International School of Port of Spain Costa Rica 2014

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

When you arrive you will meet your private guide and driver outside of the airport where you will begin your journey to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Your guide will keep you infomred on the many sites along the way including the crodile bridge at Tarcoles River, Carara National Park which seperates the troipcal dry and moist forest, and the National Park of Manuel Antonio.

Your final destination will be the La Cusinga Ecolodge. This is one of the pioneer ecolodges in all of Costa Rica and is a great lesson on green living, ecotourism and operating a hotel in a sustianable manner. The views of the La Cusinga are unmatched by any other property on the Pacific. It is made up of 900 acres of preserved rainforest. (Meals: Dinner)

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

Zipline Adventure

Today we will begin with a little adventure. We will head south for 30 minutes to the area of Cortez where we'll ziplining. This property sits 1,000ft above sea-level and has primary rainforest offering one of Costa Rica's most scenic zipline tours available. Along with zipline the adventure will include a tree rappel, hanging bridges, and always the favorite of all is the Tarzan swing.

In the afternoon it is full on education at the La Cusinga Ecolodge. Your CRR naturalist will take you for a hike through the secondary and primary rainforest giving you a lesson on all the wonders of the tropical rainforest. Here you get to see, hear, touch, and experience different plants, flor & fauna. This area is considered one of the most biodiverse in all of Costa Rica.

In the evening we will have a time for reflection and feedback on the day's adventure. The kids will also be given time to write in their journals which we ask all students to do during our tours.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Hike to Cavern (Sleep Behind Waterfall)

Waterfall Rappel

We begin our first of two backcountry adventures today. We will make a 1 hour drive to the spot where we begin to hike. This is only a 1 1/2 hour hike but it is steep. We will take a break halfway up, stopping at an organic garden where the kids will taste many new and different tropical fruits.

Once we get to the cavern you will feel as if you are in the land of the waterfalls. Here you will enjoy lunch behind three different waterfalls all measuring over 100ft. Then we will gear up and get ready for the rappel which will take us on a 120ft waterfall rappel back down into the cavern where we will be sleeping. The evening will be spent doing as short hike to the top of Costa Rica's tallest waterfall. Here we will sit and watch the sunset drop over the Pacific before heading to the cavern for dinner. After dinner we will have candlelight and a bon-fire and listen to the surround-sound of the waterfalls. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Sunset Diamante Falls

Day 4 -- Drive to Turrialba Homestays (Sitio de Mata - Village of the Homestays)

Today we will hike out of the cavern and make one of the most scenic drives in all of Costa Rica. With mountains that rise up to 11,000ft and a chance to see both the Caribbean and the Pacific from the same spot, we will be stopping along the way for plenty of pictures. This is also the perfect teachable moment to talk about and show the kids the formation of Costa Rica through tectonic activity.  It's a unique area of the tropics known as the Paramo located just below the snow-line.

As we arrive to the area of Turrialba we will be passing the active volcano of Turrialba which has a picturesque smoke stack coming from it's crater.

Today's final destination will be our favorite spot in all of Costa Rica. This is Sitio de Mata,  your home away from home. Our homestay families will be waiting for us with open arms inviting us into their homes to learn about their culture and offer us a chance to make new friends. In the evening they will put on a fiesta displaying song and dance while we indulge in one of the best meals of the trip. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 -- Enter Pacuare River Rafting Adventure (CRR River Lodge)

Today you will say good-bye to your homestay families and get ready for a day of fun and adventure. We will begin rafting at about 10 am on the famous River Pacuare. National Geographic has this listed as one of their top five rivers on the planet. The two day rafting adventure offers a chance to take hikes to waterfalls and really enjoy our time on the river while being completey immersed in primarey rainforest from start to finish.

Rafting Pacuare

After a half day of rafting we will arrive to our private river lodge. Here the kids will be spending the night in their private bungalows with breath-taking views of mountains covered in green as far as the eye can see. 

In the evening we will meet again and have more time for relfection and writing in journals. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 -- Raft Pacuare Canyon & Travel Closer to Airport (La Condesa)

Today we will wake up to the sound of the jungle. This is the most adventurous and most scenic day of rafting in all of Costa Rica. We will make our way down the famous Pacuare Canyon where you'll see 200ft waterfalls falling into the side of the river along with canyon walls of rock that rise straight up 300ft.

