11 Day Eco Adventure
Day One: Welcome
Depending on your arrival, the group will sight-see around Costa Rica's capitol, San Jose and enjoy dinner in the city.
Day Two: Journey to Serafin Turtle Station on the Caribbean Coast
The group will travel to the rainforest at Braulio Carrillo National Park, have lunch and then travel through the town of Matina to the docks. Here the students will be taken by boat to Serafin Station which is located along a section of the Caribbean coast surrounded by wetlands. Students will work the next two nights with biologists measuring, tagging and relocating eggs for the sea turtles.
Day Three: Wetlands and Turtles
Today will be spent studying the rainforest wetlands and learning about this incredible ecosystem. You will go exploring the magnificent canals by boat in search of the wildlife living along the shore and in the waters. After the canal adventure its time for beach cleaning, creating a safe path for the turtles to nest, working on the hatchery, or planting trees for reforestation. In the evening before the second night of patrol, some groups may get the chance to release turtle hatch-lings back into the sea.
Day Four: Tirimbina Rainfortest Center
Students get a glimpse of what it is like to be a field ecologist, as they go into the rainforest and construct ecological hypotheses, collect data, and analyze the results and implications for the environment. At night, they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use mist nets to catch, and study bats then release them back into the wild.
Day Five: White Water and Arenal Volcano
The group will leave Tirimbina towards the Sarapiqui river for a day of exciting but safe whitewater rafting, have lunch and drive to the hotel Los Lagos, located at the foot of the most active volcano in Costa Rica, Arenal. You may be lucky and see it erupt in the distance, and hear the breath of the bull rumble down its slopes.
Day Six: Rappeling the Lost Canyon and La Fortuna WaterFall
Today you will really get your adrenaline pumping, as the group rappels what is called the Lost Canyon. The group rappel down the canyon walls past 5 waterfalls. After you will visit La Fortuna water fall for a swim. From here the group has lunch in town of La Fortuna and enjoy some shopping; then it heads for the Hot Springs heated by Arenal volcano. Next you will visit Don Juan Sustainable Organic Farm and after a tour the group will enjoy dinner prepared with the farms own grown products. To finish the group heads to Arenal for a presentation on volcanism and geology.
Day Seven: Boats and Horses into the Clouds Forest
The group will take a boat across Lake Arenal and be met by horses that will carry them up into the mountains, across the continental divide and into the Cloud forests of Monteverde. The afternoon will be spent visiting the hummingbird galleries, a butterfly garden, and possibly a frog house.
Day Eight: View from the Top
The group will get harnessed up for the ride of their lives, as you fly over and through the trees on zip-lines. An unforgettable experience. Then the group will head for the white sands of the Pacific, a perfect place for swimming, snorkeling, and winding down the tour.
Day Nine: True Tropical Vacation at Punta Leona
This day is dedicated to animal watching, more swimming in the ocean or pool, miniature golf or just reading a book. The evening is spent in the town of Jaco Beach for dinner and shopping.
Day Ten: Back to San Jose
The group will make its way back into the capital and along the way there will be stops to see crocodiles, and a little last minute shopping.
Day Eleven: Sad Goodbyes
Goodbyes to your two guides and the driver. Fly home. Fill journal with amazing tales.
This tour is designed for students 14 years and older.
What is included?
Included: All meals, all hotels, private bus, 24 hr private naturalist guide, all activities.
Not included: Airfare, tips and spending money.
Free Travel for Trip Leaders: With 10 participants a trip leader travels FREE, including air.
Available Trip Dates: March through July 2014.
All for just: $1870. per person!