Costa Rica: Eco Rainforest Adventure

Optional extension:

Day 8: Arrive for Host Family Introductions and a Cooking Class

Meals: Dinner

Spend the morning relaxing by the pool in your hotel. Then, we will depart for Ciudad Quesada, a small, rural town near the base of the Arenal Volcano. Upon arriving in Ciudad Quesada, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town with your English-speaking guide Greivin, who was born and raised in the community. We will end the night with a traditional, interactive cooking lesson with members of the community, some of whom will be your host family for the remainder of the trip. After dinner, you will join your host family and settle in to your home for the next few days.

Day 9: Visit Natural Hot Springs and Enjoy a Dance Class

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast with your host family, we will visit the hot springs heated by the nearby Arenal Volcano and/or a beautiful waterfall both commonly visited by locals. We will enjoy a delicious lunch with breathtaking countryside views in the neighboring community of San Vicente. Next, we will participate in a dance class and spend the rest of the evening eating dinner, practicing our Spanish, and playing games with our host families.

Day 10: Visit a Local School and Participate in a Beautification Project

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy another tasty breakfast with your host family and roll up your sleeves as we embark on a day of meaningful service at a local special needs school. Depending on the current needs of the school, we will either assist the teachers in the classroom by playing informal games with the students, and/or, we will participate in a beautification project by planting a vegetable garden or painting a mural, among other helpful tasks. For lunch, we will visit a local “soda” or diner to try more traditional, Costa Rican food. We’ll finish up our service in the afternoon and then we’ll spend the evening eating dinner and enjoying our last night with our host families.

Day 11: Walk to the Local "Feria" before Returning Home

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast with your host family, it’s time to say final goodbyes to your new forever family. We’ll spend the rest of the morning at the local “feria” or farmers market to shop for local souvenirs and try some fresh produce, including Costa Rica’s wide variety of exotic fruits. Finally, we will transfer back to the San Jose International airport, an approximate 1.45 hour drive away.