Exciting Adventure Travel in Costa Rica

Depending on which list you’re looking at, there are about 195 countries in the world. The world has a lot to offer a traveler looking for adventure. If a 14-hour flight doesn’t sound exciting though, consider sticking to this hemisphere and check out incredible Costa Rica!

Surfing might be the most popular type of adventure travel in Costa Rica. Ready to learn?

The images that probably come to mind are lush, emerald green rainforest, with tropical flowers, birds, and fruit in every color imaginable. You picture smirking sloths hanging in the trees watching monkeys pass them by. You picture crystal clear waters to swim in and the friendliest locals. Here’s the thing: It’s all real! Choose an adventure in Costa Rica to discover all this paradise has to offer.

It may be a smaller country, but Costa Rica is home to five percent of the world’s biodiversity, and is chock full of opportunities for adventure travel. The best Costa Rica adventure tours will have you hiking through rainforest searching for wildlife, exploring coral reefs, practicing your surf technique, ziplining above a cloud forest, and becoming intimately acquainted with the pura vida lifestyle.

Not quite convinced Costa Rica is for you? Or maybe you’re just overwhelmed by the myriad of possibilities that await you! Either way, check out this list we’ve compiled of some of the best Costa Rica adventure tours.

9 best Costa Rica adventure trips this year

Editor’s note: This information on adventure travel in Costa Rica was accurate at the time of publishing. Please refer to each individual program for current data.

1. Outward Bound Costa Rica: 19+ Panama & Costa Rica—10

With Outward Bound’s Costa Rica adventure trips, there’s never a dull moment. You’ll spend your action-packed week trekking through rainforest, learning backcountry skills, and Costa Rican traditions as you go. Homestays will help you discover that pura vida lifestyle you’ve been wondering about. You’ll explore waterfalls and harvest sugarcane. Then you’ll end your week on the beach, surfing and relaxing.

Where? Cartago, Dominical, Gandoca, Guanacaste, Limon, Manuel Antonio, Quepos, San Jose, Talamanca, Turrialba
When? Summer
Activities? Backpacking, camping, climbing, ecology, hiking, homestay, nature tours, scuba, sea kayaking, snorkeling
Read Outward Bound Costa Rica reviews

2. ELI Abroad – Experiences to Change Your Life—10

Costa Rica adventure tours aren’t just about hiking and surfing. Volunteering can be an equally adventurous experience. ELI Abroad places undergrads, grad students, and those on gap years in volunteer placements that ensure the community is getting the support it needs. As a part of your Costa Rica adventure travel, you’ll be integrated into the community you are working in, giving you a meaningful cultural experience and deeper understanding of a way of life quite different from your own.

Where? San Ramon
When? Year-round; up to 12 weeks
Activities? Backpacking, camping, eco tours, hiking, homestay, and more!
Read ELI Abroad reviews

3. Maximo Nivel: Volunteer - TEFL - Spanish - Internships—9.4

Some of the best Costa Rica adventure tours involve gaining new skills! Maximo Nivel TEFL programs offer an opportunity to work, study, and travel all at the same time. Get your TEFL certification with a trusted organization like this one, and you’ll be able to find a job teaching English just about anywhere. They will also help you find Spanish classes (learning the local language is universally understood to be a good idea wherever you travel), help you organize an internship or volunteer project, and give you advice on traveling through Costa Rica.

Where? Manuel Antonio and San Jose
When? Year-round; up to 6 months
Activities? Eco tours, homestay, rafting, scuba, summer camp, and more!
Read Maximo Nivel reviews

4. #1" class="wysiwyg-hashtag">#1 Educational Tour Provider!—9.76

Worldaway’s model is short-term, high-impact. They want you to learn and be inspired while you travel. In Costa Rica, experiential learning and adventure travel go hand-in-hand. Who needs textbooks to show you Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity when you can go see it for yourself? This program is a friendly reminder that learning can be fun and adventurous too!

Where? San Jose
When? Year-round; up to 8 weeks
Activities? Cooking, ecology, heritage tourism, nature tours, photography, and more!
Read more Worldaway reviews

5. Costa Rica Adventure with Gapforce—9.24

From exploring the rainforest, to city nightlife, to turtle conservation, Gapforce organizers aim to show you as much of Costa Rica as possible. You’ll see many sides of this small — but incredibly diverse and fascinating — country and fall in love with every one during Costa Rica adventure travel. If you’ve been dreaming about falling asleep under the rainforest canopy after a day of ziplining above it, then this program is for you. And if you haven’t been dreaming about that, you probably are now!

