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Costa Rica: A Touch of the Tropics

9 days in Alajuela, Arenal region, Monteverde, Central Pacific Coast

Optional 1 day extension

Waterfall in a jungle in Costa Rica.
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OverviewItineraryReviewsWhat's includedPriceFAQs
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OVERVIEW

Connect science, culture, and ecology in the midst of Costa Rica's extraordinary biodiversity

Costa Rica's landscapes invite exploration at every elevation. Students hike volcanic trails, zipline through Monteverde's cloud forest, and cruise crocodile-inhabited rivers along the Pacific coast, seeing how adventure and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Visits to local communities—like a coffee farm—immerse students in time-honored culture and tradition, while encounters with diverse ecosystems highlight why Costa Rica is a global model for conservation and sustainability. Students return home with fresh curiosity, stronger environmental literacy, and a deeper understanding of how people and nature depend on one another.

Costa Rica: A Touch of the Tropics route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica

Board your international flight to San José

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 2: Alajuela • Arenal region

Take a tour of a coffee farm

Travel to the Arenal region

Enjoy a hike in Arenal Volcano National Park

Day 3: Arenal region

Enjoy a kayaking trip on Lake Arenal

Visit La Fortuna Waterfall

Participate in a cultural exchange with locals

Visit the Arenal hot springs

Day 4: Arenal region • Monteverde

Travel to Monteverde

Add this in-depth experience
Local food workshop

Local food workshop

Try your hand at creating some of Costa Rica’s culinary specialties during a visit to a local working mill. You’ll make—and sample—tortillas, artisanal coffee, and juice extracted from sugar cane. (Just save room for sobado, a candy made from the sugar cane plant.)

Day 5: Monteverde

Experience the thrill of a ziplining adventure through the Costa Rican canopy (For safety reasons, weight and size restrictions may apply)

Visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest

Day 6: Monteverde • Central Pacific Coast

Travel to the Central Pacific Coast

Visit the Rainforest Adventure Park, where you will:

  • Ride an aerial tram above the canopies

  • Explore a nature trail

  • Visit a butterfly sanctuary

Enjoy a crocodile safari boat cruise

Day 7: Central Pacific Coast

Visit Manuel Antonio National Park

Day 8: Central Pacific Coast • Sarchí • Alajuela

Travel to Sarchí

Enjoy lunch in Sarchí

Travel to Alajuela

Add this in-depth experience
Folklore evening

Folklore evening

Opt to spend the evening learning about the rich cultural traditions of the region over a traditional Costa Rican dinner. After dinner, marimba music and entertainment by a local dance troupe will make this a night to remember.

Day 9: Depart for home

Board your flight home from San José

What makes this tour special?

Go on a ziplining adventure through the treetops of Monteverde's legendary cloud forest

Go on a ziplining adventure through the treetops of Monteverde's legendary cloud forest

Discover coffee's essential role in Costa Rica's economy during a coffee farm tour, and explore the journey from bean to cup

Discover coffee's essential role in Costa Rica's economy during a coffee farm tour, and explore the journey from bean to cup

Cruise jungle waterways along the Central Pacific Coast on a crocodile safari boat ride

Cruise jungle waterways along the Central Pacific Coast on a crocodile safari boat ride

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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