Costa Rica Summer 2025

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Who is invited?

Are you an educator? You’re invited! Formal and informal educators, elementary, middle, and high school, pre-service, and retired teachers are all welcome! The trip will lean towards Earth science and biology, but teachers of any subject can create travel-inspired classroom resources. Check out the Benefits of Travel for Teachers.

How can you expand your teaching through travel?

While traveling, teachers will learn strategies to prepare and develop NGSS aligned resources with Costa Rica inspired phenomena. Help students connect to far-away content by creating travel-inspired classroom resources. When you share your experiences, students feed off your excitement. They can develop deeper meaning that connect travel destinations to your content.

Goals of Travel-Inspired Learning

Students will:

• Envision processes and phenomena that occur throughout the world
• Create a connection to the content
• Develop as global citizens who acknowledge and respect different cultures

What will we learn?

When are we going?

June 21-29, 2025

Pre-excursion Turtle Program (June 18-21, 2025)

How do I get there?

You’ll get picked up at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Spoiler alert! It is actually in Alajuela, Costa Rica, just outside of San Jose. You’ll get picked up at the airport and our adventure begins!

At the end of the trip, you’ll fly out of Liberia Airport. We’ll take our private transportation to the airport. Easy peasy.

Note that the arrival airport is a different location than the departure airport.

Would you like help finding the most affordable flight? We’ve got you. Let me know your preferred departure airport(s) and we’ll work our best deal hunting magic.

Where are we going?

La Fortuna

Monteverde

Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park

What is included?

• Transportation in Costa Rica with a private driver
• Phenomena-driven learning professional development (NGSS aligned!)
• Meals (except on arrival and departure day)
• 8 nights accommodation (including a hot springs resort!)
• Adventures! White water rafting, hiking, zip lining, soaking in hot springs, & more!
• Nature Walks @ Poas Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Rincón de la Viejo Volcano National Park
• Chocolate tour & lunch @ local farm
• Transportation from/to airports
• Teacher resource kit (journal, pen, & more!)
• Teacher recognition postcard (sent to your principal)

What is NOT included?

• Flights to/from Costa Rica
• Medical or travel insurance (we have recommendations)
• Passport
• Spending money for travel day meals, souvenirs, & miscellaneous
• Adult beverages and soda
• Luggage (I’ll send you a recommended packing list)

Who is leading this trip?

Your leader will be Alyssa Weisenstein, founder of Teacher on a Trip (that’s me!). My first trip to Costa Rica was in 2017 and I can’t wait to make it back to share some incredible experiences with you. I teach high school science, have a passion for travel, and work to connect travel with NGSS aligned classroom content.

I used to believe that travel was expensive and out of reach, then I learned the arts of travel hacking and budget travel. In the past two years, I visited six countries and numerous states on my teacher’s salary. I’m done keeping these travel secrets to myself and want to share these incredible adventures with other teachers.

Health information

This PD adventure trip includes hiking, white water rafting, and zip lining. Travelers should be moderately fit and have no medical conditions that would preclude you from participating.

Each teacher may be responsible for carrying their lunch, water, and any other necessary items for the day.

Detailed itinerary*

*Subject to change.

Day 1
We’ll meet at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. The airport is actually located in the town of Alajuela, just outside of San Jose. Once we arrive, we’ll settle into our accommodations for the night at Alajuela Backpackers Hostel. There will be an opportunity for grocery shopping to stock up on personal snacks, preferred beverages, etc., to dine at the hostel restaurant, and start your trip with a cocktail if you’d like.

Day 2-3
Following breakfast at the hostel, we’ll take private transportation (with AC and WiFi) to the Tropical Research Field Station. Scientists from universities in San Jose and around the world come to the Field Station to conduct research on Costa Rica ecosystems and biodiversity. You can follow them on Facebook too –> Field Research Station.

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Our super-friendly and knowledgable guide, Gustavo will lead ecology, biodiversity, and animal tours at the Tropical Research Field Station. Teachers will also attend a workshop about creating travel-inspired classroom content. Get excited for evening geology and history of Costa Rica lectures! All accommodations and meals are provided by the Field Station while we’re visiting.

From a past student researcher: “The rarest animal to see in the Research Field Station forest is a human. The native animals are really curious about your presence and come check you out.”

Day 4
We’ll head to La Fortuna after lunch and have time to relax, take in views of Arenal Volcano, and explore the town on your own. We’ll meet back up for dinner.

