Playa Conchal is widely considered to be Costa Rica’s most beautiful beach. Situated on the Northwest Pacific coast in a stunning protected bay, this spectacular kilometre-long beach fronts warm turquoise waters and offers magnificent views of the coastline. Its name, which literally means “Shell Beach,” refers to the millions of softened tiny crushed sea shells that construct the beach. This is a cherished national treasure which has been declared a Natural Reserve by the Costa Rican government, making the shells illegal to remove.

We will leave the Villas early for a brief journey through charming hamlets and coastal towns before arriving at Playa Conchal by 10 am. We will settle onto the pristine beach, laying our towels on the unique grounds.

Once settled, the action will start! Included in the excursion is BANANA BOATING! Climb onto the three-person yellow raft and get pulled at breath-taking speeds over the crystal-clear waters! Try to hang on!

A delicious (included) lunch in an airy, beach-front restaurant will follow our banana boating fun. After lunch we head back to the waterfront for horseback riding! Atop the Costa Rican caballos, we will get a unique view of our surroundings, trotting along the sand.

Relaxation, sun, banana boats and horseback riding—a perfect day at the beach!

Price: $135.00 CAD

Gain a new perspective of the world on this afternoon excursion by viewing Costa Rica’s lush landscape from treetop platforms. Joined by tropical birds and moneys, students will glide along ziplines with fellow students, teachers, supervisors and safety guides.

Enjoy this safe and fun experience that will have you reaching new heights on the trip.

Price: $110.00 CAD

Try your hand at this incredible cuisine! We will spend the afternoon making casado—the most traditional Costa Rican dish, which incorporates meat or chicken, rice, beans, vegetables and tasty fried plantains. We will start from the very beginning, learning the proper way to soak the beans before cooking, and see the dish to its completion! Once finished, we will enjoy the fruits of our labour. This is certainly a skill to take home!

Price: $25.00 CAD

This half day excursion will introduce students to a wide range of the underwater and reef life, much of which can be seen from the water’s surface. Water clarity often exceeds 75 feet at this time of year. Well preserved corals and vast quantities of fish of every shape, size and colour make this trip both memorable and instructive.

We will depart Playas del Coco by boat, motoring through the pristine waters. Once far from the main beach, our guide will lead us into the water, reviewing basic snorkelling techniques and ushering our attention to the diverse life forms of the water.

Equipment is included.

Price: $85.00 CAD

This half-day adventure is for the non-certified diver who wants to experience underwater life first hand. A highly trained instructor will teach students the basics of scuba diving in a swimming pool and then take them on a shallow one-tank dive in the ocean.

Equipment included.

Price: $250.00 CAD

Enjoy a different side of beautiful Costa Rica! This excursion will take us over bumpy dirt roads and down a windy footpath to a breathtaking, little-known waterfall. Wade through the shallow fresh water pools, venture under the falls into an intense spray, or dive deep beneath the glassy water’s surface. We will split our time between the shady beach and the clear, cool water until lunch time. A picnic feast awaits! Everything tastes better in a beautiful setting—and you can’t get more beautiful than this!

Price: $85.00 CAD

Join us for a ride down the Corobici River! The Class III rapids will take our breath away, while the natural beauty of the surroundings engulfs us. With chattering birds overhead, we will learn about another Costa Rican eco-system while having a blast!

Experienced guides will lead us over the rapids, ensuring our safety and enjoyment. When the river is calm, our guides will direct our attention to the diversity of life surrounding the river. Then, look out! Another rapid is just a few meters downstream and the action is unstoppable!

Equipment is included.

Price: $125.00 CAD

While staying at Playas del Coco, you will have an exciting and rewarding opportunity to volunteer at the orphanage in Liberia. The children, ages 2 through 13, are excited to play games, draw and colour, and practice their English with you! We will distribute snacks, sing songs and bust open the pin~~ata with the kids. A fun, rewarding time will be had by all!

About 8 hours of work can be completed and these hours are fully accredited towards your community service requirements in Ontario.

More significantly, this experience affords an opportunity to interact closely with local students while seeing their learning environment firsthand; it is truly a rewarding and memorable experience for both groups.

– Earn one to two volunteer hours before your trip! –

Donations for orphanages and schools would greatly benefit the children of the nearby towns of Santa Cruz, Liberia, Coco and Sardinal. Items that are needed include new and used baby/kids clothes and toys as well as school supplies such as paper, pens, backpacks, binders and pencils. These donations will be gathered and donated towards the end of the trip. Collect these from your friends and family and bring them to donate during your trip. You may earn up to a maximum of two hours.

Price: $95.00 CAD