The GA Study Tour
Costa Rica July ‘25

Costa Rica is a haven of unparalleled biodiversity. From July 27th 2025, immerse yourself in its stunning and varied landscapes, from the emerald depths of lush rainforests to spectacular coastlines and spellbinding rivers. You will work hands-on and harmoniously with local communities and wildlife, participating in forest and mangrove restoration, beach cleanups, and sea turtle and bird monitoring projects. Additionally, you will benefit from talks on topics such as regenerative farming, climate change resilience and many other common geographical issues that align with GCSE and A Level specifications.

This unique CPD opportunity offers geographers and conservationists the chance to contribute actively to the preservation of this distinctive ecosystem while enhancing their pedagogical toolkit, bringing classrooms to life. Alongside fellow travelers and teachers, and with the support of our curriculum expert, you will create a bank of truly representative and adaptable resources to take back to school and to contribute to the Geographical Association's resource base. Throughout this journey, you'll enjoy the company of like-minded, environmentally conscious explorers and inspiring educators who understand the power of traveling for good.

Costa Rica Highlights

Sea Turtle Conservation

Understand anthropogenic impacts on marine life and learn about turtle anatomy, tracks, nesting sites and hatchery techniques. Understand the importance of keystone species when making ecological decisions.

Ecological Restoration

Understand the positive impacts tree maintenance has on biodiversity and soil nutrition. You will also learn a variety of restoration techniques for native tree and mangrove species throughout the area.

Avian and Amphibian Project

Learn how to interpret forest health, type, age and structure by understanding bird and amphibian species composition, diversity and distribution between forest types.

Monteverde Cloud Forest & Adventure

After immersing yourself in one of the most species-rich cloud forests in the world you will have the opportunity to go sky trekking, zip lining and surfing. The perfect way to end the project.

“It has been on our list for so long! Finally we can give you...Costa Rica”

— ★★★★★ Floogle Founders

Whether you’re wanting to enhance your personal teaching experience or want to travel with like-minded people, this Costa Rican adventure will be an eye-opening experience of lifetime.

You’ll have the chance to get involved with local communities and their efforts to sustain the future of this distinctive environment and share their stories in your classrooms on your return.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US?

ITINERARY OVERVIEW:

Day 1: Arrive in San Jose
Day 2: Transfer to Monteverde
Day 3: Monteverde Sky Tram, zip-line, cooking class and coffee farm
Day 4: Central Pacific Coast
Day 5: Marino Ballena National Park and transfer to the Osa Peninsula
Days 6-10: Osa Conservation Centre
Day 11: Transfer to San Jose
Day 12: Depart

Full itinerary ⟶

Have a question? See our FAQ ⟶

Costa Rica Study Tour Itinerary

Day 1: 27th July

Arrive in San Jose

After landing in San Jose, settle into your hotel and have a delicious, traditional welcome dinner and a relaxing evening before the bust weeks ahead. Get prepped for the awesome adventure that awaits you.
**Meals:** D
**Accommodation:** Park Inn Hotel

Day 2: 28th July

Monteverde cloud forest and coffee plantation

Today, you will make your way to the Monteverde Biological Reserve, a 30,000 ha protected area of Cloud Forest. See incredible views as you make your way up into the Tilaran Mountains! Heading into the Monteverde Cloud Forest, you will discover a place which holds 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, making it one of the most important private reserves in Costa Rica! While in the mountains, you visit a coffee plantation and see how sugar, bananas and more are grown in this stunning environment, with the chance to taste fresh produce from the plantations.
After dinner, embark on a night walk at El Establo Private Nature Reserve and explore the rainforest as it comes alive after dark. Led by expert guides, you'll discover the behaviours and ecology of numerous nocturnal bird, reptile, amphibian, mammal, and invertebrate species, while learning about the ecological dynamics that occur after sunset.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** El Establo Hotel

