The Hewitt School - Rafael Velez-Medina

Day 1 ------ Arrive and Drive to Turrialba Hotel (Espino Blanco)

Espino Blanco Lodge

We will be meeting you at the airport and making the drive to your first hotel. Your first hotel is in an absolutely beautiful sitting on a private reserve and is a true example of what an ecolodge should be. There were close to no trees removed in making this place as you can tell when eating dinner they have designed the restaurant that actually has some of the larger trees coming out of the ground. It is a great first night allowing everyone to get the full feel of the jungle on day one.

Before arriving at the hotel you will be able to drive 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.

When we arrive at the hotel we will all meet for dinner and there you will get an orientation of what to expect during the week and some of the Standards we hope to include during the course of your Costa Rica Educational Trip. (Meals: Lunch & Dinner)

Day 2 ------ Travel to Homestay (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 the birding or after resting up an extra hour. Once everyone has finished breakfast we'll take a nature hike and spend the morning learning about the rainforest and gaining a basic understanding of it. . We will be discussing how it functions and how we all depend on the rainforest even though we might not live in it.

In the afternoon we will 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 will add a few more ingredients and dinner is served. We will again eat dinner together and then put the music on for some practice of what we learned in the dance classes.After the morning in the jungle we will go to Sitio de Mata, the homestays. This happens to be one of the highlights 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.

Day 3 ------ Community Service & Homestay Activities (Homestay)

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)

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. We will then make our way to a meeting point where we will get together for journal time and another briefing on village life.

Howler Monkey

After our meeting the kids will have time for a soccer game with the locals. This often is one of the favorite events of the trip. After the soccer 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)

Rafting Pacuare

Day 4 ------ Enter River 2-Day Adventure (Pacuare Tent Camp)

Today we will enter the famous Pacuare River. Listed as one of National Geographics 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.

After the lunch we'll raft to the camp-site which will be around 40 minutes more of 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 site. 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)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.

Day 5 ------ Take out of River and Travel to Caribbean Beach Hotel (Beach Lodge)

Pacuare Camp Site

During our educational trips to Costa Rica we have to admit that not all is completely educational. The next two hours of the trip are considered by many two hours they know they will never forget. They often say the best way to not forget it, is to actually do it yourself. We assume that is why most of our students never forget the two hours of rafting on the Pacuare Canyon which is where you will be on day 2 of your rafting adventure. This is an amazing two hours filled with adventure and fun from start to finish.

When we take out of the river we will be on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Although on the Caribbean side, we will still have a two hour bus ride  to get to where we are going. We will be staying just steps from the beach. When we arrive we will all enjoy the cuisine of the Caribbean which is very different from the rest of Costa Rica. You will be staying in a beautiful hotel located just steps from the beach. We will also have time for a meeting in the evening talking about the river and being in the jungle for a night. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ------ Enter Bribri Reserve & Community Service (Beach Lodge)

Today we will be visiting the very remote and very indigenous looking village of Soki (You will not find it on a map) and we will be engaging in community service and learning about the ancient indigenous culture of the Bri-Bri. There we'll be welcomed by the local community and hear and practice some of their language. We will have a crash course on the language before we arrive so everyone can try and learn the greetings. In the evening the Bribri will do their traditional dance and talk to us about the importance of the environment and what they have learned from generations past. 

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 struggling to keep their traditions and knowledge alive and we feel through our ecotourism practices we can help them in their fight to keep their thousands of years of knowledge from disappearing. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Bribri

Day 7 ------ Hike & Travel to Bocas del Toro in Boat  (Bocas del Toro)

Today is a very adventurous day, filled with scenery, easy hiking along the coast, and one of the most beautiful boat rides you can imagine. We will be traveling from our ecolodge hiking along the beach for 2 miles where we will meet a boat. Here the boat will transport us to Bocas de Toro Panama. We will proceed with our immigration permits upon arrival and then make our way to the hotel. In the afternoon we will walk you around the town of Bocas del Toro and give you a history lesson on the very interesting area. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 ------ Snorkel & Visit Sites of Bocas del Toro (Bocas del Toro)

With 500 endemic fish and 35 different species of corals there is not better place for a snorkeling trip than the Caribbean Coast of Panama. 

