Day 1 -- Arrive & Travel to Arenal (Arenal Hotel)
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Today you
will be met by your CRR staff and transported to your first hotel in area
of San Carlos on the fertile northern plains of Costa Rica. Here you will be
staying at the base of the active Arenal Volcano. This is a travel day but will
consist of an orientation to get teachers and students acquainted with staff
members and an idea of what to expect during the week. If possible an early
arrival flight would be the best. (Meals: Dinner)
Day 2 -- Arenal (Don Juan, Ziplining, National Park) (Arenal
Hotel)
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| Arenal Volcano National Park |
Today we will
start with a little adventure and head to the ziplines that hang 700ft above
the rainforest floor. This will be the students’ introduction to the primary
rainforest. The students will also get to use their Spanish in an
adrenaline-pumping situation. We'll give them a list of words to use such as
TUANIS! PURA VIDA! BUENAZO! and many more local favorite phrases. The zipline
guides will surely be impressed with their bi-lingual guests.
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| Having fun at Finca Don Juan |
After the
zipline we will go to the Arenal Volcano National Park, starting with a
presentation by your guide about the geology, history and biodiversity that is
related to Arenal. Then we will hike up to the old lava flows enjoying the
landscapes and nature that surrounds the area.
After lunch
it’s a hands-on experience at the Finca of Don Juan. Here the kids will taste,
see, smell, and feel the different stages of organic farming from one of Costa
Rica's most respected farmers. We will gain an even deeper appreciation of the
organic production that Don Juan teaches by feasting on a delicious dinner
prepared from all the things grown on the farm.
Then
it's back to the hotel where we will have our first official reflection,
getting the kids together and talking about the experience so far. (Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 3 -- Drive to Central Pacific Coast (La Cusinga Lodge)
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| Sunset at Marino Ballena National Park |
Today we will
start with a visit from Costa Rican university student sharing his
experiences working with the biodiversity in the country (to be arranged).
After this we
will be on our way to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Along the way we will
learn and see the many different microclimates of Costa Rica and the ecosystems
that they host.
Also, we’ll
stop by Tarcoles River to see the largest population of American Crocodiles in
the country.
Along the way
we will also be able see African Palm plantations, and learn about the effects
of monoculture and the impact of big transnational companies, such as United
Fruit Company.
Our final destination today
is La Cusinga Ecolodge which is one of the pioneer lodges of conservation. The
Institute of Biomimicry uses La Cusinga for their training courses. Here,
surrounded by protected rainforest, and among the genius of the natural world,
we'll take an in depth look into just how much we can learn from nature to get us
to a more sustainable future. The lodge is placed right next to Marino Ballena National Park (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4 -- Travel to Drake Bay, Corcovado National Park (Drake Bay Lodge)
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| Stone Spheres |
We will be
driving south to Sierpe, along the way we will see banana plantations and also
one of the biggest mysteries of the Pre-Columbian times. The Stone Spheres, are
unique structures in the world . The archaeological sites where most of them
have been found are on our route down to Drake Bay.
Once in
Sierpe we will go by boat down the Sierpe River. On the way we will see and
visit the Terraba-Sierpe Mangrove Forest, which happens to be the biggest remainder
of mangrove in Central American Pacific Coast.
Once on the
ocean we will sail by the shore of Drake Bay until we reach our lodge.
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| Terraba-Sierpe Mangrove |
The lodge
will have basic accommodation, using generators and solar power to provide
electricity.
When we get
to the lodge, we’ll rest and talk about the logistics of the next few days.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5 -- Corcovado National Park (Drake Bay Lodge)
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| Corcovado National Park |
"The most biologically
intense place on earth" - according to National Geographic - Corcovado National Park is the place to
be when talking about flora and fauna in the tropics. Lots of birds, reptiles,
amphibians, insects, mammals, plants, trees--it is just a paradise totally
worth visiting.
After breakfast we will take the boat down to the National Park, where we
will be taking a hike looking for monkeys, sloths, tapirs, birds, crocodiles
and much more.
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| Coati |
We will have a picnic lunch at Corcovado and return to the lodge later in
the afternoon. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner).
Day 6 - Caño Island Biological Reserve (Drake Bay Lodge)
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| Snorkeling at Caño Island |
Today after breakfast we will be taking our next adventure into the
ocean. Drake Bay is well known for being the place where many species of cetaceans
including Humpback Whales come to spend the winter, while mating and giving
birth to their cubs. There is always a chance to see big groups of dolphins,
jumping and spinning around the boat. Sea turtles, many species of birds,
stingrays, reef sharks and more are among the many things that could be seen
today while snorkeling.