Day 3: 29th July

Zipline, canopy adventure and surfing

Take an open-air gondola ride through the rainforest, offering spectacular views as you ascend the mountain. Then ride the zip line circuit down through canyons and treetops in a thrilling way to see nature up-close in a natural environment. Look out for all the species you have discovered during your expedition as you zoom through the forest!
For lunch, take part in a cooking class under the expert guidance of Doña Mireya Salazar, a seasoned cook with over 50 years of experience in preparing traditional dishes. From selecting fresh, local ingredients to mastering the flavours and techniques of this vibrant cuisine, it’s an immersive and rewarding culinary experience. After lunch, finish the day with a guided visit to the village of Santa Elena.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** El Establo Hotel

Day 4: 30th July

Transfer to Central Pacific Coast

Depart from Monteverde and drive west through beautiful mountain scenery and lush tropical vegetation to the breathtaking Central Pacific Coast. Pass plantations, valleys, rivers and rainforests on your way, stopping at a local restaurant en route. Your afternoon will consist of surfing lessons, beach exploration and relaxation.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Fuego del Sol Hotel

Day 5: 31st July

Marino Ballena National Park

Visit Marino Ballena National Park, located on Costa Rica's stunning South Pacific coast in Uvita. Established in 1990 to protect the rich marine biodiversity of the Costa Ballena region, this beautiful park serves as a vital habitat for various marine species, including humpback, false orca, and pilot whales, providing essential breeding and nurturing grounds for their calves. Additionally, the park boasts a distinctive geographic formation where two beaches converge, creating a sandbar shaped like a whale's tail.
In the afternoon, transfer to the Osa Peninsula where you will be introduced to the research stations you will call home for the next week.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Osa Conservation Center

Days 6-10: 1st-5th August

Osa Peninsula

Gain awesome first-hand insight into the running of sea turtle hatcheries as well as morning and night beach patrols. Help rewilding efforts by planting saplings and monitoring tree nurseries. Maintain and grow local farms through animal husbandry, tending to crop fields and maintaining greenhouses. You will also take part in biodiversity monitoring, using indicator species to observe change and learn what to observe and why.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Osa Conservation Center

Day 11: 6th August

San Jose

After 10 days of hiking, zip-lining, surfing, canopy trekking, surveying, monitoring, and discovering all things geography, conservation and sustainability, take a 45-minute domestic flight back to the city. Enjoy breathtaking views of the jungle and beaches, mountains and valleys of the region. Arrive back in San Jose and participate in a teach-meet style CPD session where you will work with your fellow travellers and teachers to plan a comprehensive set of transferable resources so that you and the geography teaching community can benefit from your experience long after the trip.
**Meals:** B, L, D
**Accommodation:** Park Inn Hotel

Day 12: 7th August

Depart

After sifting through all your photos and videos it’s time to say goodbye and head home. Your final private transfer will pick you up after breakfast (departure time pending) and take you back to the airport.
**Meals:** B

What’s included

NOTE:
Personal insurance, visas, vaccinations, personal expenditure, tips for leaders, guides and drivers and any other services not listed above are not included.

Important notes

Once you’ve confirmed your place, you will be sent a kit list specifically for your trip. You will also receive further information about the adventure itself and the daily activities as well as further detail around what you can expect to learn. This includes your pre-departure conservation and sustainability workshops, as well as your impact surveys and reports. If you have any questions about the trip please get in touch.

VACCINATIONS

For this particular trip, please see details below.

Please check with your local GP to find out which vaccinations you require for any adventure that you decide to book. These are a guide; a full consultation is necessary to establish individual risk and suitability of vaccines. There may be instances where more than one appointment is required to assess whether a vaccine can be offered.

Recommended vaccinations:
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis A & B
• Yellow Fever

Vaccinations to be considered:
• Typhoid Fever
• Rabies
• Malaria infected country

Please check with your GP prior to departure.

INSURANCE

Please check if your school/college provides insurance and if not we will require your policy number and details 8 weeks before departure. Flooglebinder has public liability cover of £5million but participants must arrange their own travel insurance for all other levels of cover (e.g. cancellation, curtailment, loss of personal belongings etc.). Please feel free to contact us for any advice or recommendations.

Your safety is our number one priority on all of our educational adventures. All of your finances are protected through Financial Failure Insurance and each programme adheres to British Standards (BS8848). If you have any questions about our safety and security measures, please do get in touch.