After we take out of the river we will drive back to San Jose to be close to the airport for the last night and stay at the beautiful La Condesa Hotel for the last night where we will have our farwell dinner! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 -- Fly Home!

Today we will make the transfer to catch your flight departing form the (SJO) San Jose Airport. (Meals: Breakfast)

Bonnie & Rita Costa Rica Sample Itinerary 2014

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

Arenal Volcano

Today you will be met by your CRR staff and transported to your first hotel in the province 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 aquainted with staff members and an idea of what to expect during the week. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 -- Arenal (Don Juan, Ziplining, National Park)

Today we will start with a little adventure as we make our way to the ziplines that hang 700ft above the rainforest floor. This will be the kids first 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.

After the zipline we will make our way to the Arenal Volcano National Park. Here the kids will hike on old lava

Zipline Adventure

rock and get to the closest possible point of the volcano. This is a great lesson on not only the origins of the volcano but this area of Costa Rica.

After the hike we will stop for lunch in town and then the kids can have some time to walk around the small little town of La Fortuna. Later we will be heading to the organic farm of Don Juan where the kids will taste, see, smell, and feel the different stages of organic farming from one of Costa Rica's most respected farmers. This will be followed by 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. Since this is a Spanish focused trip we could have them journal in Spanish just to keep the writing skills prime during their week away from school. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 -- Travel to Sitio de Mata (Sitio de Mata)

Today we will say good-bye to the volcano and 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.

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 in 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 4 -- Culture Activities (Sitio de Mata)

Time with the families

Today is a day of cultural activities in the village. We like making this the first day activity so you can learn about the many different norms of the village. We will learn how to dance, cook, and even take a ride into the larger nearby town of Turrialba.  We'll have a lesson in shopping for the village since we will be responsible for cooking a meal for our homestays!

This is an excellent day for plenty of time with your families, a chance to get to know the kids, and get your bearings in the village. 

After dinner, as we do every evening, we will have a reflection where the kids will meet with their guides as a group and go over their experiences. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 -- Attend School (Sitio de Mata)

Well you might think you had the week off from school but guess what?! We found a school for you to attend in Costa Rica!Back to School, kids and it is a full day of learning. This is a day of being in class with local

The Perfect Immersion Experience!

students. It would be great to have a notebook of interview questions for the CR kids to answer throughout the day keeping everyone engaged and attentive. They will surely make a lot of new friends and maybe even get some homework.

Day 6 -- Community Service (Sitio de Mata)

Today we will have a service project set up so the students from Utah can give back to the community that in just two days has given back so much to them already. Depending on the type of project we come up with or ideas you and the kids back home might have, will depend on the type of work we do doing your stay. 

In the afternoon we will again meet as a group and reflect on the day of work. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 -- Visit Nearby Canyon, Soccer Game with Locals, & Farewell Fiesta! (Sitio de Mata)

Rafting Pacuare River

Today we will take the kids to a nearby canyon where they can rappell down different waterfalls. This is a fun adventure getting everyone wet and enjoying some outside time with the local kids. After the morning in the canyon we will head back to our homestays and have lunch and some down time with our families. 

Then it will be time for the soccer game that is always requested by the local kids and a crucial part of getting the full culture experience. This is a great way to enjoy what the local kids love doing with their spare time. Once the soccer game is over we will head back to our homestays and great ready for the final evening fiesta. This is a show you can not miss and in our opinion is on par with Cirque du Sole! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 -- Enter Pacuare & Stay at River Lodge (River Lodge)

Today we will spend the morning saying good-bye to our Sitio de Mata families. This will not be an easy

Morning in the Jungle

departure after five days of being with the families I get choked up just writing about the departure. 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)

Coffee Makes a good souvenir!

Day 9 -- Travel to San Jose & Souvenir Shop (San Jose Hotel)

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 section passing beautiful canyon walls that rise 300ft high, primary rainforests from start to finish, and hundred foot waterfalls that drop into the banks of the river.

Back on dry land and in the bus, we will make the two hour drive back to San Jose leaving us enough time to stop at some souvenir spots. At the hotel, we'll have our final evening reflection and farewell dinner. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 10 -- Fly Home!