Bocas del Toro, Panama

We will spend the morning snorkeling and what better place to visit, after an evening briefing on global warming. The corals of the world are disappearing and are some of the species to feel the most damaging affect from global warming. After the snorkeling we will visit a few more of our favorite sites in Bocas del Toro.  The kids will also be able to relax on the beach and enjoy their time in the ocean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 9 ------ Travel Back to Casa Rio Blanco in Guapiles (Casa Rio Blanco)

After breakfast we will start making our way back to San Jose. Because this is a long travel day we will stop for the night in Casa Rio Blanco where we will be spending the evening. This will put us close enough to San Jose where the following morning we can either catch a flight home or stay in a hotel in San Jose and fly home on day 11. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 10 -------- Fly Home!

Today we will make our way to the airport where you will catch your flight home.

Carlyn December Adventure 2012

Day 1 ------- Arrive San Jose Hotel (La Condesa)

Today your driver and guide will meet you outside of the San Jose airport. We will travel to the hotel where you will be spending the first night. Depending upon arrival time we can visit the Orphanage today. In the evening we will get a good nights rest and have a nice meal with an introduction of what to expect during the week. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 ------- Visit Orphanage & Drive to Cavern (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

We will get an early start today after breakfast load up the bus and make our way to the Orphanage. Here we will visit the kids and get the chance to share some skills with some activities which you can have planned upon arrival. We can gear the activities towards environmental awareness or leadership to coincide with what you have been doing in class back home.

Sleeping Behind Falls

After we spend a few hours with the kids we will make the drive south along the Pacific Coast. Here you will enjoy views of the Pacific (Yes, we can stop and get our feet wet) and then make our way inland to where we begin the trek to one of the most scenic spots in all of Costa Rica. During the hike we will visit a permaculture farm, breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, and primary rainforest. When we arrive to our destination we will be located behind 3 beautiful waterfalls where dinner will be prepared for us and we will get ready for a night of fun surrounded by natural wonders. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 ------- Rappel Waterfall & Sunset Atop Diamante (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Today is a full day of fun in natures playground. We will start the day by having a hearty breakfast. From here we will make a short hike to the upper pools. These pools are a series of small waterfalls where the kids will have the chance to swim and even jump off a 15 ft waterfall. After the visit to the pools we will make our way to the area where we will be rappeling a 120ft waterfall. This is quite the adrenaline rush for those that dont rappel waterfalls everyday.

Waterfall Rappel

After the rappel we will get some lunch in the cavern and then make another short hike to the top of the Diamante Falls. This is the 600ft waterfall that will offer us one of the most scenic sunsets you can imagine over the Pacific Ocean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ------- Travel to Homestays & Community Service (Homestays)

Sunset Diamante Falls

Today we will leave the land of the waterfalls and make our way to Turrialba. Here we will be staying in a small village called Sitio de Mata. It is surrounded by mountains and has an astonishing view of the smoking Turrialba Volcano. We will be staying with homestay families here and have a chance to experience the "real" Costa Rica and meet some of the most amazing people on the planet.

When we arrive we will get to work having the afternoon full of another mini-camp for the kids where we teach the kids the importance of the environment and leadership skills. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

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

Today we will begin our rafting adventure on what is considered one of the top 5 most scenic rivers on the planet. This is full day of fun in the water surrounded by primary rainforest from start to finish. We will be rafting class I & II rapids today saving the big rapids for day 6. Our time will be spent hiking to waterafalls, rafting, and having a river lunch prepared for you by your CRR guides.

In the evening we will arrive to the river tent camp where we will be spending the night enjoying some evening activities with the sounds of the jungle and river. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)


Day 6 ------- Raft Canyon & Drive to San Jose (Airport Hotel)

Today we will be visiting the most adventurous and scenic part of the river. The Pacuare Canyon is known for its scenery with 200ft rock walls, waterafalls falling into the river, putting you into the mindset of Jurrasic Park. The rapids are class III & IV keeping everyone full of adrenaline.

When we make our way out of the Pacuare river the fun is not over. We will be driving back to San Jose through one of the most scenic National Parks in all of Costa Rica the Braulia Carrillo National Park. When we arrive to San Jose we will have a farewell dinner and reflect on the amazing adventure of the last 6 days! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 ------- Fly Home!

