Costa Rica Volcanoes, Rainforests & Beaches Costa Rica
11 Days from £2780pp
Based on a group size of 30 students and 3 teachers (free places) travelling April 2026. All compulsory charges that we have been able to calculate are included in the price. A departure tax of $29 will be payable at some airports, we'll highlight any expected local charges in your tailored quote.
We provide transparent and realistic pricing that reflects a full itinerary of engaging activities. As former teachers, we know your time is valuable, so we focus on giving you clear, honest quotes from the outset.
Take your students on an unforgettable educational journey to Costa Rica, where volcanic peaks, cloud forests, and tropical rainforests bring geography to life.
Home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity and a global leader in sustainability and ecotourism, Costa Rica offers immersive learning across geography, biology, and culture.
In destination, expert guides will unveil the secrets of Costa Rica’s rich flora and fauna, creating unforgettable learning moments for your students.
From towering volcanic peaks to enchanting cloud forests and lush rainforests, the country offers an unparalleled natural playground for exploration and learning.
Our team of former teachers and travel specialists have created this example 11-day itinerary packed with hands-on experiences that can be tailored to your curriculum and budget.
What's included
- Flights from London Heathrow to San Jose
- Hold luggage for all passengers
- Professional guide
- 10 nights accommodation with bed linen and possible shared facilities
- Staff rooming based on the same gender teachers sharing multi-bedded rooms
- All excursions, activities and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
- Full board basis
- Peace of mind with our Travel Disruption Support
- Loyalty scheme with a range of benefits and discounts
- All transportation in Costa Rica, including airport transfers, in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle
Day
1
Arrive in San José
As you land in Costa Rica’s central valley, your guide will meet you and accompany you to the hotel in San José.
You’ll be welcomed with your first delicious Costa Rican meal before heading to bed to a good night’s sleep before your exciting first full day tomorrow.
Day
2
Braulio Carrillo National Park & Tortuguero
Head to Braulio Carrillo National Park. On the way you’ll pass between the peaks of the Barva and Irazu volcanoes towards the tropical rainforests.
Next, visit Tortuguero National Park, formed by a network of marshy islands, here freshwater meets the sea to create beaches, canals, lagoons, and areas of exceptional biodiversity. The park has been recognised as protected nesting sanctuary where Green Sea, Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles nest on the beach.
Walk along the beach and learn about the interface between the rainforest and the sea, and how animals manage this stark divide in environments.
For groups visiting between July and October, you may be lucky to see the turtles returning to lay their eggs!
Day
3
Tortuguero National Park
Start with a guided wildlife boat tour at dawn- the best time of the day to explore rivers and waterways and spot a wide variety of wildlife.
Afterwards, volunteer at the San Francisco school. Working with local teachers, you can organise a range of activities to provide educational opportunities and cultural exchange.
In the afternoon, you’ll explore the village of Tortuguero and learn about how the village is sustained economically through ecotourism.
Attend a talk on Caribbean heritage, exploring how history, landscape, religion, language, and Afro-Caribbean music and dance shape the region’s unique culture.
Finish with a visit to the Sea Turtle Conservancy Centre. Here, you’ll learn about the different species of sea turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches of Tortuguero, gain an understanding of their life, habitat, and the importance of protecting them.
Day
4
Sarapiquí
Hop aboard a boat and head to Sarapiquí, famed for lush forests and proximity to lush forests and the convergence of the Rio Puerto Viejo and Rio Sarapiquí rivers.
Arrive at the La Tirimbina Biological Reserve to learn about sustainable tourism practices and see some incredible flora and fauna. Keep an eye on the trees as you may see a sloth!
Cross a long hanging bridge to enter the 345-hectare tropical rainforest. Your first rainforest experience begins with a chocolate tour, including a visit to a traditional cacao plantation.
After dinner, return to the rainforest for a night walk at Tirimbina Biological Reserve. The rainforest comes alive at night and your expert guide will help you spot bats, iguanas, sloths, porcupines, opossums, kinkajous, and more, along with smaller creatures like snakes, tarantulas, bullet ants, frogs, reptiles, and moths.
Day
5
La Fortuna & Arenal
Your first stop is La Fortuna Waterfall.
Plunging 70 meters into a vivid blue pool, the waterfall creates a humid microclimate rich with bromeliads, orchids, and ferns. Near the entrance, you’ll also find a butterfly garden and orchid trail.
No visit to La Fortuna is complete without exploring Arenal Volcano National Park. Rising 5,358 ft (1,633 m), Arenal Volcano is one of the country’s most iconic.
The surrounding rainforest and Lake Arenal reveal lava fields gradually reclaimed by nature, your guide will explain volcanic processes and the region’s hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind energy production.
End the day unwinding in the geothermal pools of Baldi Hot Springs.
Day
6
Maleku & tree planting
Today focuses on culture and conservation. Visit the Maleku indigenous community to learn about their language, traditions, and efforts to protect their land.
Next, join a local conservation team to plant trees, helping restore habitats and connect ecosystems. Since government incentives began in the 1990s, Costa Rica has reversed deforestation and now protects over 28% of its land, fuelling its ecotourism success.
Overnight in the foothills of Miravalles Volcano.
Day
7
Volcanoes & mud baths
Explore the quieter side of Costa Rica at Miravalles Volcano, home to Costa Rica’s largest geothermal field, it supplies sustainable energy to the Guanacaste region.
Visit Las Hornillas Volcanic Activity Centre to see steaming hot springs, boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and sulphur-stained rocks—plus enjoy a restorative mud bath!
Next, head south to Puma Rescue Centre, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation centre. Students may see five of Costa Rica’s six wild cats alongside monkeys, toucans, macaws, deer, and otters, learning about rescue and release efforts.
Continue to Monteverde for your overnight stay.
Day
8
Monteverde
Monteverde, described by National Geographic as “the jewel in the crown of cloud forests,” is home to around half of Costa Rica’s flora and fauna and 2.5% of global biodiversity. You’ll explore the canopy on a 1.9-mile treetop walkway of eight hanging bridges.
Travel to the Tárcoles River for a jungle boat safari. Known for one of the world’s highest populations of American crocodile, the river also offers excellent bird and wildlife spotting.
Continue south to Playa Hermosa for your overnight stay.
Day
9
Manuel Antonio National Park
Spend your day exploring Manuel Antonio National Park, a compact 680-hectare park famed for coastal rainforest, white-sand beaches, and coral reefs.
On a guided walk, look for three-toed sloths, white-faced capuchins, and vibrant birdlife before relaxing on one of the world’s top-rated beaches or study the tombolo linking Cathedral Point.
Return toward San José, stopping at Mirador Tiquicia for panoramic views over the Central Valley.
Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner and dance show as you reflect on your journey.
Day
10
Transfer to San Jose
Time to say “¡Adios Costa Rica!” as you transport to the airport for your flight home.
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School Trip Planning Hub
We know that the real job of selling a school trip is down to you and your colleagues so we've collated some helpful resources for you to use to make sure you not only get the buy in from your students and their parents, but also that you have all the details you need to ensure a simple planning process.
Launching Your School TripCurriculum links
- Geography
- Tectonic processes, landforms & hazards
- Weather processes & hazards
- Ecosystems
- Water & river processes, landforms & management
- Coastal processes, landforms & management
- Rural environments
- Urban environments
- Population & migration
- Economic change and development
- Tourism
- Cultural, ethnic and gender geography
- Food & water resources
- Sustainability
- Globalisation
- Water, carbon & nutrient cycles
- Oceans
- Global systems, trade & global governance
- Changing places
- Geographical skills
