Day 1 ------------ Arrive and drive to La Cusinga (La Cusinga Ecolodge)
Today we will meet you at the airport and take you to one of our favorite spots in all of Costa Rica. The name is La Cusinga in the southern Pacific. Here you will find a location that is unmatched by any other place in Costa Rica. This ecolodge sits on a point out over the Pacific that lends itself to the most amazing views you will find. That is why when we stay here with student groups we get the two top suites. These suites accomodate 15 students each.
La Cusinga is 200 acres of primary rainforest. Here we'll be surrounded by nature and have an excellent chance for some full days of learning. (Meals: Dinner)
Day 2 ------------ Nature Hikes & Intro to Rainforest (La Cusinga Ecolodge)
Learning in the jungle
Today the entire day will be spent around the grounds of La Cusinga. We will do everything from visiting the different nature trails, the beaches, and organic farms, to an evening of bonfire fun. This is an excellent day to set up an intro of hands-on activities and get the students aware of the rainforest and the tropical region. We have a number of games, scavenger hunts, and activities we do on the nature trails where each student will be spending time observing, noting, and later reflecting on the day in the jungle. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 ------------- Zipline, Banana Plantation, & Night Hike (La Cusinga Ecolodge)
We will start the day out with a little bit of adventure as we enjoy one of the best ziplines in Costa Rica. We will head into the mountains to an elevation of 1,000ft and breath-taking views of the coastline below. This is full morning of zipping through the rainforest.
After the zipline we will make our way to the nearby banana plantation where we will get the kids running with over 25 hands of bananas. This will give them a feel for the journey the banana goes through. We will also talk about local foods, large monocultures, and some of the difficulties of life for plantation workers.
Later today we'll do a night hike to learn about the rainforest during its busy nocturnal hours. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ------------ Enter Cave Hiking & Waterfall Rappel (Sleep Behind Waterfall)
Get ready for an adventure as we make our way to the base of a ridge where we will begin our hike into the cave. This is actually just a cavern that is tucked behind a waterfall but without question one of the most unique and beautiful places you will ever see in in your life. The hike is intense but worth it by all means. We will hike for around 2 hours as we make our way up the ridge and then down into the canyon. On our way to the waterfall we will pass by a permaculture garden where we can learn solutions to large monoculture plantations.
Arriving at the cavern, we will have lunch and then get geared up for the 120ft waterfall rappel. This is a perfect rappel that literally ends right where you will be sleeping. After the rappel we will take one more small hike to the top of one of the tallest waterfalls in all of Costa Rica. Diamante Falls measures 600ft and we'll can watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 ------------ Leave Cave & Drive to Turrialba (Casa Turire)
You will wake up and the first thing you will see is three waterfalls forming a wall that flow over where we'll be sleeping. There is nothing like this that we can compare it to. After breakfast we will then make another hike to some more waterfalls and pools. The kids can jump off a 15 ft waterfall into a beautiful pristine pool. After the hike it is back down to the cavern for lunch and then time to hike out. After we hike out of the cave we will make our way to the area of Turrialba by way of the Paramo of Costa Rica which is one of the most unique areas of the tropics. The Paramo is what comes after the cloud-forest in high elevations of the tropics below the snow line.
When we get to Turrialba we have a real treat planned for everyone. You will be staying in the Casa Turire Hotel. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Note: This itinerary would also have the option of doing two nights in the homestays if you wanted to add a night or remove the overnight river trip and just do a day river trip.
Day 6 ------------ Enter Pacuare River (River Tent-Camp)
After a delicious breakfast in your Casa Turire, you'll head back to the jungle. This time your adventure will be by raft. The Pacuare River is listed as one of the top five on the planet. We will be starting our adventure at the entrance known as La Cruz and raft down for about two hours, stopping for a river lunch along the way. After we finish our lunch we will raft to the camp site. This is not roughing it by any means. All of your camping gear is set up and meals prepared for you. There are bathrooms and showers at the camp-site. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 7 ------------ Leave Pacuare & Drive to Airport Hotel (Airport Hotel)
Waking up in the jungle with the sound of the river and surrounded by primary rainforest is a morning you will never forget. We will get some breakfast and geared back up for the most intense two hours of rafting you will have on the river. Today we will take on the Pacuare Canyon which is filled with some of the best rapids in all of Costa Rica.
After we make our way out of the Pacuare Canyon we will take out of the river and make the short drive to San Jose, putting us close to the airport for a day 8 departure. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 8 ------------ Fly Home!
