cost.

Please note the original course prices are set in U.S. Dollars (USD). Prices above are shown for your reference, based on the exchange rate of the last website update on Aug. 19, 2022. The final course price will be based on the exchange rate at the time of payment.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary. Details are subject to change.

Day 1

Fly into Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) to meet your new friends and coursemates. Don’t forget to connect to free airport WiFi to let you parents know that you have arrived and meet our staff member waiting for you outside of the airport’s only exit. A scenic one-hour drive will take you through the city and into the rolling hills of the country’s Central Valley to our Mountain Rainforest Base. Arrive at basecamp and enjoy a welcome meal with your group. Settle in for a great night’s sleep in our Rainforest Base furnished bunk bed dorms.

Day 2

After a typical Costa Rican breakfast, your instructors will lead through orientation and get to know you activities. Reach new heights on a technical tree climb—think harness-assisted rock climbing—but this time, scaling a rainforest strangler fig tree with hand and foot holds that bring you up to the rainforest treetops. Cheer on your coursemates while you work together and each reach the top! Your experienced instructors will help your group prepare for the next day’s hike and get an early night’s rest. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 3-5

Depart early to your “far from the tourist route” trailhead. Enjoy the next few days hiking through pristine cloud and rainforests, learning about the flora and fauna that thrive in one of the most biodiverse countries of the world. Make camp along the trail and rest under tarps with the sounds of the forest to lull you to sleep.
Approx. hiking distance: 3.7-7.6 mi. | 6-12.2 km

Day 6

Hike to a Rainforest Eco Lodge where a breathtaking mountain view and local family welcome you. Local host family members will teach you how to process sugar using a trapiche—a method used to traditionally process raw sugarcane stalks. At nightfall, venture out for a mini excursion to spot rare and colorful Costa Rican tree frog species in their natural habitat at a conservation site on the grounds of the lodge. Spend the night in cozy dorms overlooking the mountains.
Approx. hiking distance: 6.8 mi. | 11 km

Day 7-8

Continue hiking each day with a rainforest trek to yet another jaw-dropping spectacular rainforest camp. As you drop in elevation, notice the changes in the forest and enjoy the beautiful open air. Hike downhill with the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio along the horizon. Meet your driver at your exit point for a short ride to our Manuel Antonio Beach base. Overnight in lofted rooms.
Approx. hiking distance: 3.4 mi. | 7.7 km

Day 9

Walk to one of the most secluded and beautiful beaches in the Manuel Antonio area. Relax and celebrate your accomplishments on the hike by swimming the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Overnight in lofted rooms at Manuel Antonio beach base.

Day 10

Boogie board and play games on a spectacular Pacific Ocean beach that has been named one of the top ten tropical beaches in the world. This area is home to many rainforest animals including scarlet macaws, capuchin monkeys, iguanas, parrots, and even sloths! Overnight in lofted rooms at Manuel Antonio beach base.

Day 11

Wake up early to enjoy your last time beachside. In the late afternoon, begin the transport back to our Costa Rica rainforest base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 12

Wake early to participate in an impactful service project—heading into our dense rainforest reserve located behind our base to volunteer on trail maintenance and rainforest reforestation initiatives. Then, hike your way to a massive 135-foot waterfall only a short distance away from our rainforest base. Swim in the watering hole at its base and take in the view. Later today, you will complete a ‘solo’ activity where you reflect inward and on your experiences so far during this exciting program. Overnight in furnished dorms or within the nearby reserve area.

Day 13

Leave base early and travel to one of the best rivers in Costa Rica for a morning of whitewater rafting. Enjoy the challenge of class II and III rapids and be amazed by some of the most spectacular canyon views in the world. In the afternoon, return to base for dinner. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 14

Depart for a fun-filled day of ziplining through a rainforest canopy. Spend your last evening on base with a final dinner and closing ceremony to celebrate your achievements on course! Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 15

Transition to your next course or transfer to the Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) for departure. Say hasta luego to your friends and coursemates. Nos vemos pronto en Costa Rica!

Accommodation

Accommodation varies throughout this course but will include rainforest tarp camping with sleeping pads, sleeping on the floor of group stays with a sleeping pad, sleeping in a lofted beach base room with thick sleeping mats, and our high elevation base dorm room bunk beds. All participants are provided sleeping pads, mats, and sleeping bags as well as backpacks and needed technical gear.

Earn 2-5 hours of community service. Projects include planting trees, maintaining trails or greenhouses, and beach clean-ups.