Brendan Casey, Joan MacQueen Middle School, Science, Culture, Cloud-Forest, Adventure

Day 1 -- Arrive and Drive to Rural Mountains in Sitio de Mata, Turrialba (Homestay)

 

Today our private guide and driver will meet us outside the San Jose Airport. We recommend to arrive on a mid-afternoon or earlier flight, and then we'll make the drive to the beautiful area of Turrialba. Our final destination will be the rural village of Sitio de Mata which is one of the most scenic areas in Costa Rica surrounded by mountains and breath-taking views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. Here is where we have our homestay project called "Proyecto Sitio de Mata" benefiting the community. The best part about Sitio de Mata is not the smoking volcano or the scenery but the people that will be welcoming you into their homes. When we arrive you will be introduced to your homestay family. All houses are very close to each other. One house might be 20 ft from the next and walking to any of the homes is very easy and accessible. (Meals:  Dinner)

Day 2 -- Raft Pacuare River and Fiesta (Homestay)

Rafting at Pacuare River

We will get an early start today leaving our homes around 7:30am. This is full day of rafting. The best part of this day is the river we will be rafting. The Pacuare River is listed by National Geographic as one of the top five scenic rivers on the planet. It is filled with fabulous scenery from start to finish with canyon walls hundreds of feet high, waterfalls cascading right into the river, virgin tropical rainforest from start to finish and of course some thrilling rapids. Our CRR river guides will prepare lunch right on the banks that you'll consider one of the best meals of the trip.

In the evening it is time for the local fiesta! The homestay families will be putting on some entertaining traditional song and dance. After the performances it is time for everyone to practice their salsa skills! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Drive to San Gerardo de Dota - Cloud Forest (Trogon Lodge)

Cloud Forest

Today we will drive throughout the Talamanca Mountain Range, the highest  range in Costa Rica. Our next destination is in a valley between the mountains, at 7000ft of elevation. San Gerardo de Dota is world famous for the incredible view of its Cloud Forest full of ancient Oak trees and for being the best place in Costa Rica to observe the Resplendant Quetzal. This bird, considered sacred by ancient cultures, is recognized as the most beautiful of the American Continent. Once we're settled in our lodge we will take a hike inside the Cloud Forest, and learn about its uniqueness . (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 -- Quest for the Quetzal and Highland Ecosystems (Trogon Lodge)

The Cave

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 visit two very different and interesting ecosystems, first the Highland Bogs, which is a wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses. After this, we will drive farther up, pass the 11,000 ft. and experience the Paramo--a variety of alpine tundra ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the Páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane 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. We will come back to the lodge, later in the afternoon, rest and have dinner.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Paramo at Cerro de la Muerte

Day 5 ----  Hike to Cave, Organic Garden Tour (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

After breakfast we will make our way down to the Pacific slopes, towards  the community of Las Tumbas (the Tombs) from there we will be hiking to one of the most beautiful and pristine spots in Costa Rica. This an 1 1/2 hour hike but worth every second since we'll be sleeping behind a cascading waterfall and watch the sunset over the Pacific from the top of a 600ft waterfall. On the way up, we will stop by an organic garden, filled with many different types of medicinal plants and tropical fruits making it a very interesting, educational experience. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ---- Rappel Waterfall,  & Hike to Pools (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Rappeling at the Cave

Today is a full day surrounded by nature and filled with spectacular scenery. We will be sleeping behind a waterfall but we are not roughing it by any means. We can take showers and there are regular bathrooms. All meals are cooked for us which gives us time to make the most of the day. We'll start by rappelling a 120ft waterfall and then hiking to pools that are located nearby. Here at the pools the kids will jump off a 20ft waterfall into a welcoming waterhole 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 7 ---- Hike down and head to the Beach. (La Cusinga Lodge)

We will make our hike out of the cave and we will be on our way to La Cusinga Ecolodge which is one of the pioneer lodges of conservation. The Institute of Biomimicry uses La Cisinga for their training courses, so you will be seeing some spectacular examples of boimimicry along with great views of the Pacific. Here, surrounded by protected rainforest, and among the genius of the natural world, we'll take a deep look into just how much we can learn from nature to get us to a more sustainable future. (Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 8 ---- Hike in the lodge's reserve and beach time. (La Cusinga Lodge)

Sunset at the Pacific Coast

This is our last full day, it's been an amazing time and today we will take a nice hike around the grounds of the lodge to learn a little bit more about the biodiversity that surrounds it. After lunch there will be time to relax and enjoy the beach. (Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Day 9 ---- Drive to San José and fly home.

Today we'll make the 3 hr. drive to San José for your flight back to the US.