Lisa Squillace Itin 2013

Day 1 ---- Arrive & Drive to Pacific Coast (La Cusinga)

Today we will meet you at the airport and we will travel to the Pacific Coast. Our first stop will be La Cusinga Ecolodge which is one of the pioneer areas of conservation. Here you will have an upclose look at some of the most spectacular species used in biomimicry as the Institute of Biomimicry uses La Cusinga for their training courses. There is no better spot to start the trip than relaxing at La Cusinga with breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by protected rainforest, and among the genius of the natural world as we take a deep look into just how much we can learn from nature to get us to a more sustainable future. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)

Hey Humans! Try Hiking like Me!

Day 2 ---- Zipline & Afternoon Nature Hike (La Cusinga)

Today we will enjoy some of the best locally grown food from the La Cusinga Ecolodge. After breakfast we will make the short trip to the area of Cortez where you can view the large southern mountain range against the virgin Pacific coastline. Here you'll experience the zipline adventure through a primary rainforest from an elevation of 1000ft above sea-level and jaw-dropping views of one of the most biodiverse places on the planet the Corcovado National Park.

In the afternoon we will do a nature activity in the La Cusinga Reserve where we'll do some fun and exciting Biomimicry discoveries. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Sleeping in the Cave

Day 3 ---- Snorkel & Hike to Cave (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

After breakfast today we will make the very short trip to the famous Whale Tail where the kids can snorkel the nearby reefs. This is great off shore snorkel trip and a chance to experience some of the rich marine biodiversity Costa Rica has to offer. We will be snorkeling in the Marino Ballena National Park which is a very popular spot for humpback whales to visit and give birth to their young.

Sunset Diamante Falls

After snorkeling we will head back to the hotel and get packed and ready for an afternoon of hiking to one of the most beautiful and pristine spots Costa Rica has to offer. This an 1 1/2 hour hike but worth every second as you will have the chance to sleep behind a beautiful waterfall and watch the sunset over the Pacific from the top of a 600ft waterfall. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ---- Rappel Waterfall & Hike to Pools (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Today is a full day surrounded by nature and filled with spectacular scenery. We will be sleeping behind a waterfall but you are not roughing it by anymeans. You can take showers and there are regular bathrooms. All meals are cooked for you which gives us time to make the most out of the day. We'll start by rappeling a 120ft waterfall and then hiking to pools that are located just a short hike away. Here at the pools the kids will jump off a 20ft waterfall into a welcoming pool and have views of the valley below.

In the evening it is back to the area behind the waterfall where we get a campfire going and make the best of spending the night outdoors. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ---- Travel to Sitio de Mata & Experience Culture Activities (Homestays)

After breakfast we will head to the village of Sitio de Mata. This is a beautiful drive and we will be crossing Costa Rica's tallest mountain range reaching an elevation of almost 12,000ft. Here we will be in a very unique area called the Paramo. In this unique area there's much to learn about the many adaptive characteristics of species. We'll be arriving at the village in time to have lunch with   our our families and enjoy an afternoon of culture and fun.

The evening activity will be a full on party of getting the students to experience as much culture and fun as possible as we listen to music, watch dance presentations, and test out our salsa skills. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Rafting Pacuare River

Day 6 ---- Raft Pacuare River to Pacuare Camp (Pacuare Camp Site)

Listed by National Geographic as one of their most scenic rivers on the planet, the Pacuare River is a must-do when visiting Costa Rica. Surrounded by virgin rainforest from start to finish, the Pacuare River offers a four hour river rafting adventure. We stop for a river lunch prepared for you by your CRR river guides.

Lets get ready for the night hike!

After lunch we will raft a little bit more with time to hike to some nearby waterfalls. We will arrive to the Pacuare Tent Camp Lodge around 3pm and enjoy the rest of the day at Camp. This is not roughing it by anymeans and you will enjoy the opportunity to Camp alongside one of the most scenic rivers on the planet surrounded by Virgin Rainforest. One of favorite activities here at the camp is the night hike. Your naturalist guide will take you on a hike that will introduce you to all the different species that come to life at night.