Today we will make the drive to the San Jose Airport where you will catch your flight home! (Meals: Breakfast)

Jodi Boone Sample Costa Rica Adventure

Day 1 -- Arrive and Travel to first hotel (Grano de Oro Hotel)

Today we will meet you at the airport and take you to your first hotel. You will be met by your private driver and adventure guide. We can offer you a small luxurious boutique hotel in San Jose which will get you a good first nights rest. Depending on your flight arrival we can stay outside of San Jose but just to let you know the first day no activities planned. (Meals: None)

Day 2 -- Duckies upper pacuare y camping at Secret Spot (The Spot)

Today we are going to get an early early start leaving the hotel around 6:30am. We will be traveling to one of the most off the beaten path unique spots in all of Costa Rica. We will hop into 4x4 transportation where we will deep into the indigenous reserve on the upper section of the Pacuare River. This is a chance to venture where no other tourist goes allowing us to explore a section of the river that will have us being the only ones for miles.

This is a great day of rafting and doing one of our favorite adventures of riding the duckies. We will give everyone a chance to ride in the duckies as we make our way down great class III & IV rapids. After we finished the day of rafting we will make a short drive back in the 4x4 to a spot that we argue is the most awe-inspiring/draw dropping view you will find in all of Costa Rica. This is our secret little spot and we will have camp set up when you arrive and have dinner prepared for you as we camp at the top of the Pacuare Canyon with 360 degree views all around. Here we will have a campfire and a chance to enjoy one of our favorite spots in a night of camping.

Day 3 -- Raft to Pacuare Lodge (Pacuare Lodge)

We will wake up as the clouds peal off the mountains opening up to the lush greenery. We will make the short drive or we can bike down to the put in of the section of Pacuare River where we will continue rafting. This is another great day of rafting where we will hike to waterfalls and enjoy another river lunch surrounded by lush tropical mountains.

Your final destination today will be the Pacuare Lodge. The night before we had you in tents and tonight you will be staying at one of the most luxurious of all ecolodges found anywhere in Costa Rica. Here you will experience this enchanting lodge while staying on the banks of the river. All your meals upon arrival will be in the world class restaurant and a chance to enjoy the grounds of the Lodge. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 -- Raft Pacuare Canyon & Travel to Arenal Volcano (Tabacon Resort)

Today is your final run yet the most adventurous and without question the most scenic section of the river. This is what National Geographic has listed as one of the top 5 most scenic rivers on the planet. We will enjoy 200 ft waterfalls falling into the river and canyon walls that rise 300 ft straight up.

After our morning of rafting the adventurous and scenic class IV section we will make the drive to the Arenal Volcano. We will make some stops along the way trying some of the funkiest looking tropical fruits you will find anywhere.

When we arrive to the Arenal Volcano you will be staying at the Tabacon Resort at the Arenal Volcano which after 3 days of adventurous rafting and duckies you will deserve another few nights of luxury. Here you will also have the chance to enjoy the hotsprings that sit at the base of the active volcano of Arenal. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 5 -- Zipline & Canyoneering (Tabacon Resort)

If you have not had enough adventure we still have two of our favorites left. Today we will be ziplining on different cables that hang 700 ft above the rainforest floor. We will be zipping alongside the active volcano of Arenal with bomber views of the lake Arenal.

After ziplining we will make our way to a nearby tropical canyon that is filled with waterfalls. We will start at the top and make our way down by way of rappel. We will hike and jump as we make our way down the canyon and when we arrive to the different waterfalls we will harnass up and rappel down them. Some of the falls measure up to 150ft! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 6 --  Fly home!

Today we will transfer you back to the San Jose (SJO) airport where you will catch your flight home. This a 2 1/2 hour drive back to the airport. (Meals: Breakfast)

Wooster School Costa Rica Adventure March 15th - March 23rd

March 15 - Arrive Liberia (Ostional)

Today we will meet you outside of the Liberia Airport where we will make the short but bumpy drive to the Ostional area. Here we will be staying in small hotels just steps from the Ostional Beach. We will be taking part in a Turtle Project in the area where the kids will have hands on work with collecting and counting eggs, monitoring turtles, and working in the nursery.