We will take you to the San Jose Airport so you can get home and start planning your return trip! (Meals: Breakfast)

Mardi Itin St George

Watching Sunset atop 600ft Diamante Falls

Day 1 -- Arrive (Airport Hotel)

Today we will meet you outside the airport and take you to your first hotel. This will be a long day of travel and we want everyone to have a good nights rest. We will have a welcome dinner and a short introduction to the guides and go over some of the exciting plans for the week in Costa Rica. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 2 -- Enter Cave & Rappel Waterfall (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

We will get an early start after breakfast we will make the drive down to the Southern Pacific coast. Our destination will be what we consider one of the most scenic parts in all of Costa Rica. The area will remind you of a lost world of waterfalls. Today's adventure is part of a rural eco-tourism family run operation that will allow you and the kids to sleep behind a waterfall. In order to arrive we need to make our way hiking for 1 1/2 hours to to ridge that looks over the Pacific ocean atop a 600ft watefall sleeping behind a second waterfall makes for the most unique experience we can offer that our student groups absolutely love. Along with the hike the most exciting and adventurous part of the trip is the rappel of a 120ft waterfall.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Leave Cave & Drive to Sitio (Homestay)

Today you will wake up behind the waterfall and enjoy the breakfast before the hike out. We will also visit some nearby pools and more waterfalls where the kids can have the chance to swim in pristine pools surrounded by lush tropical rainforest.

Rappeling 120ft Falls

After the hike out we will make our way to another very scenic area called Sitio de Mata. The drive to Sitio de Mata will take us over the central mountain range which will give us an elevation of 10,000ft. Here you will have draw-dropping views of the Caribbean and Pacific coast from the very same spot. 

When we arrive to the homestays everyone will be introduced to their new families and spend the evening practicing their Spanish and getting to know the family. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 -- Culture Activities in the Village (Homestay)

Today is a full day of fun with the happiest people on the planet. Costa Rica as a country was voted as having the happiest people on the planet and today you will have the chance to see why. We will spend the entire day learning different culture activities, visiting the local schools, and playing a soccer game with our new friends. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 -- Scavenger Hunt Turrialba (Homestays)

One of our favorite activities with kids when visiting the village of Sitio de Mata is the challenge of a Scavenger hunt. Your homestay families will give you money to buy some of the groceries they need to prepare dinner. We all take the 9am public bus (Great experience to ride the public transportation) as a group with some of the local family members. Everyone will have a list and the first person to return to the central park with everything on their list will win Ice-Cream Sandwiches! This is a great game that gets the kids using their Spanish in a real life experience.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & DInner)

Day 6 -- Enter Pacuare River (Tent Camp)

Today we will make our way to one of the top 5 scenic rivers on the planet considered by National Geographic. We will spend the first day rafting, enjoying a river lunch from your CRR river guides, hiking to waterfalls, and enjoying some swims in many different pools. We will arrive to the tent-lodge around 4pm where your CRR river guides will prepare your meals for you and you will sleep in above ground tents with the sound of the river all night. 

In the evening we always have different activities planned and games your guides get going with the kids. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Pacuare Tent Lodge

Day 7 -- Raft Pacuare Canyon & Drive to Sitio de Mata (Homestay)

Today we will raft the best rapids on the river and also the most scenic part of the river and maybe all of Costa Rica. Here we will raft through a majestic gorge of tropical canyon from start to finish. We will be getting out of the river around 3pm and our final event of the week will be a farewell party that you will never forget. We will make our way back to the homestays and get ready and get ready for the farewell fiesta! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 -- Fly Home!

Transfer to the San Jose Airport and start planning your next Costa Rica Adventure! (Meals: Breakfast)

Pacific - Osa Peninsula Adventure

Day 1 ---- Arrive & Drive to Rafiki Lodge (Rafiki Lodge)

Today your Costa Rican Resource naturalist guide and driver will meet you at the San Jose Airport. In your comfortable coaster bus, they'll drive you to the Pacific Coast and then inland for a few miles where you are surrounded by virgin tropical rainforest and the Savegre River. This is a very unique area of Costa Rica and since there's been little development, some argue that the area may be even more diverse than the Osa Peninsula due to the fast rise in elevation and the many different ecosystems.

