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Geography Trip to Costa Rica

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HomeEducationDestinationsCosta RicaSan JoséGeography Trip to Costa Rica

A geography trip to Costa Rica provides students with an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of the world's most biodiverse countries. 

From hiking through lush rainforests to observing wildlife in their natural habitat, they'll gain firsthand insight into ecosystems, conservation efforts and sustainable living. 

You'll explore the incredible biodiversity of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, not just during the day (when you can enjoy the incredible views from the bridges that hang among the canopy), but also at night, when around 80% of the forest's inhabitants are most active. 

You'll discover crater lakes and hike the lava trails of the imposing Arenal Volcano. And you'll experience the country's geothermal power with a relaxing visit to Baldi Hot Springs. 

This unique blend of adventure, ecology and culture not only brings the geography and science curriculum to life, but also fosters a lifelong appreciation for the natural world and our responsibility to protect it. 

Geography Trip to Costa Rica

From

£2749PP

8 days, 7 nights

Need something bespoke?

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Final preparations for your school trip to Costa Rica. 

Afternoon

Arrive at San José International Airport and meet your tour guide. 

Transfer to your hotel for check-in and a brief orientation meeting to review the trip itinerary and exciting activities ahead. 

Evening

Evening meal. 

Day 2

Morning

Begin the day with an early morning journey to Poás Volcano National Park, arriving when the weather is typically clearest for the best views of the active crater and geothermal landscape. 

Explore the main crater viewpoint and take a short hike to Lake Botos in the nearby Cloud Forest. 

Afternoon

After lunch, enjoy a guided tour at Hacienda Doka, a renowned coffee plantation, where you'll learn about the coffee production process (from bean to cup). 

Continue your journey to Tirimbina Biological Reserve, where you'll cross a hanging bridge and explore the forest to discover its rich biodiversity. 

Finally, drive to La Fortuna, where you'll be staying for the next few nights. 

Evening

Evening meal. 

Day 3

Morning

Start your day with a guided walk through Arenal Volcano National Park, exploring trails that showcase the park's volcanic landscape, including past lava fields and secondary forest. 

Arenal, Costa Rica's most famous active volcano, is also a hub for energy production. 

Afternoon

After lunch, visit La Fortuna Waterfall, located within a biological reserve, featuring an impressive 70 metre drop and a 530-step descent to its base. 

End the day with a leisurely guided stroll along a sloth trail, where you'll have the opportunity to observe sloths ad other rainforest wildlife. 

Evening

Evening meal. 

Day 4

Morning

Cruise through the wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Río Frío on a guided boat tour, keeping an eye out for monkeys, sloths, birds and reptiles in their natural habitat. 

Afternoon

After the tour, return to La Fortuna and unwind with a relaxing soak in the natural thermal pools at Baldi Hot Springs. 

The springs are fed by the nearby Arenal Volcano, providing a range of heated pools which are rich in minerals and offer therapeutic benefits. 

Evening

Evening meal. 

Day 5

Morning

Journey to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, a lush, biodiverse reserve nestled in Costa Rica's central highlands. 

Famous for its unique cloud forest ecosystem, it's home to a wide range of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to the region. 

Afternoon

The forest's misty atmosphere, with clouds frequently enveloping the treetops, creates a rich, moist environment. 

Here, you'll participate in a tree planting activity to support local conservation efforts and enjoy a walk through the reserve. 

Evening

As night falls, venture out on a wildlife walk, offering a rare opportunity to observe Costa Rica's nocturnal wildlife and learn about their fascinating behaviours and adaptations after dark. 

Day 6

Morning

Experience the Monteverde Cloud Forest from above on the treetop walkways. 

The network of hanging bridges and platforms offers a unique, immersive journey through one of Costa Rica's most biodiverse ecosystems, providing stunning views of the forest canopy and its abundant wildlife. 

Afternoon

On your return to San José, you'll stop in Sarchí, a charming town renowned for its artisan culture and traditional craftsmanship.

Sarchí is especially famous for its colourful hand-painted oxcarts, a symbol of Costa Rican heritage.

Evening

Evening meal.

Day 7

Morning

Explore San José, discovering its rich heritage and vibrant local markets. 

Afternoon

Transfer to San José International Airport for your flight home, taking with you unforgettable memories of your Costa Rican adventure. 

If your return flight is in the morning, you'll transfer directly to the airport on your final day. 

Day 8

Morning

Arrive home. 

  • Return flights from London Heathrow Airport to San Jose Airport, including hold luggage. 
  • Transportation in Costa Rica, from airport pick-up to airport drop-off. 
  • Accommodation for 6 nights. Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms with bed linen and private facilities. Staff will be accommodated in shared rooms (based on same-sex teachers sharing). 
  • Full board, starting with dinner on the first day and ending with lunch on the last day. 
  • All excursions and activities listed in the sample itinerary. All activities are subject to availability at the time of booking. 
  • Professional English-speaking guide service for days 1-7. 
  • A dedicated tour consultant throughout your booking. 
  • Detailed final itinerary pack with relevant maps and visit confirmations. 
  • Free staff place ratio 1:10.
  • Itinerary planning service.
  • Detailed information pack. 
  • Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet. 
  • VAT at current rates to tour operators. 

