55 days | Costa Rica | Ages 18+ | from $15,700 USD

Embark on the ultimate adventure through the heart of Costa Rica, as OBCR and HIOBS guide you through an adventure of lush rainforests, sparkling rivers, and breathtaking coastlines. From trekking through verdant valleys and cloud forests to navigating world-class whitewater rapids and surfing the Pacific’s pristine waves, this 55-day course will immerse you in the rich culture and stunning beauty of Latin America. Along the way, you’ll live alongside local communities, hone your leadership skills, and challenge yourself in ways you never thought possible—all while embracing the Pura Vida lifestyle that defines this transformative experience.

Top graduates of this Outdoor Leader Semester program may be offered a paid internship as a Field Instructor Intern for Outward Bound Costa Rica’s summer high season, with the possibility of staying on as a year-round instructor.

Dates: Feb. 15 – April. 4, 2025 (Spring)

                Jan. 26 – March. 21, 2026 (Spring session #1)

                Feb. 14 – April. 9, 2026 (Spring session #2)

Cost:    $15,700 USD (Spring 2025)

              $16,080 USD (Spring session #1)

              $16,080 USD (Spring session #2)

Tuition includes all room and board, technical gear, course activities, and in-country transportation. Airfare to/from Costa Rica is not included in the listed tuition cost

PLEASE NOTE: This is a sample itinerary. Details are subject to change.

Orientation & Wilderness Training

Fly to Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) where you will be greeted by our staff and be driven to our remote and isolated rainforest base in Tres Ríos, Cartago. Get to know our rainforest base grounds, staff, and what you will be accomplishing during your semester course. Nights in furnished dorms.

Day 2-4

Orientation (3 days).

Day 5

Rainforest Base day – Spanish class, cultural activities.

Day 6

Hike prep day.

Day 7-23, Hiking Phase:

Start your cross-country hiking expedition, backpacking, homestays, & service (17 days): Stay on a banana plantation, a farm, and/or in a local village. Take part in activities like cheese & bread making, native artifact collection, & community projects.

Day 24, Cultural Immersion

Practice learning your Spanish and respectfully, integrate into local Costa Rican living. Throughout your course experience you will participate in cultural immersion activities. Grow your confidence in speaking to locals and interacting with local school children.

Day 25

Surf Prep day.

Day 26-37

Surf & service (12 days)

Day 38

Rainforest base day – Spanish class, cultural activities.

Day 39

River prep day.

Day 40-53, River Phase 

Learn how to smoothly take on the legendary Pacaure and Sarapiqui rivers.

Day 54: Course Wrap Up 

Course close.

Day 55

Spend your last evening on base with a course reflection, final traditional dinner, and program celebration. Overnight in furnished dorms. Transfer to the Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) for departure. Say hasta luego to your friends and coursemates. Nos vemos pronto en Costa Rica!

This Costa Rica wilderness course offers a unique opportunity to build outdoor skills in a stunning tropical setting. Participants will engage in whitewater rafting on the country’s abundant rivers, surf on the Pacific coast, and hike through diverse ecosystems, including rainforests and cloud forests. The course includes camping, cooking, and homestays with local families, fostering a hands-on experience of both nature and culture. Students will also stay in treehouse-style lodges and basecamps with shared dorms. The course takes place in the ancestral lands of several Indigenous groups, offering a rich cultural backdrop to the adventure.