For your School Trips to Costa Rica, Greenway Nature Tours offer this exclusive school package for experience the best of Costa Rica.

VISITING: San Jose, Poas Volcano, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde & Tamarindo Beach

EDUCATIONAL OBJETIVES:

Day 1- Introduction about Costa Rica.

Day 2- Learn about Volcanology, Active Volcanoes, Explosive Volcanism, Submarine Volcanoes.

Remote Sensing, Chemistry and Physics of Magma, Volcano Seismology, Costa Rica Wildlife and how Rehabilitation centers helps to protects it.

Day 3 -To be a farmer for a day. Learn about the common crops in the area and how are they planted, harvested and prepared. On this Hands-On activity the students will interact with a local farmer his experience in the fields and be able to be a farmer for a day.
Underground rivers and hot springs. Have a blast enjoining at the Largest Hot Springs Park in the World

Day 4-5- Understanding the main concepts of Tropical Ecology, Rain Forest, Water Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Food Chain, Preys and Predators in a natural habitat, Rain Forest Architecture and Structure.

Day 7 – Demonstrate your sports skills and learn to surf on a world class beach

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

Day 1. WELCOME TO COSTA RICA (D). Your School Trips to Costa Rica 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 packet 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 & ARENAL (B, L, D). Breakfast at the hotel and departure to the tour to Poas Volcano. 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 wildflowers. 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. At the volcano an expert about volcanology with conduct several educational activities and laboratories.

After the visit to the volcano, lunch in a local restaurant before to continue our journey to our next destination: Arenal Volcano. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel Magic Mountain and dinner.

Day 3. ARENAL VOLCANO & LOCAL FARM VISIT. (B, L, D). After breakfast, transfer to Finca Don Juan for a practice & Lab about Organic Agriculture.

The general area of ​​the farm is 2 hectares, with a good use system under the foundations of PRODUCTION, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION. They maintain more than 30 different crops with strict organic techniques, semi-stable cattle, methane gas production, tilapia and the manufacture of organic components in a small empirical laboratory: among them worms farm, bio ferments, natural bamboo hormones, capture and reproduction of mountain microorganisms , compost, fertilizers by osmosis of fruits, herbs or mixed, among others. The farm has been divided into sections, including:

1. MATHEMATICS SECTION
2. MEDICINE SECTION
3. SECTION OF SOCIAL STUDIES
4. LOVE SECTION
5. SPIRITUAL SECTION
6. CHALLENGE SECTION
7. PEACE PATH

The visit to the Finca Educativa Don Juan it is to live an educational agricultural experience walking on trails in green area that make up geometric figures, you will participate in the cassava harvest, planting of it, harvesting of vegetables, fruits for homemade fresh, spinach and any other necessary ingredient to the lunch or dinner that they will then have with fresh products from the farm, grown organically through the concept of sustainability.

The tour includes moving to the biodigester, where pigs, chickens, quails and cows are in charge of giving us milk every day for cheese and custard, as well as collaborating with the production of methane and fertilizer gas. You can easily notice a closed cycle.

Normally the return of the tour is done by a path through the mountain area along the banks of the Burro River, a natural element that divides the cantons of San Carlos with San Ramón. Also, as a mandatory step is to go to the TROJA, place where students will process the sugar cane in a manual trapiche (sugar mill).

Afternoon visit to The World Famous Baldi Hot Springs, The largest Thermal Waters of the World. 25 Thermal Water Pools amidst the tropical rainforest, these 25 thermal water pools are filled by crystalline waterfalls, for the use and enjoyment of all visitors. The purity of the water will make you feel like you are floating in an oasis of healing, with birds singing all around and the sound of falling water that invites you to relax and recover your wellness and quality of life.

Extreme adventure lovers seeking an adrenaline rush and extraordinary experiences have the perfect challenge of sliding and bumping through whirling and curved pipe water slides. These Xtreme slides are fun for the entire family as it is impossible not to laugh and share the excitement of people splashing out from the pipes. Dinner included at this paradise.

Day 4. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST & NIGHT WALK (B, L, D) Say goodbye to Arenal and start the journey to Monteverde Cloud Forest. This amazing transfer will consist of crossing the largest lake of Costa Rica and them continue by the mountains to Monteverde. Upon arrival, check in at Historias Lodge or similar. 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. Special lecture and Lab. about Cloud Forest and Wildlife is included during the tour.

