Costa Rica Exploradores

Touch the real Costa Rica

Grades 9-11 (ages 15-17) | June 27- July 17 | 21 days

48 Service Hours | $4350

This is not a tour of Costa Rican hot spots, but an immersion into Tico culture and one of the most diverse and fragile landscapes on Earth, from the legendary Cloud Forest to the sweet surf of the Caribbean.

  • Hike the breathtaking Cloud Forest
  • Raft the wild rapids of the Rio Pacuare
  • Soak up the Tico culture and collaborate with your homestay hosts on a community project
  • Meet the Bri Bri Indians and help them with a project that will help sustain their village
  • Savor the laid-back vibe while surfing the Caribbean coast

Costa Rica is a wild and beautiful country with the highest standard of literacy and public health in Central America. This tiny, politically stable nation has made a national commitment to the protection of its ecological resources. The country’s rich natural diversity, unspoiled beaches, lush rain forests, and tropical wildlife, and our close friendship with our Costa Rican partner, make this an ideal place for a Deer Hill expedition.

Hike the Cloud Forest

After a night in vibrant San José, we begin the expedition with a day hike into El Copal where you’ll stay at a biological reserve run by local farming families – your first encounter with the incredible flora and fauna of Costa Rica. From here you hike down to the put-in of the Rio Pejivalle, and descend the river through a tropical cloud forest. Ferns, mosses and bromeliads slowly give way to the dense jungle of tall trees and vines. Toucans, parrots, and monkeys are some of the common wildlife you will see.

Raft the Wild Pacuare

You conclude the river section of your adventure with an exciting 2-night whitewater rafting trip on the Rio Pacuare, named one of the top ten whitewater rivers in the world by National Geographic. Renowned also for its stunning beauty, the Pacuare plunges its way through canyons draped in waterfalls and primeval rainforest. These rapids are beyond anything most participants have ever experienced! Camping in comfortable sites along the way, we enjoy great food and maybe a salsa lesson from our guides. While rafting this jungle river, you stop to visit the Cabecar Indians, the largest indigenous group in Costa Rica, and one that retains many of its traditional customs.

Community Service and Homestays in Tres Equis and Bri Bri

The open and friendly people of Tres Equis welcome you into their homes and families. You work on community service projects while immersing yourself in the richness of the Spanish language. Complete vital improvements on the local school building, or create the village’s first recycling center. When work is done we relax, play soccer or attend a celebration with your hosts.

Continuing the cross-cultural theme, three days of the program are spent in a remote village with the Bri Bri Indians, who for thousands of years have lived in harmony with nature in the picturesque Talamanca Mountains. Work alongside the people on a project that helps the sustainability of their community. This may include fencing work, repairs and restoration of school buildings, and upgrading their Cultural Center, which they hope may draw tourists in the future. Through communal work and play, your understanding of this country and its people deepens.

Experience the Caribbean Coast

Spending three days at surf camp at Punta Uva, near Manzanillo, where white sand and great waves provide the perfect setting. As a final highlight, you travel on foot to Punta Mona Organic Farm. Led by a local guide, you hike along the coast – learning about native wildlife and plant life along the way – to this thriving community based on sustainable permaculture. Help out in the gardens, pick fresh fruits and vegetables for your meals, and learn how to make chocolate. Finally, head back to San Jose and your flight home.

Click here to read program itinerary and notes

*Special Note: All participants arrive and depart from the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, where Deer Hill leaders will be waiting to meet them from their flight.  A valid passport is necessary to enter Costa Rica. Flight costs are not included in tuition total. Contact us for more information about traveling to San Jose.

“The homestay meant a lot to me because our family really wanted us there. They cared for us, and were sweet and generous. They made me feel at home and like it meant something to them that we were there.” Erin, Stinson Beach, CA

“I experienced so many new things here – black coffee, termites, surfing, intense rapids, Caribbean fruits, salsa dancing, camping on a beach in the rain, and so much more. I was in the most beautiful settings and immersed myself in a beautiful culture… I’m very proud of myself for the ways I’ve grown on this course.” Allison, Portland, OR

“Tripp had ‘the best time of his life’. From arriving at the baggage claim, to staying at Punta Mona, he loved it. Surfing, the homestay family, Circle, the group, and habla espagnol toda al tiempo! It inspired him to live simply. Thank you!” Kelly Clemens, Newport RI, CRE parent