Our goal is to have a early afternoon flight and offer this first night as a night on the beach getting some work done. This is a great little beach town and we plan on having activities available during the day for those that only need a few hours of sleep. Although the kids will be working hard so we do want them to be rested so they can make it through the entire week.

During the month of March the kids will have the chance to work with the Olive Ridely, Green, and Leatherback Sea Turtles.  (Meals: Dinner)

March 16 - Turtle Project (Ostional)

Today will be a late morning as we will have spent the prior day traveling and working on the beach. After the kids get up we will begin some work in town. We can organize a soccer game with the local kids, visit the school, or have a number of other planned activities to keep us occupied until the evening of working.

In the night hours it is back out to the beach and back to work. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 17 - Visit Nosara & Turtle Project (Ostional)

Today we will be travel 30 minutes north to visit the fun surf town of Nosara. This is a great spot filled with hip restaurants and shops and chance for the kids to a different ambience for a bit. This is also one of Costa Rica's top beaches for learning how to surf and a great swimming beach allowing us to spend a few hours with the kids in the water and enjoy a great sunset.

In the evening it is back to our last hour of work in the turtle project. We will make this a short night for the kids as we want them well rested for the rest of the week. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 18 - Travel to Arenal & Dinner at Don Juan's (Arenal Hotel)

Today we will be leaving the beach and say good-bye to our new friends from the project along with all the turtles we helped we will pop our heads out the bus and salute them and wish them the best in their vital role of helping to keep our oceans a major life support to our Blue Marble.

Today is a travel day and will have us driving through some of Costa Rica's most scenic areas from the Northern Nicoya Peninsula, around the Arenal Lake, until we arrive to the Arenal Volcano. We will be staying here for two nights and after a long day of travel enjoying one of the best meals in all of Costa Rica at the Don Juan Organic Farm. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 19 - Rio Celeste (Arenal Hotel)

The month of March is the heart of the dry season and allows us to operate one of the most precious nature hikes you can imagine. You won't believe it when you are standing infront of it but the Rio Celeste is a hike through a sky blue river offering a chance to relax in "real" natural hotsprings and see one of the planets most enchanting waterfalls. The river has a neon sky blue look to it due to the different minerals fed by the Volcano Tenorio where the river begins.

This is a 3/4 day trip and the hiking is nothing rough and all will do fine. The thrill is the river and the waterfall. We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the area and make a day out of hiking through one of the most scenic spots in all of Costa Rica.  In the evening it is back to the Arenal Volcano to relax in the hotel and enjoy the views of the volcano. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 20 - Zipline & Travel to Sarapiqui (La Tirimbina)

Today we will be leaving the Arenal Volcano after we enjoy a thrilling zipline adventure. We will be zipping on cables that hang 700ft above the rainforest floor and offers unmatched views of the Lake and Arenal Volcano.

After the zipline we will be making our way to the Sarapiqui area and staying in a unique place called La Tirimbina Reserve. This is an area that is known for being one of the most biodiverse places in Costa Rica and is home to the Low-land tropical rainforest. This is a great experience as their specialty is in bats and we get to enjoy a night expedition of capturing bats and allowing the kids to feel like a real field scientist and have close encounters with bats learning the importance of these amazing mammals and that they are not really all that bad like in the movies. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 21 - Enter Pacuare (Pacuare Eco-Lodge)

Today we will get an early start and head to the Pacuare River. The month of March due to the dry season has the Pacuare River running low. This is the perfect chance to experience what National Geographic has listed as one of their top scenic rivers on the planet. We will spend the first day rafting and hiking to different waterfalls and staying the night at the Pacuare Eco-Lodge which is a brand new Ecolodge built by CRR with absolutely bomber views of the primary rainforest mountains as far as the eye can see. This is truly a special spot and waking up to the sound of the river and nature makes it one of the most peaceful places in Costa Rica.

The night will be spent doing different activities and a night hike looking for different species found in the area. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 22 - Raft Pacuare Canyon & Drive to San Jose (La Condesa)

Today we will enjoy the most scenic part of the Pacuare River where you will see pristine waterfalls falling into the river and passing through a canyon where rock walls pass 400 ft straight up. After a full day of adventure and fun we will make the drive back to the San Jose area where we will enjoy a farewell party at the hotel. We will stay close to the airport for our last night departure from San Jose. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

March 23 - Fly Home!

