Costa Rica Experience

Week One – Costa Rica Intro and Volcano Trek
This week will introduce you and your fellow travellers to true Costa Rican life. You will be:

• Learning Spanish
• Getting to know other travellers from around the world
• Taking Latin Dance, cooking and music classes
• Living with a typical Costa Rican family
• Trekking up one of Costa Rica’s most famous Volcanoes. It is active but it is completely safe for viewing!
• Taking a forest trek ending at the emerald green crater lagoon
• Visiting the town of Sarchi where you will meet local craftsmen who build Costa Rica’s famous oxcarts.

Week Two – Canopying Experience and Volunteer Project Placement
Your second week will include an exhilarating Canopy Tour and volunteer placement. During this week you will:

• Slide along cables between 12 platforms over the valley and tropical forest – including one of the longest cables in all Central American Canopies!
• Work in a day care centre, school, orphanage or home.
• Have free time during the day to take part in cultural activities at the language school.
• Have a free day to relax or explore the surrounding area.

Week Three – Pacific Coast beach tour and Volunteer Project Placement

• Take a jungle boat tour that travels along the Tárcoles River where you will be introduced to the world of crocodiles and different species of birds.
• Spend time relaxing in one of the most beautiful protected areas, the Punta Leona Beach Resort, an exotic paradise surrounded by 750 acres of lush tropical rain forest, pristine white sand beaches and the deep blue waters of the Pacific.
• Take part in an optional guided tour through the jungle, which is a good opportunity to see animals such as amphibians, reptiles and scorpions.
• Enjoy the extraordinary sunset at Punta Leona.
• Continue with your volunteer work in either the same location as your first week, or an alternative option if you wish.

Week Four – Adventure week
This will be a fun packed week that will include:

• White Water Rafting where professional guides will take you on an exhilarating journey along a beautiful river surrounded by tropical vegetation.
• A two-night tour to Tortuguero - one of the most exciting areas in Costa Rica and the most important site in the Western Caribbean for the nesting of the Green Sea Turtle.
• Take a boat ride and canoe along the canals to spot monkeys, birds, toucans, crocodiles and sloths, which can be seen in the lush tropical rainforest area.
• Hike the Tortuguero Hill for stunning views, visit a turtle museum or explore the small picturesque town of Tortuguero.
• Visit the Arenal Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas. If you are in luck, you can feel the ground tremble and see the night sky explode with ash and lava in a natural display of fireworks.
• Go to the hot springs of the volcano where you can relax in the soothing water.
• Take a boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife refuge boat tour.