STAND UP ADVENTURE COSTA RICA

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better sense of this experience. The actual program may vary, and an itinerary will be distributed no later than two weeks before the program begins. Even after the itinerary is sent, adjustments may still be made in coordination with tour guides and the tour operator—both leading up to and during the program—based on local conditions.

DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Late night arrival in San José, Costa Rica for the start of the program. We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities throughout the day so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here. Have dinner and head to bed as soon as we arrive to prepare for an early morning start to your adventure.

DAYS 2–3 | SAN JOSÉ & PUERTO VIEJO
Begin the second day with breakfast before an immersive service experience at Fundación Humanitarian. Engage in hands-on service projects like mural painting or planting, and spend the afternoon with the abuelas, who are the pioneers of a local theater in La Carpio. Afterward, we’ll travel to the Caribbean coast for a day of adventure in Cahuita National Park, where you’ll explore the white-sand beach of Playa Blanca, hike through the park’s lush rainforest, and snorkel among coral reefs and vibrant underwater wildlife.

DAY 4 | BRI BRI INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY
Immerse yourself in the culture of the BriBri Indigenous Community, the largest indigenous population in Costa Rica. We’ll tour medicinal plant gardens, learn how to build traditional homes, and explore the sacred history of chocolate-making. Enjoy a hike to the stunning Volio Waterfall, a 50-foot cascade, and engage in service work with the community. End the day with a group dinner in Puerto Viejo.

DAY 5 | SHABBAT IN PUERTO VIEJO
Relax and recharge on Shabbat with a breakfast and a free day in Puerto Viejo. We’ll end the day with an Afro-Caribbean dance lesson and a group dinner.

DAYS 6–8 | SARAPIQUI
Kick off with a thrilling white-water rafting adventure before traveling to Sarapiqui, where you’ll spend the next few days immersed in community service. Work on projects like mural painting, revitalizing public spaces, and helping at a Costa Rican family farm—planting, harvesting, and preparing traditional meals like empanadas and tortillas. Along the way, enjoy a night hike through the rainforest and visit the Tirimbina Chocolate Tour to learn the history of chocolate.

DAYS 9–10 | LA FORTUNA
Travel to La Fortuna, where we’ll visit the iconic La Fortuna Waterfall by horseback, cooling off in the natural swimming hole. The next day, experience the thrill of zip-lining through the rainforest canopy and unwind in the Baldi Hot Springs.

DAYS 11–12 | SAN JOSÉ
Return to San José and start the day with a visit to Doka Coffee Farm to learn about Costa Rican coffee-making and enjoy a tasting session. We’ll celebrate Shabbat with services and a meal at a local synagogue. On the second day, relax with optional BBYO programming, sleep in, or take a walk through a nearby park. In the evening, join us for Havdalah and a group dinner in San José.

DAYS 13–16 | UVITA
Travel to Uvita and explore Antonio Manuel Park. Spend the day kayaking, paddle boarding, or canoeing through the mangroves, keeping an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and caymen. The next day, take a boat trip to the stunning Caño Island National Park for snorkeling and hiking. Then, visit the Boruca people to learn about their history and art, creating hand-carved masks and enjoying lunch with a Boruca family. We'll spend our final day shopping for souvenirs as we head back towards San José.

DAY 17 | RETURN FLIGHT
It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Head to the airport for a flight back to the U.S. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!

Our most frequently asked questions about this program are answered below. Additional program-wide FAQs are also available. Still need something? We’re here to help! Contact us.

How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO will arrange for a group flight, and families will have the option of joining the group flight. If the group flight is not geographically convenient for your family, you are responsible for making your teen's flight arrangements to our arrival city, and from our departure city, based on guidance that we provide in the spring. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. Learn more about flying to the program.

What if my teen is considered an unaccompanied minor?
Each airline has its own rules for mandatory unaccompanied minors and additional fees do apply. If your teen is 15 years or younger, then please refer to your chosen airline for information. If your chosen airline requires your teen to fly as an unaccompanied minor, please make sure that this is noted on your Domestic Travel Form, and contact us at least a month in advance if special arrangements need to be made with our staff.

Where will my teen be sleeping?
The group stays in several different types of accommodations, including 3-star hotels and more rustic eco-lodges in the rainforest. When booking our accommodations, we request for each teen to have their own sleeping accommodations in a shared living space. On a rare occasion, your teen may share a large bed with another teen of the same gender. We try to avoid this as best as possible, but sometimes have limitations due to hotel space. Our accommodations are typically outside of cities and provide space for teens to relax and explore in a safe environment.

How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors), a local tour leader, and a bus driver. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Staff are asked to make welcome calls to teens before departure. Feel free to ask them any remaining questions you may have. Learn more about our staff team.

What's the summer weather like?
Costa Rica is a tropical country, but the weather varies greatly region to region. In the highland areas, you can expect cooler weather with evenings dipping into the 50s–70s. Along the lowland areas, the weather is in the 80s or even 90s during the day. Finally, June and July fall within the rainy season for Costa Rica. This means that rain is common, although it is often brief, in the late afternoon or evening. No matter where we travel in Costa Rica, you can be sure t hat it will be humid!

How do you approach security?
The safety of the teens under our care is our guiding consideration. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety & security.

What’s the typical group size?
Although it varies from year to year, our average group size for trips is 35–42 teens. Some teens choose to sign up together with a friend or two and most teens choose to come on their own. Either way, our participants will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of peers from various locations across North America which makes exploring a new place together even more exciting. On some programs, we might have multiple parties from the same area register together. In this case, we are unable to inform families when this occurs and though we are always willing to share the group dynamics of the current registrations, we typically have a good idea of the general group make up after our cancellation deadline.

What's the food like?
You’ll try delicacies like Gallo Pinto, Casado, tamal, and fresh fruit in Costa Rica. When traveling, your teen may encounter new foods that will not be to their liking, so we ask teens to be flexible and have snacks and other alternatives on hand just in case.

As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, catered meals, and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian, pescatarian, or dairy options available and we will not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice.

Some meals may be provided via a cash allowance where teens will be given money to purchase the food of their choice, called a pizur meal. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options and teens can choose the food of their liking. When time is limited for meal choice, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds.

Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Will I need a visa?
If you travel with an American, Canadian, or EU passport, good news! You don’t need a visa to enter Costa Rica. If you travel with a passport from another country, you may need a visa.

What are the payment and cancellation terms?
All of these details are available here: Registration Terms.

For more information, check out our general FAQs or the pre-trip preparation manual.

Looking to combine two experiences for an extended summer of adventure, learning, and self-discovery? BBYO makes it easy! Check out these other trips that connect with Stand UP Adventure Costa Rica:

• Americas Trek
• Costa Rica & Galápagos Trek

Learn more about our trip connections.