Today we will make the short transfer to catch your flight home from the San Jose Airport (SJO). (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Westhills Adventure Costa Rica 2014

Pacuare Canyon

Day 1 --- Arrive and Travel to La Condesa Hotel (La Condesa)

Today you will be met at the airport with your private CRR guides and transportation. We will make our way to the La Condesa Hotel where we will be staying for the first night. This is a large hotel located on the Barva Volcano just outside of the Central Valley headed to the Caribbean side allowing us easy access for our day 2 adventure on the Pacuare River.

We will gather the group for an evening orientation introducing them to the staff and going over different rules for the week to keep everyone having fun and safe from start to finish. (Meals: Dinner)

Day 2 --- Enter Pacuare River (Pacuare River Lodge)

Pacuare Tent Lodge

Today we will get an early start after breakfast and drive through one of Costa Rica's most scenic Naitonal Parks. The Braulio Carrillo is over 40,000 acres and filled with untouched pristine rainforest as far as the eye can see. We will make our way to the spot where we begin our two day rafting adventure.

The Pacuare River is listed as one of the top 3 most scenic on the planet by National Geographic! We will spend the first day hiking to waterfalls as your CRR river guides take you through the jungle and show you different critters like poisonous dart frogs, waterfalls, and some adventurous class III rapids.

Manoa at Arenal Volcano

In the evening it will be to the tent lodge where you will get the chance to experience an area completely immersed by the natural world. During the evening we will have activities prepared for the kids to keep them engaged as we prepare an excellent meal with all local ingredients.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 3 --- Rafting Pacuare Canyon & Travel to Arenal Volcano (Manoa Resort)

Today is one of the best days of rafting you will find anywhere on the planet. With the famous Pacuare Canyon and the challenging class IV rapids we will keep you wet as you enjoy some of the most enchanting waterfalls and canyons in all of the tropics.

Zipline!

After a morning of rafting and fun we will make the 4 hour drive to the Arenal Volcano. This is one of Costa Rica's most active volcanos and it is a perfect cone-shaped volcano. Here you will have awe-inspiring views from your private cabins at the Manoa Resort. When we arrive the kids will have a chance to enjoy the expansive pool area, onsite hotsprings, and an evening activity your guides have prepared for you. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 4 --- Zipline & Hotsprings (Manoa Resort)

With over 70 different ziplines in the country this is by far still one of our favorites. The cables are high, fast, and offer some of the most marvelous views of the Volcano and nearby Arenal Lake. These cables will have the kids ziplining 700ft above the rainforest floor.

After the zipline we will make our to the hotsprings where the kids will have the chance to enjoy the thermal waters and some of the most thrilling slides found in Costa Rica. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

View Point from a Waterfall

Day 5 --- 1/2 Group hike to Watefall (Sleep Behind Waterfall) & 1/2 group travel to Beach (Villas Rio Mar)

Today we will transport half of the group to the beach and the second half will begin their hike to the Cave to sleep behind the waterfalls. The beach and the Cave are located just 40 minutes from eachother. The total traveling time today is 5 hours leaving from the Arenal Volcano in the morning and arriving to each destination just after lunch.

Those that are going to the beach will enjoy afternoon surf classes and those that are going to the Cave will have the chance to rappel a 120ft waterfall. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Rappel 120ft Waterfall!

Day 6 --- The two groups switch from Cave to Beach (1/2 Villas Rio Mar & 1/2 Sleep Behind Waterfall) 

Today the two groups will switch and enjoy the Rappel and Surf. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 7 --- Both Groups at Beach for Bonfire and Farewell Dinner (Villas Rio Mar)

Kevin Gersh 2 years ago

Today everyone will meet at the beach and we will enjoy a farewell bonfire and party to celebrate their last night. Note: The group that came down from the Cave on day 6 will do surf classes today in the morning (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Day 8 --- Travel to San Jose Airport and Fly Home!

Today we will make the 3 1/2 transfer to the San Jose Airport (SJO). (Meals: Breakfast)