Costa Rica Jungle Trek

Jungle meals may be a combination of simple campfire food and dehydrated meals which are nutritious and lightweight.

At the indigenous village you will enjoy wonderful home cooked cuisine which is a combination of locally grown vegetables and foraged plants. 

At the celebratory dinner you can expect more typical western style meals with a hint of Costa Rican and Caribbean flair.

We are able to cater for many dietary requirements, just let us know in advance.    

In Alajuela you will be in a comfortable hotel, in a twin shared room with a private bathroom. 

In the Bribri village you can expect twin or quad shared rooms in cabins with shared bathrooms. 

Whilst in the jungle you will be wild camping underneath a tarp in a hammock with an integrated mosquito net (provided).

After your jungle adventure you can enjoy the luxury of a boutique beach hotel, where you will be in a twin shared room with a private bathroom.

Throughout the expedition, you will learn essential wilderness skills like machete and knife use, shelter building, plant identification, and fire craft. You’ll also gain knowledge about rainforest ecology and any wildlife we are lucky enough to see. Our skilled local guide has an extraordinary skill for spotting wildlife, revealing the jungle’s secrets day and night.

Expect to work as part of the team, performing camp chores like collecting firewood and carrying all your kit into the jungle. Trekking in hot and humid conditions over uneven terrain with a bag weighing between 15-20 kg means you will need a reasonable fitness level before you embark on your journey. You need stamina, some good all-round fitness and most importantly a positive attitude to challenges. 

One of our main objectives is to replace the commonplace fear of the jungle with a sense of awe and respect. That being said, it is important to have an understanding of the potential hazards of any expedition before you embark on it so please do read the risk awareness page. 

Your expedition will be led by an experienced expedition leader and local guide with strategies in place to deal with any incidents that may occur.

You will need to fly into Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica. This is in the district of Alajuela, near San Jose.  

From there you will be able to take one of the dedicated airport shuttles provided by the hotel.

*Depending on your return flight time you may need to book a night’s accommodation in Alajuela at the end of the trip (not included). We would recommend this approach as delays have been known on the mountain road from the coast.*

Transport between Alajuela and the Caribbean coast will be in a private minibus.  The journey into the village is by motorised dugout canoe and will give you your first views of the rainforest. Travelling along the river is a great opportunity to see the different layers that make up the jungle and is also paradise for bird watching. 

All the details you should need to prepare for your adventure are below but if you need help, then email us at [email protected]

We will provide you with a hammock and tarp, plus there will be machetes and saws available for your use in the jungle.

You will need to pack all items (except your arrival/departure dinner clothes) into your rucksack and carry it into the jungle along with a share of the food and group kit to make camp.  You should allow extra capacity in your bag for the group kit.

The total weight is likely to be 15-20kg depending on your strength and size.

Essentials

• Passport and a paper photocopy
• Rucksack – make sure your bag has sufficient capacity to carry your personal kit in plus your share of the group kit and food. The best expedition packs will have a waist strap and an adjustable back section to fit it to your height. Try it on in the shop with weight in it to be sure it fits well and is comfortable. 65-85 litre capacity should be ideal depending on your size. A bag smaller than 65 litres will not be sufficient. 
• Dry bags – you can use one large waterproof rucksack liner or several smaller dry bags to protect your kit from getting wet. 
• Boots – boots that are suitable for hiking in the jungle will have good grip for muddy and rocky terrain, they are usually leather and canvas with higher ankle coverage than most hiking boots, they will not be waterproof.  They may have drainage holes to let out excess water as you walk. Specific jungle boots are available, or military all-terrain boots can be used. The key is that they are not waterproof or Goretex boots as these will hold water in.
• Bushcraft knife – a simple fixed blade that feels comfortable in your hand and has a sturdy sheath. Wooden handles can swell in the humidity and leather can go mouldy. Mora makes very cost-effective knives with plastic sheaths and rubberised handles.
• Head torch – a red light function can be useful to protect your night vision (and it attracts less bugs!)
• Camping bowl/mess tin, spoon and fork, camping mug – if you anticipate wanting to do a solo night you will need a mess tin or similar that can be used to cook over a fire. Flat plates are not suitable for the nature of most meals due to the liquid content.
• Light sleeping bag or blanket – jungle nights can be cooler than you would expect. Synthetic filler is preferable to down due to the humidity.
• Travel towel – travel towels pack down smaller and dry faster than standard ones. 
• Sun protection – you are unlikely to need much of this in the jungle but bring a small bottle for use on the boat trip in, and of course at the beach! A high factor water repellent one would be ideal. 
• Sun hat – a wide brim or baseball cap to keep the rays off your face. 
• Sunglasses – with adequate UV protection.
• Swimwear – bikini or trunks, to wear for washing and playing in the jungle river, and for at the beach.
• 2 quick dry tops – long or short sleeves, lightweight, synthetic. You can wear a shirt or thin wicking sports top. We suggest a “wet kit/dry kit” system in the jungle.  This means you wear one top and trousers during the day which will get wet and muddy. You then change into a dry set in the evening and wash your dirty kit. You then put the wet kit back on the next day. Any questions, just ask us to explain. 
• 2 pairs of light/quick dry trousers – lightweight, synthetic – as above, one for “wet kit”, one for “dry kit”. 
• 4 pairs of underwear – synthetic, quick dry to wick moisture away from the skin. Sports bras will be more comfortable and quicker drying than bras with wires or padding in them. 
• 6 pairs of socks – avoid thick walking socks as they will stay wet. If your boots rub it is best to layer two thin pairs to reduce friction, and they will dry faster. Polyester socks are available and dry faster than most other fabrics.
• Water bottles – 2 x 1 litre bottles. We do not use any single-use plastic bottles on our trips so please bring two bottles that you can fill and re-use. 
• Water purification – once in the jungle we will be refilling from rivers. You will want to treat this water to make it safe before drinking it. There are various products available for this with different price tags and levels of convenience. Chemical methods such as Chlorine Dioxide tablets are simple to use and relatively inexpensive. Alternatively, many water purifier bottles and devices are available. These can be more expensive. If you opt for one of these, please ensure it is a purifier not just a filter to ensure it removes all contaminants. 
• Wash kit – once at camp we will be washing in jungle rivers. All washing products need to be biodegradable to protect the aquatic life and ecosystem.  You will need to wash your clothes in the river too. 
• Foot care – antifungal foot powder will be part of your nightly foot care routine to keep your feet healthy in the jungle. 
• Medication – remember to bring adequate amounts of any medication you would usually take. 
• Period products – most options will be suitable, though it will be hard to dry period pants in the jungle. 
• Insect repellent – there are various options on the market. If you choose to use DEET there is little benefit in using anything above 30%. Remember that DEET can melt plastic so store it safely away from any items that may get damaged. Natural alternatives are very effective and can be kinder to your skin and the environment. We recommend Incognito or Trek Natural.
• Sandals/flipflops/comfortable shoes – for walking around Yorkin Village and your arrival and departure days. 
• Clothes for your arrival day, final dinner and travel days. These can be casual clothes, but feel free to dress up! 
• Travel adapter to charge electronics – Costa Rica uses type A – 2 flat parallel pins.

