COSTA RICA STUDENTS TRIPS

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA (D). Arrival to the International Airport Juan Santamaría. Transfer to Hotel Country Inn & Suites and check in.

Optional and depending on arrival time: City Tour: Visiting: San Jose, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, Principal buildings as National Museum, National Teather, Congress, Yellow House, Plaza de la Cultura, Gold Museum, etc. Residential areas and principal Malls. Evening, stop at El Pueblo, one of the most famous entertainment centers of San Jose. Dinner at the Hotel.

Day 2. POAS VOLCANO & SARAPIQUI TOUR (B, L, D).

6:30 am . Breakfast at the hotel.
7:30 am . Departure to the tour: The Best of Costa Rica.
Visiting. Braulio Carrillo Natl Park , Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Sarapiqui River . This is a full day tour.
9:00 am . Poas Volcano. (Bring jacket and rain gear) Hike to the crater. Visit to the local museum and video presentation about the National Park and the volcano. Free time for go shopping at the Nature Shop.
11:00 am . Arrival to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Nature walk to the Waterfalls.
Visit to the Butterfly Garden (The Largest one of the world), visit to the laboratories where the students will learn about how to reproduce butterflies for exportation. Visit to the Hummingbird Gallery and the Orchids Garden.
12:30 pm. Lunch at La Paz Waterfall Gardens .
2:00 PM. Transfer to Selva Verde Lodge. Overnight and dinner. (This hotel has an ecological concept and it is located beside the river. All Meals are included.

After dinner and by 8:00 PM. Night Tour and Lecture about BATS & VAMPIRES at La Tirimbina. La Tirimbina is a private biological station where many scientists from all over the world come to make research in the rain forest. At this place, the students will have the opportunity to learn about tropical ecology, biodiversity and conservation with one of the environmental educators of the center.

Day 3. SUPER COMBO TOUR . (B, L, D). The SUPER COMBO is the most natural way to experience the beauty of Costa Rica , while actively participating in some wonderful soft adventure tours. We will visit wilderness areas at the same time as we enjoy various special tours, all in full contact with nature. This journey will submerge us into the great diversity of natural activities available in Costa Rica , making the adventure and wildlife observation an album of experiences not soon to be forgotten. The Costa Rica adventure tour starts with a 15 minutes bus ride to Hacienda Pozo Azul, located at La Virgen de Sarapiqui. Arriving by 9:00 AM , we will start our adventure with a horseback riding trip into the rain forest, where the Zip Lines are waiting for you. After this, we continue our trip on the tree tops of this beautiful and unique place. Ending after enjoy the longest cable, that cross the Sarapiqui River , a delicious buffet lunch will be waiting for you. In the afternoon, the whitewater rafting trip (class III ) will end this SUPER COMBO TOUR , the best way to experience the real adventure of Costa Rica .

Day 4 ARENAL VOLCANO (B, L, D). Early Morning: Birdwatching tour. Breakfast at the lodge and free time for enjoy the rainforest and the river. After lunch, we will start our trip to the next destination. Arenal volcano. Two hours bus ride will take us into the mountains of this fascinating region where the main attractions are the active volcano and the largest lake in Costa Rica. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel La Pradera.

Evening: Visit to the Hot Springs where we can take a dip in the warm waters heated from within the volcano and have a great time in this unforgettable paradise. After dark and from this enchanted spot, with a little god luck, you will have the opportunity to see the volcano activity and the red incandescent lava flowing down from the top of the crater to the adjacent areas. Dinner will be served at this place

Day 5. ARENAL´S LAKE AND BOAT CRUISE. (B, L ,D). After breakfast, boat tour in the Arenal`s Lake for admire the impressive volcano and wildlife. Afternoon, free time at leisure. Lunch & dinner at the hotel.

Day 6. ARENAL - JACO BEACH (B,L,D) Say farewell to Arenal and departure to the beautiful beaches of Jaco Beach on the Pacific slope. Overnight at Hotel Best Western Jaco Beach with All Inclusive Serice. Free time for enjoy the beach and the hotel facilities. Evenning, night walk in Jaco Beach Town.

Day 7. JACO BEACH & JUNGLE CROCODILE SAFARI (B,L,D). The perfect spot for enjoy the beach, the rain forest and its rich biodiversity. After breakfast, Jungle Crocodile Safari Cruise on the Tarcoles River . Famous for its large American Crocodiles, the Tarcoles River forms the Northern border of Carara Biological Reserve on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The Tarcoles is full of Crocodiles, Scarlet Macaws, Jesus Christ Lizards, and over 120 species of birds. But everyone comes to see the huge crocodiles - so big they have names like "Saddam Hussein" and "Mike Tyson!"

We board a custom-built, flat-bottom river boat at our private botanic garden. Then we glide along this placid river with our naturalist guide, who describes the birds, animals, and habitat in great detail. After visiting the river mouth, we venture up a mature mangrove estuary, where we stop to learn about this remarkable ecosystem. After enjoying fresh fruit and refreshments, we slowly return upstream to our native botanic garden, where our guide explains more about the native plant species of this transitional zone.

After the tour, return to the hotel and free time.

Day 8. TURUBARI TROPICAL PARK & SAN JOSE. (B,L). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Turubari Tropical Park. The TURU BARI Tropical Park is an eco-adventure oriented theme park, that started operation last April 5 th , 2003. It has a total extension of 650 acres in a beautiful scenery, surrounded on the Northeast by the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, to the Southwest by the Turrubares hillsides and the Carara National park and to the West by the Nicoya Gulf, which you can see from the highest elevation areas. The natural surroundings of the TURUBARI Tropical park is the ideal place for visitors who are looking to learn more about Costa Rica's natural history, discovering our ancestor's life style, having an adventure experience or simply enjoy the beautiful landscape. The park's entrance is located at the highest point, offering a spectacular view of the property and it's surrounding areas. Visitors enter the park through the TURU BA RI Sky Ride or the aerial tram. At this place, you will enjoy many ecological and cultural attractions before enjoy a delicious Costa Rican Buffet.

After lunch, we will continue our journey to San Jose, stopping on the way in some lovely souvenir stores and fruit stants. Upon arrival, Check in at Hotel Country Inn & Suites

Day 9. TRANSFER OUT (B). Transfer to the International Airport . Good bye.

NOTE : Rates based on Quad occupancy for the students and double rooms for the teachers. No single rooms available unless a single supplement is paid.

 * LETTER CODES: (B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner.

DURATION: 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS.

MINIMUM: 15 students.

INCLUDE: 8 nights lodging in high quality Hotels, all land transportation within Costa Rica, all airport/ hotel transfers on scheduled arrival/ departures dates only, specified meals, specified tours, private transportation and naturalist tour guide.

NOT INCLUDED: International air fare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

PRICE: Group rate: $ xxx (Minimum 15 students).

WHATS TO BRING: Hiking Shoes, Bathing Suit, Binoculars, Camera, Beach Sandals, Suntan Lotion, Hat, Mosquito Repellent.