Costa Rica: Coast to Canopy

Trip Name
Costa Rica: Coast to Canopy

Who It's For
High school students completing grades 9–12

2026 Sessions
Session 1: June 22 – July 5, 2026
Session 2: July 9 – July 22, 2026
Session 3: July 26 – August 8, 2026
Note: These dates reflect your teen’s departure and return.
Exact flight times and meeting details will be shared after enrollment.

Location
San José, Turrialba Valley, and the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Trip Length
14 Days

Service Hours
24–36

Tuition
$5,995

This is the plan—but plans can shift. Weather, group energy, and new opportunities sometimes lead us to make changes. No two trips are exactly the same, and that’s part of what makes the experience so memorable.

Day 1: Arrival in San José
Fly into Costa Rica and meet your group in San José. Spend the first evening playing games, building connections, and settling in at our hotel before heading out to the countryside.

Days 2–7: Community Service in the Turrialba Valley
Travel to a rural village in the Turrialba region—our home base for the next six days. Partner with local families and community leaders on meaningful projects that may include building chicken coops, compost systems, furniture, or small structures. Learn about permaculture, recycling practices, and rural Costa Rican life through hands-on collaboration.
In the afternoons, play soccer with local kids, practice Spanish with your host community, and take short hikes to nearby rivers or waterfalls. Nights are spent camping in tents on community land, with meals cooked by our local partners.

Day 8: Cross-Country Journey to the Caribbean Coast
Leave the mountains behind as we travel east toward the Caribbean. Take in Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes—from misty cloud forests to winding river canyons—en route to Puerto Viejo.
Once we arrive, we explore Cahuita National Park, hike coastal jungle trails, and swim in the warm Caribbean Sea. Keep your eyes open for sloths, toucans, iguanas, and monkeys.

Day 9: Surf, Kayak & Explore Puerto Viejo
Start the day with a surf lesson at one of Costa Rica’s iconic beaches. Then trade boards for kayaks and paddle through quiet mangrove rivers, watching for wildlife in the treetops.
In town, experience the cultural blend of the region—where Spanish, Afro-Caribbean Patois, and French influences all mix.

Day 10: Chocolate Tour & Bribri Cultural Exchange
Visit a Bribri community and learn how chocolate is grown, harvested, and used in traditional medicine. Participate in a hands-on demonstration and enjoy a deeper conversation about Bribri culture.
In the afternoon, we transfer to Finca Pacuarito, a remote jungle lodge that marks the start of our final adventure phase.

Days 11–13: Rafting, Zip-lining & Jungle Camping
Launch onto the Pacuare River for a 3-day whitewater expedition. Paddle through Class II–IV rapids, float past waterfalls, and camp each night at secluded jungle sites.
In between rafting sections, hike to swimming holes, explore the surrounding rainforest, and take in the incredible biodiversity.
One day includes zip-lining through the rainforest canopy—offering a completely different view of the jungle.
On the final night, celebrate the journey with a special group dinner before returning to San José.

Day 14: Departure from San José
After two full weeks of service, adventure, and connection, we say goodbye and head to the airport for flights home.

🏕️ Accommodations

We stay in a mix of rustic hotels and remote campsites across Costa Rica.

Hotels + Community Stay:
In San José and on the Caribbean coast, the group stays in simple hotels with beds and bathrooms. In Turrialba, we tent camp near the local community where we work and live alongside host families.

Jungle Platform Camping:
During the rafting adventure, we sleep at riverside campsites—platform tents in the rainforest surrounded by sounds of wildlife.

Sleeping Arrangements:
Teens share tents or rooms based on gender identity and comfort. Expect group-based living with leaders close by.

Facilities:
Bathrooms range from hotel-style flush toilets to basic latrines. Showers are available every few days.

Group Living:
Everyone helps with daily chores like setting up tents and keeping shared spaces clean—this is part of the experience and builds connection.

Meals are fresh, simple, and a meaningful part of the cultural experience.

Locally Prepared:
Most meals are made by local community members using regional ingredients like rice, beans, tropical fruits, and vegetables. Teens often help prepare meals during the community stay and jungle adventure.

Cultural Connection:
Food reflects Costa Rican traditions—like plantains, fresh tortillas, and homemade sauces. During the Bribri visit, we also learn about traditional cooking and chocolate-making.

All Diets Welcome:
We accommodate all allergies and dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.). Just let us know in advance.

Snacks + Hydration:
Frequent water breaks and local snacks—especially important on hot days or when we're on the move.

Flights
Families book flights to and from San José, Costa Rica (SJO).
We’ll send flight windows and detailed instructions after enrollment.
Optional escorted flight available from Miami (MIA).

Escorted Flight Option
An optional group flight with an RLT leader is available from the New York area.

Unaccompanied Minor Info
If your teen is flying as an unaccompanied minor, we’ll provide everything needed for check-in and pick-up.

Packing
We’ll send a full packing list in advance. Everything fits in a duffel or backpack.
Key items include a sleeping bag and sleeping pad, sturdy shoes, headlamp, rain jacket, daypack, and swimsuit.
No need for any specialty gear—just the basics for an active outdoor trip.

Luggage Note
We recommend one checked bag and a small carry-on backpack.

Forms & Waivers
Once enrolled, you’ll get access to your RLT portal with required forms:
Health history, medical forms, participant agreement, and emergency contact info.
All must be submitted before the trip.

Medical Clearance
No doctor’s appointment needed unless a new or complex condition has developed.
We review every form to make sure we can support your teen.

Medications
All medications—prescription or over-the-counter—must be listed in your medical form.
Trip leaders will manage and dispense meds as needed.

Behavioral Expectations
We’ll send a Code of Conduct to review with your teen before departure.
This helps set a shared standard for safety, respect, and inclusion.

Trip Insurance
Required for this international program. You’re free to use any provider.
For guidance, visit our FAQ or contact our team.

Vaccinations
No specific shots are required beyond routine immunizations per CDC guidelines.
Please confirm your teen is up to date.

Passport
A valid passport is required and must be valid at least 6 months beyond the trip’s end date.

Device-Free Philosophy
This trip is intentionally phone-free.
On Day 1, leaders collect all phones and electronics for safe keeping.
Devices are returned on the final day before departure.

Why?
Because disconnecting helps teens:
Build deeper relationships
Be present in their surroundings
Gain confidence without constant tech

Cameras Welcome
Digital cameras and GoPros are allowed—as long as they don’t connect to the internet.
Trip leaders also take photos and share them afterward in an online gallery.

Communication
We’ll stay in touch with families during the trip through regular updates.
In case of emergency, our on-call team is available 24/7.