Costa Rica Family Adventure
Introduction
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLAR TOURS LLC is pleased to offer an extraordinary 9 day, 8-night family-travel experience in Costa Rica, storied land of exotic wildlife, vibrant blends of indigenous and Spanish-colonial cultures, extraordinary biodiversity, lush rainforests, jungle
rivers, volcanic springs, warm welcomes and its iconic Pura Vida spirit.
We have worked closely with a Costa Rica-based travel-planning group, and having the homeschool community in mind, we have created an exceptional itinerary through one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.
With the guidance of expert naturalists, the students (and accompanying family members) will experience and learn about the ecology of rainforests, the nesting of sea turtles, the flora and fauna of jungle rivers, the culture of an indigenous tribe, the majesty of a volcanic mountain and much more – gaining the kind of knowledge that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.
As you’ll note from the following Itinerary, we have filled our schedule with many activities and experiences, and we have also left some free time and dinners to allow families to do things on their own.
Here are highlights of the planned activities:
Day 1 Welcome Dinner and folklore show
Day 2 Boat ride in Tortuguera National Park; Night-time viewing of turtle nesting on beach
Day 3 Rainforest boat tour
Day 4 Hike through Cahuita National Park
Day 5 Dugout canoe trip to an indigenous BriBri village
Day 6 Visit to Jaguar Rescue Center; Cooking class at an organic farm
Day 7 Hike in Arenal Park; Soak in thermal springs
Day 8 Rainforest canopy zipline; Whitewater rafting down a jungle river
Itinerary
Day 1 – Friday, September 12
WELCOME DINNER AND FOLKLORE SHOW IN SAN JOSÉ
We will begin our adventure in Costa Rica’s capital city, San José, on Friday, September 12, and after eight days of amazing experiences around the country, end back in San José on Saturday, September 20 for flights home.
We’ll assemble in San José, meeting in the lobby of Auténtico Hotel (our overnight accommodation) in the early evening of September 12, and we’ll travel together by chartered bus to the hills overlooking the city, where we’ll dine at Mirador Tiquicia Restaurant, at which we’ll get to know each other as we enjoy a program of Costa Rican music and folklore and enjoy our first taste of typical Costa Rican cuisine.
Those who arrive earlier in the day can take a stroll through Mercado Central (Central Market), featuring over 200 shops, food stalls, and sodas (traditional restaurants), visit the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Church), with its interior combining Greek Orthodox, Neoclassical,
and Baroque styles, and features wood carvings and stained-glass windows or check out popular museums like the fascinating Museo del Oro Precolumbino (Pre-Columbian Gold Museum) and Museo del Jade—the world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian jade artifacts.
Some Quick Facts about Costa Rica
Population – 5.26 million
Government – Constitutional republic, with a president; regarded as the most stable and democratic government in Central America
Known For – Environmental protection; peaceful reputation (no standing army)
Neighboring Countries – Panama to the south and Nicaragua to the north
Coasts – Caribbean Sea to the east and Pacific Ocean to the West
Size – 19,730 square miles, roughly the size of West Virginia
Protected Land – 25% of its land, protected through a network of national parks, reserves and protected zones
Independence – Septeber 15, 1821, from Spain
Average temprature in September – Mid-70s°F to mid-80s°F
Literacy Rate – Over 98%
Day 2 – Saturday, September 13
TRAVEL TO TORGUERO PARK, EXPERIENCE WILDLIFE AND THE ARRIBADO
Our destination today is the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero National Park, which can be reached from the mainland only by boat, and we’ll need to get an early-morning start to arrive at the marina dock by about 10:30. On the way, we’ll be able to admire the biodiversity of a
protected area, while we pass through Braulio Carrillo’s National Park and enjoy breakfast en route. At the dock, we’ll board a comfortable boat to navigate through the rivers, canals and lagoons of this enchanting paradise as we head to Pachira Lodge, where we’ll enjoy a welcome beverage (cocktail for adults) and buffet lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit the charming Caribbean town of Tortuguero, and after that you can relax, enjoy the Lodge’s swimming pool or jacuzzi before the evening’s buffet dinner.
And then, after dinner, we’ll get to be part of one of the world’s most thrilling experiences:
walking with a guide onto a beach with flashlights to witness “arribada,” the spectacular arrival of female sea turtles, who come onto the beach, dig nests in the sand, lay their eggs, cover up the nests and, exhausted, return to the water. It is truly mystical.