The Rafiki Lodge is where you will be staying and is a great mix of fun, adventure, and education in a tent camp with a splash of fine amenities. The Lodge owners happen to be advocates of the the Path of the Tapir. We like to set up an evening where the kids can learn from the CRR naturalist guide about the life of the Tapir in Costa Rica. 

This will be a full day of traveling and we plan to get to the lodge and get a good night's rest for the full week of fun learning to follow. (Meals:  Dinner)

Day 2 ---- Raft Savegre (Rafiki Lodge)

Breakfast will be served at the logde and then we will make our way to one of the most beautiful rivers in Costa Rica. What we like best about rafting the Savegre, is the opportunity to see wildlife. Along with the many species of flor & fauna we will be spending a full day immersed in the natural wonders of Costa Rica. We'll be rafting some adventurous rapids, hiking to waterfalls, and eating a river lunch prepared for you by your CRR guides.

In the evening it will be back to the lodge for dinner and Tapir-story time.  We'll do an evening nature hike to see some of the critters that come out in the rainforest at night! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Sleeping Behind Waterfall

Day 3 ---- Hike into Cavern & Sleep Behind Waterfall ( Waterfall)

Today is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Costa Rica. We will make a 1 1/2 hour hike into a steep ridge where we will arrive to a land of waterfalls. Here is where we will be sleeping behind the waterfall. During the hike we will have a tour of an organic farm where the kids will have the chance to try many different types of tropical fruits.

After lunch the kids will swim in the many pristine pools, jump off a 15 ft waterfall, and make the short hike to the Diamante Waterfall, the highest in Costa Rica, to watch the sunset over the Pacific from the 600ft waterfall. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 ---- Rappel Waterfall & Travel to La Cusinga Ecolodge (La Cusinga Ecolodge)

After breakfast today, we'll rappel a 120ft waterfall. This really gets the adrenaline going for the kids. After the rappel we will hike out and make the short trip to a unique ecolodge. La Cusinga was started by a pioneer conservationist here in Costa Rica. While at La Cusinga, we enjoy jaw-dropping views of the Pacific and learn a bit about the importance of biomimicry as the Lodge is used for a yearly biomimicry course and we always like to apply a short little lesson when possible on our tours. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Watching Sunset atop Diamante Falls

Day 5 ---- Osa Zipline & Travel through Sierpe to Carate (Beach Ecolodge)

Today we will wake up to the sound of the waves crashing on the Pacific. If the views from La Cusinga were not breath-taking enough then what you will experience during the zipline will no doubt be what you were looking for. After breakfast we'll drive up the first ridge on the coast to where the mountain meets the sea. We will elevate to 1,000ft above sea-level yet just a few kilometers inland. Here is where we will zipline, giving you phenomenal views of Costa Rica's entire Pacific Coast and superb views of the Osa Peninsula.

After the zipline adventure we'll head to the nearby Sierpe River where we will ride boats through the mangroves and learn of their importance. From the mangroves we will pass through the mouth of the Sierpe and make our way to the Osa Peninsula where the real adventure begins. Here we will be staying at an ecolodge near the Corcovado National Park. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 ---- Nature Hikes & Full Day of Biodiversity and Ecology FUN (Beach Ecolodge)

Today is a full day of nature fun and education. Not only will you be in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet but we will also have expert and passionate, naturalist guides that will get you every bit as excited about hiking through the rainforest as you were about ziplining, rafting, and rappeling. This is a unique day to be in such a biodiverse place and the moment can be life-changing. We often like to do another night hike here so the kids can compare the differences to the night hike in the start of the week. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Never know what you'll find in Corcovado

Day 7 ---- Travel Back to San Jose (Airport Hotel)

Depending on your flight time on day 8 we will be traveling back to the San Jose area to get a hotel near the San Jose Airport.

Day 8 ---- Fly Home!

With a mind full of wonderful experiences, memories and new knowledge, you'll get your flight home. (Meals: Breakfast)

Pura Vida!!!