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Costa Rica Adventure

San José - Santa Teresa

4.98 (91 Reviews)

Are you ready to take backpacking to the next level? It's time to visit Costa Rica!

  • 10 Days
  • 5 Places
  • 7 Activities

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Costa Rica Adventure
Save U$700 From U$1,750 U$1,050 / person Check Dates →

From U$1,750

U$1,050 / person

Just U$105.00 per day

Save40% Off Save U$700
Next Departure 03 Dec 2026
Duration 10 Days
Check Dates →
Flexible payments

Pay a U$280 deposit and spread the rest interest-free.
Balance due 60 days before departure.

ATOL Protected ABTA — Travel With Confidence

The Costa Rican backpacking trip of dreams!

Spend 10 days visiting the wonder that is Costa Rica! Have you dreamt of waking up in emerald green rainforests? Visiting volcanic hot springs in La Fortuna? Or adventuring out on a night safari? This 10 day action packed tour will have you getting off the beaten path, experiencing the real and rural Costa Rica whilst packing in all the must visit destinations that any adrenaline junkie would have on their bucket list. Pura Vida, baby! Zipline through rainforests, visit the arenal volcano and spend your evenings in search of wildlife on a night safari. Costa Rica is a nature-lovers paradise. The only question you should be asking yourself is - When shall I go?

Watch The Trip
classic travel style logo

Travel Style

The perfect balance of culture, adventure, beaches and parties, all rolled into one seamless adventure. They're built for 18-40s who want the big highlights and the hidden gems without the stress of planning a thing.

What You Get

Included As Standard

Local Legend
Not your typical guide, more like a mate who happens to know the way.
Transport
All Transport Included Private Van Transfer
Accommodation
9 Nights Twin Share Accommodation Hostels
Meals
1 X Breakfast 1 X Lunch 2 X Dinner

Included Activities

5 Experience Types · 1 Intentional Journey

Local Lens

Experiences

Direct connections with local culture, traditions, and communities. Cooking with families, exploring neighbourhoods with locals, and participating in generational cultural practices.

Rise Up

Experiences

Intentional challenges in supportive settings. Summit hikes, independent navigation, and experiences that push your limits.

Bucket List

Experiences

World-famous landmarks, extraordinary landscapes, and universally recognised destinations that inspire travel aspirations.

Tru-ly Unique

Experiences

The moments you won’t get anywhere else! These experiences are exclusive to Tru trips and really are something special!

Unplugged

Experiences

Intentional slowness, presence, and tech-free moments in nature or group settings enable reflection and authentic connection.

Coope san Juan Homestay
Day 2

Open the door to genuine Costa Rican hospitality with an overnight stay in the Coop San Juan community. Sharing a home-cooked dinner with your host family offers an intimate glimpse into daily life, traditional flavors, and the warm Pura Vida spirit.

Tractor ride
Day 2

Hop into the back of a tractor for a signature TruTravels bump-ride through dense forests and local pineapple plantations. The ride ends at a hidden river spot where you can jump straight in for a refreshing swim in nature.

Volcano hike and hotsprings
Day 3

We're heading for a hike around the base of the Arenal Volcano, and the views are stunning! After we have taken all the photos and got our steps in, we'll end the hike at some natural hot springs

Night Safari walk
Day 5

We'll head out on an evening walking tour to see the nocturnal wildlife the area has to offer. The diversity of wildlife in Costa Rica is unmatched! Sloths, armadillos, vipers, colourful tree frogs and exotic birds are a few of the animals you might be lucky enough to come across.

 Zipline
Day 6

Conquer your fear of heights as you clip in and soar through the canopy of Monteverde's cloud forest. Racing across deep valleys on high-speed cables, this thrill ride pushes your boundaries and delivers an unbeatable rush.

Sunset yoga
Day 7

Unplug for the evening as the group rolls out the mats in Santa Teresa beach and share a moment of connection between you, the ocean and the rest of the group.

Montezuma waterfall
Day 8

Hike through the jungle to the stunning Montezuma Waterfall, where cascading tiers tumble into natural swimming pools. Cool off with a dip in the fresh water, surrounded by lush rainforest.

Itinerary

1

Welcome To Costa Rica!

Welcome to the good life! PURA VIDA! That’s Costa Rica’s national tagline meaning ‘pure life’ Today is all about getting situated, meeting the group, and getting your first feel of this amazing country. You did it! Settle in, check out the local city or just sit back and relax as you’re about to start the most epic 10 days of your life. We’ll meet as a group, head out for a welcome dinner, and then follow it up with some drinks in Costa Rica’s largest city.

