Program Overview
Want to feel the wind in your hair, sand between your toes, and waterfalls cascading around you? Come explore Costa Rica with Travel For Teens and The Gow School! This Costa Rican cultural immersion and service adventure features central, authentic accommodations; superb meals; adrenaline-inducing adventure activities and a meaningful community service project working with local children. Start off the trip at the base of the Rincón de la Vieja and adventure through this stunning national park. Hike, swim, and zipline through lush jungle wilderness and be in awe of the volcanic landscape!
Then, spend the next few days earning community service hours as you work with a local nonprofit, helping to run one of their many programs focusing on academic and artistic education, environmental consciousness, health, and socio-cultural development. The afternoons will be jam-packed with more adventure activities such as stand-up paddle-boarding, snorkeling with parrotfish, surf lessons, and zip-lining through the rainforest canopy!
Open to all Gow School students grades 6-12 on an invitation-only basis. There are a limited number of spaces for the trip which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pre-Departure Meeting Details
A TFT representative will meet with your prior to the trip and answer your pre-departure questions. Please register using the link below
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Online link:
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN SAN JOSE
DAYS 2-4: Rincón de la Vieja National Park
¡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 5-6: SAMARA BEACH > CHORA ISLAND
After breakfast, the group will board a private coach to Samara Beach, a small surf town with breathtaking mountain views. Sámara is famous for its gentle waves (perfect for surfing) and wild horses that roam the beach.
Here, we will continue our community service. We will work with a local association that provides supplemental educational, recreational, and career opportunities for youth with limited resources. We will be working directly with the children on various projects. In the past we have done group art projects, helped teach English, worked on environmental tasks and more! It’s a great opportunity for us to connect more closely with the community and interact with the friendly locals.
During our stay in Sámara we will enjoy the beach, soak up the sun, swim and of course, take a surfing lesson! We will also spend an afternoon taking kayaks out to Chora Island to snorkel and observe bi-color parrotfish and other colorful sea life!
DAY 7: SAN JOSE
In the afternoon, we’ll head back to San Jose and celebrate our amazing time in Costa Rica before flying home tomorrow!
DAY 8: RETURN TO THE USA
Welcome home!
Payment Timeline
Deadline to register: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
At Time of Registration: Deposit of $500
The balance for the trip and airfare is due Friday, February 19th, 2021.
Roundtrip airfare cost is $425 and will be invoiced at the time of booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Travel For Teens?
We are in our 19th year in the teen travel business and have emerged as the industry leader for teen travel.
Our philosophy: We offer genuine and authentic trips for travelers, not tourists.
Our goal is to engender a passion for learning about other cultures and places through living like a local in that place.
We are in our 19th year in the teen travel business and have emerged as the industry leader for teen travel.
Our philosophy: We offer genuine and authentic trips for travelers, not tourists.
Our goal is to engender a passion for learning about other cultures and places through living like a local in that place.
How much is tuition and what does it include?
Tuition for the trip is $2,995, which INCLUDES all group flights, all meals in Costa Rica, all accommodations, ground transportation, taxes and tips, all activities unless listed as optional on the Map & Itinerary page.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE (not meant to be an exhaustive list): airfare, meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, required COVID testing, PPE equipment, phone calls home, deviations from the itinerary, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, or additional expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays/strikes or natural disasters).
Tuition for the trip is $2,995, which INCLUDES all group flights, all meals in Costa Rica, all accommodations, ground transportation, taxes and tips, all activities unless listed as optional on the Map & Itinerary page.
Tuition does NOT INCLUDE (not meant to be an exhaustive list): airfare, meals not listed in the itinerary, beverages other than filtered water at meals, required COVID testing, PPE equipment, phone calls home, deviations from the itinerary, laundry, souvenirs, shopping, visas and visa application fees, personal and medical expenses, activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, damage to hotels, or additional expenses related to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. transportation delays/strikes or natural disasters).
How much is trip cancellation insurance?
Trip cancellation insurance that meet the travel requirements for Costa Rica is included in the trip tuition for all participants on this program. TFT will purchase this for all participants.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
Trip cancellation insurance that meet the travel requirements for Costa Rica is included in the trip tuition for all participants on this program. TFT will purchase this for all participants.
