LOGISTICAL AND PLANNING INFO

FLIGHT
The most common way to travel to Costa Rica is through San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
You must have a return ticket when entering Costa Rica. Airlines or immigration officials may request to see it.

Visas are not required for students from North America or Europe. If you're traveling from Asia or Africa, you may need a visa to transit through the U.S. or Europe. To check Costa Rican visa requirements, visit: www.migracion.go.cr

VACCINES
There are no specific vaccines required to enter Costa Rica. However, staying up to date with your Tetanus vaccine (every 10 years) is recommended for general safety.

ARRIVE
We recommend arriving in Costa Rica the day before check-in and staying overnight in either San José (near the airport) or Puerto Viejo (closer to the farm). This allows time for travel from the airport to the Caribbean coast.

Check-in is on Sunday at 2:00 pm, followed by orientation and dinner. The course officially begins Monday at 8:00 am.
Coursework ends the second Saturday, with check-out on Sunday at 11:00 am, after breakfast.

  • If staying in San José: Take a morning shuttle or public bus to Puerto Viejo on check-in day.

  • If staying in Puerto Viejo: Take a 15–20 minute taxi ride to the farm on Sunday afternoon.

Recommended accommodations are listed below.

GETTING TO PUERTO VIEJO AFTER LANDING IN SAN JOSÉ
From Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), you have four main options to reach Puerto Viejo:

1. Shuttle Bus Services

Picks up from downtown San José hotels or Denny’s near the airport

  • Drops off at your Puerto Viejo hotel, or if you are coming directly to the farm, you can be asked to be dropped off in the center of town at Hotel Maritza – Puerto Viejo, across from the taxi station. There, 4WD taxis are available to reach the farm.

Caribe Shuttle

  • San Jose to Puerto Viejo: 5:30 am & 2:00 pm – $60

  • Puerto Viejo to San Jose: 6:00 am or 12:30 pm – $60

  • Duration: ~5 hours

Interbus Online

  • San José → Puerto Viejo: 2:30 pm – $57

  • Puerto Viejo → San José: 6:00 am & 1:30 pm – $57

2. Public Bus (MEPE)
Cost: ~$10. Departs from Terminal de Buses Puerto Viejo Talamanca • Mepe, Barrio Mexico, San José. Arrive 30+ minutes early. Confirm your destination is Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Schedule:

  • San José → Puerto Viejo: 6:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm*, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm

  • Puerto Viejo → San José: 7:30 am*, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 4:00 pm
    *Some buses pass the Olé Caribe intersection (~3 km from the farm).

3. Rental Car
Recommended only for confident drivers. Roads can be rough and poorly marked. A 4WD is required for final access to the farm. Alamo and Adobe have offices in Puerto Viejo.

4. Private Taxi
From SJO to the farm: $150–$300. Must be negotiated at the airport.

RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS

San José

Puerto Viejo

More Info: Puerto Viejo Satellite Travel Guide

DIRECTIONS TO FINCA TIERRA FROM PUERTO VIEJO

Google Maps

https://maps.app.goo.gl/X7MpCTZGuTWC229s5
Playa Cócles, Calle Olé Caribe, 2.8 km adentro siempre a la izquierda, Finca Tierra

We recommend taking a taxi from downtown Puerto Viejo to the farm (15–20 minutes).

This road is walkable (~30 minutes) or bikeable (~15–20 minutes) from the beach.

We send updated taxi recommendations two weeks before each course.

Note:

  • The final 300 meters require 4WD.

  • If driving a 2WD vehicle, park at the upper lot just before the long descent, and walk the rest.

ON-SITE CONDITIONS

WEATHER
We are in a humid tropical forest. Expect heat, rain, and mud.

  • Typical temperatures: 24°C (75°F) at night to 30°C (85°F) during the day

  • Mold can grow quickly in damp conditions – avoid bringing difficult-to-clean materials like leather.

WHAT TO BRING

  • Rubber boots (or request a pair – $20 – at least 3 weeks before arrival)

  • Flashlight or headlamp

  • Tall socks (calf-high or higher)

  • Lightweight work clothes (pants and shirts)

  • Sandals & bathing suit

  • Sunscreen & bug repellent

  • Umbrella or raincoat

  • Gardening gloves

  • Beach towel (we provide shower towels)

  • Notebook & pen

  • Personal medical supplies

Optional: water bottle, musical instrument, portable speaker

INTERNET & POWER

  • We have high-speed internet on the farm (download: 69 Mbps / upload: 12 Mbps). If you want mobile service while in the country, consider a SIM card or eSIM. See this guide: Costa Rica Vibes – Cell Phone Info

  • Electricity and Wi-Fi are available in the common area.

  • Power comes from solar energy – recharge devices between 9 am and 3 pm only.

  • At night or on cloudy days, power is limited.

LAUNDRY & TRANSPORTATION

The farm provides fresh towels and sheets during your stay. A typical hand washing station is available for washing and drying clothes if you have a few items that need to be washed during the week. We recommended the local wash and dry services available on the weekend in the local town.

Jungle laundry in Playa Chiquita can arrange pick up and drop off of washed, dried, and folded laundry.

The farm is located about a mile and a half from the beach and public transport. Taxis cost about $12 to Puerto Viejo center. Typically students prefer to walk to the beach and share a taxi to town.

REFUND POLICY

  • Final payment is due 2 weeks before the course.

  • Tuition is refundable up to 30 days before the course.

  • $400 deposit is non-refundable.

  • If Finca Tierra cancels for any reason, you will receive a full refund. Other refunds may take 7–30 days.

  • We are not responsible for travel reimbursement. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance.

  • Participants may be asked to leave if they are disruptive to the course.

UNIVERSITY CREDIT & GRANTS

We have had quite a few students who received grants from universities, Many of which cover our course fees but not airfare. You should meet with a professor, academic advisor, study abroad office or the department chair and explain what you what to do and check to what grants you can apply.

Here is some info a past student wrote about her grant experience to share with future students.

"I received a grant to do a PDC through applying to one of the many grants that my university offers to undergraduates for experiential learning opportunities. I searched through my university's website, chose the grant that fit my project the best, and applied in the spring semester hoping to do the course in the summer. In the application, I wrote a proposal of what I intended to use the money for and needed a letter of recommendation from a professor supporting my proposal. An essential part of my application was emphasizing how the PDC applies to my educational and professional goals, and how I could bring back what I learned to the greater student and local community. "

Academic credit depends on your school and program. Some students receive up to 4 credit hours, depending on their program. This could be internship credit, independent study credit or study abroad credit. To start, meet with a professor or academic advisor to see what options are available to you in your field of study. We are happy to provide a program syllabus to present or answer any questions.

We’re excited to welcome you to Finca Tierra!