Some of the Wildlife in Tortuguera National Park
Day 3 – Sunday, September 14
RAINFOREST BOAT RIDE; TRAVEL TO PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA
Starting early in the morning – because that’s best time to spot the area’s wildlife – we will experience the beauty of the rainforest on a boat trip through the canals of the Tortuguero National Park, and we’ll have the opportunity to discover many birds and animals that can only be seen in this tropical paradise. Our guide will point out the different species of birds, monkeys, sloths, and more and will explain this beautiful ecosystem.
After breakfast, we will travel by boat back to the mainland dock and continue by bus to the vibrant town of Guápiles where we’ll stop for lunch and meet our expert guide/naturalist, who will accompany our group for the rest of the trip.
Then it’s on to Puerto Viejo, located on the Southern Caribbean coast. Known for its laid-back attitude and famous for its beaches, its surfing and its cultural influences of Afro-Caribbean, Bribri Indian, tico and hippyesque counterculture.
Upon arriving in Puerto Viejo, we’ll check into our base for the next three days, Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort, a short walk to the beach, and then you’re on your own for the rest of the day to explore the town, relax on one of its beaches, book a spa treatment, take a bike ride into town and/or relax the jacuzzi or one of the three pools and then enjoy dinner at the resort or find a great local eatery.
Above and below: Scenes from the Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort
Day 4 – Monday, September 15
(COSTA RICA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY!)
GUIDED JUNGLE HIKE
We begin the day with an early-morning guided hike in Cahuita National Park, a true gem of Costa Rica, home to a lush rainforest that runs directly along the Caribbean coast, with its white-sand beaches and coral reefs.
The hike is on one of the best wildlife-viewing trails in the country, and our chances of seeing both howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, tons of tropical birds, sloths, iguanas, and poisonous dart frogs are high.
After hiking (and sunbathing and snorkeling if there’s time), we’ll enjoy a delicious typical lunch at one of the local laid-back sodas (traditional restaurants) in Cahuita. We may get to see some of the Costa Rica Independence Day festivities.
Then it’s back to the Cariblue Beach and Jungle Resort with an unplanned afternoon and dinner.
Day 5 – Tuesday, September 16
DUGOUT CANOE TRAIP TO VISIT TO AN INDIGENOUS BRIBRI VILLAGE
Today after breakfast, our guide will take us to the Panamanian border and Talamanca Mountains to the small village of Bambú, where, another local guide will be waiting, and we will embark on a spectacular trip in a dugout canoe on the Yorkín River to the village of Yorkin, a Bribri Indian settlement in the heart of the tropical forest.
Once in Yorkín, we will be given a guided tour of the organic cocoa and banana plantations and the small village. After a snack, we’ll visit the River Skui with its suspension bridge and take a refreshing bath in the natural water basins.
We’ll have a delicious, typical Bribri lunch and afterward, the local women’s association will tell us about their work and their history. For dessert, we will be introduced to their traditional chocolate making and of course a taste the results. Bribri people will also show us the art of making palm leaf roofs or introduce us to the ancient tradition of archery and learn a bit about their language and culture.
Then, we head back to the resort, for free time and unplanned dinner.
Day 6 – Wednesday, September 17
VISIT TO THE JAGUAR RESCUE CENTER AND AN AFTERNOON COOKING CLASS
Following breakfast, we’ll the nearby Jaguar Rescue Center, where injured and orphaned jaguars and other animals are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild. Operated by a respected nonprofit, it will give us a chance to experience some of these wonderful creatures up close.
Our chartered bus will then take us into the country’s interior, heading toward one of Central America’s most iconic landmarks, Arenal Volcano. On the way we’ll drive through the northern plains with their impressive plantations and other flora.
In the afternoon, we’ll arrive at Arenal Vida Campesina, an organic farm and kitchen for a delicious cultural experience. We’ll learn about the gardens and farms where the fresh cooking ingredients come from, milk some cows and try our hands at mixing up tropical, homemade Costa Rican cocktails or jungle juice! Then we’ll have a cooking class on preparing some Tico-style picadillo, tortillas and guisados for a delicious sit-down meal. Following breakfast, we’ll the nearby Jaguar Rescue Center, where injured and orphaned jaguars and other animals are rehabilitated before being returned to the wild. Operated by a respected nonprofit, it will give us a chance to experience some of these wonderful creatures up close.
We’ll end up checking into Montaña De Fuego Resort & Spa in La Fortuna, our base for the last three nights of our adventure.