Day 5 is all about experiencing an adrenaline rush over six miles of white water rafting with tour guides from Costa Rica Descents. The tour includes transportation, towels, experienced guides, authentic organic Costa Rican lunch, and fresh fruit. We’ll get photos of the experience at the end of the day!

Day 6
We’ll slow down the pace, but not the fun. After breakfast, we’ll head out on a coffee and chocolate tour, then eat lunch together at a soda. Dinner is on your own.

Day 7
Our last stop in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio. We’ll take a shuttle and settle at Selina Hostel – Manuel Antonio. Take a bus into town, sit by the pool, or take a nap. We’ll reconvene for dinner at Sancho’s, just down the street from Selina Hostel.

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Day 8
The next morning, we’ll wake-up and enjoy breakfast before heading to Manuel Antonio National Park for a guided tour. Be on the lookout for sloths, toucans, monkeys, and anteaters! We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the beach in the park and take in the beautiful views.

Day 9
Wake-up and eat breakfast, then we’ll enjoy a stand-up paddle tour on a lesser populated beach (NEW for 2021!). We’ll come back for lunch on your own and an afternoon of freedom. Need some time to relax? Go for it. Want to explore the town or lay on the beach? Go for it. The afternoon is all about doing what you want to do.

We’ll reconvene in the evening for a closing workshop and reflection. Then, we’ll enjoy a final celebration dinner together in Costa Rica.

Day 10
On the last day, we’ll pack everything back up, hop in our shuttle, and head back to Alajuela Backpackers Hostel. We’ll end the trip where we started.

Day 11
We’re off to the airport and adios! After all of this adventure, you’ll be sure to enjoy some sleep on the plane ride home.

What’s the cost?

I strive to make these trips affordable and comfortable for teachers. The total cost for the Costa Rica summer trip is $1447.

How is it possible for a trip to be so affordable?

I’m sure you’re thinking, “What’s the catch?” Well, there isn’t one and I promise there will be no sleeping on floors or hitchhiking! 🙂 I spent the last several years learning how to maximize travel experiences without breaking the bank. Now, you get to reap the benefits! I assure you we will not be skimping on the essentials or fun.

Utilizing adventure budget travel strategies offers an affordable way to explore and experience Costa Rica’s culture, cuisine, and ecotourism. True, we will not be staying at luxury resort hotels, instead, we will stay at comfortable Airbnbs and Selina Hostels. Check out this article, Best Hostel Experiences, to read why Selina Hostel – Manuel Antonio is one of my favorite hostels in the world! We’ll also stay at Selina Hostel – La Fortuna.

Just to be clear, we will share accommodations with other teachers in our group. You’ll have your own bed (you choose top or bottom bunk), a bathroom for only our group, access to community bathrooms, and air-conditioned rooms. If you’re unsure about hostel stays, reach out to me! To give you a little encouragement, my mom and I stayed in dorm hostels in Spain and she said she would do it again.

Your hard-earned money will be prioritized toward educational experiences and creating memories that will last a lifetime. I love food, so yes, I assure you that we will eat delicious, but not over-priced, Costa Rican cuisine.

Payment Options

A non-refundable down payment of $500 is due within 24 hours of receiving a trip invoice. I will email you the trip invoice at the time of booking (or as soon as I access my computer).

Of course, you’re welcome to pay-in-full right from the get go!

Any remaining balance is due by March 31, 2021. 

Once you book, I reach out to our partners and secure your accommodations, activities, meals, etc. Therefore, no refunds can be given after March 31, 2021. If a teacher traveler cancels prior to March 31, 2021, any amount paid beyond the non-refundable $500 down payment will be returned.

Teacher on a Trip highly recommends purchasing travel insurance to cover any emergency or medical situations that result in a teacher needing to cancel.

Concerned about travel?

COVID-19 has thrown travel for a loop in 2020. I get that. I understand if you’re hesitant to plan travel. You can rest assured that I have your safety and financial commitment set as high priorities.

Here’s how I’m being proactive:
– Small group size (7 teachers + me)
– Many outdoor activities
– FULL refund in the event that Teacher on a Trip cancels due to COVID-19 (individual cancelations are subject to the standard refund policy)

Teacher Shout Out!

You deserve recognition for bettering yourself as an educator. You’re using part of your summer break to not only have fun adventures, but to expand your teaching through travel. Teacher on a Trip will send a postcard to your administrator letting them know that you took advantage of this fantastic learning opportunity.

Questions? Contact me!

Have a question I haven’t addressed? Please let me know, I’d love to hear from you!