Protection team training on a Personal Security Detail exercise in Costa Rica

European Security Academy

ESA PSD Training Programme Costa Rica 2027

Personal Security Detail (PSD)

Date

January 26–30, 2027

Location

San José, Costa Rica

Language

Spanish

Format

5 training days

Structure

1 programme · ESA PSD Certification

Package

6 hotel nights included

Capacity

Maximum 15 participants

Package from

USD 2,700 + IVA/IVI

Included experience

Hotel, training, meals, range access, materials and certification

Admission first

Payment instructions are issued only to approved applicants

Airfare

Not included

01International authority

European Security Academy, a European reference in tactical training

European Security Academy (ESA) provides professional security and protection training for participants from multiple countries and operational backgrounds.

This edition is delivered in Costa Rica through ESA Spain instruction, with professional local coordination. Survival Skills and TACT act as local organizers and coordinators.

European Security Academy
02Programme structure

Five training days for personal protection and PSD operations

An integrated five-day Personal Security Detail, PSD programme, with a Carbine Skills Alignment block on Day 1. Training integrates principal protection, teamwork, risk assessment, vehicle procedures, operational communication, incident response, range work and practical assessment.

Day 1 — Carbine Skills Alignment

Integrated technical alignment on Day 1, focused on safe handling, weapon control, basic manipulations and range readiness before progressing into applied PSD training.

Days 1 to 5 — Personal Security Detail, PSD

Five-day intensive programme covering team roles, protective formations, principal protection, situational awareness, threat assessment, searches of people, places and vehicles, vehicle procedures, embus/debus, communication, protocol, emergency skills, range work and practical assessment.

See full programme
03Complete experience

Arrive in Costa Rica. Focus on training. We handle the rest.

Local coordination resolves the logistics so every training day is spent entirely on training.

Included

  • 6 hotel nights
  • Hotel breakfast
  • Meals on training days
  • Local programme coordination
  • Operational facilities
  • Range access
  • Course materials
  • ESA PSD Training Programme and ESA PSD Certification
  • Admission and profile review
  • Airport arrival and departure coordination within official programme windows

Not included

  • Airfare
  • Personal expenses
  • International bank transfer fees
  • Optional additional accreditations unless expressly included
  • Personal equipment not specified as included
  • Optional City & Guilds accreditation, available at additional cost if requested and confirmed.
04Training destination

Costa Rica: international access, stability and a recovery environment

San José combines international connections, institutional stability and a local operation able to sustain a demanding programme.

The natural environment and January climate support recovery between intense working days.

Paisaje volcánico y selva tropical en Costa Rica
05Arrival and local logistics

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)

Airport arrival and departure coordination is provided within official programme windows. Arrivals or departures outside official windows may require separate coordination or additional cost.

Final timing and transfer details are confirmed to admitted participants before travel.

Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría al anochecer
06Accommodation

Hotel Bougainvillea

The programme package includes 6 hotel nights, with check-in on January 25, 2027 and check-out on January 31, 2027, under the rooming and accommodation conditions established by the organizers. Personal expenses, incidentals, room upgrades, additional guests and damages are not included unless expressly confirmed.

Breakfast included, extensive gardens and an on-site restaurant, in a calm environment consistent with training logistics.

Visit Hotel Bougainvillea
Jardines del Hotel Bougainvillea en San José
07Lead instructor

David Viver

David Viver, ESA instructor for the Costa Rica 2027 programme

Police Officer | Tactical & Firearms Instructor | European Security Academy Instructor

David Viver is a police professional and tactical instructor with more than two decades of experience in operational, military and specialized training environments. His background combines service in military and police intervention units, more than 15 years in operational response, and extensive instructional experience in firearms, police techniques, CQB, VCQB, close protection, PSD and tactical casualty care.

As a European Security Academy instructor since 2021, his teaching approach is built around transferring real-world operational judgment into training: safety, discipline, decision-making under pressure, teamwork and the correct application of procedures.

“Work as you train and train as you work.”

Contact

+34 634 45 35 53

david.viver@euseca.com
08Applicant profile

Who this is for

  • Security professionals
  • Executive protection
  • Law enforcement
  • Private security
  • Security drivers
  • Corporate security teams
  • Experienced operational profiles, assessed case by case
09Admission and standards

A professional programme with evaluated admission

  • Designed for participants with previous training and/or professional experience.
  • Admission is subject to profile review.
  • Assessment is continuous throughout the programme.
  • A high standard of safety, discipline and professional conduct is expected.
  • Certification is based on meeting the established training standards.
  • Maximum 15 participants.

Training and certification standards

Assessment is part of the learning process, allowing the instructor to observe performance, provide corrective guidance and reinforce the competencies developed throughout exercises and scenarios.

Throughout the programme, participants are continuously assessed on areas such as safety, discipline, operational judgment, situational awareness, teamwork, communication, safe equipment handling and decision-making under pressure.

Participants who successfully complete the programme and demonstrate the required performance and safety standards will receive the ESA PSD Certification.

See terms and conditions

The standard is not promised. It is demonstrated.

10Investment

Three enrolment tiers

First Access

USD $2,700 + IVA/IVI

Places 1–5

Early Bird

USD $2,900 + IVA/IVI

Places 6–10

Regular

USD $3,100 + IVA/IVI

Places 11–15

Official prices are listed in USD plus IVA/IVI. Final payment instructions and applicable currency are confirmed after admission approval.

See terms and conditions

Apply for admission

Admission is decided by profile review and places are limited to 15 participants.

The admission form is now open. Submit your application and the team will review your profile.