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Gap Year Programs in Costa Rica

Are there any better ways to spend your gap year abroad than living in a place that values having a relaxed and carefree approach to life? *Chirp-chirp* Yep, I thought so. If you value living a great life, the pleasure of being in the tropics, and beautiful sights and sounds, consider this fantastic Central American country for your year abroad. Let’s find gap year Costa Rica programs!
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Seamester

Featured Provider of the Month

students in a road trip
8.867 reviews

MAXIMO NIVEL

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Country Jumper Gap Year - Costa Rica | Guatemala | Peru

In three of the world's most beautiful countries—Costa Rica, Guat...

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Raleigh International - volunteers
9.0423 reviews

Raleigh International

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Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica - Adventure with Purpose

Joining a Raleigh Costa Rica Expedition is a truly unique experie...

Impact Gap Year
103 reviews

Impact Gap Year

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Cultural Explorer Gap Year

Take on an 8-month trip of adventure, community service, and comm...

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Beautiful Mountain in Costa Rica - IGS
103 reviews

Institute for Global Studies

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Costa Rica's Most Popular Internships: 67 Options

Costa Rica is a personal favorite of IGS staff members and a loca...

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Costa Rica
8.859 reviews

EF Education First

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EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter

Spend 12 incredible weeks exploring Tamarindo, Rome, and Tokyo, t...

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Gap Year in Costa Rica - gapforce
8.85 reviews

Gapforce

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Costa Rica Adventure with Gapforce

Adventure and animal lovers rejoice! Alongside its stunning jungl...

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Costa Rica
9.55789 reviews

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 9...

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00 reviews

CIEE High School Grads Abroad

CIEE College First Year Abroad in Monteverde

Your First Year Abroad program in Monteverde lasts 12 weeks and i...

9.6837 reviews

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

GoEco - Top Rated & Award Winning Volunteer Programs Abroad

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with awa...

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9.1926 reviews

Carpe Diem Education

Central America Semester | Carpe Diem Education Gap Year

Venture through Guatemala and Costa Rica, exploring lush tropical...

00 reviews

Kaya Responsible Travel

Environmental & Community Gap Year Adventure, Costa Rica

Spend 7 to 10 weeks in a valley off the beaten path, surrounded b...

9.235 reviews

Rustic Pathways

Costa Rica Surf, Adventure, Service & Turtle Programs

Costa Rica is where adventure, service, cultural immersion, and t...

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00 reviews

Pure Exploration

Expedition Travel | Costa Rica

Get ready for six weeks of non-stop adventure in Costa Rica! This...

00 reviews

ARCC Programs

ARCC Gap: Central America - Belize, Costa Rica, Panama

Venture to some of the world’s most exotic and intriguing regions...

9.2172 reviews

Intern Abroad HQ

Intern Abroad HQ - Affordable Internships From Just 2 weeks!

Are you a student or young professional looking to enhance your c...

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00 reviews

Love Volunteers

Gap Year Adventures with Love Volunteers

Whether you want to support vulnerable communities in developing ...

8.6916 reviews

Volunteer World

Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find ...

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9.6198 reviews

Arcos Learning Abroad

Arcos Learning Abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica

Study abroad in the highlands of central Costa Rica, in the charm...

96 reviews

Seeds of Change Research

Tropical Field Research

During the Seeds of Change Tropical Rainforest Research Program, ...

101 reviews

Intercultura Costa Rica

Spanish Adventure & Leadership Camp for Teenagers

Learn the language. Live the culture. Be the change. Join our sum...

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101 reviews

Academic Programs International

API: Experience San Joaquin de Flores, Costa Rica

San Joaquín de Flores is a charming, colorful, and quaint colonia...

00 reviews

Global Work & Travel

Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise. Experience stunning beac...

8.3321 reviews

Pacific Discovery

Mexico, Costa Rica & Guatemala Gap Semester

Uncover the spirit of Central America on a 10-week journey throug...

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101 reviews

Outward Bound Costa Rica

Outdoor Leader Semester in Costa Rica & Panama

Feed your love for the outdoors or gain the necessary skills to j...

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94 reviews

Oyster Worldwide

Gap Year Travel with Oyster Worldwide

Interested in taking a gap year? Do it with an organization well ...

107 reviews

Manuel Antonio Spanish School

Affordable Spanish Program on the Beach in Costa Rica

This language program includes everything you need to learn, prac...

9.8848 reviews

Tico Lingo - Spanish Immersion School

Adult Spanish Immersion Program

Tico Lingo offers the most comprehensive and expertly designed Sp...

9.8121 reviews

Nosara Spanish Institute

Intensive Spanish Program @ Nosara Spanish Institute

Our intensive Spanish program is offered year-round and is highli...

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101 reviews

Volunteering Journeys

Sea Turtle & Marine Conservation Abroad

Sea turtle and marine conservation volunteer abroad projects are ...

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83 reviews

The Leap

Turtle Conservation & Cloud Forest Exploration

Costa Rica may be small, but this sun-drenched Central American c...

00 reviews

Universidad LCI Veritas

Gap Year Program with Universidad Veritas

Universidad Veritas has partnered with the Supportive Immersion I...

A Guide to Gap Year in Costa Rica

Popular locations

Realistically, you could check out any place in Costa Rica and it would be worth it...but where are the best places to take a gap year abroad?

San Jose. Check out the capital of Costa Rica for modern amenities built upon old spanish colonial foundations. San Jose is hugged with mountains and volcanoes all around and sits near the center of the country, perfect for settling down into a home base for your gap year program in Costa Rica and traveling around to the rest of the pristine lands all around. There are several universities located in the city that can help you solidify your conservational understanding of Spanish.

Monteverde. Escape to Monteverde for your gap year abroad if you want to be caressed by rolling hills of lush tropical forests, clean air, and a chance to escape from the modern world. Monteverde is a portal to all things adventure travel and ecotourism. Though not as cramped as a city, Monteverde still attracts many visitors each year. Find a job working here in sustainability, environmental research, tourism, hospitality, or wildlife conservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular places for gap years in Costa Rica are San Jose, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. However, with so much to do in Costa Rica, you can find a fun and fulfilling gap year experience almost anywhere.

The cheapest time of year in Costa Rica is shoulder season, typically from May-August and November-December. During this time, weather is more rainy and less agreeable. Tourist high season is December-April.

To stay in Costa Rica for one year, you'll need a digital nomad visa. In order to qualify for the visa, you need to prove that you have a stable monthly income of at least $3000 USD/month.

Gap year students in Costa Rica have many activities available to them. You can explore environmental projects, volunteering, scuba diving, Spanish immersion, and much more.

Latest Program Reviews

I grew so much and had the time of my life doing so.

April 28, 2025by: Kate McLain - United StatesProgram: EF Gap Year - The Globetrotter
8

The voyager program was the best possible program that I could’ve taken. Between the people I was surrounded with, the staff, and the cultures I was immersed in, I was able to learn and connect. I have grown so much and I will be so grateful to EF for that. Throughout the journey, I mostly felt supported, especially with having food allergies, however, in Japan, the first tour guide, and myself did not always see eye to eye, therefore I did not feel supported. However, once this situation was remedied, we were given a lovely tour director named Mari. She was kind and cordial with the group and very knowledgeable about the area which made our experience all the more wonderful we learned so much and I am so grateful to EF for having this program. Shout out to my blue group.

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