The camp at Pacuare has private bathrooms and showers, above ground tents, a lounge area with views down the Pacuare Canyon and everything will be supplied for you. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 ---- Raft Canyon & Drive to Central Valley (La Condesa)

CRR - Lets get Ready for some Adventure!

Today is the most scenic part of the river and the most adventurous. We will get a hearty breakfast at camp and then make our way down the river for a unforgettable 3 hour run. One of the best parts about today is waking up with the sound of nature and watching the clouds rise as the sun comes out.

After a full day of rafting we'll drive back to the Central Valley and the beautiful La Condesa Hotel which will give everyone a good night's rest. We'll have a very fun farewell dinner as we send you home safely to CT and get you ready for your return trip to Costa Rica! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ---- Fly Home!

Today you will be transfered 20 minutes to the San Jose Airport to catch your flight home!

Pam Llewellyn July 2013

Arenal Volcano

Day 1 --------   Arrive & Travel to Arenal Hotel (Manoa Hotel)

Today we will meet you outside the San Jose Airport where and then make the two hour drive to the Arenal Volcano. Here you will meet your CRR staff and go over some objectives for the week and the philosophy of the CRR company. In the Arenal area you will be staying in the Manoa Hotel which has excellent views of the volcano from each room. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)

Day 2 --------   Zipline, Organic Farm, & National Park (Manoa Hotel)

Today we will start your day with some adventure as we visit Costa Rica's top zipline. This is an adventure that will take you on a tram ride through the primary rainforest and zipping across cables that hang 700ft above the canopy with breath-taking views of the Arenal Volcano.

After ziplining we will visit the National Park of Arenal. Here you'll hike through the old lava flow getting as close to the volcano as possible. This is a great hike, meeting some interesting wildlife while learning about the volcano.

In the evening you'll probably have the best meal of the week Finca Don Juan. But it will also be educational fun and very tasty.  Here the kids will get a chance to touch, taste, smell, and see just exactly where locally grown food comes from and how good it can taste. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 --------   Travel to Turrialba  (Homestay)

You will wake up today and say good-bye to the volcano. We will be traveling to meet one of the highlights of Costa Rica -- the local people. At our Sitio de Mata Project we invite you to experience the true culture and rural life experience of Costa Rica. The travel time will be around four hours and we will be making some interesting stops along the way. 

Visiting Sitio de Mata Village

Everyone will be assigned to their family that they will meet upon arrival. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ---------  Culture Activities  (Homestay)

Camping River Pacuare

Today is a full day of fun in the village. We will have different activities planned from helping out around the community to doing different culture activities such as cooking classes, dance classes, and an evening party that is as fun as it gets! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ---------  Enter Pacuare (Camp Pacuare)

One of our favorite adventures in all of Costa Rica is rafting what National Geographic has listed as one of their top five scenic rivers on the planet. This is exciting white-water rafting with lots of adrenaline pumping.  There's also stops along the way to visit beautiful waterfalls. The entire river is surrounded by virgin rainforest with the indigenous Cabecar tribe located on the right side of the river.

We'll raft for three hours on the first day and stop at a campsite about half way down the river. This is camping but we can promise you, it is not roughing it. You will have bathrooms and showers and be sleeping in above ground tents. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ---------  Leave Pacuare & Drive to Caribe (Caribbean Hotel)

Today, via rafts, you'll visit Pacuare Canyon, what many consider the best three hours of rafting anywhere.  It will be class III & IV sections of the river. This is also the most scenic section of the Pacuare and a chance to have adventure and fabulous scenery packed into three hours of constant fun. 

See you at the Nature Hike

We will eat lunch after we finish rafting and then make the 2 1/2 hour drive to the Caribbean where we will be staying in a wonderful eco-lodge located on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 ---------  Nature Hike & Enter Gandoca via Boat (Turtle Patrol y Homestays)

Today we will wake up and take a nature hike with your naturalist guide. It will be an educational morning, meeting lots of wildlife on the lowland tropical rainforest. We will visit spots that have astonishing views of the Caribbean coast and chances to see and feel where the protected jungle meets the sea. 

