James Gray Costa Rica Adventure 2014

We have upgraded our Airport Transfers

Feb 16th -- Arrive & Travel to Central Valley Hotel & Trip to Local Synagogues (Central Valley Hotel)

Today you will be met at the airport by your CRR driver and guide. We will make our way to the nearby hotel where you will be staying the first night. Since you will be arriving from Florida the flight should be around mid day and it will give us time to visit a local Jewish Community in the San Jose area. During the first evening we will have a dinner where the students will get an orientation on what to expect during the adventure.

After dinner and orientation it will be time to get some rest for the next five days of adventure! (Meals: Dinner)

Feb 17th ---- Community Service Project (Turrialtico o Homestays)

Today we will travel out to the Turrialba area where we can do a community service project in the village of Sitio de Mata. One option would be to stay in the homestays of the village which is part of our Sitio de Mata Project or we could stay in a hotel nearby. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Feb 18th -- Raft Pacuare River (CRR Pacuare Jungle Lodge)

Rafting Pacuare River

Today we'll have breakfast in the hotel and then head south to the area of Turrialba. During the drive you will have breath-taking views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano and a chance to experience the country-side of Costa Rica.

Our adventure today will be rafting the mighty Pacuare River. Rated by National Geographic as one of the top five most scenic rivers on the planet, this is a true gem in paradise. We'll spend the day rafting, hiking to waterfalls, and enjoying a river lunch. After rafting we will dock our rafts at our private river lodge where we will spend the night. You'll have some of the best views of the river and jungle possible as you spend the night in the tropical rainforest. This is a tent-lodge but it is designed for beginner campers. The tents are above ground along with above ground walkways, private bathrooms & showers, a large dining and relaxing area, and to  say the least you are not roughing it. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Feb 19th -- Sky Trek Zipline & Finca Don Juan (Manoa Hotel)

Today we will wake up to the sound of the rainforest, have a hearty breakfast and then make our way down the rest of the river. This is the most scenic part of the river as we will pass through different canyons and see 200 ft waterfalls going straight into the river.

After the day of rafting we will be met by the bus that will take us to the Arenal Volcnao. This is a perfectly cone-shaped volcano and you will have spectacular views of the volcano from your cabins at the Manoa Hotel. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Arenal Volcano

Feb 20th --   La Fortuna Falls  (Manoa Resort)

La Fortuna Falls

Today is a more relax day but with still plenty of fun. We will start by hiking to the La Fortuna Falls where you will get a chance to experience one of the most scenic waterfall in all of Costa Rica. After the falls you can enjoy the hotsprings of the Hotel at Manoa that has its own thermal waters. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Feb 21st -- Fly Home!

Today we will make the transfer to the San Jose Airport where you will catch your flight home!

Diane Bush Costa Rica Itin 2014

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

View of Arenal Volcano

Today you will be met at the airport by your CRR guide and driver. You'll make the 2 1/2 hour drive north to the area of La Fortuna which sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano. The Manoa Hotel is one of our favorite in the area because it offers a breath-taking view of the Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano is a perfectly cone-shaped volcano and without question the most scenic in all of Costa Rica.

In the evening we'll have an excellent dinner at the hotel and give you an orientation to get the kids ready for the week of adventure and fun! (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 -- Zipline, Don Juan Organic Farm, & La Fortuna Waterfall (Manoa Hotel)

Today is a full day of adventure and education. We will start with a visit to the zipline located on the other side of the volcano which will offer views of the lake and volcano. This is a zipline that will take us through the virgin rainforest as we zip on cables 700ft high above the rainforest floor. Yes Diane, I said 700ft high!

See you soon Diane!

After the zipline we will make our way to the Don Juan Organic Farm. Don Juan is a class act and always a favorite for many of the kids as he walks us through is small organic farm and teaches the importance of our food system and his efforts to help. He only speaks Spanish so plan to learn all your organic farming in Spanish. The best part about the day at Don Juan's is that he invites us to lunch with all products from his farm. This is one of the best tasting meals you will have all week.

With our tummies full we will plan to excercise a little bit as we take you to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This is one of the most scenic falls in all of Costa Rica and a chance to hike a bit and get plenty of pictures as we swim in the pools at the bottom of the falls. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Nature Hike & Travel to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today we will get an early start since we will be changing location. Our final destination will be your home away from home and what we consider the heart of this company. Our homestay project is made up of families in the rural area of Sitio de Mata where the kids will be welcomed into the homes of some of the nicest people on the planet. Without question you can plan on this being the most heartwarming part of your trip as you will make new friends and love the scenery of this village. Sitio de Mata is tucked away in the mountains with fabulous views of the smoking Turrialba Volcano.

Before we get to the village we are going to take a nature hike that will give you a chance to see more wildlife than you can imagine. This will be your chance to learn about the low-land tropical rainforest which happens to be one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 -- Community Activities (Homestays)

There is a lot to learn about rural living in Costa Rica and our goal is to show you some of the highlights. We will start by learning how to cook the different cuisines. The moms in Sitio will teach you the how to cook the most tasty dishes in Costa Rica. We will also take part in a community service activity allowing us to give back a little

Night in the Rainforest

bit to the community.

In the evening we will have a full blown Costa Rican Fiesta with plenty of food and dance along with all our new friends. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

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

Rated by National Geographic as one of the top five rivers in all of the world is the Pacuare River. We will raft for two days of and have fun as we venture down the river, hike to different waterfalls, and even an optional hike to visit indigenous families.

Rafting Pacuare!

After around two hours of rafting and a river lunch we will get to the Costa Rican Resource River Camp. Here you will enjoy camp life but by no means is it roughing it as you will have private bathrooms and showers, kitchen, beautiful lounging area, and above ground tents all while surrounded by the rainforest. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 -- Raft Pacuare Canyon & Drive to Carribean (Almonds & Corals Ecolodge)

Today we will wake up to the sound of the rainforest and make our way down the most scenic part of the river. Today you'll have vistas of beautiful canyons along with large waterfalls that fall into the river. It is a great day of rafting from start to finish.

When we take out of the river we will make the two hour drive to the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Our final destination will be the Almonds & Corals Ecolodge where you'll spend two nights again surrounded by picturesque rainforest. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 -- Snorkel Tour (Almonds & Corals)

We will wake up to the sound of the ocean and the sound of the howler monkeys. After breakfast it will be time to hit the white sand and the blue water of the Caribbean. We will take a snorkel tour to see different species of coral and colourful fish.

In the afternoon the kids can enjoy their last dip in the Caribbean. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 -- Fly Home!

Today we will make the transfer to the San Jose Airport. (Meals: Breakfast)