Costa Rica Ecotourism | Students Program

COSTA RICA ECOTOURISM | EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL PROGRAM 10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

Costa Rica Ecotourism is a special Costa Rica Student Travel program focused on learning about nature, ecology, rainforest and sustainable projects executed in Costa Rica.

VISITING: Our Costa Rica Ecotourism Student Program will visit: San José, Tortuguero National Park, Sarapiqui, Arenal Volcano. 

ACTIVITIES:  Hiking, Swimming, Birdwatching, rain forest, whitewater rafting, banana plantations, indigenous communities, national parks.

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

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA (D). Our Costa Rica Ecotourism program begins with your arrival to the International Airport Juan Santamaria. Upon arrival at the San Jose airport, you will be met by one of our representatives how will explain your itinerary, answer any questions and provide you with a package with vouchers and information about your trip. Transfer to Hotel Radisson and free time at leisure.

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. Welcome Dinner.

Day 2. TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK: (B, L, D). Our exclusive journey to Tortuguero from San Jose is an amazing Costa Rica Ecotourism experience where you will enjoy a pleasant bus transfer to Guapiles Town. Along the way, admire the pristine rainforest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park and Biosphere Reserve declared by UNESCO in 1988. Crystal clear rivers and beautiful waterfalls will be part of the landscape that you can enjoy during this short transfer. Once in Guapiles Town, a stop will be made to enjoy a delicious typical breakfast. Continuing the journey through the lower parts of the Costa Rican Caribbean, crossing extensive plantations of bananas, pineapple, cocoa and other agricultural products common in the area, we will reach Caño Blanco, an area of rivers and lagoons where a boat awaits us and will take us to deeper in the jungle and our final destination Tortuguero.

The boat trip will take about 90 minutes and it will be a one-in-a lifetime experience surrounded by a great variety of flora and fauna. Upon arrival to Pachira Lodge, enjoy a refreshing cocktail and a delicious Lunch. After you get your room, get comfortable for explore the area and visit the museum, the beach area and the small and picturesque town of Tortuguero. A delightful dinner will be served upon arrival to the lodge. 

Day 3. TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK: (B, L, D).  Discover Costa Rican flavors as you enjoy breakfast at PACHIRA LODGE.  Get ready to hike Tortuguero Hill or travel along the well-known Tortuguero Canals and have the experience of your life in this unique paradise of magnificent flora and fauna. After the tour, Enjoy a delicious lunch at the lodge. During the afternoon, take your time to enjoy our private trails, ride a boat through the canals or just relax. Dinner at the hotel. OPTIONAL NIGHT TOUR: Walk on the beach and admire the green turtles nesting (July through September). 

Day 4. TORTUGUERO- SARAPIQUI. (B, L, D).  After breakfast, departure by boat and bus to your next destination: Sarapiqui. Lunch on the way at Guapiles Town. Continuing your journey, you will arrive to Selva Verde, an unique  lodge located right in front of the Sarapiqui River. This hotel is one of the pioneer´s rainforest lodges in Costa Rica. The rooms are rustic but with all the comfort. The lodge have a great swimming pool surrounded by rainforest.

Eastly dinner at the lodge and them, transfer to the leader Costa Rica Ecotourism hotel and reserve La Tirimbina, a scientist center where the group will learn about Neo- Tropical Bats. This will be an interesting lecture & Lab where a scientist of the cener will capture and show different bat species that are common in the Caribbean low-lands of Costa Rica

Day 5.  SARAPIQUI  SCHOOL VISIT & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (B, L, D). Breakfast at the lodge and after it, transfer to the rural local school at Calle La Lucha. This is a very poor primary school with a student population of about 120 students in 6 levels. First to 6th grade. 

The students come from the community called La Lucha a peasant´s village where many are immigrants from Nicaragua and work in the pineapple plantations or farms nearby.

During our visit, the group will learn about their living conditions, customs and traditions of this region. At the school, the group will help and support it doing volunteerism, such as school painting, reforestation, organic farms, flower´s gardens etc.  Sport activities will be arranged such as soccer games and several other traditional games commons in Costa Rica. Combined with this visit, the group will be able to visit a typical and small farm, where the owner will explain to the group the common crops in the region, how to plant it, harvest and prepare. Here the group will learn about Black Pepper, Pineapple, Cassava, Jack Fruit, Cashews, Malanga, sweet potatoes and many other products.

After this activity, return to the lodge. Free time.

