School trips to San José

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School trips to San José offer students the opportunity to explore one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, Costa Rica!

School trips to San José are most popular among geography groups, but whatever your reason for choosing to visit the Costa Rican capital, we’ll work closely with you to design an itinerary that is tailor made to suit your specific requirements and learning objectives.

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Why choose Halsbury?

We build your trip around you

Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.

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We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.

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Our Education specialists

Laura Lucas

Tour Consultant

Paul Hudson

Tour Consultant

Laura Martin

Language Sales & Product Manager

Emma Gray da Silva

Tour Consultant

Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.

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Why visit San José?

Cultural centre of Costa Rica

San José, the country’s capital and one of the safest cities in Latin America, is the perfect base for your school trip to Costa Rica!

In the Central Valley, staying in San José means you’ll be within easy reach of all the sights you’ll want to see and all the activities you’ll want to enjoy on a school trip to Costa Rica, such as hiking the lava trails of Mount Arenal, and seeing some of the country’s incredible flora and fauna in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or at Caño Negro Wildlife Park.

You’ll also have the opportunity to soak up some of the vibrant Costa Rican culture during your school trip to San José, leaving your students with an unforgettable experience of Central America!

You’ll be welcomed by the friendly Ticos who will introduce you to the concept of Pura Vida – a typically Costa Rican philosophy of a simple, stress-free and positive approach to life.

Explore Costa Rica’s biodiversity

One of Costa Rica’s biggest draws for visitors is its biodiversity, and San José is the perfect base from which to explore this.

The country has a well-established network of national parks and other protected areas which cover more than a fifth of the country’s area. Proportionally, more of Costa Rica’s territory is protected habitat than any other country in the world.

And that protection means that the diverse flora and fauna can flourish here. In fact, although Costa Rica covers just 0.03% of the world’s landmass, it is home to around 5% of its biodiversity.

On your school trip to San José, your students will love the opportunity to visit some of these protected habitats, from the ethereal Monteverde Cloud Forest to the wetlands of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, where you should keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, birds and reptiles.

Pioneer of ecotourism

Geography school trips to San José provide students with the opportunity to explore volcanoes, lagoons and even a cloud forest. They also offer the opportunity for students to learn more about ecotourism and sustainability.

That’s because Costa Rica is a real pioneer of ecotourism and has been since the 1990s. As you explore this spectacular country, your students will find out more about the many initiatives designed to counteract the negative impact of mass tourism. For example, the famous Bandera Azul initiative monitors the environmental quality of coastal areas and helps the local community to work against pollution

And at La Casona, you’ll visit a rural area where your group explore the agriculture and will be treated to an artistic performance by pupils from a local rural school. For your students, this offers a great insight into the local culture and, in turn, your visit will help to fund the continuing education of those children.

FAQs

How long should we spend in San Jose on a school trip?

To really make the most of everything that San Jose and Costa Rica as a whole have to offer, we would recommend looking to spend 9 days here on your school trip.

What's the best time to visit San Jose on a school trip?

There really is no bad time to visit San Jose, as this really is a fantastic year-round destination.

What's the best way to get around San Jose?

San Jose itself is easy to get around on foot and the bus system is great if you do need public transport. However, as you will most likely be visiting other destinations in Costa Rica during your school trip, you will need to use a coach. Of course, we'll provide you with a comfortable coach to use throughout your school trip.

Which visits are a must on a school trip to San Jose?

On your school trip to San Jose, you mustn't miss the opportunity to hike the Arenal Volcano trails, relax in the Baldi Hot Springs and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest, for a real taste of Costa Rica!

Are there any free things to do in San Jose?

Yes, there are a number of free things to do in San Jose. For example, the city has a number of lovely green parks in which to relax, such as the Parque Nacional and the Parque Espana.

Can I arrange a cross-curricular school trip to San Jose?

Yes, you can. Although most of our groups travel to San Jose, there are also some exciting opportunities here for Spanish groups.

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