12 days | Playa Uvita & Manuel Antonio | Age Groups: 14-16 , 16-18  | $4,750 USD

Embark on the ultimate adventure through the heart of Costa Rica, as OBCR and HIOBS invite you to journey through the thick tropical rainforest as you hike along spectacular valleys, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers that lead you from a series of trail campsites to a mountain eco-lodge. This unique expedition combines the thrill of deep-jungle trekking with the excitement of surfing, offering a true “Pura Vida” experience.

Start your journey by trekking through Central America’s lush rainforests, where towering trees, cascading waterfalls, and winding rivers create a dramatic landscape. As you hike through rugged trails and camp in the wilderness, you’ll discover the vibrant flora and fauna that make Costa Rica one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Along the way, connect with local communities, where you’ll lend a hand on important conservation and development projects, like reforestation efforts, trail maintenance, and beach clean-ups.

After your jungle adventure, head to the Pacific Coast, where mornings are spent catching waves on Costa Rica’s world-renowned beaches. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a beginner, HIOBS instructors will guide you in mastering surf techniques, reading wave conditions, and understanding surf etiquette in a fun and supportive environment.

This collaborative journey with OBCR and HIOBS is a transformative blend of adventure, learning, and community engagement that lets you truly experience the magic of Costa Rica’s natural beauty and vibrant culture.

Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes offer the perfect setting to expand your wilderness travel skills. Known for whitewater rafting, surfing, and rainforest trekking, this small country packs in everything from tropical dry forests to lush rainforests and cloud forests. After your backpacking adventure through the heart of the jungle, head to the Pacific Coast, where year-round surf conditions cater to all skill levels. Each day of surf camp includes community service, from reforestation to beach clean-ups, ensuring you leave a positive impact on the local environment.

This land is the ancestral home of the Chorotega, Malécu, Rama, Bostos, Nicarao/Nahoa, Huetar, Tjer-di/Teribe Broram, Brunka, Bribri, Buglé, and Ngäbé nations, whose rich cultural heritage shapes the region today. This is more than just an adventure—it’s a chance to connect with Costa Rica’s stunning landscapes, its people, and its culture.

Dates:    Jun. 22 – Jul. 3, 2025 (Session #1, Ages: 16-18)

               Jul. 13 – July. 24, 2025 (Session #2, Ages: 14-16)

               Jul. 19 – July. 30, 2025 (Session #3, Ages: 14-16)

               Aug. 3 – Aug. 14, 2025 (Session #4, Ages: 16-18)

              Jul. 13 – July. 24, 2025 (Session #5, Ages: 16-18)

  Cost:     $4,750 USD  |  £3,693 GBP  |  C$6,616 CAD |  €4,458 EUR

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 the original course prices are set in U.S. Dollars (USD). Prices above are shown for your reference, based on the exchange rate of the last website update on November 6, 2024. The final course price will be based on the exchange rate at the time of payment

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

Day 1

Fly into Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) to meet your new friends and coursemates. A scenic one-hour drive will take you through the city and into the rolling hills of the country’s Central Valley to our Mountain Rainforest Base. Arrive at basecamp and enjoy a welcome meal with your group. Thereafter, commence with orientation activities lead by your course Instructors. Settle in for a great night’s sleep in our Rainforest Base furnished bunk bed dorms.

Day 2

Transfer from our Rainforest Base to Playa Uvita for the surf section of your course.

Day 3-5

Continue with Surf and local service projects.

Day 6

Surf or Service in the morning and then transfer back to our Rainforest Basecamp in the afternoon.

Day 7-8

Transfer to the Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) for departure. Say hasta luego to your friends and coursemates. Nos vemos pronto en Costa Rica!

Accommodation

Accommodation varies throughout this course but will include rainforest tarp camping with sleeping pads, sleeping in a lofted beach base room with thick sleeping mats, and our high elevation base dorm room bunk beds. All participants are provided sleeping pads, mats, and sleeping bags as well as backpacks and needed technical gear.

Costa Rica is not only rich in natural beauty, but also in cultural heritage. The land is home to the ancient ancestral tribes like the Chorotega, Bribri, Buglé, and Ngäbé nations—whose influence continues to shape the region today. This is more than an adventure; it’s an opportunity to connect with a culture and environment that will leave a lasting impression.

Each day of surf camp also includes community service projects, where you’ll work on conservation efforts like beach clean-ups and reforestation, giving back to the places that make this experience so unforgettable.