Custom Courses

Year-round    |   3 Days to Several Weeks    |    Ages 13 to 70    |    5 Participants Minimum

Custom courses are perfect for...

Youth
Groups
Sports
Teams
Friends
& Family
Girl Scout
Troops
Business
Teams
Duke of Edinburgh

We believe that the best things in life are personalized; so we’ve launched our custom courses for 5 or more people. Tell us your dates, duration and activities—we’ll do the rest! Step by step, we’ll create an unforgettable adventure to Costa Rica, Panama or Nicaragua. Bring 7 others on your custom course and you will come for free!

No matter your age, the activities you’re taking part in or who you’re here with you will be challenged, you will gain new skills and you will have a once in a lifetime experience.

HANDPICK YOUR ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of activities from the following categories to create your custom course, or come up with your own ideas! We recommend mixing activities from each category (Outdoor Adventures, Volunteering and Skills & Training) to give your trip variety.

Nature, fresh air, new, exciting and adrenaline filled adventures. No visit to Central America is complete without them! These outdoor activities will help you build confidence, resilience, empathy and embrace being outside of your comfort zone. Not only will you learn more about yourself, you will develop life and leadership skills along the way.

Hike/Trek

  • Rainforest Trek
  • Wilderness Solo
  • Eco, Wildlife & Cultural Tours
  • Volcano Hikes
  • Camping or Homestay

Water Sports

  • Surf & Bodyboard
  • Whitewater Raft
  • Sea Kayak
  • Scuba Dive
  • Snorkel
  • Wakeboard

Climb/Ropes/Height

  • Tree Climb
  • Zipline Canopy Tour
  • Rock Climb
  • Waterfall Rappel

Read more

Create a positive impact and gain a cross-cultural perspective through one of our meaningful volunteer projects. We work alongside local communities, helping them to increase access to education, improve infrastructure, and conserve the natural world around us.


Community Service

Previous projects include building and painting schools, creating sustainable fresh water systems, creating playground equipment for schools and other infrastructure related activities.


Sea Turtle Conservation


Work alongside local conservationists to help protect sea turtle populations during the nesting and hatching season.


Environmental Initiatives


Plant trees and help with the trail maintenance of a natural reserve or clean-up a major waterway.

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We offer training opportunities for participants who want to increase their knowledge and abilities in the outdoors, leadership development, and Latin American culture. We partner with leading outdoor education organizations to offer certifications that are internationally recognized. For detailed information about each of the certifications we offer, visit our Certifications page.


Certifications

  • NAUI Scuba Diver Basic or Advanced
  • Whitewater Raft Guide License L2 or 3
  • Whitewater Rescue Technician
  • Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module
  • CPR for the Professional Rescuer (BLS)
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid
  • Recreational Rappel Operator
  • Basic First Aid & CPR/AED


Professional Development

  • Leadership Skills
  • Teambuilding
  • Self-Reflection Activities
  • Project Management
  • Confidence and Resilience


Latin American Culture

  • Spanish Language
  • Costa Rican Cuisine
  • Latin Music & Dance
  • Indigenous Culture & Traditions

Read more

Nature, fresh air, new, exciting and adrenaline filled adventures. No visit to Central America is complete without them! These outdoor activities will help you build confidence, resilience, empathy and embrace being outside of your comfort zone. Not only will you learn more about yourself, you will develop life and leadership skills along the way.

Hike/Trek

  • Rainforest Hike
  • Wilderness Solo
  • Eco, Wildlife & Cultural Tours
  • Volcano Hike
  • Camping or Homestay

Water Sports

  • Surf & Boogieboard
  • Whitewater Raft
  • Sea Kayak
  • Scuba Dive
  • Snorkel
  • Wakeboard

Climb/Ropes/Height

  • Tree Climb
  • Zipline Canopy Tour
  • Rock Climb
  • Waterfall Rappel

Create a positive impact and gain a cross-cultural perspective through one of our meaningful volunteer projects. We work alongside local communities, helping them to increase access to education, improve infrastructure, and conserve the natural world around us.

Community Service 

Previous projects include building and painting schools, creating sustainable fresh water systems, creating playground equipment for schools and other infrastructure related activities.

Sea Turtle Conservation 

Work alongside local conservationists to help protect sea turtle populations during the nesting and hatching season.

Reforestation & Environmental Initiatives

Plant trees and help with the trail maintenance of a natural reserve or clean-up a major waterway.

We offer training opportunities for participants who want to increase their knowledge and abilities in the outdoors, leadership development, and Latin American culture. We partner with leading outdoor education organizations to offer certifications that are internationally recognized. For detailed information about each of the certifications we offer, visit our Certifications page.