Transfer to the airport and Fly Home! You can extend this itinerary more days and include the area of Sarapiqui which is lowland rainforest and the area of Arenal Volcano making it an 11 day trip. (Meals: Breakfast)
This itin was made for Tim & Sean. From what we gathered Tim and Sean have a pretty solid backround of the tropics. When you have that type of backround one thing you want more than anything is to be in the middle of it all.
Because of this we customized an itinerary for Tim & Sean with some nature hikes where rubber boots are going to be used and stopping for any type of movement be it a monkey or just a small insect there will be something to be learned. Take a look everyone and we hope you like the Tim & Sean Itin:
Day 1 --------- Arrive and Travel to Sarapiqui (La Tirimbina)
Tirimbina Nature Hikes
Today we will meet you at the airport and your guide and driver will get your all packed in. We will spend the first day traveling to the Sarapiqui area where we will be staying at the Tirimbina. The travel time from the airport is around 1 hour and 40 minutes. The Tirimbina is a perfect place to bring any group interested in getting into the Tropical Rainforest. It is also the ideal area to start any educational trip to Costa Rica. It has much of the same biodiversity that can be found in the world renown OTS, Organization for Tropical Studies which is just down the street from the Tirimbina. One of the highlights of the Tirimbina property along with the high concentration of biodiversity is the Sarapiqui River which runs right through the property allowing visitors to cross the river on the hanging bridge and take the well made trails deep into the lowland tropical rainforest of the area. (Meals: Dinner)
Day 2 --------- Morning Birding, Nature Hike, & Night Hike (La Tirimbina)
Eyelash Pit-Viper
Today is going to be a full day. Being in an area like this allows our program to involve some hands on time of learning. It will not be just lectures as we will have the full day and night to experience first hand some of the many wonders of the rainforest. The day will begin with an early morning birding where all are invited. After breakfast we will take off on a morning hike that will be the primer for the week on all the basic information and an introduction to the tropical rainforest. From here everyone will have lunch and then time to write and reflect on what was learned during the morning hike and first impressions of being in the rainforest.
After writing we will make our way to some more hands on activities as we visit some of the stations that have been set up in the property and students will be allowed to get their hands and feet dirty as we help out with some of the many projects the Tirimbina has to offer. In the evening it is time for the night hike. This is one of the highlights of trip and is a chance to see some of the most interesting critters of the rainforest that only come out at night.
After dinner we will have a briefing where the kids are asked questions by the guides and are given the chance to respond and reflect on the first full day in the rainforest and traveling abroad in a different culture. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 --------- Travel to Homestay (Homestay)
Today we will pack up and make our way to the village of Sitio de Mata. This is a village where the homestay program has been working to perfection and always looking to be the best host possible. The village is located on the mountains that surround the town of Turrialba. They call the village the Eternal Spring.
For an educational tour to Costa Rica it is here where the kids can learn so much. Not only seeing how the locals show interest in worldwide environmental issues but to see what living in a completely different culture is like. The students will be staying in the homes of the family and living in a rural setting in a very family developed atmosphere.
We will arrive around lunch time where we will eat lunch as a group and each student will be presented to their homestay family where they will be welcomed by a huge hug and smile. In the afternoon we will get a local soccer game going. In the evening it will be time for some culture activities such as dance classes. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Tubing some Rapids!
Day 4 --------- Enter River & Go Tubing! (Campsite on River)
Today we will enter the river for our 2-Day rafting adventure. The adventure will be done on one of the top 5 scenic rivers on the planet that is surrounded by rainforest from start to finish. We will leave the homestays around 8am and put in the river where day one of rafting will be around 2 hours. We will stop for lunch on the way and also stop in one of the rapids where we allow each student to make a run in one of our tubes. This is an amazing adventure and the kids absolutely love being able to run one of the rapids in tube.
We will arrive to the campsite after a delicious meal on the river and the everyone can get their tent and things organized. We will then have journal time where the kids will write about their experience on the river and the homestays. During this same time we will have a happy hour of fruit punch & Tropical fruits where we plan talking about the food of our planet and the tropics along with the very fitting topic of our Fresh Water Supply!
In the evening we will have dinner made for us by yours personally CRR-River Guide Chef Inc. and then it will be time for scary stories and a good nights sleep before the big day of rafting on the Pacuare Canyon. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 --------- Take out River & Travel to Veragua (Veragua)
Tent Camp Pacuare
Today we will be rowing just after breakfast. There will be no tubing today because we will be rafting the Pacuare Canyon. This happens to be what many of our students on their educational tour to Costa Rica call the best 2 hours of the week. Here the students will face some of the best class IV rapids in all of Costa Rica. It is a beautiful run filled with excellent rapids and mind blowing scenery of waterfalls, canyons, and tropical forest as far as the eye can see.