Day 7 – Thursday, September 18
ARENAL VOLCANO HIKE AND A THERAPEUDIC SOAK IN HOT SPRINGS
Today, we’ll explore the surroundings of Arenal Volcano from within the Arenal Volcano Park and other nearby nature reserves. The trails in the area are generally not strenuous—perfect for a leisurely and informative hike with a naturalist guide.
We’ll hit the well-maintained trails (walking sometimes on trails of hardened lava) that skirt the base of the Arenal Volcano as well as Lake Arenal. Our guide will explain the history of the area both pre- and post-1968 eruption, while also pointing out the unique flora and fauna we’ll for perfect photos.
Then, we will continue to Ecotermales Hot Springs, where each of us can enter the warm waters and commune with a natural paradise filled with the peace and serenity of the tropical rainforest and impressive views of the Arenal Volcano, which heats and nourishes the waters.
We’ll end our visit there with a delicious buffet dinner before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Montaña De Fuego Resort & Spa, our La Fontana hotel, is an eco-friendly spa resort with stunning views of the now-dormant Arenal Volcano, and it offers a wide range of spa treatments and activities that you can sign up for
PURA VIDA
Literally, “Pure Life,” it is a Tico (Costa Rican) expression for the country’s laid-back, friendly, optimistic attitude culture and lifestyle. It can be used both as a greeting or a farewell, as an answer expressing that things are going well, as a way of giving thanks, or showing appreciation.
Along the Arenal hiking trails
Ecothermales Hot Springs
In a Country Where Almost Everything Grows: Traditional Costa Rican Foods to Know
Gallo pinto (rice and beans)
Chifrijo (fried pork with red beans)
Rondón (seafood and coconut stew)
Casado (combo plate)
Olla de carne (beef and vegetable stew)
Picadillo (vegetable hash)
Chorreadas (corn pancakes)
Ceviche (lime-marinated seafood)
Day 8 – Friday, September 19
ZIP-LINING THROUGH THE CANOPY AND WHITEWATER RAFTING
Our last full day in Costa Rica will include some exhilarating adventures! After breakfast, we’ll move to the first part, a rainforest canopy tour that consists of seven zipline cables. We’ll begin the tour with an adrenaline-filled climb up a fifty-four-foot tower to fly over a 360 -feet canyon and spectacular views of the Pino Blanco Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato Volcano. Next, we’ll cross a hanging bridge to the longest cable – high above the La Fortuna Waterfall with great views of downtown La Fortuna.
Then it’s on to another unforgettable experience on the nearby Balsa River – a combination of thrilling whitewater and areas where the water is docile enough to jump in and go for a swim.
With professional whitewater guides, It’s perfect for whitewater beginners as well as more experienced rafters. Wildlife abounds in this section of the Balsa, so we’ll keep an eye out for sloths, iguanas, howler monkeys, and a vast array of tropical birds.
After the adventures, we’ll return to the resort for an afternoon of free time, and for dinner you’re free to dine at a restaurant of your choice in La Fortuna or join others in our group for a farewell meal of Costa Rican organic specialties at the resort’s restaurant.
Day 9 – Saturday, September 20
RETURN TO SAN JOSĖ AIRPORT AND TRAVEL HOME
Today, after an early breakfast, our chartered bus will take us back to the international airport serving San José, a three-hour trip through the Costa Rican countryside and one last chance to absorb the beauty of this amazing country.
Beautiful Costa Rica
Cost
The cost per student and adult participant for the entire experience is $2,750, which includes –
• All the scheduled activities and tours and related transportation and entrance fees
• All guides
• All hotel stays
• Breakfasts each day, lunches as indicated on the Itinerary on Days 2, 3, 5 and 8, and dinners on Days 1, 2, 6 and 7 (but beverages are not included unless part of the prearranged menus)
• Airport transfers to and from the San Jose airport per the Itinerary, except for transfers from the airport for those not arriving around the set time
Not included are –
• Airfare or other transportation to and from Costa Rica
• Activities not specifically included in the Itinerary or described as optional
• Beverages not included as part of the cost of pre-arranged meals
• Souvenirs and other personal purchases
• Airport, departure, immigration or similar fees
• Gratuities for guides or services
• Personal purchases
• Travel insurance (which we highly recommend you purchase from a reputable carrier)
All participants will be required to sign waivers, rules of conduct and other documents.
Per-participant payment terms are:
• By May 1, $500 to hold a place,
• By July 15, $1,250
• By August 10, the remaining $1,000
These fees are non-refundable, except if International Scholar Tours LLC cancels the trip at its option for any reason.