For more information on insurance, please see this page.
How much is airfare? How do the flights work?
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from Buffalo Airport to San Jose, Costa Rica via Newark on United. Cost is $425 including one checked bag each direction.
Travel For Teens will reserve a group contract for all participants traveling roundtrip from Buffalo Airport to San Jose, Costa Rica via Newark on United. Cost is $425 including one checked bag each direction.
Who can go on this trip?
The trip is open to all Gow School students in grades 6-12. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The trip is open to all Gow School students in grades 6-12. Space is limited and is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
What happens after I register?
Once your deposit is paid, you will receive an email that confirms your registration.
You will receive another email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physicians as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details the first full week of March 2021.
Once your deposit is paid, you will receive an email that confirms your registration.
You will receive another email that contains your USERNAME and PASSWORD to MyTFT. All forms to be completed by parents and physicians as well as packing lists, travel tips, travel insurance information, and other important information can be found on the MyTFT portal (hard copies of the essential legal/medical forms can be mailed to participants upon request). Our contract and release must be signed by all custodial parents (or guardians) and the participant. We will host a second meeting in advance of your departure to go over all last minute questions and details the first full week of March 2021.
Where do we stay?
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $350 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
We will be staying in three-star hotels throughout the program. The names of the accommodations are available to all families once they have signed up.
Single rooms can be requested and will cost $350 additional per person per single.
Note: singles must be requested at the time of registration to be guaranteed.
Trip Emails & Photographs
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will take dozens, if not hundreds, of photos each day. The best photos will be posted as regularly as possible (ideally every day) to a private photo-sharing platform (Waldo Photos) where you can follow along with the trip. We will send you an email to alert you when we post new photos. Low-resolution photos can be viewed for free during and after the trip. All of your High-Resolution matched photos can be purchased and downloaded in real-time during the trip or after the trip for $50.
EMAILS
The Trip Director will be in regular email contact every 24-48 hours, internet willing, with our families. Emails will include fun detailed updates about the day’s activities and are a great way for families to follow along with the journey. Email will be the best way to communicate messages to the Trip Director.
Safety, Sickness & Communication
SAFETY AND SICKNESS
The safety of our participants is our #1 concern, which is why we have only experienced trip leaders running the show. We offer 24/7 communication throughout our programs and have detailed risk management and safety policies in place. Please review our policies here.
For information regarding our specific policies with Covid-19 please review our Covid-19 protocols page here.
What are the safety qualifications for our staff?
Our staff members undergo a rigorous hiring process. They receive the same background check as school educators, an extensive training process to go over all safety precautions and protocols, and are required to be certified in CPR and First Aid. We exclusively hire responsible, multi-talented individuals who are safety-minded and are as passionate about teen travel as we are.
What is the food like on a TFT program? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
In a word – delicious! At TFT, we believe food should be an integral part of the travel experience and always make an effort to eat at authentic establishments when we can. What better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than by sampling the local delicacies, and we encourage students to do so whenever possible! Just as we stay away from Americanized hotel chains, we try to avoid restaurants with menus that cater only to tourists because every good traveler knows the best food is found wherever the locals are eating!
We also love to have picnics al fresco and do this whenever possible, which is a great way to taste some local food while sitting out in the fresh air taking in the sights and sounds of our surroundings.
As always, we are willing and able to accommodate vegetarians, vegans, gluten allergies, and other dietary restrictions.
Do I need to speak the language?
No, our skilled staff members will help you get around and even teach you a few fun phrases!
Are participants allowed to have their cell phones on the program?
We do allow participants to bring their phones, but we ask that they use it solely as a camera when we are out and about during the day. We want everyone to focus on living in the moment and fully experience each new destination we are visiting without being absorbed in their phones. We ask that participants look at their journey with us as a way to disconnect. When we have downtime at our hotels in the evenings it is okay for participants to use their devices to connect with friends and family back home.
What is the activity level of this trip?
This is an active trip. The goal of the trip will be to maximize each day. We aim to achieve a good balance of activity and downtime. You will need to be comfortable walking about 5 miles a day in total.