When we take out of the river we will have lunch and then make our way on the road that travels to the Caribbean. Here we will enter into the mountains where we will be staying at an area called Veragua. Veragua is an educational center where more nature hikes will be available along with learning about something and having the opportunity to step out of your cabin and see it. The Veragua has been doing educational tours in Costa Rica for only a few years on their property. It is very well desinged to make learning easy and enjoyable along with some amazing waterfalls and aerial tram which we will be visiting. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Veragua Aerial Tram
Day 6 --------- Morning hikes in Veragua & Travel to Caribbean Beach (Ecolodge Caribbean)
We will wake up and enjoy breakfast in the rainforest. We will have some time this morning to do some journal writing and a briefing of reflection on the entire trip. We are now on day 6 and the students will be asked questions regarding their thoughts on things they have learned and feedback on how they now feel about certain topics.
After the morning briefing we will be taking a nature hike and riding on the aerial tram where the kids will have a chance to hike to the Puma Waterfall. After the morning activities at Veragua we will make our way to the Caribbean Coast where we will be staying in an ecolodge on the Caribbean Beach. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 7 --------- Snorkel in morning & hike in afternoon (Ecolodge Caribbean)
Activities of today will allow you to see all the wildlife you have not yet seen. You should have seen a good amount of wildlife by now but just incase. It will also allow you to see some ecosystems that your children might not have the opportunity to see if we do not make immediate changes to the way we are running our Planet and our relationship to the natural world. The ecosystems I am referring to are the corals of the world. We will be taking a snorkel trip off the shore of the beach we are staying at where the students will have a chance to see the corals of the Caribbean of Costa Rica.
After the Snorkeling we will dry off and have a chance to eat lunch as a group. During this lunch we will be discussing the ever so important topic of global warming and it's effects on biodiversity in the tropics. Then we will talk about how losing biodiversity in the tropics effects your everyday lives in the USA.
After the discussion we will make our way to Grandoca-Manzanillo where we will have the chance to experience where the rainforest meets the sea. This is a chance to take a hike and learn about the many different species of animals we will find along the way in just a short distance. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 8 --------- Travel to Bribri Indigenous Tribe (Ecolodge Caribbean)
After a full day on the beach we plan on making today a chance to learn about the environment but from a bit of a different perspective. Here we will put down the textbooks and get some knowledge that has been passed down from generations of the many tropical plants in the area. We will start the day with an indigenous tour of the Cacao fruit. One of the members of the Bribri tribe will explain to us the process in a hands on demonstration where the kids get to see and touch first hand chocolate from it's stages on the trees to it's stage of deliciously sweet chocolate. After the chocolate tour we will take a boat ride to cross the rivers that are hidden deep into the reserver of the bribri. We will then make our way to the ceremony cultural center of the bribri tribe where we will have a chance to learn about the many different plants of the tribe. Here we will also enjoy an indigenous dinner along with song and dance of the culture that is fighting to be preserved in the Bribri tribe.
We will arrive back to the Beach hotel in the evening where we will have a farewell dinner and a final briefing on the days activities. The topic that will be discussed in deforestation and how all if this is changing the lives of indians and affecting the global economy and fight for stopping climate change. Also during this briefing there will be a reflection on the entire trip where students will be asked to write and talk about the experience. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 9 --------- Fly Home!
Today we will make our way back to the San Jose airport where you will catch your flight home! (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 1 ---------- Arrive and Travel to Tirimbina (Tirimbina Lodging)
Let the Adventure begin!!!
You will be met at the airport by your driver and guide. Upon leaving the airport you will spend about 40 minutes driving through the Central Valley and capital city of San Jose. Here you will learn about the very interesting history of how Costa Rica developed into the country it is today. You will hear how the coffee boom in the 1840's resulting in exporting the product to Europe, was the trigger for some European scientists to study for the first time, some of the same biodiversity you will see during your stay in Costa Rica.
After you pass through the Central Valley you will make your way to one of Costa Rica's largest and most beautiuful national parks called Braulio Carrillo. After you leave the park you will be just 30 minutes from La Tirimbina where you will be staying for the first two nights of your Costa Rica Educational Tour. La Tirimbina is a low lying tropical rainforest that is made for student groups who are looking to get an up-close look of the rainforest. If you are looking for an educational trip to Costa Rica their is no better place to start than La Tirimbina.