Curriculum

All levels
  • Biodiversity and ecosystems - adaptations, classifications, conservation, human impacts and sustainability. 
  • Coasts - processes, landforms and management.
  • Land use and agriculture - sustainable agriculture compared to large-scale farming. 
  • Plate tectonics - processes, landforms and hazards. 
  • Renewable energy resources - water, wind, geothermal and food energy. 
  • Rivers - processes, landforms and management. 
  • Tourism  - deforestation, ecotourism and sustainable development. 
  • Water cycle - tropical rainfall patterns. 
  • Weather and climate - processes, hazards, microclimates and the impacts of climate change. 
A Level
  • Earth structure and plate tectonics
  • Tectonic disaster trends since 1960
  • Active volcanoes - eruptive activity and land formation
  • Human responses to natural hazards
  • Managing tectonic hazards - predictions and forecasting
  • Characteristics of a distinct ecosystem
  • Biodiversity: flora and fauna
  • Impacts of climate change on biomes
  • Economical and social threats to ecosystems
  • Sustainable management of resources
  • The water cycle
  • Fieldwork
GCSE
  • Characteristics of plate boundaries
  • Effects of tectonic hazards
  • Management of hazards
  • Geomorphic processes, erosion and deposition
  • Characteristics of ecosystems
  • Biodiversity: flora and fauna adaptations
  • Balance and interrelationships of biomes
  • Impact of climate on ecosystems
  • Global threats to ecosystems
  • Water and carbon cycles
  • Tropical rainforests
  • Fieldwork
Key Stage 3
  • Geological timescales and plate tectonics
  • Rocks, weathering and soils
  • Weather and climate

Accommodation

Sleep Inn Hotel, San José

The Sleep Inn San Jose Hotel is situated in the heart of the city, just 15 kilometres from Juan Santamaria International Airport. The hotel is conveniently close to museums, theatres, and parks. The rooms have air-conditioning, a minibar, a TV, a safe, a coffee maker, and a private bathroom. The property has a casino, meeting room, gym, internet access, and a restaurant where you can enjoy the included breakfast.

Hotel Las Colinas

Hotel Las Colinas is a charming hotel located in the heart of La Fortuna. It offers comfortable, eco-friendly accommodation just a short walk from the town centre and a short drive from Arenal Volcano. Featuring modern amenities, sustainable practices, and easy access to local attractions, it's the perfect base for exploring the area. All guestrooms have private bathrooms, air conditioning, and cable TV. Guests can enjoy stunning views of the Arenal Volcano from the hotel's terrace.

Monteverde Country Lodge

The Monteverde Country Lodge provides guests with a comfortable and relaxing stay in its traditional rustic style accommodation. Set in beautiful gardens, the lodge is focused on its sustainability and minimising its impact on the natural world around the lodge. The lodge's classic rooms are equipped with modern amenities such as cable TV, a telephone, safe, insulating curtains, hot water shower and a very cosy atmosphere.

Tour highlights

Poás Volcano National Park and Geothermal Landscape

Visiting Poás Volcano offers students a unique opportunity to learn about active volcanic processes and geothermal energy. The panoramic view of the crater provides a visual understanding of the Earth's inner workings, with the chance to study the effects of volcanic activity on local ecosystems. Students can explore the cloud forest surrounding the volcano, gaining insight into how different altitudes and climate zones influence biodiversity.
Did you know?

After your visit to the volcano, you'll hike a short trail which ends in Lake Botos (an extinct crater itself). Here, you could be lucky enough to see some of the famous Cloud Forest birds, including the iconic (and strikingly beautiful) quetzal.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge offers a rare glimpse into one of the country's most important and biodiverse wetland ecosystems. On a guided boat tour along the Río Frío, you'll observe an increedible variety of wildlife in their natural habitats, including monkeys, sloths, iguanas, caimans and hundreds of bird species. This peaceful, immersive experience not only showcases Costa Rica's rich biodiversity, but also deepens understanding of the vital role wetlands play in conservation.
Did you know?

The refuge is particularly important for migratory waterfowl, with more than 230 species recorded so far.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Treetop Walkways and Conservation Activities

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the world's most fmaous and biodiverse ecosystems. Walking through the misty forest along the treetop wakways gives students an opportunity to observe the unique flora and fauna of the region, many species of which are endemic. Participating in a tree planting activity supports local conservation initiatives, providing a hands-on way for students to engage in preserving natural habitats. This visit highlights the importance of sustainable environmental practices and the role of conservation in maintaining biodiversity.
Did you know?

The Monteverde Cloud Forest is famous for its incredible biodiversity and is home to over 2,500 plant species, 100 mammalian species, 400 species of bird and 120 species of reptilians and amphibians, as well as thousands of species of insects. It’s also home to the largest number of orchid species in any one place.

Educational Activities

Arenal Volcano Hiking Trails

Arenal Volcano National Park is a natural reserve surrounding Costa Rica's most famous active volcano.

Baldi Hot Springs

Baldi Hot Springs is a geothermal spa near Arenal Volcano, including a variety of pools naturally heated by volcanic activity.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

CañoNegro lies in the north of the country, lying very close to the border of Nicaragua.

La Casona del Rio

Casona Río Fortuna is therenowned Costa Rican historical and elegant turn-of-the-century country home of the former Costa Rican president, Rafael

Monteverde Cloud Forest

Set atop the spine of Costa Rica's continental divide, Monteverde is a high altitude (1,440 m) region in the north

Night Wildlife Walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest

After dark, you'll explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest from a unique perspective with a knowledgeable guide.

Sloth Trail

See sloths in the wild on this sloth trail.

La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall is a stunning 70m-high cascade, surrounded by tropical rainforest near the town of La Fortuna.

Tirimbina Biological Reserve

On a walk at Tirimbina Biological Reserve, you'll cross the region's longest hanging bridge and have an introduction to the natural beauty of Costa Rica's tropical ecosystem.

Coffee Plantation Tour

A coffee plantation tour provides an in-depth look at the coffee production process, from plant to cup.

Cultural Activities

Sarchí

Make a stop on your journey in Sarchí, a town that offers a glimpse into Costa Rica's rich artisan culture, famous for its brightly coloured handcrafted oxcarts and traditional woodwork.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.

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