Costa Rica Group Tours & Trips
Costa Rica is the dream gap year destination, and not just because you can go ziplining through a Cloud Forest (like a rainforest but greener!) or surf beginner-friendly waves. With around half a million species living inside Costa Rica, it’s one of the most biodiverse destinations on the planet. From the Three-toed sloth to the Red-eyed tree frog, and all kinds of bird species, Costa Rica’s wildlife is on another level!
Whether you’re travelling exclusively to this destination or visiting as part of a longer journey around Central America, Costa Rica group tours are the ultimate adventure. If there’s one thing more addictive than the emerald wildlife and enchanting beaches, then it’s the “Pura Vida” spirit: which is all about embracing the little things… it isn’t hard to do over on this side of paradise!
Read more in our Costa Rica Travel Guide.
Costa Rica Group Tours & Trips
Central American Journey
32 days
from £2,049 £1,742
Visit seven countries on this exciting adventure
Visit seven amazing countries, including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Belize. Experience Mayan ruins, cenotes, authentic rural settlements, and paradise beaches.
Paid Teaching in Costa Rica
7 - 13 months from £1,599
Fully accredited TESOL course & guaranteed teaching placement
Spend four weeks in the heart of Costa Rica, on our internationally accredited TESOL course, learning teaching skills, Spanish and enjoying cultural experiences. Then begin your teaching placement with the full support of our in-country team.
Costa Rica Facts
Capital City
San JoseCurrency
Costa Rican Colón (CRC)Language
SpanishDialling Code
+506Plug Type
Types A & BCosta Rica Highlights
San Jose
San Jose is a fantastic base for all your Costa Rica travel plans. Explore everything from the cosmopolitan restaurants to the museums where you can learn all about Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian history. Don’t forget about the Spirogyra Butterly Garden for a taster of Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife, including the chance to spot a Blue Morpho Butterfly!
Monteverde Cloud Forest
The Monteverde Cloud Forest showcases Costa Rica’s breathtaking biodiversity, with vibrant nature that’s richer than a rainforest! Cross jungle canopies thousands of feet in the air and speed from one side of the reserve to the next on a zipline. As you trek through the mist, listen and keep your eyes peeled for birds, howley monkeys and more!
Arenal National Park
Arenal National Park is a haven for adventure sports and all things wildlife. When you’re not climbing through caves, hiking the nature trails, journeying around Arenal Volcano or searching for waterfalls, you can get to know all the gorgeous animals inside the sanctuaries - including birds, butterflies, frogs and sloths, just to name a few!
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is the glamorous gateway to Arenal National Park. Imagine bright blue waterfalls hidden in the heart of the jungle, steamy hot springs, luxurious shades of green everywhere you turn… Doesn’t it all just make you want to sink into the water and soak up the heavenly scenery? There’s no rush, so kick back and enjoy the views.
Santa Teresa
Embrace the "Pura Vida" in Santa Teresa, a sandy paradise of palm trees, glistening beaches and ocean waves. You could spend all day in one spot without getting bored, especially since Costa Rica is world-class for surfing. Don’t skip out on Santa Teresa’s food, as this culinary hotspot has a little bit of everything: from smoothie bowls to sushi!
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Puerto Viejo is just irresistible - from the spoiled-for-choice selection of beaches, the big cat rescue centre and the variety of nature paths, to the vibrant nightlife, endless palm trees and the charming Caribbean coast. When you snap out of the dream state this stunning landscape puts you in, dive into the water and go snorkelling!
Manuel Antonio
You think you’ve seen it all as a traveller, and then you explore Manuel Antonio. Home to stunning wildlife, secret beaches, coral reef and hiking trails that curve along the coast, Manuel Antonio embodies everything to love about Costa Rica. Whether you’re snorkelling in the ocean or zip-lining in the sky, leave the world behind in Manuel Antonio.
Montezuma
Costa Rica’s beaches and rainforests are equally magical, and in Montezuma, you don’t have to choose between the two! This beautiful beach town is home to adventurous hiking trails that lead you to plunging waterfalls which travellers can swim in. At the end of your hike, discover an unspoiled beach that you can enjoy almost entirely to yourself.
La Isla Tortuga
Off the coast of Costa Rica, hop between two tiny islands to discover even more natural beauty. La Isla Tortuga is one of the best places in the country for water activities, whether you want to go snorkelling and swim with a breathtaking variety of fish (maybe you’ll even see a sea turtle!) or encounter dolphins in the wild on a boat tour.
Costa Rica Travel Advice
Climate & Weather
Costa Rica has a tropical climate with its dry season lasting from January to April, with tropical showers only expected from the areas rich in rainforest. May to July marks the start of Costa Rica’s green season with more rainfall, so it’s fantastic for wildlife spotting and surfing.