In the evening we will have a briefing of the arrival to a new country and the first impression of being in the rainforest. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)
Day 2 ---------- Full day activities at Tirimbina (Tirimbina Lodging)
The day will begin very early for those that are interested in going birding with your guide. After the birding in the early morning you will all meet for breakfast. When breakfast is complete it is time to put on the rubber boots and go deep into the rainforest. We will spend the morning going over the many different parts of the rainforest and some basic information on the role the rainforest plays locally and globally. After we get our introduction to the rainforest it is time to learn about some of the most fascinating creatures that can be found here as we take a hike and keep an eye out for any sort of movement.
See you at "La Tirimbina"
After the morning of hiking and learning about the rainforest we will head to the dinning area for lunch. After lunch we will have a quick debriefing on what the students' thoughts were on being in the rainforest. We will also use this time as journal time. After the journal and meeting is complete we will go back out to the jungle and visit some of the field stations. Visiting these stations allows us to understand what researchers are trying to learn from the rainforest, what has been learned, and also how much is still unknown. At these stations we will open the topic of biomimicry. We will explain to the kids that it is not always learning "about" nature but we must also learn "from" nature. Using the tactics that nature uses, we can solve problems of today's society and live in a more sustainable way.
In the evening it is time for the night hike. Here we will put the rubber boots back on and visit some of the same trails but this time with head-lamps and complete darkness. One of the best activities during the night hike is not what you see but what you hear. Don't worry we will see plenty!
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 ----------- Travel to Sitio de Mata (Homestay)
After breakfast we will load up the bus and make our way to one of the highlights of the trip, the homestay experience. We will drive to the mountains of Turrialba where you will be staying in one of the most beautiful, simple living, rural settings you can imagine. The village is called Sitio de Mata and it is more commonly known as the Eternal Spring. Here you will have breath-taking views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. The only thing that can compete with the beauty of the scenery is the kindness of the people and the smiles of the children. You will be welcomed as if you were family.
Upon arrival, we will all eat lunch together and you will be introduced to your homestay family. Your family will take you to your house. All the homes are in walking distance of each other and you will spend a few hours getting to know your family and the neighborhood kids. In the evening we will all meet back up where you will have a dance class and learn the basic steps of salsa & merengue.
Homestay Mom's
When all is finished for the evening we will do a briefing getting the kids reaction of the homestays. We will want them to explain some of the differences between their living back home and their living in the rural village. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ----------- Community Service & Homestay Activities (Homestay)
CRR's Educational Tours to Costa Rica are not all learning. We also include a giving-back component. That is why we are going to get involved with some community service work. The kids will have a project and be joined by some of the locals who will be helping out in the project. This is a great way to give back to the community that will be giving your kids so much in just the two days you will be staying in Sitio de Mata.
In the evening we will give the village a chance to give back to us as they put on an extraordinary performance of local dance and folklore of some of Costa Rica's most well-known traditions. This is great fun for all and a chance for your kids to practice some of the salsa and merengue moves they learned the day before. The fiesta will start with one of the best meals you have tried allowing you to enjoy the local cuisine.
After the party we will have a short briefing getting everyone prepared for their day of rafting. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 ----------- Enter Pacuare River (Tent Camp)
Pacuare Camp Site
With National Geographic calling this one of the top five rivers on the planet, this will surely give your kids some bragging rights. We will leave the village after breakfast around 8am and make our way just 30 minutes to an area known as La Cruz. When we arrive we will be getting all the gear set up and ready for the adventure. Each rafter will have a lifevest, helmet, and paddle as they take on the Pacuare. The first day of rafting they will face some class I & II rapids and the second day is when the Class III & IV rapids start.
We will raft for around 2 hours and then stop for a river lunch along the way. You will be able to enjoy swimming on the river edge and just hanging out with your friends. We will then raft for another 40 minutes and arrive to the camp-site. Everyone will get situated in their tent and take a shower if needed. In the early afternoon we will meet back at the social area of the camp-site which is beautiful, with hammocks looking down river, a very relaxing place. The meeting will be geared towards talking about the trip, getting the kids thoughts, and journal time. We will also be talking about our freshwater supply which seems to be a very fitting topic for the evening. It is amazing how some of the best talks and journal times come when completely engulfed by the tropical rainforest.
