Be An Adventure Camp Counselor In Costa Rica

Everything else you'll want to know.

• Who is this program for? Any age or degree requirements?

  The Adventure Camp is designed for adults of all ages who want a flexible, low-stakes way to live abroad and give back — whether on a summer break, a gap semester, or a career pause. No teaching experience is needed, and the included 60-hour online TEFL/TESOL course prepares you before you go.

• Medical and Mental Health Considerations

  Medical Disqualifiers
  Autism
  Walking with cane
  Legally blind or deaf
  Dyslexia
  Chronic dizziness
  Schizophrenia
  
  Conditions Require Discussion with Xplore before Approval
  HIV
  Bipolar
  Epilepsy
  Depression
  Cancer
  Anxiety
  
  Notes
  If taking any medication for mental health, must have doctor’s note.

• What happens during the orientation week?

  Based at the San Ramón foothill hub, your five-day orientation balances practical teaching workshops with local culture and outdoor adventure. You'll dive into Costa Rican history, visit a coffee plantation, see a traditional sugar-cane demo, take a cooking class, and volunteer at a wildlife rescue center — plus trips to the Arenal Volcano and surfing or paddleboarding at Coco Beach, with weekend free time to explore before camp begins.

• Language and Citizenship Requirements

  Participants should have at least a B2 level of English.
  
  Must be able to arrive on a tourist visa in order to participate in the program.

  General Entry Requirements:

  In accordance with article 42 of the General Immigration Law No. 8764 and article 30 of Immigration Control Regulations (Executive Decree No. 36769-G), foreigners who intend to enter Costa Rica must provide:

  1) Valid passport or travel document. Only machine-readable passports or travel documents will be accepted, in accordance with the guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and with the validity determined by these guidelines.

  2) Visa, when required as established by these guidelines.

  3) Proof of financial solvency, with a minimum of USD 100 (one hundred US dollars) per month or fraction of a month of legal stay in the country.

  4) Roundtrip air ticket or a ticket (air, bus, boat, etc.) for continuation of the trip.

  5) Not having a legal impediment to enter Costa Rica.

  The countries and territories in this group DO NOT require a Visa to enter Costa Rica

   

  • Maximum permanence: Up to 180 calendar days

  Andorra	Ireland	Puerto Rico
  Argentina*	Iceland	Qatar
  Australia*	Israel	Rumania
  Austria	Italy	San Marino
  Bahamas	Japan	Serbia
  Barbados	Latvia	Singapore
  Belgium	Liechtenstein	Slovakia
  Brazil	Lithuania	Slovenia
  Bulgaria	Luxembourg	South Africa
  Canada	Malta	Republic of Korea (South Korea)
  Chile	Mexico	Spain
  Croatia	Monaco	Sweden
  Cyprus	Montenegro	Switzerland
  Czech Republic	The Netherlands	Trinidad and Tobago
  Denmark*	New Zealand*	United Arab Emirates
  Estonia	Norway	United Kingdom
  Finland	Panama	United States of America*
  France*	Paraguay	Uruguay
  Germany	Peru	Vatican City
  Greece	Poland	Ukraine
  Hungary	Portugal

   

• TEFL Certification

  No TEFL certification required.

• Contract Length

  4 weeks.

• Types of Camps

  Camps will be mainly Classroom Camps.
  Classroom camps are the most common type of camp. These are typically held in schools with students of different ages. The schools are generally language schools. Students are taught in their classroom, participating in a single session of English language based around fun, interesting, and educational activities. Counselors may be required to team-teach during the camps, with more than one counselor per classroom.
  
  In addition to Classroom Camps, there may be some camps that are outside and physical activity focused. 

• What will I actually do at the camps?

  You'll help run English-based youth camps built around fun, creative activities — games, art, music, and movement — that give local kids a chance to practice English in an enjoyable setting. You'll travel between hubs to support camps across the country, with plenty of open time in the schedule to explore local history and culture.

• Where will I stay, and how do I get between locations?

  Housing is completely covered and shared with the group throughout the program. You'll put down a refundable deposit, returned at the end provided everything is left in good shape and utility bills are covered. Transport between camp locations is arranged for you, so you won't need to sort out your own long-distance travel. (Accommodation utilities are not included in the fee.)

  Shared rooms in:
  Hostel Sabana: Calle 14 y 15 avenida 7, San Ramón, Alajuela Costa Rica, 700 oeste Hospital Carlos Luis Valverde Vega, San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 20201, Costa Rica. 
  
  During camp days, and travel to other provinces, they will stay in hotels, motels, and well appointed shared rooms (hostels)

• Camp Locations

  Camp locations will be as follows:
  1. San Ramon (Central Valley)
  2. Coco Beach/Sardinal (West Coast)
  3. San Jose region

• Working Hours

  Rolling basis through the week. Each week will look different. Majority of camps happen during the week and will run between 2PM and 8PM to coincide with language schooll schedules. There may also be full day camps too. Typically 3-5 days of actual camp teaching per week with additional prep time and two days off per week consecutively.

   

• Class Size

  Total camp size can range from 20 students to hundreds of students.

• Visa Support

  Tourist Visa

• When should I arrive?

  All programs officially start on a Monday. Plan your flight to arrive the Sunday before your chosen start date so you can catch the group airport pickup and head straight to your accommodation. 2027 intake dates are January 18, May 24, July 12, and October 4.

  Participants will be met at SJO airport by a member of staff and/or driver, and assisted in getting to the course accommodation in San Ramon (Method of transport - Minibus and Taxi - costs covered in your program fee. )
  
  We ask that participants arrive on the Sunday prior to their intake date between 07:00 AM and 15:00 PM.
  
  If participants arrive after the designated pick up times on Sunday, they will need to make their own way to San Ramon. Details on how to get there will be provided. We can arrange this. The price is approx. $50 USD for a private pickup.
  
  Participants arriving before Sunday can opt to meet at the airport at the designated pickup time on Sunday if preferred or make their own way to San Ramon.

• 60-Hour Online TEFL Certificate Included

  Online Thailand Cultural Foundation Course (20 hours) is included before you depart: It is a short course we call Culture Course "Lite" for Thailand. It covers culture, living and working and safety. 
  
  60-Hour Online TESOL Course: Interactive course covering how to create lesson plans, plan activities, etc. This is included before your arrival.
  
  One Week Culture, Language Orientation once you arrive in Thailand: In-class one week culture and language program upon arrival in country, including:
  
  Temple visit and meditation
  Visit to an animal rescue park
  Muay Thai class
  Cooking class
  Market tour 
  Beach welcome dinner
  Classroom sessions on diversity in the local context
  Teacher workshop

• What cultural activities are included?

  The in-country cultural immersion includes a trip to a coffee plantation, a cooking class, volunteering at a wildlife rescue center and conservation park, traditional sugar-cane processing, lectures on Costa Rican culture and history, and Spanish language lessons.

• Dependents and Pets

  It is possible for friends, spouses & partners to come together. Dependents may be able to come but would not be able to join the program so a spouse or friend would need to care for the dependent while the parent is on program. No pets allowed.

• Background Check

  Clean background checks. Minor offences can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

• Ages of students

  Kindergarten to high school (age 4 to 18) May also include adults.