Average daily temperatures in Costa Rica do not change much throughout the year and travellers can expect temperatures anywhere between 27℃ to 35℃ depending on the area. Generally, the northwestern Guanacaste Province is the hottest near San Jose, while the highlands of Cordillera de Talamanca are the coolest.
Best Time to Visit
Many travellers choose to visit Costa Rica in the high season of January to April as this is when the weather is driest and sees the most sun. But the quieter months of May to July are just as incredible. Rainfall becomes more frequent during this time of year, but the result is spectacular wildlife watching, rainforest scenery that becomes even more lush and higher swells for anyone looking to go surfing! Mid-November to December is also a great time to explore Costa Rica, as it’s just before the country enters its dry season and peak time for travel
Customs & Culture
Costa Rica is a welcoming and multicultural country with the motto of “Pura Vida”: which is all about enjoying the simple things in life and sharing your happiness with others! Costa Rica can be described as a mix of Indigenous heritage, Spanish influences and other cultures like Chinese and Jamaican.
A little Spanish goes a long way, even though many people speak English here. It’s best not to be direct in conversation and avoid haggling. Travellers are encouraged to go with the flow and embrace being on Tico time, which is a more laidback approach compared to UK culture.
Passports & Visas
British passport holders can visit Costa Rica for up to 180 days without needing a visa. To enter Costa Rica, your passport must have an expiration date of at least one day after the date you plan to leave. For up-to-date travel information, always check with the relevant embassy websites before going abroad.
If your flight connects through the USA, you will need a valid ESTA visa waiver or visa. This can be applied for online through the relevant embassy websites.
Health & Safety
Check at least 8 weeks before your trip starts that you have all the necessary vaccinations. Travellers are required to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate in order to enter the country. Medical facilities are generally of a high standard in Costa Rica.
Always travel with comprehensive insurance, especially since Costa Rica has so many cool adventure tourism activities like ziplining and water sports! Costa Rica is safe for tourists, with general travel precautions encouraged. Natural disasters are uncommon but in the event of an emergency, follow the advice of the local authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica is part of the Mesoamerica Biodiversity Hotspot, with around half a million species confirmed to live here! From the gigantic population of three-toed sloths to hummingbirds, iguanas, toucans, howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, tree frogs and some of the world’s biggest butterflies, Costa Rica is a haven for wildlife. The animals here make Costa Rica trips extra magical!
Costa Rica’s official language is Spanish, but Creole and English are also quite popular. Cabécar is the most widely spoken Indigenous language of Costa Rica.
When packing for Costa Rica, prioritise lightweight clothing and some waterproof layers for visiting the rainforest. Costa Rica has some pretty incredible beaches, so don’t forget to bring a bathing suit! Most importantly, you will need comfortable shoes for walking and sandals for the more casual days on trips to Costa Rica. Bring sun-protective gear like sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat, as well as some insect-repellent spray. Finally don’t forget about your phone or even a professional camera so you can take pictures on your Costa Rica group tours and send them to us!
Flights from London to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital, typically take 11 hours if you fly direct, and around 15 hours if you include a layover.
Costa Rican cuisine is all about making the most out of what ingredients are available, and the results are inspiring and delicious. Rice and beans are a simple but effective combination in Costa Rica, whether you’re eating them fresh or enjoying them refried for breakfast (Gallo pinto, Costa Rica’s national dish!). But it comes as no surprise that this rainforest destination is home to exotic fruit like guanabana, pejivalle and plantain, plus bags of mango and pineapple which are sold on the street. And then there are the must-try dishes like ceviche and mondogo!
A gap year in Costa Rica is a guaranteed adventure! Costa Rica is considered to be one of the safest countries in Central America, so it’s a fantastic place to start if you’re looking to explore more of this subcontinent. From the rich rainforest wildlife to the unspoiled white sand beaches and some of the best surfing waves on the planet, Costa Rica is a real-life paradise! Maybe you’re looking to learn some Spanish abroad, hoping to explore as much of Central and South America as possible, or are exclusively interested in Costa Rica group tours. British nationals can stay in Costa Rica for up to 180 days without needing a visa as a tourist, so it’s perfect for longer stays. Whatever your gap year looks like, we’ll help you plan it!
Costa Rica Trip Reviews
Read more about Costa Rica
The Incredible Animals of Costa Rica's Rainforest
Let’s take a quick history lesson… 3 million years ago Costa Rica rose to the world, forming part of the land we know as Central America. You can thank its impressive volcanoes for that! Today, its lush rainforests, cloud forests, and preserved national parks are bursting with unbeatable wildlife. Think snoozing sloths, howling monkeys...
Last updated: 13th June 2024
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