COSTA RICA NATURAL WONDERS

STUDENT’S PACKAGE
COSTA RICA TURTLES & RAINFORESTS
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
Private Guide & Transportation.

VISITING: San Jose, Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano & Jaco Beach.

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES: To learn about Turtles conservation projects, Wildlife conservation, Active volcanoes, Waterfalls and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’s.

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

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA (D). 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 question 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.

Days 2. TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK (B, L, D) Breakfast at your hotel and departure to Tortuguero National Park.

Enjoy a true ecological adventure in one of the most beautiful National Parks in Costa Rica. Leaving early from San Jose, enjoy the journey through the beautiful Braulio Carrillo National Park en route to Guápiles and later to La Pavona, a beautiful dock located right next to the La Suerte River that communicates with the Tortuguero Canals.

Board our covered and comfortable boat for a 60-minute tour along the Tortuguero Canals. Your guide will explain the rainforest ecosystem and point out the places of greatest interest. Be on the lookout for wildlife, including howler monkeys, sloths, toucans, waterfowl, bats, and crocodiles, as well as abundant vegetation.

Upon arrival in the town of Tortuguero, we will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful Caribbean region. As a first activity we will visit Cerro Tortuguero.

Cerro Tortuguero has an area of ​​approximately 25 hectares and is the highest point on the entire Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, offering spectacular panoramic views of the forest and the dynamics of canals. In addition, it becomes a micro habitat and refuge for a large number of animal and plant species.

The Cerro Tortuguero sector is located on the border with the Tortuguero National Park and just 10 minutes from the community of Barra de Tortuguero, so the visitation is directly related to that of this famous ecological destination in Costa Rica, despite the fact that It should be clear that it belongs to the Barra del Colorado National Wildlife Refuge.

This characteristic means that Cerro Tortuguero can offer, in addition to its spectacular views and impressive nature, an experience of Caribbean coexistence in the community of San Francisco, which is located at the foot of Cerro Tortuguero.

After visiting this impressive place, we will go through the lush tropical jungle and visit Caño Palma, where you can enjoy the dense vegetation of this wonderful national park and if nature allows us, observe its rich wildlife.

Once these activities have been carried out, our next stop will be the Town of Tortuguero, with its picturesque Caribbean atmosphere and beautiful colorful houses and shops that invite the visitor to spend a pleasant moment in their community. We will stay at the historic Miss Junie hotel, a cozy establishment with great history in this community and that has beautiful facilities, with direct access to both the lagoon and the sea and also has a refreshing pool to relax after exploring the beautiful Caribbean jungle.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Turtle Museum, which is an ideal place for turtle lovers and those who wish to learn more about this animal so popular in Costa Rica. It is located at the John H. Pipps Biological Station of the Sea Turtle Conservation (CCC) in Tortuguero. The Turtle Museum aims to educate the population about all aspects related to the different species of turtles that come to our country and as an endangered species, in addition to the flora and fauna of Tortuguero. The museum also has information on the turtle spawning cycle.

It is a natural museum to be able to know first-hand different species of turtles that inhabit different parts of Costa Rica and that arrive throughout the year. It is a place where it is remembered that we are facing an endangered species and as such it must be taken care of in a remarkable way.

At night, we will make the spectacular tour along the beach to observe the turtles laying their eggs in the sand. We will do this tour in coordination with the association of local guides and the administration of the national park under the strictest protocols established so as not to disturb the spawning process. You will visit the beach in small groups and always accompanied by 1 guide.

Days 3. TORTUGUERO EXPLORATION (B, L, D). Start this new day with a delicious Caribbean breakfast at the hotel. After it, get ready for an amazing exploration at Tortuguero National Park. A 90 minute´s boat tour will immerse the group into a wonderful ecological experience where many wildlife species will be easy to see. After the tour, hotel check out and departure to our new destination: Arenal Volcano.

At the end of the boat transfer, lunch at La Pavona Restaurant before to continue the journey by bus to Arenal. By Mid-afternoon, arrival to La Fortuna Town and check in at Hotel Magic Mountain.

Enjoy the rest of the day having a relaxing time at Baldi Hot Springs. At Baldi Hot Springs you will find an endless dreamed stay, where the natural environment, colorful natural gardens, therapeutic waters, pure air and our care combine on a perfect state; the dream came true. In here you will enjoy multiple thermal pools, a giant stem room, luxury pool bars, Giant water-slides, relaxing areas and much more. Dinner included at Baldi Hot Springs.

 Days 4. ARENAL VOLCANO (B, L, D). Today explore some of the attractions of La Fortuna and its beauty. During this day, 2 popular sites will be visited: La Fortuna Waterfall and Mistico Park Hanging Bridges.

