Costa Rica Summer 2025

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.

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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 teachers learn?

Teacher will:

• Observe and experience phenomena that inspires curiosity
• Create lessons connected to phenomena
• Develop skills as facilitators that guide student learning through investigations

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?

Our path from arrival in San José to departure in Liberia.

1. La Fortuna

Take in the spectacular view of Arenal Volcano, soak in natural hot springs, relax in a local secret swimming hole.

2. Monteverde

Feel like you are living in a movie as you hike and zip line through a lush cloud forest.

3. Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park

Nature walks through the “Yellowstone of Costa Rica” takes you past steam vents and boiling mud pots.

Detailed itinerary*

*Subject to change.

Optional Pre-Trip Turtle Program

June 18: Turtle Program Day 1

Fly in to San Jose and get picked up from the airport. We’ll settle into the hotel for the night. Meals are on your own today.

June 19: Pre-Excursion Day 2

We’ll visit a butterfly garden in the Caribbean lowlands on the way to the turtle station. Be sure to take in the views as we drive through banana plantations. Then, we’ll take a boat through the canals to the turtle station on the Caribbean coast. End the night with a search for nesting turtles at night and assist with conservation efforts.

June 20: Pre-Excursion Day 3

During the day, we’ll search for rain forest wildlife while on a boat ride through the canals. Then, we get to help biologists with turtle station tasks. A second night of turtle patrols on the beach.

Main-Trip Itinerary

June 21: Trip Day 1
We’ll meet at Juan Santamaria International Airport just outside of 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. There will be an opportunity for grocery shopping to stock up on personal snacks, preferred beverages, etc. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Folks who joined the Pre-Excursion Turtle Program will meet up with the Main Trip travelers in San Jose. Meals are covered for those returning from the Turtle Program.

June 22: Trip Day 2

Following an early morning briefing, we’ll depart to Poas Volcano where we’ll take a short hike to view the crater lake. On our way to La Fortuna, we’ll stop for an adventure filled whitewater rafting trip and lunch. After a busy day, we’ll check in to the hot springs resort hotel to enjoy an evening swim in the pools. We’ll cap of the evening with an informal professional development chat reflecting on the day and classroom connections.

June 23: Trip Day 3

The cocoa plant is one of Costa Rica’s oldest and valuable crops. We’ll start our morning with professional development on the site of a local chocolate farm. Don’t worry, we’ll also be learning how to make chocolate and have lunch while we’re there. There’s time for exploring the town of La Fortuna in the afternoon before returning to the hot springs resort.

June 24: Trip Day 4
Today is all about natural and learning! We’ll take a walk on a volcanic lava bed at a Arenal Volcano National Park. Take in the volcanic formations and tropical transition forest as we walk around. Professional development sessions will be held in small groups at the hotel in the afternoon/evening.

June 25: Trip Day 5

This is a travel day to Monteverde – location of one of three Costa Rican cloud forests. Our private driver will stop at points of interest along the way. The day will end with small group professional development sessions at the hotel.

June 26: Trip Day 6
After a slower paced day, let the adventure flow! We’ll zipline through the cloud forest with stunning views of the canopy. Then, we’ll spend some time hiking in the cloud forest. Back at the hotel, we’ll have a professional development session. At this point, phenomena-driven lessons for your classes will really be coming together!

June 27: Trip Day 7
We’re nearing the end of the trip, but not the end of the fun! Our private driver will transfer us to Rincon de la Vieja National Park area. This area is often called the “Yellowstone of Costa Rica.” We’ll have time to hike trails near the hotel or if you need more of a break, relax by the pools. Loose ends of your lesson plan can be tied up at small group professional development sessions.

June 28: Trip Day 8
Today’s hike takes us past steam vents, boiling mud pots, and waterfalls. We can swim at the base of waterfalls and hike the nearby trails. Be on the lookout for sloths, toucans, monkeys, and kinkajous! Our final evening together wraps up with a whole group professional development session.

June 29: Trip Day 9
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.

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.

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.

Teacher on a Trip partnered with teacher-owned travel company, Science Travel Adventures to bring you an epic Teacher PD Adventure.

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.

Teacher on a Trip and our travel partner Science Travel Adventures, highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover emergency or medical situations.

What’s the cost?

I strive to balance comfortable stays, memorable adventures, mouth-watering cuisine, quality professional development, and affordability. The cost for the Costa Rica summer trip is $3150. The pre-trip Turtle Program is an additional $775.

What is included?

A typical Costa Rican lunch from a soda (local mom & pop restaurant)

• 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
• Tips for guides & drivers
• Adult beverages and soda

Payment Options

A non-refundable down payment of $200 is due at the time of booking. A monthly payment plan is available. Of course, you’re welcome to pay-in-full right from the get go!