Costa Rica Adrenaline Program Overview
Want to feel the wind in your hair, sand between your toes, and waterfalls flowing around you? Come explore Costa Rica with us on this adrenaline-pumping teen summer travel program! This trip is designed to contain as many adventure activities as possible while still allowing you to appreciate the colorful cultures of this beautiful Latin American country. Our professional staff will ensure you are safe while enjoying all of these exciting activities. This trip is perfect for adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts. Experience the best of the jungle, beaches, and charming Latin American villages while immersing yourself in the adventure culture of these beautiful places. Indulge in traditional delicacies, enjoy interactions with the local people and let your expert guides deliver the exhilarating trip of a lifetime! Come zipline, climb, hike, swim, rappel and adventure your way through Costa Rica this summer!
During this program, you will…
- Climb, slide and jump through natural rock formations and rappel down waterfalls on a canyoning adventure
- Take an exhilarating tubing trip down the Río Negro
- Catch the sunset over the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
- Zipline through the jungle
- Rappel, rock climb, walk over hanging bridges and ride “Tarzan swings” in the jungle
- Hike in Rincón de la Vieja National Park and spot exotic wildlife, including monkeys, toucans and sloths
- Ride gentle horses through the jungle to a gorgeous hidden waterfall for a refreshing swim
- Relax at the natural hot springs and take a mud bath for a fun spa experience
- Sunbathe on pristine beaches and swim in the turquoise Pacific Ocean
- Learn how to surf in one of the most popular spots in Costa Rica
- Sail into the sunset along Flamingo Beach
- Sea kayak through crystal-clear water
- Discover a myriad of colorful fish while snorkeling
Looking for a longer adventure? Check our 21 day Costa Rica Ultimate Adventure & Service program for more Pura Vida!
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM MIAMI (MIA)
DAYS 1-5: RINCÓN DE LA VIEJA
¡Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! We’ll kick off this adventure-packed trip by settling into our cozy hacienda, our home for the next few nights. This ecotourism lodge is surrounded by lush gardens, complete with exotic flowers and colorful birds. There is a large refreshing swimming pool filled with natural mineral spring water that comes from the nearby volcano. A lookout point on the property reveals to us the natural beauty of the surrounding area and provides an incredible 360-degree view of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, the Guanacaste plains and the Pacific coastline. Sunsets here are spectacular!
On day one we will take a hike to Las Pailas in Rincón de la Vieja National Park, where you can see volcanic steam and sulfur pour out of the ground at natural fumaroles. Then, we’ll head out from the hacienda by horseback to the foot of the Victoria Waterfall, where our tubing adventure begins. We will float down the Río Negro on inner tubes, enjoying the refreshing water and fun rapids, spotting plenty of exotic wildlife in the surrounding jungle along the way.
The next morning get back to the action with an exhilarating canyon canopy tour! On this exciting adventure, nature becomes our playground. We will venture through the lush jungle to a steep canyon with a river cutting through it. While here we will spend time amongst the jungle canopy while ziplining, riding “Tarzan swings” and crossing hanging bridges. After exploring everything from high above the trees we will head down into the canyon while rappelling and rock climbing.
After a morning filled with adventure, we will spend our afternoon riding horses through a scenic forest trail to an enormous rock with a beautiful view of a rushing waterfall. There will be time for a swim at the foot of the falls before we return by horseback.
On the last day at the hacienda we will go on a waterfalls canyoning tour. Canyoning through the jungle waterfalls is an experience you’ll never forget! We will climb, slip and slide our way along natural rock formations and rappel down Victoria Falls. Once we reach the pool at the bottom we will do a guided climb back up the wall of the cascade. Canyoning is a must for any true adrenaline junkie!
In the afternoon we will visit the Río Negro hot springs with six pools heated naturally by the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. This is the perfect opportunity to soothe our sore muscles after so many days filled with fun activities! We will even treat ourselves to a volcanic mud bath and wash it off with a cool river water shower.
DAYS 6-10: TAMARINDO
The second half of our trip will be spent exploring Tamarindo Beach, one of the most beautiful places along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. On the first day we will explore the town and enjoy its many shops and friendly atmosphere before heading to the stunning Conchal Beach. The sand at Conchal is famous for being made of millions of tiny crushed shells and it is one of the only Pacific Coast beaches with crystal clear water. It’s the perfect scenic spot to spend an afternoon!
Tamarindo is also famous for being one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica, with waves for all levels, from beginners to pro surfers. We will take advantage of this and spend a day taking surf lessons. After a day of lessons with our expert instructors, you’ll be catching waves in no time!
The next day, we’ll visit the famous Bahía de los Piratas–the Pirate Bay! This beautiful, off-the-beaten-path beach is perfect for a day of relaxing, or you can try stand-up paddle, sea kayaking, or snorkeling.
On our final day, we will spend the morning at the beach. We’ll swim, snorkel, play beach games and enjoy one last day in the sun with our new friends. In the afternoon we will finish the day off right with a fantastic sailboat ride. During our sailing trip, we will cruise along the coast, stopping to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs and discover colorful marine life. You’ll also have the opportunity to go sea kayaking. The sailing trip goes until sunset, and we will relax with our friends as we coast back to shore watching the sunset on the horizon.
DAY 11: RETURN FLIGHT TO THE USA
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is unique about the Costa Rica Adrenaline trip?
Costa Rica Adrenaline uniquely incorporates exhilarating whitewater rafting tours, wondrous hikes to local rainforests, thrilling zip lining through the jungle, and even beginner-friendly surf lessons in one of Costa Rica’s most popular surf towns, Samara! Come enjoy some Pura Vida vibes with us!
Costa Rica Adrenaline uniquely incorporates exhilarating whitewater rafting tours, wondrous hikes to local rainforests, thrilling zip lining through the jungle, and even beginner-friendly surf lessons in one of Costa Rica’s most popular surf towns, Samara! Come enjoy some Pura Vida vibes with us!
Where do we stay?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Rincón de la Vieja we stay at a beautiful hacienda near to the famous Rincón de la Vieja volcano. The Hacienda has great facilities including a pool with natural mineral water from the nearby volcano, gardens and exotic birds, hammocks and incredible views of the volcanoes and valleys in the surrounding area. In Tamarindo, our hotel also has a great pool and we stay close to the city center with easy access to anything you need.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Rincón de la Vieja we stay at a beautiful hacienda near to the famous Rincón de la Vieja volcano. The Hacienda has great facilities including a pool with natural mineral water from the nearby volcano, gardens and exotic birds, hammocks and incredible views of the volcanoes and valleys in the surrounding area. In Tamarindo, our hotel also has a great pool and we stay close to the city center with easy access to anything you need.
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for a program.
What is included on the Costa Rica Adrenaline trip?
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and plays a key role in the cultural travel experience. We focus on dining at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to try the local specialties wherever we visit. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and plays a key role in the cultural travel experience. We focus on dining at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to try the local specialties wherever we visit. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Costa Rica is delicious! Expect to eat seasoned rice, beans, chicken, steak, tropical fruit and veggies, plantains, and many other foods flavored with unique Caribbean spices! Vegetarians will have no issues eating well on the trip. Also, unlike in Europe where a light breakfast of coffee and toast is the norm, ticos (Costa Ricans) eat big, savory breakfasts—and so will we!

