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Gap Year in Costa Rica

Immerse yourself in the environmental sustainability of the world’s eco-travel capital.

EF Gap Year in Costa Rica
  • CLIMATE:

    Year-round: 65-80 °F

  • CURRENCY:

    Costa Rican Colon

  • OFFICIAL LANGUAGE:

    Spanish

This nation's lush bounty includes so much more than its incredible landscapes—like rainforests and pristine beaches.

Costa Rican culture is vibrant, taking the shape of pura vida, an encompassing phrase that translates directly to "pure life," but is often peppered in as a greeting or to say "it's all good."

Service learning projects in Costa Rica help you learn what a pura vida future looks like for youth, precious wildlife, and the environment from local community members and non-profits.

Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to availability and local conditions at the time of departure.

Wildlife in Costa Rica on a EF Gap Year program

Start to understand sustainable agriculture. Stay at an eco-lodge community with a school and sustainable ranch where you'll get an incredible understanding of organic agriculture by tending to the land.

Humming bird on a flower in Costa Rica

Immerse yourself in the cloud forest. Explore the intricate ecosystem of Santa Elena Cloud Forest—a rainforest canopy teeming with rare tropical flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.

Students measure sea turtle on a gap program in Costa Rica

Help protect endangered sea turtles. Nearly all species of sea turtles are now classified as endangered because of poaching and environmental factors. NGOs in Costa Rica strive to protect sea turtles' natural habitats, rescue their eggs from predators and curious tourists, and promote environmental education to prevent sea turtle extinction.

Rainforest on a EF Gap Year in Costa Rica

Dense rainforests with over 10,000 species and plants can be found all over Costa Rica.

Gap year after high school in Costa Rica

See how the city functions. Visit San José, the capital of Costa Rica as well as the country’s largest city. Grasp the city's history and current relationship to our global world.

Students paint door in Costa Rica

Spend time with youth. Many rural schools in Costa Rica are under-funded and so they lack educational resources. Local non-profits have stepped in to create safe, clean, and fun learning centers and create opportunities for further education. You'll help teach conversational English, lead after-school activities programs, and serve as role models and mentors for the kids.

Boy carries a surfboard in Costa Rica

Take some time to think. Head to one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated beaches for some rest, relaxation, and reflection. Play on the beach or take guided walks in the adjacent rainforest to see scarlet macaws and capuchin monkeys in their native habitat.

Interested in traveling with us?

Your journey begins here.