15 days | Pacific Coast beaches of Costa Rica | Ages 14-18 | $3, 305 USD

Tropical sun, white sandy beaches, turquoise water, and stellar waves await you in Costa Rica! This is the perfect course for those who love the water and are looking to grow as a person. Spend your nights camping under the stars and head out early to catch the first morning surf on the picturesque Pacific Coast beaches of Costa Rica. Learn everything you need to know about how to read waves conditions, maintaining equipment, and surf etiquette and technique alongside our experienced instructors.

Between surfing sessions, you will learn important lifesaving techniques and the basics of lifeguarding toward earning your First Aid & CPR/AED certification. Learn how to use your board as a rescue device, practice CPR on mannequins, and study the best techniques for staying safe on both land and water.

Discover the pura vida way of life from locals while lending a helping hand on community development and conservation project, like rainforest reforestation, trail maintenance, beach clean-ups, and more. Cook delicious meals, watch the sunset over the Pacific, and have cozy campfires on the beach.

Fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves, enjoy the laid-back beach atmosphere, and spend an afternoon hiking to and swimming in a natural waterfall. Spot exotic wildlife like sloths, monkeys, and birds along the way!

Dates:   Jun. 14 – Jun. 27, 2025 (Session #1)
             Jul. 12 – Jul. 25, 2025 (Session #2)

Cost:     $3, 305 USD  |  £2540 GBP  |  C$2559 CAD  |  €3052 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 October 17, 2025. 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. Don’t forget to connect to free airport WiFi to let you parents know that you have arrived and meet our staff member waiting for you outside of the airport’s only exit. 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. Settle in for a great night’s sleep in our Rainforest Base furnished bunk bed dorms.

Day 2

Today is about getting to know each other better, as well as adventuring high into the rainforest canopy. Technical tree climbing is just that, dawning helmet and harness and connecting to safety systems to safely climb up a strangler fig tree high above the forest floor. Overcome your fears as you are supported by your professional OB instructors and cheered on by your coursemates. Organize your belongings in a “duffle shuffle” to pack for the Pacific Beach Surf trip. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 3

Depart early to the Pacific Coast and set up your base at a comfortable tropical bungalow located in the world-famous Manuel Antonio rainforest. Dive into an afternoon of learning the basics of surfboard selection, beach safety, paddling techniques, and popping up on your board. The local beaches are great for beginner to experienced surfers in the warm tropical waters. Overnight at your group’s tropical bungalow.

Day 4

Don’t miss the sunrise and witness the beauty of the tropics and its inhabitants on a morning beach walk. Steps away from the waves, your instructors will teach an initial surf lesson and you’ll begin to practice your new skills in the water. In the afternoon, hang out at a tropical pool surrounded by palms and tropical vegetation. Overnight at your group’s tropical bungalow.

Day 5-6

Wake up for a calming sunrise beach yoga led by your instructors followed by a surf session. Learn about the wildlife inhabitants—sloths, scarlet macaws, iguanas, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and more. Then, begin your First Aid & CPR/AED training, and volunteer on service projects where you will gain an understanding of the impact you can have on the local community, wildlife, and environment. Overnight at your group’s tropical bungalow.

Day 7

Transfer to Playa Dominicalito known for its stellar waves for beginner to intermediate surfers. This location also offers great swimming and scenic views. Set up your new tent campsite on the beachfront property of your host family. Learn about sustainable fishing, catch a sunset surf session, and finish up your last beach school sessions for First Aid & CPR/AED. Overnight at beachfront campsite.

Day 8-9

Between surf sessions, play a pickup soccer game at the community field. Volunteer on a beach clean-up, and then take a short climb to a lookout point for a beautiful ocean view. When the water recedes at low tide, take a look between the rocks to find the animals and organisms that thrive inside the coastal tide pools. In the evening, learn how to make delicious traditional Costa Rica dishes, such as patacónes and empanadas, from scratch. At night, cozy up on the beach for a bonfire under the stars—yes, of course there will be s’mores! Overnight at beachfront campsite.

Day 10

Catch the morning surf, and then hike into the lush rainforests for a refreshing swim in a natural waterfall. Afternoon transfer back to Manuel Antonio for a relaxing swim in the tropical swimming pool. Overnight at your group’s tropical bungalow.

Day 11-12

Take your exams toward earning your First Aid & CPR/AED certification, hone your surfing skills at the main beach or hike to a rarely visited “secret” beach only a short walk from your tropical bungalow. Overnight at your group’s tropical bungalow.

Day 13

Wake up and begin the journey back to Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Arrive back at the rainforest base in San Ramón de Tres Ríos for gear return and group activities. Hang out around a group campfire and roast s’mores and hot dogs. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 14

The Tiribi Rainforest Reserve surrounding our base is blessed with spectacular waterfalls only a short hike from our rainforest base. Hike to these spectacular falls that look straight out of a movie set. Even try a refreshing dip in the pool at the base of these falls. Spend your last evening on base with a final dinner and closing ceremony to celebrate your achievements on course. Overnight in furnished dorms.

Day 15

Transition to your next course or 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 beachfront camping with tents and sleeping pads and community dorm room bunk beds, comfortable foam futons on the beach bungalow floor. All participants are provided sleeping pads and sleeping bags and bedding material.

Earn 4-6 hours of community service. Projects include trail maintenance or reforestation at the protected reserve located behind our Costa Rica base. While at the beach, you may work on service projects that include beach clean-ups, painting local school buildings, or creating new recycling systems.