Day 6.  SARAPIQUI BOAT AND ZIP LINE TOUR (B, L, D). After a full Costa Rican breakfast, our driver will take the group to Sarapiqui River for an educational Boat tour along the river. During this 90 minutes journey, the students will be able to see many wildlife species such as Iguanas, Howler Monkeys, Acuatic Birds, Caymans and other common species of the area. After the tour, return to the lodge for lunch. During the afternoon, a new experience waits for the group. The famous zip line canopy Tour. After a short transfer to Hacienda Pozo Azul, the professional tours guides will prepare the group for the adventure. This experience includes 9 zip lines and 11 platforms with extra features like the double cable and double pulley on each zip line, and railing platforms. The tour ends with a 900ft cable crossing the beautiful Sarapiqui River Canyon. 

After this tour, return to the lodge for dinner and free time.

Day 7. CHOCOLATE TOUR & ARENAL VOLCANO. (B, L, D). During the morning, Chocolate Tour: In this three-hour activity, you will discover the marvels of one of the favorite foods of humankind – chocolate. A plant originating in Mesoamerica with an extraordinarily rich history.  Cacao or chocolate, was one of the most important products of the Maya and Aztec, as well as other Central American cultures. The tour includes a guided hike across the Tirimbina Reserve suspension bridge to a cacao plantation, as well as to a forested section where you will observe forest species of cacao and how the product originally developed there. During the hike, the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree is explained. Onsite, you will learn about the process by which cacao is processed into chocolate (harvesting, fermentation, drying, milling). 

Return to lodge and lunch. By 2:00 PM, bus transfer to Arenal. Located 2 hours from Sarapiqui, Arenal is a beautiful cone-shaped volcano rising out of flat, surrounding plains. Leaving Selva Verde in the afternoon, you’ll be arriving to the Arenal area before dark. There, the group will have the opportunity to learn more about the culture of the surroundings and its relationship with the volcano. Check In at Arenal Country Inn and free time for relax and enjoy the swimming pool.

Evening dinner in a typical restaurant in Fortuna Town.

Day 8. ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES TOUR & HOT SPRINGS. (B, L, D) After breakfast, tour to the Arenal Hanging Bridges, where you will enjoy the beautiful rainforest while you are guided by our naturalist tour guide. Visitors who love nature can enjoy 15 bridges from 5 to 100 meters long, friendly design along 3 km rain forest circuit of interpretive trails built with paving blocks to prevent slipping. The bridges are built of aluminum, galvanized steel and concrete, to ensure maximum security for their visitors. They were designed by structural engineers with the most demanding safety margins in the world.  Guided by a naturalist, who through the natural history will open for you the doors of a fascinating and colorful Tropical Rain Forest world. The imposing vistas of the Volcano from the hanging bridges over the forest make a perfect combination for an unforgettable experience.

After the nature walk, we will continue our journey to one of the most important attractions in the area. Baldi Hot Springs. This water park is great experience, where the students will enjoy several waterslides, multiple thermal pools, giant steam room and exuberant gardens all around the complex. Buffet lunch and dinner will be serve at this complex in order to maximize the experience at this unique place.

Day 9. LA FORTUNA WATERFALL – SAN JOSE. (B, L, D) After a healthy breakfast, the group will visit La Fortuna Waterfall, an Iconic place of Fortuna Town, where the impressive waterfall shows it beauty. For get to the base of the waterfall, a nature walk must be taken by a downhill path. Once at the base, swimming is allowed in the cold water. The area is surrounded by a pristine rain forest.

After enjoying this place, return to the hotel, check out and transfer to Fortuna Town for lunch before to make the way back to San Jose. Arriving early evening to Hotel Radisson in San Jose, the group must prepare for the Farewell dinner.

Day 10. TRANSFER OUT & GOOD BYE. (B) Transfer to the International Airport according with your scheduled flight and good bye.

RATES: Please contact us for a quotation indicating number of students, adults and possible travel dates. Rates based on Triple & Quad occupancy for the students and double rooms for the teachers. No single rooms available unless a single supplement is paid. 

CHAPERONES:  One free ticket for every 20 students.   

INCLUDE: The Costa Rica Ecotourism trip includes: 9 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. 

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

Greenway Nature Tours is a Certified Travel Agency and Tour Operator by the Costa Rican Tourist Board with special certification in Sustainable Travel. We are members of SYTA (Students Youth Travel Association)