After the meeting it will be time for happy hour which will include fruit punch and some of the many different fruits of the tropics. This will be a quick glimpse of the fruits you can find in some of the different parts of Costa Rica. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 6 ----------- Leave Pacuare River & Travel to Veragua (Veragua Lodging)
The next two hours of the trip are what many consider the best two hours of their lives. We will be taking on the Pacuare Canyon and seeing some of the best class IV rapids in all of Costa Rica. The canyon is filled with virgin rainforest from start to finish with numerous waterfalls coming into the river from the walls of green that line the river for 18 miles. When we are finished with the heart-pounding adventure we will get some lunch. We will now be on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica when we take out of the river. Here you'll experience the Caribbean cuisine and culture which is quite different from the rest of Costa Rica.
After lunch we will drive to Veragua, located 15km off the main highway on a bumpy road, getting you far into the rainforest. The Veragua is set up for visitors and is home to beautiful waterfalls and an aerial tram. The area is perfect for a Costa Rica educational trip about the rainforest. We will arrive in the evening and just do a quick briefing on their thoughts about the river rafting adventure. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 7 ----------- Veragua Activities in Morning and Travel to Caribbean (Beach Ecolodge)
Veragua Aerial Tram
Today we will wake up in the morning and after breakfast take the aerial tram to the famous Puma Waterfall. This is an excellent morning getting a look at the rainforest from the canopy which is home to many different mini-ecosystems in it's bromeliads. The morning will be spent getting to know the area of Veragua and after lunch we will make our way to the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica.
The Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica stretches 212km and is home to many different types of areas. You have the northern canals of Tortuguero which is where many of the turtles do their nesting. You also have the port city of Limon which is Costa Rica's main and busiest port. Heading south you get to the almost undisturbed beaches of the Caribbean. Here you have communities that understand the importance of preserving their environment, so it makes for a great place to see plenty of wildlife and be part of the perfect educational trip to Costa Rica.
When we get to the Caribbean everyone can get their feet wet as we will be staying just steps away from the beach. In the evening we will meet up and have a meeting discussing the problem of global warming and where we are today with the issue. How it relates to the tropics? (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 8 ----------- Snorkel & Visit National Park (Beach Ecolodge)
With 35 different species of corals and over 500 endemic species of fish, the Caribbean is an excellent spot for those who want to take a look at some of the marine life in Costa Rica. We will be visiting the area of Punta Uva where everyone will get their snorkel, lifevest, and fins. We will be walking right into the water from the beach, getting a chance to look at some of the corals of Costa Rica. This is a very fitting place to see considering the night before we had a talk on global warming.
After the snorkeling in and around the reefs of Punta Uva we will get some lunch and relax at the beach. After our food is digested it is time for another nature hike down one of Costa Rica's most scenic areas. This is the Manzanilla-Gandoca which is filled with wildlife.
In the evening we will have another reflection time on how the students feel about the disappearing of corals of the world. They will also be asked to write in their journal and explain ways that they can fight global warming. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 9 ----------- Take boat to Punta Mona Center for Education on Sustainable Living (Punta Uva Ecolodge)
Punta Mona
If you are looking for a Costa Rica Educational Tour to include some information on how to live sustainably, then visiting the Center for Education on Sustainable Living is a must. This is a very interesting place that is completely off the grid. It is not far from where we will be staying but does require that we take a boat ride to get there. We will be staying two nights in the ecolodge of the Center learning, feeling, seeing, and tasting first-hand what it is to live sustainably.
It is a beautiful area that is located on the Caribbean. You swim or even take the kayaks out and enjoy your time being surrounded by nature. In the evening we will have an introduction lecture about sustainable living and why humans need to start thinking in a different frame of thought when it comes to what we consume and how much. There will be time for journaling and feedback from the kids. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 10 ----------- Learn Sustainable Prinicpals and Permaculture Design (Punta Mona Ecolodge)
Guanabana
Today will be an entire day of getting a fundamental understanding of sustainability and one of our favorite forms of biomimicry which is the permaculture design. The food at the Center comes from a permaculture garden which basically is a garden that mimics nature. This garden is designed with certain plants for shade, certain for nitrogen, certain for insect repellent, and the main idea is to use as little energy as possible, leaving more time for fun and play at the beach. Now that sounds like something kids can grasp.
The kids will spend the day being able to see the different methods of living sustainably and learning methods that they can even apply at home. One of the highlights of the stay here is sampling the different tropical fruits from all over the world, making for one of the best tasting experiences you could ask for anywhere. They can also get a feel for what it is like to live off the grid even if it is just for a few days.