The La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the best things to see when you come to the Arenal Area! You will love the hike down to this waterfall near the town of La Fortuna because you can see all the natural beauty of the rainforest as well as the birds and wildlife that live there. Once you arrive to the La Fortuna Waterfall, prepare to be blown away by the beauty of this impressive waterfall near the Arenal Volcano! You will also be able to swim and take amazing photos!

Later and after s short bus ride, get ready for explore the rainforest and enjoy it walking along several huge hanging bridges.

At Mistiko Park and Hanging Bridges, enjoy travelling the forest comfortably in our revitalizing paths full of nature and wildlife. In front of the majestic Arenal Volcano you can admire its beauty and the wonderful forest that surrounds it, as well as a reserve populated with wildlife in their natural habitat that will allow you an encounter with the roots of the human species. Walk across 10 regular bridges and 6 Hanging Bridges and gaze at 18 meters (60 feet) waterfall within a comfortable non-slippery trail without steps and acquire a once in a lifetime bracing adventure.

After the tours, return to the hotel and free time for relax at the swimming pool. During the night, cultural experience & walk at Fortuna Town.

Days 5. EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE (B, L, D).  Today the group can visit ONE of the following places or projects. Please select the one of your preference:

OPTION A: CAÑO NEGRO WETLAND EXPEDITION. The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Rio Frío are biological humid areas considered to be one of the richest in biological diversity in Costa Rica. Here you can find a great variety of resident and migratory birds plus three different species of monkeys, also iguanas, sloths, turtles and caymans. Some birds are residents in the area and it is possible to see hundreds of them especially during the dry season.  Some of them are Anhinga or Snake – bird, Roseate Spoonbill, it is possible to see little groups of this bird eating in the surroundings of the river.  Wood Storks, the Jabiru, the largest bird in Central America and very endangered.  Also, the Olivaceous Cormorant, that makes its nest in the area, it is also the most popular bird in the area. Along the river we can see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white-faced monkeys, also the three-toed sloth and some reptiles like caimans, Jesus Christ lizard and turtles.

OPTION B: PROYECTO ASIS, A WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER:

At Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rescue Center, the group will learn about their mission to make a difference in the lives of the animals they have rescued and in the lives of the people who visit and who volunteer with them. Located in the breathtaking tropical rain forests of the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica, a team member work to fulfill the mission to create intercultural connections and promote the building of a new environmental consciousness through volunteer programs and daily educational tours.

This day, the group will participate in a special activity and lesson about injured animals and efforts to re-introduce them into their natural habitat. During the morning, the students will help preparing the food & feeding all the animals in the center. In the afternoon, another activity but with sloths will be place before to return to the hotel. Lunch at Asis Rescue Center. Dinner in Fortuna Town.

OPTION C: COFFEE & CHOCOLATE TOUR. Don Juan Tours Arenal is a family business that through its tours teach visitors the whole process behind two very important products worldwide, Coffee and Chocolate.

Don Juan – Coffee and Chocolate Tour, will take you to know the entire Coffee process, from the seed to the delicious cup of coffee.

Once the coffee tour is finished, we will start with the sweetest part of the tour, the delicious chocolate. Like coffee, we will talk about the entire Chocolate process, from the seed to the delicious chocolate bar and we will end up selecting some members of the group to grind the cacao beans and make their own chocolate bar. Once finished you will have the opportunity to taste several types of chocolate such as Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate.

One of our main features is the infrastructure we have, since the Arenal Area is well known for having a very changing climate, it goes from being very sunny and humid to heavy rains, even with an electric storms on some occasions, that is why that 100% of our trails are protected and made of cement, which will allow to enjoy the tour on sunny or rainy days.

Days 6. ARENAL VOLCANO – JACO BEACH (B, L, D).  After a healthy breakfast, departure to the next destination: Jaco Beach in the Central Pacific Coast. On the way to the beach, stop for lunch at El Jardin Restaurant. Continuing the journey, the group will visit Tarcoles River for a boat tour and admire the huge crocodiles that live in this ecosystem.

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 River is home to one of the world’s largest crocodile populations in the wild and they are very easy to admire during our 90 minutes boat tour. Get up-close with American crocodiles of all sizes, and observe an abundance of beautiful exotic birds! Enjoy spectacular rainforest scenery and cruise through dense mangrove forest canals. Spot jungle wildlife such as iguanas, lizards, and monkeys.

After the tour, continue to Jaco Beach. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel Balcon del Mar and free time. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 7. TORTUGA ISLAND & SNORKELING TOUR: (B, L, D). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Beautiful Tortuga Island located in the Nicoya´s Gulf. This is the most famous island in Costa Rica. After a 45 minutes boat ride, enjoy a pristine white sand beach and crystal waters. Snorkeling is just fantastic and very safe. Have fun at the beach and explore the surroundings on your own. Pick Nick Lunch at the beach. By midafternoon, return to your hotel in Jaco Beach. Dinner at the hotel.

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 paid students.       MINIMUM: 20 students.

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.