Once you have been met and picked up from the airport, you will be taken to your accommodation to settle in. On your first full day, your co-ordinators will guide you through the language school and help to answer any questions you may have in your orientation. Your orientation will cover:
Local culture - social norms, traditions and cultureExpected behaviour - safety whilst on the surfing programme (more details will be given upon arrival at the surfing camp)Safety - areas and places to avoid, what to do in an emergency
Locations of important amenities - banks, hospitals, embassies Accommodation and Meals
During your stay in San Jose, you will be accommodated with a local host family. At the home-stay, you will have a private room, with access to the shared bathroom and kitchen etc. Although the houses are relatively comfortable and the families are from the local middle-class, please be aware that living conditions can be lower than the UK and Costa Rica is a developing country.
All meals each day are included (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and are provided by the host family. They will be made in the local style, with local ingredients. If you have any special dietary needs, these can be catered for.
During your surfing programme in Playa Tamarindo, you will stay in hotel accommodation, about five minutes from the surf school. Your room will be private, with air conditioning and an adjoining shower room / bathroom. You have access to a number of other facilities at the accommodation, including the Internet cafe, swimming pool, supermarket and restaurant.
Breakfast is included, but lunch and an evening meal are not included during this part of the programme. Food can be purchased at the accommodation restaurant or bought in the supermarket/restaurants nearby. You should budget about £10 a day for basic meals.
Free Time
San Jose
San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is situated in the middle of the country making it a convenient location for travelling in Costa Rica. In San José you will find buses that will take you directly to the Atlantic coast, the Pacific coast, the Arenal volcano, Monteverde cloud forest and many other destinations. Additionally, San José has many social and cultural activities all year-round, including music festivals, concerts at the national theatre, dance clubs and all types of restaurants.
The language school is located in a quiet, secure neighbourhood, close to the well-known San Pedro Mall and a variety of restaurants, cinemas, banks and Internet cafes.
Playa Tamarindo
Besides surfing, Tamarindo has so much to offer, from beautiful secluded beaches to lush rainforests. Whether you want to kick back and relax or use your weekends to explore, there are many activities you can join:
- Scuba diving
- Canopy tours, and hiking to local waterfalls
- Snorkeling, sailing and sea kayaking
- Horseback riding and more
Project Support
During your programme, you will have the support and guidance of our local coordinators. They will provide you with competent field support and assistance, and help you with any questions or support you may need during your stay.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.
Project Requirements
Participants must be able to swim in the sea and to tread water for a minimum of 10 minutes.