Day 5. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST (B, L, D) During this day the students will be able to visit one of the most famous worldwide biological reserves.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest (or “BEN” after its Spanish name, Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is the largest private reserve in Costa Rica, bought and protected thanks to the fundraising efforts of children from around the world. The campaign was sparked by a group of Swedish primary school students in the late 1980’s, and quickly gained support from other schools, individuals, and organizations from 44 different countries.

Straddling 7 different life zones, the BEN is one of the most biologically diverse 23,000 hectares on the planet. Although it covers just 0.0048% of the world’s land surface, it is home to a wildly disproportionate amount of the world’s flora and fauna: 2% of the world’s orchids, 3% of the world’s butterflies, and almost 5% of the world’s bird species, to give just a few examples.

The BEN is also important as a watershed, feeding numerous downstream communities, farms, and hydroelectric projects. And it is the backbone of a block of protected areas that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Arenal, La Fortuna, and Monteverde each year, providing the economic mainstay for thousands of local families.

The BEN is owned and managed by the Monteverde Conservation League, a Costa Rican nonprofit organization founded in 1986. To date, the MCL’s main achievement has been to purchase and protect this wonderland, and it continues to acquire critical, strategic pieces of land when funds area available. The organization’s main focus now, however, is on other forms of consolidation – specifically, seeking ways to achieve greater financial sustainability, strengthen its education programs, and foster more research in the BEN.

During our visit to this unique project, the students will be able to learn about the cloud forest, enjoy a nature walk, participate in living labs and receive lectures about ecology, natural history and community support.

Day 6. MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST – TAMARINDO BEACH (B, L, D) One this date and after breakfast, departure to the beach of Tamarindo in the Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival, check in at hotel Mar Rey or similar. Free time for enjoy the are and the beach. Lunch & dinner in Town.

Day 7. TAMARINDO BEACH – SAN JOSE (B, L, D) Enjoy a nutritive breakfast before to begin the day with some special surfing classes with a private instructor just for the group.

Tamarindo is by far the quintessential destination for learning to surf. Besides having multiple surf spots on a single beach, the waves here run the gamut of sizes and power. For novice surfers, the whitewater rolling up to shore has exactly the power you need to propel forward and learn to stand on your first ever wave. Once you can stand and it’s time to solidify those skills, Tamarindo beach has waist-high waves just a few feet away. Finally, when your abilities are up to snuff and you’re ready to take on the challenge of bigger, barreling waves and putting yourself in the lineup to catch the next peak, Tamarindo beach got that too. All on one beach, you can go from zero to hero, riding next to locals who’ve been shredding what Tamarindo has to offer since they were nothing but sprites.

Beginners Surf Lesson

This is our most popular single day lesson. We take the frustration out of your first surf lesson by introducing surfing in a fun, energetic, and friendly atmosphere. Don’t worry if you are a slow learner, or an athlete no problems we pace the lesson for your needs. Our friendly instructors will help you to enjoy the learning experience. You can relax knowing that an expert waterman is watching you at all times and prepared for any questions you may have in your lesson.

Land Lesson: First, our instructors will take you down to the beach and give you a brief, but important safety explanation. we want you to get as comfortable as possible with popping up from the board and your stance before we hit the water, a solid base will help you improve quicker. You will learn about the surfing environment (wind, swell, waves, currents, tide), local conditions, and surf technique.

In-Water Lesson: This is the best part! During your first splash you’ll learn how to control your surfboard safely. We’ll teach you how to paddle the surfboard, catch waves and standing up. You’ll also learn about which waves are most suitable for you to surf on.

Our surf instructors always have plenty of time to give you individual attention; they will give personalized coaching and feedback. We are able to focus on yours skills. You will understand what you need to look for when you start a surf session and how to stay safe here or in any other location in the world. We make sure you feel comfortable with the basics.

After the amazing experience, lunch and hotel check out for continue our journey back to San Jose for the last night of the trip. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel Park Inn and Farewell diner. 

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.

Rates quoted based on 2 double beds per room. Students could share 1 bed. In the case the teacher requests a single bed per student, we should re-quote the package.

For your School Trips to Costa Rica Greenway Nature Tours is your best option. We are 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/