  • San Jose
2

Local Homestay

Day 2 and we’re straight into Costa Rica’s rich culture, we’re heading to Coop San Juan, a rural Costa Rican village off the beaten path where we will experience life just as the locals do. A quick scenic drive through the country (3 and a half hours) we make it to our picturesque village where we check into our homestays. If you want to get to know the real Costa Rica. This is it. Get to know the families who so kindly let us stay, before they show us a cooking demonstration. Costa Rican food is out of this world. So try to learn a thing or two. Before the sun goes down we head out to explore the area - keeping an eye out for wildlife and getting a true feel for the Costa Rican countryside. Play some games with the local community, watch the sun go down as we gather around the bonfire. Has this been an epic first full day? You better believe it. But hey, start as you mean to go on right?

  • Coope San Juan
  • Coope san Juan Homestay
  • Tractor ride
  • Cooking demonstrations
  • 1 X Lunch, 1 X Dinner
Local Lens
Tru-ly Unique
3

Arenal Volcano Hike & Hotsprings

Today we head for La Fortuna - ADVENTURE CAPITAL OF COSTA RICA. A beautiful mountain town sat at the base of the epic Arenal Volcano. La Fortuna is an adrenaline lover's playground. After getting settled into our accommodation, we head straight for a hike around the base of Arenal Volcano! The views are going to be something special! After we have walked and explored, we'll get some R&R in some natural hot springs and enjoy a group dinner.

  • La Fortuna
  • Volcano hike and hotsprings
  • Transfer to La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano Hike & Hotsprings
  • 1 X Breakfast, 1 X Dinner
4

La Fortuna Exploring!

Today is a full day dedicated to exploring La Fortuna, and there certainly isn’t a shortage of options. Your Local Legend will be taking those looking for a more chilled day down to the local swimming spots, but if that's not your thing, you can chill at the hotel, explore nature, or head out to the local shops.

  • La Fortuna
5

Monteverde And Night Safari

Today is just as much about the journey as it is the destination. We pack up and begin one of the most scenic journeys of our trip to Monteverde. This route takes us high through the jungle mountains where we cross a scenic lake with panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano. After we make it Monteverde we have time to check in and get settled before heading out for a night safari later in the evening. The diversity of wildlife in Costa Rica is unmatched, and tonight we are going to get a first hand look at the nocturnal nightlife. Sloths, armadillos, vipers, colorful tree frogs and exotic birds are a few of the animals you will likely be lucky enough to come across on the night safari. Just imagine yourself in a David Atteborough documentary, get your TruFam member to film and narrate the whole thing.

  • Monteverde
  • Night Safari walk
  • Transfer to Monteverde, Night Safari
6

Ziplining

When people mention Costa Rica, ziplining through a cloud forest is likely one of the first images that comes to mind. In the 1970’s, scientists used ziplines to explore the country's rich canopy without disturbing the environment, and from there the idea of using ziplines for recreation was born. If we could travel everywhere by zipline, trust us, we would. As the birthplace of the zipline and hands down one of the most EPIC possible locations to try the activity, it's a no-brainer that we include a day of ziplining in the earth's most famous cloud forest. Not to mention, these are some of the longest and most thrilling ziplines out there, so grab the go pro. It’s a hell of a day!

  • Monteverde
  •  Zipline
  • Ziplining
Rise Up
7

Santa Teresa Bound

We’ve covered the culture, we’ve experienced nature, and now we’ve got our fill of adventure so there’s only one thing left - the beach! Costa Rica is world-renowned for its beautiful coastline and world-class surfing, so today we head to our favorite beach town in the country. SURF’S UP BABY! We love Santa Teresa because it’s got the exact vibe we look for when visiting beach towns on our Tru tours. Beautiful, not too touristy, plenty of fun activities in the area and a fun, young vibe. Today is just a travel day but when we get settled in, we’ll head over to the beach for cocktails and to enjoy our first sunset over the Pacific.

  • Santa Teresa
  • Sunset yoga
  • Private van transfer to Santa Teresa
Unplugged
8

Beach Day & Yoga Class

Today we chill at the beach, it’s been a crazy few days and we’re all about that Pura Vida lifestyle. Our accommodation is just a short walk from the beach, so spend the day relaxing at the beach or if you’re feeling super energised you can head off on one of the many activities Santa Teresa has to offer. If you are looking to do a bit of surfing while on the trip, today is the perfect chance as there are plenty of great surf schools along the beach. In the afternoon we have a sunset yoga class where you can unwind and get a bit of zen in before another day of adventure tomorrow.

