Costa Rican Treasures 8D/7N

Costa Rica field trips is one of our multiple educational trips to Costa Rica for schools and high schools interested in visiting the country for a learning experience in the tropical rainforest.

VISITING: Our Costa Rica field trips will be visiting the following places: San Jose, Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Sarapiqui, Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest.

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES: To learn about Rivers, Volcanoes, Rainforest, Wildlife, Chocolate production, Lakes, Cloud forest, Sugar Mills. Visit a rural school and have a cultural interchange with the students. Implement a reforestation program.

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

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA (D). This Costa Rica field trips program start with the group 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 of vouchers and information about your trip. Transfer to Hotel Park Inn 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 in a typical restaurant in San Jose.

Day 2. POAS VOLCANO, LA PAZ WATERFALLS & SARAPIQUI TOUR (B, L, D). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the tour to Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Enjoy the contrasts of urban and rural areas, as we drive to the Poas Volcano National Park and continue up the mountains toward San Pedro de Poas. The good climate and fertile soils make this area very productive. Dairy farming, coffee, sugar cane, vegetables, all can be seen during this tour. Poas Volcano National Park is considered the largest geyser in the world, due to its explosive, geyser-like eruptions, which it frequently displays at irregular intervals. This park offers more than just the spectacular volcanic activity. The visitor will be struck by the intense green colours of the foliage and the great variety of wild flowers. The most conspicuous plant in the park is the poor man’s umbrella, whose leaves grow up to 2 meters in diameter. 

On a clear day, you will see the lagoon at the bottom of the crater, whose muddy waters changes colours depending on the volcanic activity. After enjoying the attractions of this park, we will take the road to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This complex is an excellent educational center where you will learn about butterflies, Orchids, frogs, snakes and hummingbirds. Five magnificent waterfalls with nine observation platforms allow the visitors a close-up view of the falls and the spectacular La Paz River. 

Waterfall Gardens is proud to have the largest Butterfly Observatory in the world. The enclosed structure allows butterflies to soar freely while guests walk amid the natural habitat. An onsite laboratory is a breeding ground for the eleven-fluttering species. In the Hummingbird garden, our feathered friends will delight and fascinate you with their antics as they play and fight with each other at amazing speeds. These normally skittish creatures have become so tame; they will feed within a few feet of you. After exploring Waterfall Gardens, you will enjoy a delicious buffet style lunch at the terrace dining room. After lunch, drive to Sarapiqui. Upon arrival, check in at Selva Verde Lodge  and free time.

Day 3. CHOCOLATE TOUR. (B, L, D). In this three-hour activity, the students 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). Lunch at Selva Verde Lodge.

Evening: EDUCATIONAL BAT TOUR: Did you know that bats represent 50% (110 species) of Costa Rican mammals?  We invite you to enhance your education, dispel myths you may have heard about these wonderful mammals, and enjoy this adventure into the world of the bats. Tirimbina Rainforest Center will provide a multi-media presentation on the history of bats, their classification system, diversity, adaptations, reproduction methods, threats, and more.  And for the most popular part of the Bat Tour, a trained guide will provide visitors a safe opportunity to touch, feed and release safely captured bats. Visitors can also take a short-guided walk (15–30 min.) to see the mist nets used to gently catch these creatures.  The bats are kept for less than 2 hours and the professional methods used assure the well-being of the animals. 

Day 4. COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM & ARENAL VOLCANO. (B, L, D). Morning Service Learning Project – HOME – FARM VISITS. Take this rare opportunity to visit local people in their homes. Listen to them speak about their life, their family, their history, their community, and their work. You will also take a tour of the home and small farm, and receive coffee and a special homemade treat!

Lunch and transfer 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 Arenal Country Inn in La Fortuna town. Free time at leisure.

Day 5. ARENAL´S LAKE BOAT CRUISE & FORTUNA WATERFALL TOUR. (B, L, D). After breakfast, the group will enjoy a pleasant journey and boat tour in the Arenal`s Lake for admire the impressive volcano and wildlife & nature. After this tour, the group will able to 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.

Returning to the hotel by 5:00 Pm, the group will have free time for enjoy the hotel´s swimming pool. Dinner in a nice restaurant in Fortuna Town.

Day 6. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST & NIGHT WALK (B, L, D) Say good bye to Arenal and start the journey to Monteverde Cloud Forest. Upon arrival, check in at Historias Lodge. During the afternoon, visit to Santa Elena Town, the famous cheese factory and art galleries. Before dark, Monteverde Night Walk Tour. For those who wish to observe wonders hidden in the forest after dark, we offer guided night hikes. The tour begins just before nightfall, allowing us to see a wide variety of nocturnal critters.

Day 7. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST – SAN JOSE. (B, L, D). During the morning, tour to El Trapiche (Sugar Mill Tour). El Trapiche Tour is a Costa Rican Family project that offers visitors a two hour long guided tour. 

We begin with a walk on our farm where our guests will learn about the production of sugarcane, coffee, and the traditional ways of cultivating bananas, arracache (a local legume), avocado, macadamia nuts as well as other products.  Also, one can observe our Tilapia fish project and a small-forested area where it is possible to see various flora and fauna of the Monteverde zone.

After lunch, return to San Jose City and check in at Hotel Park Inn. Farewell dinner.

Day 8. TRANSFER OUT (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.

MINIMUM: No minimum

INCLUDE: 7 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 (CST).

We are members of SYTA (Students Youth Travel Association). For more Costa Rica Student Travel Programs visit our main page: https://greenwaytours.com/tours/student-tours-to-costa-rica/