Experience the Language
...custom and private itineraries for your students
More EXPERIENCES, Less COST
When we first developed this program it was our goal to provide students all the adventure and a truer experience of MY Costa Rica than is provided by the large student tour conglomerates operating in Costa Rica. We strive to do this while keeping it affordable to every student. The itinerary outlined below is our standard program with a cost of $1425 per student. We will work with each teacher/chaperone to tailor the itinerary and Spanish curriculum to create the perfect adventure for their group. Of course, we also want to take care of our organizing teachers/chaperones so we offer complimentary travel with every 8 paying travelers.
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OUR STANDARD PROGRAM INCLUDES:
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Customized eight day group itinerary
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Your trip is PRIVATE, we will not combine your group with another
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ALL on-tour private transportation
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Lodging in double rooms - no shared beds if possible
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ALL meals are provided
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ALL funds used for service projects
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Full time tour tirector
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Trip shirt and luggage tag
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ALL activities and entrance fees per itinerary
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ALL guide fees
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ALL tips are included
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Access to group social media for sharing images and videos
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Daily SMS/MMS group updates - photos and videos of your child to your phone
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Emergency travel medical insurance
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Spanish curriculum tailored to the abilities of your students
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Complimentary travel for teachers
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NO hidden fees
* We do not include the price of airfare in the cost of our program, as we want to allow you to shop for the best price available and make this trip as affordable to your students as possible. We can assist you in this process as we have for other groups.
CUSTOM ITINERARY EXAMPLE
Arrival Day & Travel to San Carlos
Day One
You have been planning yourself for travel for months, and the day has finally arrived, you will land in Costa Rica or Tiquicia as many of us call it. You will spend the next week exploring the wonderful Tico culture, applying the Spanish language in real world situations, and having fun while you explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica.
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Your guide will meet you outside as you exit the airport and welcome you to Costa Rica. You will be loaded onto your private transportation and depart for the Northern Lowlands region of San Carlos.
On this trip, you will go through the suburban areas that surround San Jose, and over the surrounding hills. You will see the beautiful green scenery as you pass through rain and cloud forests. Along the way, you will get acquainted with your guide as she introduces herself and gets to know each member of your group. Your guide will start orienting you on the country of Costa Rica.
Upon arrival in the small town of Santa Clara you will check into your hotel. This evening you will have your first experience with "comida Tica" at dinner. After dinner, we will have a short program orientation meeting. You will then fall asleep listening to the sounds of the surrounding rainforest, and rest up for a big day mañana.
Service Project in Santa Rita
Day Two
Breakfast will be early each morning in Costa Rica. The sun rises around 6:00 am and sets about 12 hours later at 6:00 pm. You will notice that the birds wake up a bit earlier than the sun! It is wonderful to have such a natural alarm clock. After a delicious typical breakfast that is sure to include “gallo pinto” you will have your first Spanish language and culture class.
These classes are important as we will discuss language that applies to that day’s activities. You will also discuss aspects of the Tico culture that you will experience and how they are similar or different from your own.
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After class, we will travel a short distance to our first service project. We will be working at an elementary school in the small village of Santa Rita. Your service project will be determined by the needs of the community. The school in Santa Rita has expressed a desire to have a mural painted. You will also have an opportunity to interact with the children here as we work in the school. We will share lunch with the students at the school.
After we leave the school, we will return to the hotel to freshen up then we will be off to our first “Español en Áccion” activities. These activities are designed to allow (force?) you to apply your knowledge of the Spanish language in real world situations. We will have a number of these activities during the week.
We will wrap up our day with specially planned cultural activity, a wonderful Tico dinner, and a daily group meeting.
Continue Service Project, Ciudad Quesada, and Hot Springs
Day Three
Today is a busy day. After breakfast, your group will go to the service project site to continue the project.