Certifications

  • NAUI Scuba Diver Basic or Advanced
  • Whitewater Raft Guide License Level 2 or 3
  • Whitewater Rescue Technician
  • Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module
  • CPR for the Professional Rescuer (BLS)
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid
  • Recreational Rappel Operator
  • Basic First Aid & CPR/AED

Personal & Professional Development

  • Leadership Skills
  • Teambuilding
  • Self-Reflection Activities
  • Project Management
  • Confidence and Resilience

Latin American Culture

  • Spanish Language
  • Costa Rican Cuisine
  • Latin Music & Dance 
  • Indigenous Culture & Traditions

START CUSTOMIZING NOW

Our experienced staff will work side-by-side with you to ensure the safety and enrichment of participants as they experience Central America’s wildlife, rivers, beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, and unique culture.

Fill out a Custom Course Inquiry or contact our Custom Courses & Partnerships Manager directly by calling +1 800-676-2018 (toll-free) or emailing [email protected].

CUSTOM COURSE FAQS

The pricing of a Custom Course is dependent upon the number of participants, type of activities and number of days on course. Once you have an idea of participant numbers, length, and dates for your course, send us an inquiry and we will give you a quote. Insurance (health and travel), personal expenses, airfare and baggage fees are not included in total cost.

Our groups usually reserve their course dates 6-9 months in advance—some even start planning 2 years prior to the course, however we can adapt to any required timeline. For summer courses, we prefer advance notice as it is our busiest time of year, but we will work with your schedule. Course deposits are due 90 days before and full tuition is due 30 days prior to course start date.

As soon as your group confirms the final itinerary and starts enrolling online, you will receive a customized Packing List. It compiles a list of fundamental gear for the activities included in your course, what OBCR provides, and items not allowed on course.

If participants will be arriving separately, it is best to try and plan flights that have similar arrival times. That way, we can arrange to pick them up together without having anyone wait around too long in the airport. That said, on Day 1 of the course, we are able to arrange ground transportation from the airport at any time of day.

If anyone is arriving before Day 1 of course, we ask that they arrange their own transportation to the airport, and we will pick them up there on the first day of the course.

Our certified and professional instructors will lead all aspects of the course. Chaperons contribute in a number of ways to ease group dynamics, enhance teaching moments, improve participant time management, and assist instructors as needed. On course, we empower all participants to lead and take responsibility by assigning them rotating tasks each day. We ask group leaders, accompanying parents and/or chaperons to understand and support our educational models. Chaperons and instructors will meet on course arrival to discuss the roles each will take on course.

  Submit an Inquiry - Custom Courses














Scuba Diver

Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama
Length of Time to Earn: 5-7 days
Requirements to Earn: Complete a minimum of four open water dives, pass a practical test underwater, and a written test
Certification Valid For: Lifetime
Overview:
A basic NAUI Scuba Diver course provides essential knowledge of dive equipment, dive science, dive safety, responsible diving practices, and the environment. Much of this information is covered in textbook/video format, but you will also practice many skills in the water. This certification course consists of technical and academic portions on land and time in the water to practice skills for your safety and comfort.
Once certified, the NAUI Diver Card lasts a lifetime, so individuals will be able to scuba dive in future travels. Almost anyone can participate in a scuba diving course, but if you have asthma or select other medical conditions, you should consult your physician before signing up for a scuba course.
If you have already earned the basic scuba certification, you are eligible to further your training on any of our scuba courses to earn an Advanced Scuba Diver certification.

Courses Offering this Certification:

Caribbean Scuba & Sea Turtles

Girl Scout Destination: Sea Turtle, Service & Scuba Adventure

19+ Panama Scuba Adventure

Coast to Coast Expedition

Outdoor Leader Semester

Custom Courses

 

Advanced Scuba Diver

Location: Bocas del Toro, Panama

Length of Time to Earn: 3-6 days

Requirements to Earn: Scuba Diver certification, complete one deep dive, a night dive and four additional advanced level dives

Certification Valid For: Lifetime

Overview:

Individuals who have already earned their Basic Scuba Diver certification are eligible to try for their advanced certification on any of our scuba courses. An advanced certification is a great jumping-off point for earning specialty, technical, and/or leadership certification courses.

Courses Offering this Certification:

Caribbean Scuba & Sea Turtles

Girl Scout Destination: Sea Turtle, Service & Scuba Adventure

19+ Panama Scuba Adventure

Coast to Coast Expedition

Outdoor Leader Semester

Custom Courses


Specialist Certifications

If you have already achieved your advanced scuba certification, we can offer specialist certifications such as NAUI Underwater Environment and NAUI Underwater Ecologist