The island is also an archeological site for the ancient native tribes
that use to live inland and would use the island as a sacred burial place.
Later we will come back to the lodge and at dusk we’ll do a night walk on
one of the trails of the lodge to untangle some of the secrets of the rain
forest at night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
Dinner).
Day 7 - The Highland of Costa Rica, San Gerardo de
Dota Valley (San Gerardo de Dota Lodge)
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| Paramo 11.000 ft |
After this
amazing adventure at Corcovado area it is time to get back to Sierpe and be on
our way to our next destination. We will take the boat and then get on our bus
and drive to the highlands of Talamanca Mountain Range, the highest in Costa
Rica.
The valley of
San Gerardo is also the best place in Costa to spot the amazing Resplendent
Quetzal, considered by many the most beautiful bird on the American Continent.
June is part of its mating season.
Today is a
driving day, we will stop on the way for lunch and if the weather conditions permit,
we will visit the Paramo. This is a South American ecosystem present only in
the highlands and that gets as far north as Costa Rica. At 11,000 ft. of
elevation the Paramo is a variety of alpine tundra ecosystems. Some ecologists
describe the Páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, mountain vegetation above
the continuous timberline”. The vegetal
structure and biodiversity present in both ecosystems will allow us to learn
about the different species that live there and the adaptations that they have
developed to survive the extreme conditions.
(Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 8 - Birdwatching and drive to Homestay (Sitio
de Mata)
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| Resplendent Quetzal |
Early in the
morning we will start our search for the Resplendant Quetzal. They are more
active during the early morning before the sun starts to heat things up.
We will look for them as they feed on the wild avocado trees. To see the
Quetzal is one of the most magical experiences one could dream of. Later today we will drive back up to the
Pan-American Highway to see a very different
and interesting ecosystem, the Highland Bogs, which is a wetland that
accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material.
We will make the drive to
Sitio de Mata where you will be saying "hola!" to your new families.
This is the part of the trip where the kids will be immersed with some of the
greatest families for homestays you will find anywhere. You will be taken in as
family and have the chance to communicate in Spanish from start to finish.
Every day will be filled with activities and things to keep us busy, building
new friendships, learning about the culture, and understanding the importance
of family values.
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| Sitio de Mata Homestay |
When we arrive we will meet
in a little ranchito where all the moms will be present and we will introduce
all of you to your new families. Although not everyone will be in the same
house, this is a small village and houses are close together. Everything is within
a very short walking distance.
In the evening we will meet
as a group in one of the ranchitos where the kids will have time to journal and
reflect on the homestay arrival. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Day 9 - Homestay
activities (Sitio de Mata)
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| Sitio de Mata Homestay |
Today we have
a fun activity to practice our Spanish. Families organized a farewell party for
us tonight, but for this it is necessary to buy food and other necessary items.
We travel on the public bus to Turrialba. We’ll organize in groups and each
will be assigned a list of items to be acquired. All our Spanish skills will be
needed while walking through the village market, and visiting the shops in search
of these items. We’ll return to Sitio de Mata, lunch with our families, and
then help out cooking and preparing the food for the party. Then there’ll be a
little time for play—we’ll meet at the soccer field for that game Ticos, young
and old all love—Costa Rican futbol. At night it is time to eat, party and
dance at the beautiful fiesta prepared by the community (Meals: Breakfast, lunch
and dinner).
Day 10 - Enter
Pacuare River and Stay at River Lodge (River Lodge)
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| Pacuare River |
Today we will spend the
morning saying "Hasta Pronto" to our Sitio de Mata famililes. Once we
give our final hugs, good-byes or "until next time", we'll
head to what National Geographic has listed
as one of the top five most scenic rivers in the world. In the
morning we'll raft some small class II & III rapids then have
lunch right on the river followed by a little hiking to some waterfalls.
Then it's back in our rafts
to get to our final river destination, our beautiful river lodge that has
breath-taking views of the Pacuare Canyon and lush green mountains as far as
the eye can see. In the evening we will have activities planned for everyone as
we experience living in the jungle for a night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, &
Dinner)
Day 11 - Class
III & IV Rapids and travel to San José (San José Hotel)
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| Learning from Nature |
Today we will
get breakfast and begin our final raft. This is the most scenic part of
the river with the most adventurous rapids. We will deftly make our way
down the class III & IV sections passing beautiful canyon walls
that rise 300ft high, primary rainforests from start to finish, and 100ft
waterfalls that drop into the banks of the river.
Day 12 - Fly
home!!!
Today we’ll
drive to the San Jose Airport where you will catch your flight home! (Meals:
Breakfast)
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| Come back soon!!! |
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