Costa Rica Volcanoes & Beaches 8D/7N

Costa Rica Volcanoes & Beaches is a special Students travel program for schools & high schools interested in visiting Costa Rica for an educational experience.

VISITING: Our Costa Rica Volcanoes & Beaches will be visiting the following places: San Jose, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Arenal Volcano, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Tamarindo Beach.

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES: To learn about Wildlife conservation, Active volcanoes, Dry Forest Ecosystems, Waterfalls and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’s, Tropical Beaches.

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

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA. Our Costa Rica Volcanoes & Beaches educational 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. Dinner on your own.

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, continue to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Town. Check In at Hotel San Bosco and dinner.

Days 3. ARENAL VOLCANO- CHOCOLATE TOUR & HOT SPRINGS (B, L, D). With the view of the majestic Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna of San Carlos, enjoy the sweetest rainforest experience, discovering the ancient secrets of chocolate: from its discovery and use, in tropical America, to the processing of the product we know and enjoy today. Considered as “a gift of the Gods”, the cacao tree was very important to the ancient culture, it was not only used as a ceremonial drink, but its seeds were also used as currency because of its economic value, in many regions of Mesoamerica, including Costa Rica. In this 2 hour “hands on” program, you will have the opportunity to learn interesting aspects of cocoa and chocolate, from its origin and history, participating in all the production process, from the harvesting of the fruit, drying and grinding of the seed, also the developing of the traditional drink of our ancestors, and of course enjoying a high quality organic chocolate.

Later, you will relax in one of the best thermal water places in the area: 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. The unique frame where your experience turns into the most unforgettable one. In here you will enjoy multiple thermal pools, a giant stem room, luxury pool bars, Giant water-slides, relaxing areas and much more.

Upon arrival to Baldi Hot Springs, enjoy a delicious Buffet Lunch before to jump into the Thermal Pools. 

Days 4. GUACHIPELIN LODGE & RINCON DE LA VIEJA VOLCANO (B, L, D).  After a healthy breakfast, transfer to Guanacaste region until arrives to Hacienda Guachipelin. Uniquely situated in the dry tropical forest and just besides the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is the ideal setting to explore one of the most interesting regions and active volcanoes in the “happiest country in the world” – Costa Rica.

At Guachipelin Lodge, the students will enjoy multiple adventure and ecological experiences including a visit to the National Park, Las Pailas sector.

The Las Pailas trails of Rincon de la Vieja National Park are located very close to Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. The Las Pailas sector spectacularly shows the power of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano, the most active and largest volcano in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Steam and sulfur come from natural fumaroles of the yellow and rusty soil. Witness clay pails in various shades of brown with boiling volcanic water, fine gray volcanic mud bubbles and explosions in large pails. This volcano is like no other in Costa Rica. With our bilingual naturalist guide, you can walk the 3.5-km Las Pailas circular path through the tropical forest to enjoy the best views of the volcano, incredible nature, volcanic activity, and wildlife. The park is home to more than 300 species of birds, and many other animals, such as armadillos, bays, iguanas, coatis and white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys and spider monkeys. 

After the tour return to the lodge and dinner. 

Days 5. GUACHIPELIN LODGE ADVENTURE DAY (B, L, D).  

Experience all the best adventures in one day! There are four main activities during this day of adventure: canopy (zip line) tour and rappelling through the Rio Blanco Canyon, a tubing adventure on the Rio Negro River with class III rapids, a horseback riding adventure, and relaxing with volcano-heated thermal waters, steam, and mud bath. This is an action-packed day! Your guide provides instruction for all the activities, ensures your safety, and makes sure you have a great time! The adventures are a blast, and the views of the river, canyons, and wildlife are unbeatable. Please take into consideration that for the tubing tour, the required minimum age is 8 years old and must be at least 1,40 cm to be able to take the tour.

Day 6-7. TAMARINDO BEACH. (B, L, D).  Say good bye to Guachipelin and continue the journey to one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. Tamarindo. Tamarindo is a town in the Guanacaste Province, on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It’s known for beaches with strong surf, like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Langosta. To the north, Playa Grande beach is a major nesting site for huge leatherback turtles, and forms part of Las Baulas National Marine Park. The mangrove-lined estuary of Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge protects animals such as howler monkeys and crocodiles.

Upon arriving to Tamarindo, check in at hotel Pasatiempo or similar. Free time for enjoy the beach and the town.

Day 8. TRANSFER OUT (B). Transfer to the International Airport according with your scheduled flight and good bye. We hope you had enjoy our educational trip Costa Rica Volcanoes & Beaches.

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).

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/