Touch the real Costa Rica

Grades 9-11 (ages 15-17) | July 1 – July 21 | 21 days

40 Service Hours | $4295

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

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. Costa Rica’s rich natural diversity, unspoiled beaches, lush rain forests, and tropical wildlife make it 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-day 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 Homestay with a Tico family

Next, you move a short distance to Tres Equis. The open and friendly people of this small village welcome you into their homes and families. You work on important community service projects throughout the village while immersing yourself in the richness of the Spanish language. Work on improvements to the local school building, or create the village’s first recycling center. In the afternoon, we relax, and maybe play a soccer game with the locals. In the evening, we share meals with our hosts, and attend social events. Through communal work and play, your friendships with the Ticos grow, as does your appreciation of Costa Rica.

Experience the Caribbean Coast

With fond memories of your host family, you begin your coastal exploration by spending three days learning to surf and river kayak at Punta Uva, near Manzanillo. The white sand and great waves provide the perfect setting for surfing! 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 the local 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. Swim and snorkel in the warm waters of the Caribbean and explore the schools of colorful tropical fish that inhabit the reef. After three days in this paradise, you head back to San Jose and your flight home.

*Special Note: All participants arrive and depart from the Costa Rican capitol of San Jose. One of your Deer Hill leaders will meet you at the George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas, to accompany you on a designated flight. A valid passport is necessary to enter Costa Rica. Flight costs are not included in tuition total.

“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