The evening will be dedicated to reflection on their thoughts of sustainability, how they can improve, and what the world can improve on. We will also enjoy evening activities to celebrate your one-day crash course on living sustainably. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
We are sharing this planet, GOT IT?!
Day 11 ---------- Travel to San Jose, Airport Hotel (Airport Hotel)
Today we will head back early after breakfast. You will get a boat ride back to the main road just as the sun in rising on the Caribbean making for quite a picturesque moment. It will be a full half day of traveling today and we'll be arriving to the Central Valley in the afternoon. We will get everyone checked in to the hotel and then meet up for the farewell dinner. This is quite the experience and a chance to refelct back on the trip and think about all we learned. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 12 ---------- Fly Home!
We will transfer you to the airport and get you on your way home!
Day 1 ----------- Arrive & Stay in Central Valley (Central Valley Hotel)
Welcome to Costa Rica! You will be met by your guide outside the airport. From the airport we will take you to your first hotel where you will have an orientation of the program and things to expect for the rest of the week. (Meals: Dinner)
Day 2 ----------- Visit Orphanage & Enter Cave (Sleep Behind Waterfall)
We will have breakfast at 7:30am and drive to the Orphanage. Here the students will have the chance to spend time with local teenage girls who have been living in the home for years. It is an amazing experience and even if no English is spoken, it is still a great opportunity of the kids to interact and share some time. One of the activities we do at the Orphanage is allow the girls to do a cooking class of a typical food. The cooking class will take about an hour and then we will be on our way. We'll then drive to the Central Pacific where we will get our hiking boots out and get ready for the adventure of hiking into the cave. This is an intense hike but well worth it, hiking to one of Costa Rica's most beautiful areas. When we get to the cave we will be sleeping behind a waterfall and living in the jungle for two nights. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 ----------- Hike to Pool & Rappel Waterfall (Sleep Behind Waterfall)
This is a full day of activities. After you wake up to the sound of three enormous waterfalls we will eat a hearty breakfast and then get ready for another hike. This hike will take us to another beautiful waterfall where the kids can jump off the waterfall into a crystal clear pool. We will make our way down to the other larger waterfalls but this time we will be rappeling them. The rappel is a 120ft descend by rope and is one of the most adrenaline pumping adventures we have. In the evening we will watch the sunset at the Diamante Waterfall which is Costa Rica's tallest waterfall at 600 ft. We will be at the top of the falls and will see the sunset on the Pacific. In the evening we will enjoy some music sitting around the campfire. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ----------- Hike out of Cave and Travel to Turrialba (Turrialba Hotel)
Today it will be time to say good-bye to the cave. We will make the hike out which is quite a bit easier than the hike up. We'll board the bus and drive over Costa Rica's tallest mountain range, Cerro de la Muerte, home to the second tallest mountain in all of Central America. The road we will be on will get up to 9,000ft. After we cross the mountain range we will descend into the town of Turrialba. This is a beautiful little town located towards the Caribbean side. It is known for its whitewater rafting. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 ----------- Enter Homestays & Community Service (Homestays)
Camping in the Rainforest
Today after breakfast we'll go to Sitio de Mata and have a full day in the homestays. It will be an amazing experience and a chance to spend time with the best part of Costa Rica and that is the people. Sitio de Mata is a majestic mountain village with views of the smoking Turrialba volcano and a climate known as the Eternal Spring. During our stay in the village we will take part in some community service work and also join in on some cultural activities. In the evening there will be a full blown party with plenty of dancing and local cuisine involved. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 6 ----------- Enter River (Pacuare Camp)
National Geographic has this listed as one of the top five rivers on the planet and that is why we feel it is necessary to spend two days on the Pacuare River. Today we will leave the homestay after breakfast and make our way to La Cruz. Here you will get geared up with your life vest, helmet, and paddle and get ready for 2 hours of rafting. We will stop for a river lunch on the way that will be prepared by your CRR-River-Guide-Chefs. After lunch we will raft for another 40 minutes, then arrive at the camp site. It is a beautiful camp that is not roughing it by anymeans. Everyone will have their own tent above ground and there are showers and toilets. The camp site is located with a beautiful view downstream of the waters of the Pacuare and the green canyon that lines the river banks for as far as the eye can see. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Caribbean Costa Rica
Day 7 ----------- Take out of River and Travel to Caribbean (Beach Ecolodge)
After breakfast many consider the next two hours of the trip the best two hours of their lives. Today we will raft the Pacuare Canyon. This is a two hour run of action-packed class IV rapids. Not only is this section filled with fun rapids but it is also the most scenic part of the river. You will raft past 200 ft waterfalls that fall into the river and float down one of Costa Rica's most beautiful canyons.