  • Santa Teresa
  • Montezuma waterfall
  • Yoga Class
Unplugged
9

Waterfalls & Montezuma Town

Not far from Santa Teresa is a lesser known Costa Rica highlight - the Bohemian beach town of Montezuma. We’ll grab transport over to Montezuma where we will grab lunch by the beach before going to see one of Costa Rica’s iconic jungle waterfalls (and hopefully catch a glimpse of some howler monkeys and other wildlife!). After the waterfall we go and explore Montezuma town, a super colorful and chill beach town, filled with local artisans and home to an incredible beach that is not to be missed. Tonight is the last night of our trip, so we head back to Santa Teresa to prepare for a farewell dinner and one last WILD night out with the group.

  • Santa Teresa
10

Chilled Check Out

All good things must come to an end, we’re not crying...you are. We’re in one of the best spots in Costa Rica, so hang around town, and check out Santa Teresa. Whatever you do, don’t forget us. Your Tru Leader is on hand for any onward travel plans you have. Need to get back to San Jose? They can help you. Need a hug because you’re sad about leaving? OK OK GROUP HUG.

*Ready to kick start your travels? Check out our departure dates and get yourself to paradise!*

  • Santa Teresa
  • Help with Onward Travel

Map

WHERE WE STAY

Reviews

91 reviews

FAQs

Where does the trip start & finish?

The trip starts in San Jose and finishes in Santa Teresa

Which airport do I need to fly into?

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

Are airport transfers included in the price of the tour?

Airport transfers are not included.

You can book a transfer up to 30 days before your tour, in one of two ways:
-Through your online account area
-Through our Sales team, you can contact them at info@trutravels.com for more information!

What's the closest airport to the end destination?

The closest airport to Santa Teresa is Cobano Airport (CBO), located approximately 40 minutes away by car. From here, you can get a 30-minute flight to SJO, where you'll be able to get international flights. To get to the CBO airport, you can also take a:

Taxi: Local taxis are available and can take you directly to the airport. The price is around USD$35.

To get to San Jose (SJO) airport:

You can get a shuttle bus that goes from Santa Teresa to San Jose (SJO) airport. This costs around $50. The Shuttle runs from 06:45am arriving at 2pm and at 2.45pm arriving at 9.30pm. Therefore, we recommend not booking a flight earlier than 5pm If taking the bus. Alternatively, while on tour, we can provide links to suppliers who can provide a private transfer.

What kind of accommodation is included on this trip?

A mixture of twin bedrooms and private dormitories.

What is the currency?

Costa Rican Colón

How much can I expect to spend a day on tour?

How much spending money you need will vary depending on whether you like to shop till you drop, sink back-to-back beers or get endless food at the end of the night out. Costa Rica isn't super cheap so we'd recommend budgeting to spend around £60-£70 a day.

What visa do I need for Costa Rica?

Depending on where you're travelling from it's likely that you won't need a visa to enter Costa Rica. However this is guidance only and is subject to change. Make sure to check visa requirements before you travel!

Will I need any vaccinations for my trip?

The Costa Rican government recently advised that yellow fever vaccination is mandatory if arriving from certain countries, this currently includes Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Please check your government website for more information.

UK Government

Australian Government

US Government

How much is pre-night accommodation?

If you would like to book a pre-night please contact our sales team on info@trutravels.com

Is my money protected?

Yep! You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.

Do you have age limits for your tours?

Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We do have an upper age limit of 45 on our tours. If you are over 45 and have travelled with us before please contact our sales team at info@trutravels.com.

 

Our Essentials trips are exclusively built for travellers aged 18-29! Don't worry if this isn't you - our incredible Classic, Flashpacker, Limited Edition, Multi-country and Ski tours are open to everyone under 45! There's a perfect style of tour for everyone - happy browsing!

Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?

Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!

Do many TruTravellers travel alone?

Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.

Will I be able to contact/meet people before the tour starts?

Yes, of course! You will receive a welcome email from your tour leader a week before your tour starts. This will include a QR code to join the group chat on WhatsApp and other important information before joining. In the meantime, you can join our Facebook group TruTravellers to connect with others.

Are TruTravels tours drinking and party-oriented?

No! Whether you love a sunset beer or prefer an early night in order to make the most out of every day, or even a bit of both, it's up to you how you spend your time on tour! Our guides are always on hand to suggest a range of evening activities on tour. From night markets to rooftop bars, fire shows and local cultural experiences, there's a huge variety of options! There's no pressure, ever - it's your adventure after all!

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