Costa Rica: The Grand Tour

334 Days until departure

June 15, 2026 - June 24, 2026

Trip ID: Watne-2026

Program fee info view program fee info terms & conditions

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Tour Itinerary print itinerary

Day 1 Hola San Jose (groups flying from the west coast may be required to depart day 0)

Meet your tour director and check into hotel

Day 2 San José--Tortuguero

Travel to Tortuguero

Details: LEAP Costa Rican school visit

Visit a Costa Rican school to meet local students, practice Spanish and see the differences between schools there and schools at home.(Please note that school visits will not be possible on certain dates due to schools not being in session. WorldStrides will update you as early as possible.)

Details: See a banana plantation

Drive through a banana plantation.

Day 3 Tortuguero

Tortuguero National Park visit

Details: Tortuguero wildlife boat tour

Get up close with some of Tortuguero’s coolest inhabitants. Make your way through the park’s narrow waterways, where the overhanging vegetation can bring 300 species of birds, 168 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 60 species of mammals right up under your nose.

Day 4 Tortuguero--Arenal

Travel to Arenal

Details: Hot springs visit

Let the volcanoes take you away. At Arenal’s hot springs, bubbling lava fields heat the waters to make nature’s own jacuzzi.

Day 5 Arenal--Monteverde

Details: Travel to Monteverde

Because of its humidity and latitude, the entire city of Monteverde can disappear in a second under a massive cloud cover. Founded by Quakers in 1951, the city boasts the best in Costa Rican creatures. Observe a proud display of howler monkeys, revered quetzals and native frogs in the dense cover of the cloud forest.

Details: Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve night walk

Step into the Monteverde Cloud Forest and be transported to the lush world of the Costa Rican rainforest. The towering trees, abundant shrubs and vibrant flowers create a luscious oasis for a huge array of animals, including jaguars, toucans and monkeys.

Day 6 Monteverde

Optional $61

Details: LEAP Cocina Tica

Cook Costa Rican style! Create authentic local foods and sit down to savor your delicious creations.

Day 7 Monteverde--Manuel Antonio

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve day walk

Travel to Manuel Antonio

Day 8 Manuel Antonio

Details: Manuel Antonio National Park visit

Combining white sandy beaches with lush tropical forest, Manuel Antonio is the perfect place to see a variety of Costa Rican wildlife, from white-faced monkeys and sleepy-faced sloths, to green turtles and orange-and-black-shelled land crabs.

Day 9 Manuel Antonio--San Jose

Travel to San José

Details: LEAP Dance the El Torito!

Costumed Costa Rican folklore dancers teach you the El Torito, as well as other traditional dances, then relax and watch the pros perform.

Day 10 Flight home from San José

Tour Includes

Round-trip airfare and other transportation described in the itinerary
Up to three college credits upon course completion (grades 9-12) or high school credit (grades 6-12)
Basic Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation Insurance during trip
Centrally located three- and four-star hotels
Plentiful daily breakfast to start the day energized and ready to go
Appetizing, culturally representative, three-course lunch and dinner daily
Full time, multilingual, WorldStrides tour director who is LEAP-trained in experiential education
Local guide at sites and on city tours as described in the itinerary
LEAP! Learning through Exploration and Active Participation; trademarked immersive approach of learning by doing
Entrances and transportation to sites and activities described in your itinerary
Local guide and local bus driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
24/7 On Tour Emergency Support
Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, any required passport or visa fees, optional excursions, or recommended Tips for the Tour Director or multi-day Bus Drivers. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid tips, or other individual/group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.