Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to San José

Fly to Costa Rica and meet your Travel Director at the San José airport. Transfer to your hotel and settle in. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a guided walking tour of the capital, discovering its lively streets and learning about Costa Rican history and everyday life.

Day 2: Coffee Plantation Visit & Meet Your Host Family

Travel toward Monteverde, stopping along the way at a coffee plantation. Follow the journey from coffee plant to cup, learn about growing and processing the beans, and sample freshly brewed Costa Rican coffee. Upon arrival in Monteverde, meet the host families who will welcome you into their homes for the next five nights. Share your first home-cooked dinner, practice your Spanish, and begin getting to know one another.

Day 3: Discover the Santa Elena Cloud Forest

Enjoy breakfast with your host family before heading to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. Explore misty trails surrounded by towering trees, ferns, mosses, and orchids while learning how this remarkable ecosystem supports a rich variety of wildlife. Keep your eyes and ears open for birds and other forest residents as your guide helps you uncover details you might otherwise miss. Return to your host family for dinner, conversation, and a chance to share the day’s discoveries.

Day 4: Horseback Riding & Costa Rican Cooking

Explore the countryside on a horseback riding excursion through scenic trails, taking in views of the surrounding mountains and forests. In the afternoon, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking lesson. Learn to prepare traditional Costa Rican dishes while discovering the ingredients and family traditions behind them. Spend the evening with your host family, exchanging stories about your day and continuing to build your Spanish conversation skills.

Day 5: Butterflies, Biodiversity & Night Walk

Visit the Monteverde Mariposario to explore butterfly gardens, a medicinal plant garden, and a biodiversity center. Learn about butterfly life cycles and the relationships between insects, plants, and their environment. Observe a live leaf-cutter ant colony and discover how these tiny workers cooperate to sustain their community.

After dark, set out on a guided forest walk to experience a different side of Monteverde. Listen to the nighttime sounds and look for frogs, insects, and other wildlife that become active after sunset. Return to your host family for the night.

Day 6: Hanging Bridges & Hands-On Sustainability

Experience the forest from a new perspective as you cross hanging bridges, observing the treetops and learning about life in the canopy.

Next, divide into small groups and rotate through seasonal field stations for hands-on learning about local agriculture and environmental stewardship. Activities will be selected according to the season, students’ ages, and the group’s academic goals, and may include:

• Harvesting coffee and learning about its cultivation

• Planting native trees to support local ecosystems

• Working in an organic garden

• Helping with soil and water conservation projects

Spend your final evening with your host family, reflecting on what you’ve learned, sharing favorite memories, and thanking them for their hospitality.

Day 7: School Visit, Cultural Exchange & Hot Springs

Say goodbye to your host family and visit a local school for a day of connection with Costa Rican students. Participate in shared activities such as art, music, dancing, and a friendly game of soccer. Practice your Spanish and discover the interests and experiences you have in common.

Continue to the San Carlos region and unwind in hot springs warmed by geothermal energy. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in San Carlos.

Day 8: Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall & San José

Explore Arenal Volcano National Park, walking trails through volcanic landscapes and learning how past eruptions shaped the surrounding environment. Discover the connection between the volcano, the forest, and the region’s geothermal activity.

Continue to La Fortuna Waterfall, where a powerful cascade tumbles into a pool surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Take in the scenery before traveling back to San José. Gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate your adventures, your host-family connections, and everything you’ve learned about Costa Rica. Overnight in San José.

Day 9: Return Home

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, bringing back memories of cloud forests, shared meals, new friendships, and the warmth of Costa Rican hospitality.