Tour Guide Jobs in Costa Rica

Seeking Tour Guides Local to Costa Rica

As an Under30Experiences “Trip Leader,” also known as a “Tour Leader” in the group travel industry, your primary role will be to facilitate unforgettable experiences for our travelers ages 21 to 35. Under30Experiences is seeking amazing personalities and strong leaders to lead our groups.

Jobs in Costa Rica: Why Work With Under30Experiences

You will have the unique opportunity to change people's lives and create community while showing people the beautiful country of Costa Rica. 

Under30Experiences runs adventure tours for people ages 21-35. Our travelers are busy young people, mainly from the United States, looking to escape their fast-paced lives and experience the “pura vida” lifestyle. 

We are seeking tour guides who want to show these travelers the time of their lives in the beautiful country of Costa Rica.

Our tour guides love adventure and get to care for our travelers, many of whom it is their first time outside their home country. Our Trip Leader should be excited to do the following types of activities: 

• Canopy tours and ziplines
• Canyoning
• Whitewater rafting
• Hiking
• Tasting coffee
• Learning about permaculture and organic farming
• Catamaran cruises and snorkeling
• Salsa dancing
• Surfing

While our guides don’t need to be expert surfers or dancers, they should be willing to be vulnerable and try out these activities just like our travelers.

Our trips mainly run from San Jose to La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, with other tours operating on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. While our groups are not history or nature-buffs, it’s essential to have broad knowledge about the history, flora, and fauna of Costa Rica. You’ll get plenty of questions about the monkeys and sloths in these regions!

Most of our travelers are native English speakers, so fluency in English and Spanish is a must for our guides! 

One of the best parts about guiding in Costa Rica is the shared experiences you will have with our travelers. You are a representative of the beautiful country of Costa Rica, and you will certainly be one of the most memorable parts of the trip. We are looking for the best people possible to represent this amazing country and make friends with whom you may stay in touch for a lifetime.

Job Description Overview and Responsibilities of Tour Guides in Costa Rica

• Act as the day-to-day leader of groups of up to 16 travelers while delivering exceptional customer service and high levels of energy
• Ensure traveler satisfaction by professionally handling all questions and concerns
• Follow the established itinerary as closely as possible
• Make reservations and confirmations as required by your Regional Manager
• Track daily expenses
• Assist and accompany travelers throughout the established itinerary
• Foster a sense of community within the trips and embrace the Under30Experiences culture

Must-Have Skills for Tour Guides in Costa Rica

• 3+ years of experience guiding tours in Costa Rica
• A passion for adventure travel
• Natural leadership qualities and exceptional communication skills
• A resourceful mindset that seeks solutions and can stay calm under pressure
• Experience hiking, whitewater rafting, canopy tours, and the ability to swim
• Local knowledge of San Jose, Quepos/Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna/Arenal, Monteverde, Limon/Puerto Viejo
• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Valid CPR, AED, and First Aid Certification (Under30Experiences can reimburse you for recertifications)
• In-depth knowledge of local “Tico” culture
• Ability to speak in public and manage the expectations of our groups of up to 16 travelers
• A genuine interest in connecting and making friends with travelers hailing from the United States, ages 21-to-35.
• Empathy for colleagues and travelers
• The desire to be away from home for five to nine days at a time

Costa Rica Tour Guide “Nice to Haves”

• ICT certification 
• Photography, videography, or social media skills
• Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid Training
• A network of local contacts in the areas we travel
• Previous travel experience outside of Costa Rica

Where You Will Travel as a Tour Guide in Costa Rica

See U30X’s Costa Rica itineraries:

• Under30Experiences’ five-day trip to Quepos and Manuel Antonio
• Under30Experiences nine-day trip to La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio
• Under30Experiences’ whitewater rafting trip to Puerto Viejo

Immediate Job Openings for Costa Rica Tour Guides

Under30Experiences is currently accepting applications for Trip Leaders with professional guiding experience in Costa Rica from November 2024 to May 2025.