Costa Rica


Costa Rica Highlights

Video by RusticPathways

¡Pura Vida!

Pristine rainforests, majestic volcanoes and the warmth of the Tico welcome brought us to Costa Rica in 2003 with just seven programs. Today, we offer twenty diverse programs that range from saving sea turtles on the Pacific Coast to working with an indigenous tribe on the Caribbean coast and exploring the jungle in Corcovado National Park. We have a beautiful Volcano & Rainforest base, a surfhouse on the Pacific, and a year-round office in San José. We offer summer programs for high school students, fantastic Gap Year programs, and year round customized itineraries for private groups and families.


  • {image_title}

    Bribri Villages Service Experience

    Cost: $1,395
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 18 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Caribbean Adrenaline

    Cost: $1,895
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Costa Rican Adventurer

    Cost: $3,195
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Heart of the Jungle

    Cost: $3,145
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 25 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Intensive Spanish Language

    Cost: $3,095
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Nicoya Turtle Expedition

    Cost: $2,695
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 35 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Ramp Up Your Spanish

    Cost: $1,395
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Sarapiqui Service Adventure

    Cost: $1,595
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 27 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Service and Surf

    Cost: $1,595
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 14 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Soccer and Service in La Paz

    Cost: $1,195
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 18 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Spanish Language Immersion

    Cost: $2,595
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Summer Camp Leadership

    Cost: $2,995
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 70 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Surf the Summer

    Cost: $1,595
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: None
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    The Great Costa Rican Scavenger Hunt

    Cost: $3,295
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 12 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    The Maleku Culture and Service Experience

    Cost: $1,395
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 28 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Traveling Soccer and Service Team

    Cost: $2,895
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 32 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Turtle Conservation Project

    Cost: $1,395
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 32 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Volcano and Rainforest Service Base

    Cost: $1,595
    Length: 9 Days
    Service: 25 Hours
    Quick Look View
  • {image_title}

    Young Explorers

    Cost: $2,995
    Length: 16 Days
    Service: 12 Hours
    Quick Look View

Fact File

Population
4.5 million people
Capital City
San Jose
Currency
Colon: 1 USD buys about 488 CRC (as of August 2012)
Language
Spanish
Attractions
Arenal Volcano, Corcovado National Park, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Local Lingo

Pura vida Pure life!
Ticos A Costa Rican man is a Tico, and a Costa Rican woman is a Tica.
Tuanis Slang word for cool.

Did You Know?

  • Costa Rica has had over one hundred years of political stability and is nicknamed the “Land of Peace”.
  • Costa Rica aims to be the first carbon neutral country by 2021.
  • Five percent of the world’s biodiversity is located in Costa Rica

Contact Us: For more information about Costa Rica you can email us at costarica@rusticpathways.com.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open."

Jawaharal Nehru

Packing List

To Help You Come Prepared...

On some programs you will need to pack additional items that are not on this general packing list. Please make sure you read the notes for every program you are participating in which can be found on each specific program’s webpage. Students who are participating in multiple programs should pack the contents of the general Costa Rica Packing List plus any special items listed for their specific programs.

There will be laundry available for students traveling for multiple weeks and it generally costs between $6-10.

Bring with you any medications that you will need while you are away. You will need to tell staff what medications you have brought during your orientation period. This is done privately, but it is essential that you disclose to your staff all medications you are carrying.

Pack lightly for your journey! You must be able to carry and load your own luggage, and space in the vehicles is limited.

Carry-On Luggage

A small backpack is the best carry on bag and will be useful on your program day-trips.

  • Passport and Wallet *Travel Wallet that can be hidden under clothing is a good idea.
  • Photo Copy of Passport (2 additional photocopies should be carried in checked luggage)
  • Sunglasses
  • Journal and Pens
  • Good Book (trade with buddies)
  • Water bottle (refillable, durable, and empty)
  • Medications (must alert staff)
  • 35mm camera, digital camera, and/or disposable camera - Costa Rica is a wet environment so please  have a good case that keeps your camera safe from elements like rain and dirt. Be aware that cameras can easily get broken, lost, or stolen in Costa Rica so only bring a camera which you are  prepared to part with.

Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry-on regulations of the TSA. 

Checked Luggage

A medium sized duffel bag or large backpack work best. Wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried like a duffle over rough terrain.

Please bring at least a few outfits that can get dirty or destroyed for service work or adventure activities.

CLOTHING ITEMS

  • Long pants (2 pair of lightweight pants, 1 pair of jeans for horseback riding)
  • Underwear (5-7)
  • Socks (7-8) - Lightweight quick dry athletic socks like Smartwool are the best.
  • T-Shirts, tank tops, and sports shirts (10) - 3-5 cotton t-shirts + 3-5 quick dry shirts (like capilene or polypropylene)
  • Lightweight sweater/sweatshirt (1)
  • Waterproof rain jacket (1)
  • Shorts (3-5) -Please be conservative regarding length
  • Swim Suit (1-2)
  • Athletic Shoes - (1) Shoes that dry quickly, you can hike short distances in and protect your   feet are best. Shoes will get wet, muddy, and dirty.
  • Sandals and/or Flip-Flops – a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water like Tevas or Chaco brand sandals work great. Flip flops are also very useful.
  • Hat (1)
  • Towel (NOT white) - Large travel towels are great!
  • Nice outfit for final dinner (1-not too fancy)
  • Pajamas (1)

TOILETRIES (Please pack all items that could leak in a PLASTIC or ZIPLOCK bag)

  • Shampoo and Soap (preferably with little or no fragrance because of bugs) NOTE: you can find non-fragrance and biodegradable soap at natural food stores and outdoor adventure stores. Dr.Brauner’s and Mountain Suds soaps are both good.
  • Non-Fragrant Deodorant
  • Toothpaste and Toothbrush
  • Sunscreen (2 bottles of strong Sunscreen)
  • Insect Repellant (1-2 bottles 35% DEET)
  • Hand Sanitizer (1 or 2 small bottles per week)
  • Contact lenses and solution, in a plastic bag

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

  • Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries (to read at night or in the case of power outages)
  • Watch or Clock with an Alarm
  • Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2) *for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
  • Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)
  • Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a small personal kit is always helpful)
  • Band aids
  • Triple Antibiotic Ointment
  • Medical Tape
  • Moleskin or preferred blister care
  • Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
  • Antihistamine (Benadryl or preferred type)
  • Anti-itch Cream (1 Benedryl Anti-itch Gel works great)
  • 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
  • 2 Gauze dressing
  • 5-8 Sterile wipes

OPTIONAL ITEMS

  • Spanish/English dictionary
  • Deck of Cards
  • Picture of mom, dad, boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, pet fish, etc.
  • Frisbee, Aerobee, Hackysack, Football, Soccer Ball or Volleyball

PLEASE NOTE – Rustic Pathways will not be responsible for ANY lost or stolen items. During travel it is common for items to be lost or stolen so please bring only items you are prepared to part with.