Costa Rica Rainforest 7D/6N

Costa Rica Rainforest is one of our 20 Costa Rica Students Travel Programs for schools, High Schools and Universities interested in experience the tropical rainforest and learn about ecology.

VISITING: San Jose, Sarapiqui & Arenal Volcano, Zarcero & Sarchi.

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES: To learn about Rivers, Volcanoes, Rainforest, Chocolate production, Wildlife, Rural communities, Local farms, Lakes. Visit a rural school and have a cultural interchange with the students.

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

Day 1. ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER TO SARAPIQUI. (D) Our Costa Rica Rainforest package 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 Selva Verde Lodge  in Sarapiqui and free time at leisure. Dinner al Selva Verde.

Day 2. 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). There also you may taste different types of chocolate, made from organic chocolate grown by the Association of Amazilla Women of the Caribbean , a group of rural women from Pueblo Nuevo de Guacimo dedicated to the production of organic chocolate.  Lunch at Selva Verde.

Afternoon, Boat tour down the SARAPIQUI  RIVER. This river was an important transportation route for settlers who first moved into this region. This tour will provide the opportunity to view river wildlife, as well as observe the vitality of the river as a means of transport for local Costa Ricans. On this tour you might see 2 & 3-toed sloths, Howler monkeys, river otters, iguanas, river turtles, crocodiles, bats and a large variety of birds. Dinner at Selva Verde.

Day 3. ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR (B, L, D). After breakfast at the lodge, departure to Hacienda Pozo Azul for a Zip Line Canopy Tour. This amazing experience includes 9 cables and 11 platforms in a secondary forest with very high trees and exuberant vegetation. Refreshments with fruits and water in the way. Ending with a 900 ft cable crossing the beautiful Sarapiquí River canyon. Lunch and dinner at Selva Verde. Afternoon wildlife exploration activity in the lodge trails. 

Day 4. SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS (B, L, D) Breakfast at Selva Verde. Morning Service Learning Project

SCHOOL – FARM VISITS. Today the group will visit local people in their homes and the local school. 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, where the owner will explain about the most important aspects of the local agriculture, the products, harvest and processing. This is a real full contact with the local culture and people.

 Lunch at Selva Verde. Afternoon, Group Inter-Action Activity. For this afternoon, the group can select between 2 activities. LATIN DANCING CLASSES or COOKING CLASSES. If the group is too big, we can split it into the 2 activities and the students can select the one of their preference. This will be 3 hours program. Dinner at the lodge.

 Day 5. ARENAL VOLCANO & HOT SPRINGS (B, L, D) Breakfast at the lodge and departure to our 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 or similar.

During the afternoon, the group will enjoy Baldi Hot Springs. 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 6. ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & SAN JOSE (B, L, D) Our Costa Rica Rainforest package includes breakfast at the hotel and tour to Arenal Hanging Bridges. This is a new tourism attraction in La Fortuna within a 250-hectare (618 acre) reserve of primary forest. Visitor 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 build 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.

Lunch at La Choza del Laurel Restaurant in La Fortuna Town before continuing our journey to San Jose Via Zarcero.  This quaint little town is perched amid breathtaking highlands and famous for its quaint white colonial-style church fronted by topiary garden with cypress bushes sculpted into fantasy arches and animal shapes. After this visit,,  Transfer to SARCHI for shopping and possible visit to an ox cart factory.  This artisan town is the arts and crafts capital of the country.  An important part of Costa Rican history, the oxcart was used in the mid-nineteenth century to transport coffee and other goods from the Central Valley to the coastal ports.  Today, Sarchi is still heralded for its beautiful oxcarts.

Upon arrival to San Jose, Check-in at Hotel Radisson Europa. Farewell Dinner at a Local Restaurant in San Jose

Day 7. 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: 6 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/