Where? All over Costa Rica
When? Year-round; 2-4 weeks
Activities? Caving and spelunking, scuba, trekking, ziplining, conservation, teaching, wildlife
Read more Gapforce reviews

6. InterExchange: Sustainable Action in Costa Rica—9.4

With InterExchange’s Sustainable Action Costa Rica program, you’ll spend eight days learning about Costa Rica’s conservation efforts while exploring the country. When you’re not volunteering and learning from local NGOs, you’ll be hiking and swimming in waterfalls. Costa Rica adventure trips will show you that this country is a sustainable development role model for nations all around the world — come find out how!

Where? Arenal, Monteverde, San Jose
When? January; 8 days
Activities? Ecology, eco tours, hiking, nature tours, rainforest tours
Read more InterExchange reviews

7. Broadreach Summer Adventures for Students—9.8

With Broadreach, college and postgrad students aren’t hogging all the adventure in Costa Rica. They offer programs for middle and high school students too! These experiential summer programs ensure that you are learning about STEM, sailing, marine biology, foreign languages, and/or photography while having fun. Students have an opportunity to both gain new skills and explore the world. Avoiding big buses and group tours, Broadreach programs show you the real Costa Rica.

Where? Costa Rica
When? Year-round; 2-4 weeks
Activities? Camping, ecology, hiking, homestay, photography, rafting, sailing, scuba, sea kayaking, and more!
Read more Broadreach reviews

8. Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med & Public Health with Global Works—9.67

How does hands-on pre-med and public health experience sound? With Global Works, you’ll support clean water projects and educational outreach. Working alongside healthcare professionals is an opportunity to expand your knowledge of the field and see what a real day in the life looks like. This hands-on experience will also give you a leg up in school applications. Earn community service credit, learn about healthcare in other countries, become part of a family and practice your Spanish with a homestay, AND zipline through verdant rainforest. This program really has it all!

Where? All over Costa Rica
When? 2-4 weeks
Activities? Community service and volunteering, experiential learning, eco tours, nature tours, hiking, and so much more!
Read more Global Works reviews

9. The Experiment in International Living: Biodiversity, Ecology, & Sustainability—9.63

Learn about Costa Rica’s efforts to protect the tropical birds, plants, and animals that call Costa Rica home, while living in a remote biological station deep in the rainforest. Learn about local culture and practice your Spanish language skills during a homestay. Sail the Pacific Ocean. Spend time with baby sea turtles. The Experiment in International Living has a little bit of everything. You’ll leave Costa Rica feeling like you truly understand this magnificent little country (or maybe you’ll fall in love with the place and won’t leave).

Where? San Jose, La Palma, Santa Maria de Dota
When? Year-round; 2-4 weeks
Activities? Community service, hiking, trekking, homestay, language immersion, and more!
Read more Experiment in International Living reviews

Can’t pick? Compare these programs side-by-side for FREE with MyGoAbroad!

Get your adrenaline pumping on your adventure in Costa Rica!

person doing adventure travel in costa rica

The best Costa Rica adventure tours will expose you to brand new experiences.

As you can tell from the programs we’ve shared, adventure travel in Costa Rica can mean so many different things. With the right attitude, any travel experience is an adventure. The best Costa Rica adventure tours include exploring nature, exploring Costa Rican culture, and giving back to the communities you are visiting.

When choosing Costa Rica adventure trips, it is important to consider what makes the most sense to you. Are you looking for a summer program worth bragging about when it’s time to head back to school? Are you a gap year student looking for a meaningful way to spend your time? Maybe you’re a future doctor, interested in how healthcare works in other parts of the world? Or maybe this past semester was exhausting and you’re really just looking for an exciting few weeks in the tropics.

Whatever your travel goals, there is an adventure out there for you. Spend some time with GoAbroad’s Costa Rica resources to plan and prepare the ultimate Costa Rica adventure trip (also go watch some sloth videos, you won’t regret it!).

Discover MORE Exciting Costa Rica Adventure Tours on GoAbroad.com

Look for the Perfect Adventure Travel Program Now

Start Your Search

9 Best (and Most Thrilling) Costa Rica Adventure Tours

Jodi Suckle