Costa Rica Turtles and Rainforests

COSTA RICA TURTLES AND RAINFORESTS. STUDENT TRAVEL PACKAGE 8 DAYS – 7 NIGHTS

Costa Rica School Trip with Greenway Nature Tours. We offer 20 different educational programs for schools and high schools interested in visiting Costa Rica. Our Costa Rica Turtles and Rainforest is an ecology and volunteerism program that we know will fascinate to all participants.

VISITING: San Jose, Pacuare Reserve, Arenal Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES: Our Costa Rica Turtles and Rainforest focus on learn about Turtles conservation projects, Wildlife conservation, Active volcanoes, Wetland Ecosystems, Indigenous Communities, Waterfalls and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’s.

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

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA. Our Costa Rica School Trip Turtles and rainforest 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 Radisson Europa 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. Dinner on your own.

Days 2-3-4. PACUARE RESERVE TURTLE PROJECT (B, L, D) Breakfast at your hotel and departure to Pacuare Reserve for a 3 days volunteering project.

Volunteers carry out work related to a specific project of a high positive impact for the Reserve to continue operating and fulfilling its conservation mission and community development. Reserve Pacuare receives researchers, ecotourists, students and volunteers every season, with a passion to learn, conserve and protect the different species that inhabit the sea and the forest. These visitors who stay at the facilities and use the resources natural for educational or research purposes, are integrated into a community that aspires to reduce the negative impact on the environment and enhance its positive impact on it.

Several projects are run at this reserve including the following ones:

Marine Turtle Monitoring Program (March to June) 

-Participation in the day or night census.  Students will walk the beach under the supervision of a research assistant looking for nesting turtles.   Once spotted, biometric data is collected and recorded, and nest sites recorded by triangulation.  Nests placed in high risk areas are relocated to the hatchery.  The census also discourages illegal poaching of the turtle eggs.  From June on, the baby turtles start hatching and some nests have to be exhumed.  Volunteers receive training and instructions of the monitoring program’s protocol. 

-Cleaning of scientific and investigative equipment

-Maintenance of the hatchery:  The hatchery environment requires special maintenance to ensure that eggs have the necessary conditions to develop normally.

-Solid Waste Management Program (all year): 

-Beach Clean Up. The beach is 6 kilometers long, and only with the help of volunteers we can keep the beach clean and clear of washed up obstacles and garbage

-Organic Garden and plantation: Volunteers help with the definition of the area, soil preparation and keeping the same clean and accessible. This includes weeding, sowing, and harvesting and chopping, watering and pest control.

-Maintenance of Hiking Trails: Teams of volunteers are assigned to keep the trails from becoming overgrown, and free of obstacles.  (fallen trees/limbs etc.).  This includes raking and also cutting vegetation with a machete.

Days 4. ARENAL VOLCANO (B, L, D). Today and after a great job at the Pacuare Reserve, time to say good by and continue the journey to the next destination: Arenal Volcano. Arriving by Mid afternoon to Fortuna Town, the group will check in at San Bosco Hotel. 

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.

Days 5. CAÑO NEGRO WETLAND EXPEDITION (B, L, D). Our Costa Rica School Trips have included unique places like this wetland of international importance. 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

Days 6. MALEKU INDIGENOUS VILLAGE & SAN JOSE (B, L, D).  After a healthy breakfast, the group will visit a Maleku Village. The Maleku Indian Tribe is the smallest in Costa Rica with only 650 people left!  The Maleku community keeps its traditions, culture and the Maleku language alive and are very proud to have done so.  

The Indigenous Cultural Rescue Center receives students, families, and tourists from Costa Rica and around the world, allowing them to see this small representation, discover their unique language Maleku Jaica, their favorite dish la Mufuriseca, medicinal plants like gavilana and cuculmeca, their burial dances, ceremonies, and other rituals.

During our visit to the Villa, the students will interact with their leaders and take part of their culture during a special presentation.

After this experience, lunch in Fortuna Town before to continue to San Jose. Upon arrival to San Jose, check in at Hotel Park Inn and dinner.

Day 7. LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS: (B, L, D). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the Beautiful complex of La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the #1 Most Visited Privately Owned Ecological Attraction in Costa Rica featuring the best hiking near San José, the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, rescued wildlife preserve with over 100 species of animals, and an environmental education program.

Five waterfalls, cloud forest and rain forest, safe hiking trails, aviary with numerous species of birds, toucan feeding, insect exhibit, butterfly observatory, capuchin (white-faced) monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, hummingbird hand feeding in the mornings and afternoons, serpentarium (snake exhibit), jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, typical house with petting zoo and ox cart, ranarium (frog exhibit), orchid exhibit, heliconia exhibit.  All these offered at one place, makes us the best Eco Park in Costa Rica.

Our tour includes a delicious Buffet Lunch. It includes multiple selections of Traditional Costa Rican Dishes, Full Salad Bar, Pizza, Garlic Bread, French Fries, Fresh Fruits, Rice Pudding and unlimited Fresh Fruit Juice, Coffee and Tea.

By the middle of the afternoon, return to your hotel. Free time for rest. Farewell Dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant.

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: 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).

Start planning your Costa Rica Student Travel today. Email us