Science meets Practical Knowledge in Costa Rica

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

Today we will meet you outside of the San Jose Airport where you will make the three hour drive to the La Cusinga Ecolodge. This is an amazing spot with breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean. The owner of La Cusinga is a pioneer in ecotourism and a true conservationist. The chance to stay at the lodge is a tour in itself just learning the different aspects of operating as an ecolodge.

Arriving on a mid-day flight would be best allowing us to get to the ecolodge around dinner time and give everyone a briefing on the trip and a chance to have a good night's sleep. (Meals: Beakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

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

Nature Hike

We will make the short drive to the nearby zipline which is located on the first mountain ridge off the coast. You'll notice the Pacific side of Costa Rica is much like California where the mountains meet the sea, yet a bit greener and probably less developed. Here you will be zipping from tree to tree on cables 400 ft above the rainforest floor with a chance to view the canopy and some of the most biodiverse areas of all of Costa Rica.

Before the zipline we will have a short chat on the physics of ziplining getting everyone in the mood to get ready to experience and feel the friction and forces behind one of ecotourism's most exciting events.

After the zipline we will head back to La Cusinga and take a short nature hike to take in the reserve at the lodge. This will lead us to the beach where you can spend some time getting your feet in the sand and then back to the lodge where we will continue to learn the benefits of how an ecolodge operates compared to other types of hotels. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------ Enter Cave, Organic Farm Tour, & Rappel (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Sleeping behind the Waterfall

After breakfast we'll make the short drive to where we begin an hour and a half hike to the cave at the crest of Diamante Falls, one of the most beautiful spots you can possibly imagine. Today's adventure will start with some hiking and at the halfway point you will visit an organic permaculture garden. The idea behind this type of agriculture is to mimic the nearby ecosystem allowing for as little impact as possible while still providing enough food for numerous families to live off of. Our time at the organic garden will be spent picking various tropical fruits and eating them while learning about the benefits of different forms of agriculture compared to others.

One of the many Waterfalls

After the organic garden we'll continue hiking until we arrive at the kitchen of the cave that is situated behind a waterfall where you will have a very fresh, delicious, nutritious lunch, much of which was grown in the garden you just toured.

The Orrrrrganic Kitchen

With lunch digested we'll get everyone ready for the next big thrill, a 120 ft rappel down a waterfall. This happens to be one of the most scenic waterfalls and a chance to rappel down it is just icing on the cake. In the evening we will make a short hike to the top of the Diamante Falls,  a 600ft waterfall, to watch the sunset over the Pacific. We then head back to the sleeping area behind the waterfall you just rappelled.  After some campfire activities, we'll slumber to the oh so natural dream-machine sound of a waterfall all night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ------ Hike to Pools & Drive to Homestays (Sitio de Mata Homestays)

After breakfast (behind the waterfall) we'll head to the pools. This is another slice of paradise that will allow you to be completely surrounded by virgin rainforest as you sit in the relaxing pools while surrounded by waterfalls.

In the afternoon, we say goodbye to the magical mountain, waterfall land and cave and drive to the homestays. This takes the better half of the afternoon but that does not mean it does not have its thrills. We will be driving over what we like to call the spine of Costa Rica. It is the mountain range that has been lifted up from the plate tectonic movement causing speciation of species along with what many consider the bridge of the Americas. Because of this uplift the area we will be visiting is known as the Paramo and is a very unique ecosystem of the tropics. This is also one of the few areas of the Americas where you can see the Caribbean and the Pacific without adjusting your feet.

We will then drop down into the Turrialba area where we will start seeing how rural Costa Ricans live. You will begin to notice the simplicity of life and the practical useful knowledge that comes with it. One of our favorites will be natural fences which is an ingenious, simple, sustainable, and cheap way of marking off property lines.

We will also be passing a wind-farm and a dam, affording us a teachable moment to touch on the theme of cleaner energy and Costa Rica's commitment as a country.

Our final destination will be your homestay which we are confident will be your best two nights of your trip to Costa Rica. You will see where simplicity meets happy, loving, and caring people - could this be related? (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 ------ Solar Hot Water Batch Heaters Project Launch & Visit to Local School, Church, & Water District Office (Sitio de Mata Homestays)

With many activities to be planned one of our main goals will be to launch a project of hot water batch heaters during this trip. If this is something we already have rolling or something that is already set up and just needing some guidance upon your arrival, we feel attention to the Hot Water Batch Heaters Project would be an important part of this day. We will also fill the day as you know with many culture activities such as cooking classes and quite the evening fiesta, enriched with Costa Rican culture and fun. We will include some visits during this day to help give us a better understand of life in the area. The School, Church, and water district office will be on our list.

One of our favorite things is just soaking in the rural life of the Costa Rican people. It is said that architects and engineers are now looking to more remote and simpler lifestyles for ideas since this is where the human species is forced to adapt. Here, out of necessity, imagination of design often flourishes. You will notice groups of homes that are open for cross ventilation--an idea many of our US homes could use to cut down on a/c.

This could be you Martin!

It would also be fun to include some time for constructing crafts out of recycled goods.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ------ Enter Pacuare, Raft & Night Hike (Pacuare Camp)

Today we will enter Pacuare and have the chance to talk about many different components of the rafting adventure and river hydraulics. These are two days that you will be in it and completely surrounded by some of the finest scenery Costa Rica has to offer. The river is filled with canyons, waterfalls, and countless amounts of biodiversity.

Lets get Ready for Pacuare!

We will spend the first day rafting and stopping for lunch along the way. We will then get to our river camp where we'll have some more fun learning. We'll do a night hike which will give you a chance to see a number of different species of insects, frogs, sleeping birds, and maybe a JAGUAR!!! Unfortunately in all our years we have never seen a Jaguar. They are out there but because of their ability to smell us from 2 km away they would rather not deal with us. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Rafting Pacuare River

Day 7 ------ Leave Pacuare & Drive to San Jose (La Condesa Hotel)

Today we raft the most scenic and the most adventurous section of the river. This will be two hours on the river you will not forget. Once we take out we will grab some lunch and then head back to San Jose.

You will get a good night's rest in the La Condesa Hotel where you will be just 20 minutes from the San Jose Airport. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------ Fly Home!

Today we will transfer you to the airport to catch you flight home satisfied that 12 families are now taking warm showers in the Sitio de Mata Village! PURA VIDA! (Meals: Breakfast)

Note: The 10 day option would be as follows:

Arenal Volcano 10-Day Option

Day 7 ---- Leave Pacuare & Drive to Arenal Volcano (Manoa Hotel)
Day 8 ---- Visit Don Juan Organic Farm & Danaus Reserve (Manoa Hotel)
Day 9 ---- Visit National Park & Zipline (Manoa Hotel)
Day 10 --- Transfer to Airport & Fly Home!

If you decided on the 10 day option we would choose to do the zipline at Arenal & visit a banana plantation during day 2 as Jheudy has an incredible talk about the United Fruit Company and its impact as a large corporation on the people and countries of Central America. If you decided on the 8 day we could zipline on day 2 or scratch zipline all together.