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Location
  • Costa Rica
Length
15 days
Activities
Animal Viewing Hiking Surfing Swimming

Program Details

Program Tags
Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Language Immersion
Group size
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Guided Solo
Intensity Level
Medium
Transportation
Private Car
Housing
Lodge
Min Capacity
5
Max Capacity
15
Age Max
18
Age Min
14

Pricing

Starting Price
3210
Price Details
Course tuition includes all room and board, technical gear, instruction, and in-country transportation while on course. Airfare to/from Costa Rica, personal equipment, and personal supplies are not covered in tuition costs.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Driver Meals Snacks Water Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Some Equipment Visa
May 08, 2024
Jul 30, 2019
Wish List
1 traveler is looking at this program

About Program

Catch your first wave or hone your surfing skills as you paddle alongside our professional instructors and earn your First Aid and CPR certifications. Enjoy working side-by-side with members of the community while you work on a school project, then relax with a game of soccer with the local children. Spend your nights under the stars, and head out early to catch the morning’s idyllic water, learn how to read waves conditions, maintain equipment, and surf etiquette thanks to the holistic instruction provided by our experienced instructors.

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Video and Photos

Play Video
Two girls holding their surfboards, during sunset headed towards the ocean in Costa Rica.
Boy holds surfboard above his head as he treks through the calm ocean waters
Boy Surfing in the clear waters in Costa Rica

Program Highlights

  • Learn to surf
  • First Aid & CPR Certification
  • Lifeguarding Skills
  • Community Development Projects
  • Tropical Rainforest & Beaches

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 1 review
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  • Staff 5
  • Safety 5
  • Organization 5
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 reviews
Default avatar
Emma
19
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing trip

Jul 30, 2019

I think the camp was really cool, I got to meet new friends and I really enjoyed it. I also got better at surfing and the trip was just a really cool experience. It not only improved my surfing, but also helped me open up more and talk to new people. I think everyone would enjoy a trip like this. I just recommend preparing physically to deal with rough currents in the water while ok surfing, since it can really wear you out, trying to go against the current. All the instructors in the trip were really encouraging and knew what they were doing, which made me feel good. They were also cool to be around. They really helped me out in the water, making me more comfortable with the big waves. They were also responsible, and all of this made me feel comfortable. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Definitely when I went out in the ocean the first day and felt the strong current and saw how big waves could get. I never really had to deal with rough oceans since I always went to different ones. So I had to build up my courage to go out farther on my surfboard. The instructor really helped out, too, and eventually I realized it wasn’t so bad and I wanted to keep going afterwards.
38 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Emma Claire Morgan

Program
Outward Bound Costa Rica: Pacific Surf & Saving Lives
Emma Claire Morgan

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I had already done some surfing before this, and wanted to get better. My parents helped me find the program with Outward Bound and I decided to try it out. I did look at other ones, like the sea turtle adventure in Panama, but decided to go for surfing since I really loved it. I’ll probably try another one next time.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I did not have a program provider, I just found out about it since they work with my school, but they didn’t tell me about this program. My parents and I applied to the program and we did everything ourselves. We looked into all of Outward Bound’s programs on our own, and ended up planning everything out.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would just say to prepare to fight tough currents, meaning being a little more physically prepared, since if the currents are rough (they won’t always be), it can really wear you out and you’ll be too tired to actually surf correctly. Also, one more thing is that, even if it’s not on the packing list, I would take a pillow and blanket, since that isn’t provided.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Everyday we woke up at about 6:00 AM and got ready. Someone was assigned the job of being the cook, and had to make everyone breakfast. After we ate, we got the surfboards and put them in a truck that would take them to the beach for us while we rode the bus. We went surfing for about 3 hours, and hung out on the beach. Then we went back and ate lunch. We would have solo time (writing in your journal), then we would either go to the pool or go back to the beach just to hang out and play.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had gone on other camps before (with my school), but none ever lasted as long as this one. So I was pretty nervous just being away from home for so long. That was my only fear, but I easily overcame it when I met all the people I’d be with during the entire trip. Everyone was cool, and very nice and reassuring. After a few days, I wasn’t nervous anymore.

What’s something you will still remember in a few years about the trip?

I will probably remember the whole trip, but something that I will remember more than the other stuff is how cool all the people I met on there were. I made new friends that I’m still in contact with, and even the instructors were really nice cool to hang it with. Another thing is that we got to go zip lining and do other cool and different activities the last few days before we left.

Location

Location:
Costa Rica
Currency:
Costa Rican Colón
Weather:
Jan-Mar
83 F / 67 F
Apr-Jun
85 F / 69 F
Jul-Sep
85 F / 69 F
Oct-Dec
83 F / 67 F
Airports:
Juan Santamaría International Airport
( SJO )
Limón International Airport
( LIO )
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
( LIR )

A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas. Costa Rica began reversing deforestation in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only renewable energy. Head to the cloud forest, relax on the beautiful beaches, or visit a coffee farm.

About Outward Bound Costa Rica

BE. OUT. THERE. Outward Bound Costa Rica inspires a lifetime of leadership, growth, and a commitment to serve through adventure-based learning. Since 1992, we have honed our approach to experiential education, utilizing Costa Rica and Panama’s tropical reefs, rivers, and rainforests to help participants discover their hidden potential. We offer...

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