July 7 – July 20, 2024 Available
Los Angeles, CA
15 – 17
Includes round trip airfare
Get ready to experience Costa Rica through the eyes of The Wild Traveler. On our teen adventure we’ll whitewater raft down the Pacuare River, surf for three days on Costa Rica’s west coast, and jungle trek through the Osa Peninsula’s Corcovado National Park. We’ll travel through mountains and quintessential Costa Rican villages, dip in waterfall swimming holes, practice Spanish, learn how to salsa dance, and more! No experience required.
For 3 full days we’ll do what surfers do; surf! We have a morning and afternoon surf session each day. Our instructors will teach us everything we need to know including ocean safety, surf etiquette, and surf technique. The surf village of Uvita is an excellent place for beginner and intermediate surfers to develop their surfing ability.
National Geographic has called Corcovado ’the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity’. We’ll connect with local residents from several rural communities who will welcome us into their homes, share their way of life, and provide a glimpse into a rugged, wild side of the country that few travelers ever get to experience. We’ll also venture deep into the rainforest to explore pristine swimming holes, observe incredible wildlife in Corcovado National Park and relax on a beautiful beaches.
We will be immersed in Costa Rican culture throughout our trip. There will be many opportunities to learn and dance the salsa, learn and practice Spanish, learn how to cook local dishes, get to know local families and learn about their way of life.
You have the option to fly between Los Angeles, CA and Costa Rica with one of your Wild Traveler leaders. If you choose to fly by yourself, your leaders will meet you at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Once we have our group we’ll load our microbus where our Costa Rican driver will take us to our hotel.
The Pacuare River (class III-IV whitewater) is located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope, home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including parrots, toucans, deer, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, butterflies, and more. It’s rated in the world’s top 5 commercial rafting runs by National Geographic Magazine. We’ll complete a 19 mile stretch in 3 days. We’ll spend two nights and at our beautiful riverside eco lodge surrounded by jungle. On our free day, we’ll go on a day hike, zip on the lodges zip lines, swim in awesome swimming holes, and play games. On the last day, we’ll raft the rest of the river to the take out.
From the take out on the Pacuare river we’ll load our minibus and drive out to the beach on Costa Rica’s west coast. Along the way we’ll stop at Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio National Park, on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, encompasses rugged rainforest, white-sand beaches and coral reefs. It’s renowned for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife, from three-toed sloths and endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys to hundreds of bird species. In the afternoon, we’ll continue on south to our hotel where we prep for surf camp.
CLICK THE MAP AND START YOUR ADVENTURE NOW
Getting your gear together as you get ready for your trip can be exciting. All of the items listed in the PDF are important and will be used during our trip, so please pack everything on the list. With that in mind, please resist bringing additional items, because space is limited. You can find examples of items on our Gear Recommendations page.
Below are some of the more commonly asked questions regarding our Costa Rica teen adventure. Have additional questions? Give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
01.WHERE DO WE SLEEP?
We will be staying in hotels, eco lodges, and youth hostels for the entire trip.
02.WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
The Wild Traveler provides all of your gear except for a backpack and a day pack. Check out your gear and clothing list specific to your trip. Please pack only the items on the list. Everything must be able to fit into your backpack and daypack. Space is limited.
03.CAN I CALL FAMILY DURING THE TRIP?
Participants will call home as soon as you meet their Wild Traveler leaders at Los Angeles International Airport, and again on departure day. Participants are welcome to call home at anytime during the trip. Parents are also welcome to contact their child at anytime during the trip.
Families can follow along with our summer teen adventure as it happens by logging into our trip log. Watch short video clips, look at pictures, and read about our adventure as it unfolds! Our trip log is updated every 2-3 days by our trip leaders.
04.HOW IS THE FOOD?
The food is great. Our participants and create the menu and cook meals together. We’ll also eat out at several restaurants throughout our trip. We have no problem accommodating most dietary restrictions.
05.HOW WILL WE TRAVEL?
During your trip you’ll travel by shuttle bus, ferry, foot, and boat. Traveling is fun! Your leaders have traveled all over the world and will give you all the help you need to make you comfortable.
06.ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
Yes, our Costa Rica trips begin and end at Los Angeles International airport (LAX). Flights between LAX and San Jose, Costa Rica are included in the price. Transportation between LAX and participants’ home are not included in the price of the trip.
07.DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR A VISA?
US citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least six months and 2 blank passport pages to enter Costa Rica. US citizens do not need to obtain a Costa Rica visa.
08.DO I NEED ANY VACCINATIONS TO TRAVEL TO COSTA RICA?
If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need any additional vaccinations to travel to Costa Rica. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check your local requirements on vaccinations for travel to these countries.
09.WHAT WILL GROUPS BE LIKE?
Your group is made up of 10-12 enthusiastic, positive, fun individuals (like yourself ) ready for an experience of a lifetime. They come from all over the country, and in many cases, from all over the world. Our groups are created with attention to age and a balance of male/ female participants in order to ensure the best possible individual and group experience possible. Your group will be led by 3 experienced and knowledgeable Wild Traveler leaders.
10.WHAT WILL OUR DAYS BE LIKE?
Each day has been scheduled with a variety fun and adventurous activities. Those activities include hiking, ziplining, whitewater rafting, traveling to and staying in small villages, surfing and more. Each evening, your trip leaders will run one of our popular evening programs where your group talks, play games, tell stories, play music, and a whole lot of other fun stuff.
