Sample Itinerary Costa Rica 2014 Sofia, Ruth, Zaida, y Suzette

Day 1 - Arrive & Drive to Orosi (Sanchiri Hotel)

View from Rooms at Sanchiri

Today you will be met at the airport by your private driver and CRR guide. We'll load up the bus and make our way to an area outside of the Central Valley just south of San Jose at the base of the Irazu Volcano. Your first hotel will be a small hotel with one of the most spectacular views of any. This is a family owned hotel and you get the feel the friendliness and hospitality from the moment you arrive. The hotel is called Sanchiri and located looking out over the Orosi Valley.

At Sanchiri we'll check you in and then meet in the restaurant where we will have an orientation to get you ready for the next 10 days of what we plan on making a life-changing experience for all.(Meals: Dinner)

Evening Activity: Orientation

Day 2 - Tour Orosi & Travel to Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today we will wake up to the view of the clouds peeling off the side of green mountains as far as the eye can see. After we have a local traditional breakfast we'll drive down into the Orosi Valley. This is a valley that is filled with history and culture, offering the students a chance to start the trip with a little history of Costa Rica and the influence of the Spanish starting with a visit to the oldest colonial town in Costa Rica a chance to see different ruins.

We will also visit an old Franciscan Monastery that dates back to 1743 making it the countries oldest house of worship still in use.

Sitio de Mata Homestays

After a morning of learning about the history of Costa Rica and the beautiful sites of the valley of Orosi we will make our way to Turrialba. The route we take is a beautiful ride through the rural country-side. Much of this will be unpaved road and a chance to get a feeling of what life is like in rural Central America. Our final stop will be the homestays of Sitio de Mata where you'll be welcomed into your new families with open arms and hearts. Here is where you will experience an immersion like none other as the mom's at the Proyecto Sitio de Mata make every effort along with their families to give you an immersion filled with love, education, and humble family values.

NOTE: This is more than just an immersion. We are going to take a deeper look not only into the language and culture but into the community style of living. How every family knows their neighbors. All meals are eaten together as a community or as a family. The idea of working together as a community for the overall benefit of all second nature to everyone in the village of Sitio de Mata.  (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Circle Reflection/Journal Writing

Day 3 - Culture Activity in Sitio de Mata (Homestays)

Today you will wake up to another traditional breakfast and the rich smell of some of the world's finest coffee. It is even said by many Costa Rican's that Juan Valdez drinks Costa Rican coffee...? After

Be a part of our Homestay Project!

breakfast we will begin the day of learning different culture activities. You will learn how to cook different cuisines and traditional dishes, practice your dance moves, and visit a local school.

The school visit will be in the morning and will consist of immersing yourself in the everyday school life of the Costa Rica education system. In the afternoon we will have our soccer game against the local kids where you will test your skills and surely pick up some new ones from the locals who love and cherish their futbol!

The evening is what we consider the best part of the trip. This is a fiesta where all you new friends will join in giving you a farewell like non other. The farewell fiesta will include amazing food along with song and dance testing your new salsa and merengue skills. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Local Fiesta and Skits

Day 4 - Raft Pacuare (Pacuare Ecolodge)

Rafting Pacuare River

Let the rafting adventure begin as we enter the Pacuare River which National Geographic has listed as one of the top five scenic rivers on the planet. We will spend the day hiking to waterfalls and rafting small Class II rapids. Our final destination will be the Pacuare Ecolodge which boast of some of the most beautiful views found anywhere on the river. Here you will have the chance to stay in your cabins with views of the primary rainforest and Pacuare Canyon. We will have evening activities planned to keep everyone engaged at the lodge and offer you a memorable evening before sleeping in the jungle. For those not interested in rafting you will be transported to the Ecolodge by land. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Story Telling/Reflection/Journal Writing

Day 5 - Raft Pacuare & Travel to Bribri Indigenous Village (Soki)

Bri-bri Indigenous Project

Today you will wake up to the sound of the river and the jungle all around. We will continue our rafting adventure as we make our way down the most scenic section of the beautiful Pacuare. Today you will see waterfalls that fall 200ft into the river along with canyon walls that rise 300ft straight up.

Learning an Ancient Culture

This is truly a magical day visiting one of our planet's most precious spots and a true gem of Costa Rica. After our day of rafting we will make our way to the Caribbean low lands where we will head into another adventure. Our Indigenous Project Bri-Bri at the village Soki, takes us into an ancient culture to learn from these people many fascinating traits from their culture that we lack today. Here you will fall in love with the knowledge these families have, experience another language, and make new friends! (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Circle Reflection with Shaman

Day 6 - Travel to Caribbean Coast (Almendras y Corales Ecolodge) 

Today we will wake up to the sound of another river as Soki is located on the banks of the Uren River. We will head to the Caribbean coast after breakfast. We'll be staying at Almonds & Corals, one of Costa Rica's top ecolodges. This is a beautiful hotel with a splash of luxury allowing you a chance to be completely surrounded by nature with all the amenities of luxury lodging.

The beauty of staying at this ecolodge is that it offers students a look at how places can operate sustainably in commune with nature. The culture you will experience on the Costa Rican Caribbean side is the Afro-Caribbean. Here we will be looking into our 3rd different very distinct culture of the week. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Evening Activity: Afro-Caribbean Talk/Journal Writing

Our Favorite Ecolodge steps away from the beach

Day 7 - Beach Day & Nature Hike (Almendros y Corales Ecolodge)

Today we will visit some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches found anywhere in Costa Rica. We'll take a nature hike with a local man who is known as one of the experts in the native flor & fauna and culture of the Caribbean. This walk will take us to different beaches for swimming and a chance to stand at some of the most awe-inspiring views of the Caribbean coast. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Evening Activity: Circle Reflection & Journal Writing

Day 8 - Travel to San Jose & Zipline (San Jose Hotel)

Today we will make the drive back to San Jose. On the way back we'll stop for a zip through the tropical

Zipline Adventure

rainforest. This is a great zipline of different cables that open up to beautiful views of the Caribbean coast and a zip across one of the largest rivers in the area.

In San Jose we'll be staying in a hotel in the city allowing us to be close to the airport and enjoy our last day in Costa Rica, exploring the capital city. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Reflection Comparing Three Cultures/Journal Writing

Day 9 - City Tour & Souvenir Shop (San Jose Hotel)

Back to the Airport! We promise more modern transportation

We'll take a city tour of San Jose today. This will be a great day of walking, seeing sites, and connecting a lot of where we been with different historical and culture facts found in the capital city. Today we will also have time to shop for souvenirs and of course end the day with a farewell dinner. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)

Evening Activity: Farewell Reflection & Fiesta

Day 10 - Fly Home!

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