After we take out of the river we will be on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We'll then drive for two hours to our Ecolodge on the Caribbean. Staying at this ecolodge is like staying in the middle of a national park with all the wildlife and only steps away from the beach. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 8 ----------- Visit National Parks & Snorkel (Beach Ecolodge)
The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is known for it's wildlife and beautiful coral reefs. This is a day we plan on seeing the wildlife on land and the marine habitat. We will start the day by visiting Manzanillo-Gandoca, doing an easy hike to see sloths and monkeys. After the hike we'll drive to Punta Uva where you have the chance to snorkel. The Caribbean of Costa Rica is 212 km of coastline and home to 35 different species of corals and 500 different species of endemic fish. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 9 ----------- Fly Home!
Today we will transfer you back to the airport to catch your flight home! (Meals: Breakfast)
Day 1 ------ Arrive and Drive to Turrialba Hotel (Turrialba Hotel)
Turrialba Volcano
We will be meeting you at the airport and making the drive to your first hotel which is in the Turrialba area. Here you'll have great views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano.
Before arriving at the hotel you'll be driving through the capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose. As you drive, your guide will give an introduction to the history of Costa Rica from pre-Columbian to present day.
At the hotel we will all meet for dinner and we'll give an orientation of what to expect during the week and some of the educational standards we hope to include during the course of your Costa Rica Trip. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)
Day 2 ------ Travel to Sitio de Mata & Homestay Activities(Homestay)
The day will start early for those of you that want to go looking for birds in the morning with the naturalist guide. We will all meet for breakfast after birding or sleeping in an extra hour. After breakfast we'll take a nature hike and spend the morning learning about the rainforest and gaining a basic understanding of it. We'll be discussing how it functions and how we all depend on the rainforest even though we might not live in it.
After the morning in the jungle we will go to Sitio de Mata, the homestays. This is always a highlight of the trip as you will be staying in one of the most beautiful villages that is surrounded by breath-taking views. The only thing that can compete with the scenery is the simplicity of the people and their welcoming smiles. When we arrive we will eat lunch together and each student will be introduced to their homestay family. We''ll then go to the homes where you will have time to get to know your family and make friends with the neighborhood kids.
Learning about Sugar Cane
In the afternoon we'll meet back up for some dance classes. We will be learning how to dance the salsa and merengue which are the most common moves in Costa Rica. After the dance we will have a cooking class where you will learn how to make your own tortillas and be able to make the ever so famous GALLO PINTO. When all cooking is done we'll add a few more ingredients and dinner is served. We' ll all eat together and then put the music on for some practice of what we learned in the afternoon.
After the dancing is finished we will have a meeting getting some feed back and reflection of what the kids think of the homestay. We will ask the differences of living in a rural village in Costa Rica and where they live at home. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Waterfall Rappeling
Day 3 ------ Community Service & Waterfall Rappel (Homestay)
Howler Monkey
Today every student will have breakfast in their homestay. We will meet up after breakfast to do our community service activity. This is a chance for you to give back to the community and do a little work during your visit. The community service will last the good part of the morning and then you'll go back for lunch. After lunch everyone will have an hour of downtime. Then we'll gather back together for journal time and another briefing on village life.
Today we will also take everyone to a nearby canyon and do waterfall rappelling. This is often the kids' favorite adventure of the week as they get a chance to walk down two beautiful waterfalls.
Sitio de Mata Student Map
After our meeting the kids will have time for a soccer game with the locals. This is another favorite event of the trip. After the game everyone heads back to their homestay and gets ready for the evening activities. The village will be putting on a show of local cultural dance and food. We will see around seven different dances and folklore that the local kids from the village have prepared. After the show the eating and dancing begins. You will be an expert salsa dancer by now!
When the dancing is finished we will give a quick briefing getting everyone ready for the 2-day adventure of whitewater rafting. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 4 ------ Enter River 2-Day Adventure (Pacuare Tent Camp)
Rafting with Costa Rican Resource!
Today we will enter the famous Pacuare River. Listed as one of National Geographic's top five rivers on the planet, this is some of the best scenery you will find on the planet. The river is filled with waterfalls and canyons from start to finish.
