Costa Rica: Pura Vida
“¡Pura Vida!” cannot be passively observed from a distance—it must be experienced.
Expect to get your hands (and feet, and clothes) dirty as you board canal boats, kayaks, rafts and zip-lines to get an up-close and personal look at the ever-changing landscapes and unparalleled animal and plant life. Before long, you’ll learn the Pura Vida way: by enjoying each day to the fullest.
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Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Tour Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in San José
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Day 2: San José • Tortuguero
Snap a photo at Braulio Carrillo National Park, built to preserve the wildlife of the area, from jaguars and ocelots to quetzals and eagles
Travel by boat to Tortuguero, accessible only by boat and home to just 700 residents
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in Tortuguero
Spend a half day exploring Tortuguero Village on your own
Enjoy dinner in Tortuguero
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Day 3: Tortuguero
Enjoy a boat ride through the Tortuguero canals and see how the rainfall, fresh water, and Caribbean sea supports the area's exceptional biodiversity
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in Tortuguero
Visit Tortuguero National Park, and see if you can spot a howler monkey, toucan, or even caiman
Enjoy dinner in Tortuguero
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Day 4: Tortuguero • Sarapiquí region
Travel to Sarapiquí, a county in the Heredia province known for its lush rainforests and outdoor activities
Enjoy lunch in Sarapiquí
Add this in-depth excursion:
Sarapiquí canopy tour
Soar like the birds and the monkeys that call the cloud forest home on this exciting half-day canopy tour! Zip lines unveil one of the planet’s most fascinating ecological systems from a unique perspective—from the tops of the trees. With local expert guides at your side to instruct you on safety protocol, you can decide which view you prefer—from below the trees or from 90 feet above! (Note: To ensure safety, there is a 220lb weight restriction imposed on canopy tours)
Enjoy dinner in Sarapiquí
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Day 5: Sarapiquí region • Arenal region
Add this in-depth excursion:
Whitewater rafting
Experience the thrill and excitement of a whitewater rafting expedition! Use teamwork to navigate a path through the free-flowing waters of the Sarapiquí River (rapids level 2-3). Admire the lush Costa Rican scenery as you pass by stretches of tropical forest.Travel to the Arenal region and keep an eye out for the mile-high Arenal Volcano
Enjoy lunch on your way to Arenal
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 6: Arenal region
Enjoy a kayaking trip on Lake Arenal
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in the Arenal region
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
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Day 7: Arenal region • Guanacaste
Travel to Guanacaste and take in the craggy bluffs cloaked in forests that stretch above you
Enjoy lunch on your way to Guanacaste
Take an excursion to Rincón de la Vieja National Park, a rain and cloud forest that boasts geothermal hot springs, including the Blue Lagoon; its color comes from the minerals in the stones beneath the lagoon
Enjoy dinner in Guanacaste
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Day 8: Guanacaste
Enjoy snorkeling off the coast of Guanacaste in clear Pacific waters, home to interesting and unusual marine life
Take a boat tour of Palo Verde National Park, one of the last tropical dry rainforests in Central America
Enjoy lunch in Palo Verde National Park
Enjoy dinner in Guanacaste
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Day 9: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica
Meet your Tour Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in San José
-
Day 2: San José • Tortuguero
Snap a photo at Braulio Carrillo National Park, built to preserve the wildlife of the area, from jaguars and ocelots to quetzals and eagles
Travel by boat to Tortuguero, accessible only by boat and home to just 700 residents
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in Tortuguero
Spend a half day exploring Tortuguero Village on your own
Enjoy dinner in Tortuguero
-
Day 3: Tortuguero
Enjoy a boat ride through the Tortuguero canals and see how the rainfall, fresh water, and Caribbean sea supports the area's exceptional biodiversity
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in Tortuguero
Visit Tortuguero National Park, and see if you can spot a howler monkey, toucan, or even caiman
Enjoy dinner in Tortuguero
-
Day 4: Tortuguero • Sarapiquí region
Travel to Sarapiquí, a county in the Heredia province known for its lush rainforests and outdoor activities
Enjoy lunch in Sarapiquí
Add this in-depth excursion:
Sarapiquí canopy tour
Soar like the birds and the monkeys that call the cloud forest home on this exciting half-day canopy tour! Zip lines unveil one of the planet’s most fascinating ecological systems from a unique perspective—from the tops of the trees. With local expert guides at your side to instruct you on safety protocol, you can decide which view you prefer—from below the trees or from 90 feet above! (Note: To ensure safety, there is a 220lb weight restriction imposed on canopy tours)
Enjoy dinner in Sarapiquí
-
Day 5: Sarapiquí region • Arenal region
Add this in-depth excursion:
Whitewater rafting
Experience the thrill and excitement of a whitewater rafting expedition! Use teamwork to navigate a path through the free-flowing waters of the Sarapiquí River (rapids level 2-3). Admire the lush Costa Rican scenery as you pass by stretches of tropical forest.Travel to the Arenal region and keep an eye out for the mile-high Arenal Volcano
Enjoy lunch on your way to Arenal
Visit the Arenal hot springs and dip your toes into the naturally heated pools
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
-
Day 6: Arenal region
Enjoy a kayaking trip on Lake Arenal
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a spectacular 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs
Enjoy lunch at your hotel in the Arenal region
Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the Arenal region
-
Day 7: Arenal region • Guanacaste
Travel to Guanacaste and take in the craggy bluffs cloaked in forests that stretch above you
Enjoy lunch on your way to Guanacaste
Take an excursion to Rincón de la Vieja National Park, a rain and cloud forest that boasts geothermal hot springs, including the Blue Lagoon; its color comes from the minerals in the stones beneath the lagoon
Enjoy dinner in Guanacaste
-
Day 8: Guanacaste
Enjoy snorkeling off the coast of Guanacaste in clear Pacific waters, home to interesting and unusual marine life
Take a boat tour of Palo Verde National Park, one of the last tropical dry rainforests in Central America
Enjoy lunch in Palo Verde National Park
Enjoy dinner in Guanacaste
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Day 9: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
Wide variety of learning from Biology, Ecology, Ecotourism, Culture, Geography, Geology.... It was a wonderful experience. They kept us busy the whole trip but it never got boring. Friendly people, felt ...Broad Learning Experiences
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 & 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 Tour Director
Your Tour 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
Tortuguero canals, Hot springs, Kayaking, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna Waterfall, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Palo Verde boat tour
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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.