Optional

• Book/Kindle
• Camera/Go Pro/Drone
• Power bank
• Waterproof jacket or poncho
• Eye mask/earplugs
• Treats/travel games
• Light fleece or hoodie 

Pack light. Many people bring way more items than they use. You will be packing and carrying your personal kit, food and some group kit into the jungle so remember that every kilogram counts. Embrace the experience of living with less and go minimal.

The humidity can be hard on electronics. All electronic equipment such as your camera should be kept in dry bags or Tupperware boxes ideally with silica gel packets. 

You can safely store any valuables and clean clothes to collect after the expedition.

Travel insurance
Adequate personal travel insurance is compulsory to join this expedition. This should have sufficient cover for an air medical evacuation should it be required. It is also advisable to have standard cancellation cover in your insurance in case for any reason you are not able to attend the trip. Please ensure your policy covers you for all activities listed in the itinerary.
Passport/visas
Please ensure you have at least 6 months left on your passport or you may be denied entry into Costa Rica. Please check the visa requirements for your nationality entering Costa Rica and ensure you apply for any required visas in good time.
Immunisations
For vaccination advice, please consult your own doctor or a travel clinic. The NHS website ‘fit for travel’ gives up to date advice on vaccination requirements. Please ensure you allow adequate time to get any vaccinations required for your travel.

This is a primary consideration when it comes to how we run our expeditions. We have strict guidelines on the use of natural resources (such as for shelter building, camp construction, foraging, firewood collection) to minimise impact on the areas of rainforest we visit. We do not cut down live trees and teach sustainable harvesting of leaves and materials that are needed specific to each plant type and in line with the indigenous practices of the area.

We do not engage in any hunting or animal trapping and carry in the food that we need. Following a leave no trace policy we then ensure to cover all fire scars and renature camp areas before departing.

Group sizes are capped at small numbers to reduce footfall and soil erosion. Camps are rotated to minimise impact on certain areas.

No single use plastic water bottles will be issued on the trip. All participants are to bring their own reusable bottles.

Local Community

Staying at the indigenous village and taking a tour of the project supports their objectives of sustainable development of the community’s economy; conservation of their culture and cultural interchange; and protection of the richness of the natural environment. 

We employ indigenous local guides during the trip and pay an agreed fair rate competitive with a UK based leader.

We also make use of local transport, including mini bus drivers and motorised dug out canoes employed from the village. 

You will spend two nights in a Bribri indigenous village in the jungle. Chocolate is an integral part of Bribri culture and your knowledgeable local guide will lead you on a journey through the entire cacao-making process, from seeing pods on the trees to roasting and grinding the beans tasting everything along the way. Around the crackling campfire, your guide will captivate you with his rich heritage and stories passed down through generations that offer a deeper understanding of your new jungle home.

You will be accompanied by an experienced expedition leader and a local indigenous guide. They will be on hand to ensure your safety and enjoyment of the adventure. Read more about our Team here.

We welcome anyone curious about the jungle, regardless of identity. Whether you’re an individual explorer or part of a group, there’s space for you around the fire. You’ll share your expedition with others who have a passion for adventure and wild spaces. To maintain an inclusive and engaging experience, our group sizes are capped at 10. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Still got questions? Head over to our FAQ page