After the hike and cutting up coconuts on the beach we will have a boat meet us to transport us to the southern most Pacific spot of Costa Rica on the border of Panama. Here we will arrive to the small village of Gandoca-Manzanillo where we will be staying in homestays. The homestays here are actually small cabins on the beach for those interested in helping with the turtle project and volunteering to protect the famous leatherback sea-turtle.

Lets go see the Turtles

We will arrive and have some time to relax and then meet back for an evening talk about the turtle project and plans for working your four hour shift during the night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ----------  Community Service (Turtle Patrol y Homestays)

After a long night of being on turtle patrol which is a four hour shift from 8pm - 2am or from 2am - 6am, you'll get  chance to sleep till 11am, if needed,  then we'll do some community service help in the afternoon. It will be things like helping out the local school or organic garden in the area. In the evening it is back to turtle hour where we will be helping out patrolling the beach looking for turtles, counting eggs, and keeping data on each turtle. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 9 ----------  Travel to Central Valley (La Condesa)

Thanks for Helping!

Today is a full travel day. We will let you sleep in till 10am and then leave for the San Jose Central Valley. We will get to the La Condesa Hotel which is a beautiful hotel only 20 minutes from the airport. In the evening we'll have our final dinner and celebration of an amazing week! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 10  ---------- Fly home!

Today we will transfer you to the airport where we can start planning your trip to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica the following year! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Chris Lenner March 2013

Turrialba Volcano

Day 1 ----- Arrive & Drive to Turrialtico (Turrialtico)

Today we will meet you at the airport and drive to the Turrialba area. You will be staying at the Turrialtico Hotel with views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. In the evening we'll go over the itinerary and what to expect for the next seven days. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 ----- Raft Pacuare & Drive to Manzanillo (Almonds & Corals)

Pacuare River

Today you will raft the famous Pacuare River. This will take around four hours and we will have lunch prepared for you on the river as we make our way through virgin rainforest filled with waterfalls and beautiful canyons. After we take out of the river we'll head to the Caribbean coast where you will be staying in one of Costa Rica's top ecolodges. This is the Almonds & Corals, located on the beach and surrounded by lush tropical lowland rainforest. Howler monkeys will be your alarm clock! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ----- Nature Hike, Boat Ride, & Turtle Charla (Homestays)

Hurben

Fortified with a delicious breakfast at Almonds and Corals, we will make our way hiking through the rainforest. This is an amazing hike with one of the finest local guides from the Caribbean. The hike will be filled with wildlife from start to finish and will be very educational on the ecology of the local area. After hiking for 2 1/2 hours we will cut up some coconuts on the beach and then take a boat for 20 minutes to the area of Gandoca-Manzanillo. This is a true piece of paradise where you will enjoy homestays with the local families. The lodging is rustic yet  comfortable with great food. We will take a quick tour of the small town and then meet back at a ranchito for a talk about the project and the story of the Leatherback in the area. In the evening it will be out to the beach to patrol. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ----- Turtle Work (Homestays)

We will be on turtle-time so during the day you'll be resting and have a tour in the lagoon. Here you will get the chance to row around the lagoon and look for different species of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife with your rocking guide Hurben. In the evening it is back out with the turtles doing what you do. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ----- Turtle Work (Gladys Homestays)

Today is another day of waking up on turtle hour and spending some time in the town. This will be a slow pace day of just getting ready for our last night of working with the turtles. We will have the option of visiting a school and meeting more of the locals. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

See you there!!!

Day 6 ----- Turtle Work & Drive to San Jose (La Condesa)

Today is the last morning of working on the turtles. After everyone gets a nice long nap from the long night of work we will make our way back to La Condesa hotel which will give us a good night's rest for the last night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 ----- Fly Home!

Today we will transport you to the airport as a different person and I am sure you will leave a positive impact on the turtle project! PURA VIDA!!!