After a morning of work, your group will eat lunch at the work site. The group will work for a couple more hours before loading the bus to head to Ciudad Quesada, the main city in “La Zona Norte”. You will spend some time touring the city center before departing to the Hot Springs just outside of town. In route to the hot springs the group will stop at the hogar de ancianos (elder care facility) to visit for afternoon coffee. We will spend the afternoon and evening enjoying the thermal waters.
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After your relaxing soak in the hot springs, you will depart for Santa Clara and enjoy a filling Tico style dinner. You will finish off the day with the daily group meeting.
Exploring La Zona Norte
Day Four
Today is full of adventure, we will spend the day hiking in one of Costa Rica’s most biological diverse national parks, Parque Juan Castro Blanco. Juan Castro Blanco was created to protect the slopes of the Platanar and Porvenir volcanos. The headwaters for five major rivers originate here, making it one of the most important watersheds in the country. The park boasts 233 species of birds and 57 species of mammal. With the limited infrastructure and tourist traffic of the park you have a wonderful chance of spotting rare wildlife like the quetzal, black guan and the curassow. After spending a few hours hiking in the park you will be treated to lunch in the town of San Vicente.
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After lunch, the group will drive a short way to the mountain town of Zarcero. Zarcero is famous for the topiary gardens that adorn the central plaza. We will return to Santa Clara for Dinner and group meeting.
Iguana Colony, Children’s Home and Zipline/Rappelling
Day Five
Today is another jam-packed day! You will wake early for a wonderful breakfast, and board the bus to go to the town of La Fortuna. On the way, we will stop in the town of Muelle to visit a very large iguana colony (great photo opportunity), and then make our way to La Fortuna. La Fortuna is in the shadow of the world famous Arenal Volcano which has been the backdrop for many major motion pictures.
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We will lunch in one of the sodas (small diners) in La Fortuna. We will then go spend some time at the Hogarcito de San Bosco (children’s home) in the Zeta 13 community of La Fortuna. The Hogarcito is a government run home for children ages 0-10 whom have been removed from their families for cases of abuse and neglect. This is always one of the highlights of the trip. Here we will have an ice cream party, make crafts and play games with the children.
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We will then depart to soar through the rainforest canopy and scale down the face of a cliff during our zipline and rappelling tour.
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We will return to Santa Clara where we will enjoy a traditional Carne Asada with a local family
Visit EBAIS, and Depart for Manuel Antonio
Day Six
After breakfast, we will prepare food for people in the waiting rooms of the local EBAIS (medical clinics). The visits to the doctor here are on a first come first served basis, so many people have been waiting in line for hours and have not eaten breakfast. We will serve food at the Santa Clara and Florencia clinics as we depart for Manuel Antionio.
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We will work our way to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. We will make a stop at the world famous Croc Bridge over the Tarcoles River to see a large population of crocodiles, and stop for lunch at the beach town of Jaco.
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After lunch, we will drive through palm oil, and banana plantations to Manuel Antonio. We will check in our hotel and go visit the beach for a short time before dinner.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Day Seven
We will wake early and have breakfast and arrive at Manuel Antonio National Park as it opens. Manuel Antonio is a place of swaying palms and playful monkeys set alongside the sparkling blue water of the Pacific Ocean. Manuel Antonio is the countries smallest and most popular national parks. Here you can bathe in the crystal-clear waters, view myriad wildlife and hike in the many trails. We will spend all morning in the park and eat lunch there.
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We will return to our hotel to relax and share a wonderful farewell dinner together. We will finish with our last group meeting.
Depart for Home
Day Eight
Today is the last time you will see the land of Pura Vida for a while. We will depart the coast and make our way back through coffee plantations to San Jose. Sit back and enjoy this drive and reflect on the wonderful adventure you've just experienced. Now you understand what Pura Vida really means!
"About the experience: I can't imagine a better way for Spanish students to put what they've learned into practice...it was really amazing to see how much stronger their Spanish was in just the short time we were there by immersing themselves in the daily activities of the people"
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Renee E
Mother