We will begin our day leaving the village around 8am and make the 30 min. drive to a small area called La Cruz. Here we will put in the river and begin our two days of rafting. We will raft for around two hours and then stop for a river lunch. The river lunch will be some of the best CRR-River-Guide cooking you can imagine. After the lunch we will begin to talk about the indigenous population of Costa Rica. The area where we will be having lunch will be on the reservation of the Cabecar Indians. We will also talk about the how the indians treat the land on one side of the river and how others treat the land on the other side of the river.
Pacuare Tent Camp with CRR
After the lunch we'll raft to the camp-site which is around 40 minutes more of exhilarating rapids. When we arrive to the camp site everyone can get their things into their tent, take a shower, and relax on the camp grounds surrounded by nature. When early evening comes we will all meet at the social center of the camp. This is a beautiful area with hammocks looking downstream. We will use this meeting time to talk about the water supply of the planet. Quite the fitting subject considering where we will be sitting. In the evening it is another fine meal from your CRR river guides. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 5 ------ Enter Bribri Reserve & Stay in Indigenous Village (Bribri Village)
Today you will raft the most scenic and adventurous part of the Pacuare River. We will then take out and drive to the Bribri Reserve. At CRR we are always very conscious of the environment and the way mankind is treating it. We feel there is no better people to learn from than people that have lived in harmony with the Earth for as long as they have existed. The Bribri Indian tribe is the tribe in the Talamanca Mountains on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. They are fighting to keep their traditions and knowledge alive and we feel through our ecotourism practices we can help them in their efforts to keep their thousands of years of knowledge from disappearing.
Today each student will sleep under a thatch roof and enjoy the indigenous life for a night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 6 ------ Community Service and Indigenous Culture Activities (Almonds & Corals)
Get ready for a day full of some of the most amazing culture you can imagine. Today is a great day of getting deep into the culture while being surrounded by natural beauty and learning about the Bribri Tribe. We will be visiting areas and villages with thatch roof structures where they do ceremonies celebrating different beliefs and traditions. We will drink the blood of the god's as we see and try the famous Cacao fruit which is the original chocolate milk!
One of the best parts about leaving the reserve is that we will opt to not take the bumpy road out but we will float down a lazy river on inner-tubes. This is a magical experience floating down the ancient sacred waters of the Uren River. This is an area where you will see no tourist. We often invite the local indigenous kids to join in the fun and it is a great time for all. We will end our stay at the beautiful Almonds and Corals Lodge which is one of our favorite eco-lodges in all of Costa Rica.
Community Service Project - Here in the village we have time to do plenty of work. There is much need in the indigenous communities and we can devote half or full day to doing a project. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Two-toed Sloth
Day 7 ------ Surf Classes (Almonds & Corals)
Bribri
Today is your day to take some surfing classes. We'll go to the nearby beach of Cocles which is a beautiful white sand beach and everyone will have a chance to learn to surf, play in the waves, or relax on the sand. In the evening it is back to the hotel for dinner or maybe visit a few of the nearby souvenir shops. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 8 ------ Wildlife Refuge (Beach Ecolodge)
Today we will take a two hour hike through the rainforest. Here you will see more wildlife than you can imagine. The best part about this trip is the local guides we use. Omar and Tino are two local Afro-Caribbean guides that give you a complete understanding not only of the biodiversity but also of the importance of the Afro-Caribbean culture. They are energetic and the kids love them. It's a must when visiting the Caribbean to have such a rich culture experience as with Omar and Tino. In the afternoon we can have some optional snorkeling. Lunch will be at a nearby place that serves rice and beans cooked with coconut milk which you can only find on the Caribbean! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 9 ------ Travel to Arenal Volcano (Casa Luna Lodge)
Today is a travel day. We will leave after breakfast and head to the Arenal Volcano. This perfectly cone-shaped volcano is one of the most scenic spots in all of Costa Rica. We will be staying in the Casa Luna Lodge which has excellent views of the volcano. When we arrive you will have time at the pool and we will have some activities planned for the kids as we do during most of the down time. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 10 ------ Zipline & Farewell Party! (Casa Luna Lodge)
It's zipline day and you'll be zipping on the best one in all of Costa Rica. Not only do the cables hang 700ft high but you also have amazing views of the Arenal Lake and Volcano. In the afternoon we will recap a full week of fun, adventure, and CULTURE! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 11 ------- Fly Home!
Today we will make the two hour drive back to the San Jose Airport. (Meals: Breakfast)
