GREENER TRAVEL COMPANY - SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURES

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 Early spring adventure in Costa Rica

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Finca Rio Perla waterfall. Photo by Matt Miller
The 8-night Spring Costa Rica Caribbean Experience offers a diverse adventure that combines the Caribbean Highlands of Costa Rica – with its breathtaking tropical beaches. It begins by sampling some of the color that San Jose, the nation’s vibrant capital has to offer; continues with a whitewater rafting run down to the Caribbean Lowlands, with their tropical beaches, unique flora and fauna, active nightlife, and indigenous culture; continues with a visit to Tortuguero National Park, with its majestic jungle canals and the late-night ritual of endangered turtle nesting on its beach; and it ends in the highlands, with their lush mountainous rainforest, waterfalls, freshwater pools and serenity - spending the time based at a cool eco-farm on the slopes of Volcan Turrialba.

This complete tour package provides a diverse and exciting adventure-experience brimming with activities (including chill time), all in a short but long week, and all in the beautiful and peaceful paradise called Costa Rica.  It offers a mosaic for all your senses, focusing on the contrast between the highlands and the lowlands-coast. So come and spend an amazing week in the Costa Rican Caribbean!

We take the environment seriously, and plan our trips in accordance with the guidelines of eco-tourism: minimizing environmental damage through low impact travel, supporting local environmental projects and indigenous communities, and learning about the culture and natural environment of the places visited.


EVERYTHING listed below is included in our trip.  These adventures are paid for already – including a swim in the pool above – just imagine that!  You may, but you do not need to spend another dollar on an adventure – it’s all priced into our packaged tour.
  • Tropical beaches on the Caribbean
  • White water rafting in jungle  (Pacuare River - Class III-IV Rapids)
  • ‘Fly’ over the rainforest on Zipline Canopy Tour
  • Culturally and ecologically friendly rainforest guided treks
  • Horseback Riding
  •  Two nights on an eco-farm, home to untouched rainforest and amazing waterfalls!
  • Milk cows, collect eggs, and fish Tilapia for dinner while on the farm
  • Explore Tortuguero National Park, its natural canals and its wildlife of turtles, crocodiles, monkeys and more - with an optional turtle nesting tour!
  • Feel the Earthy vibe of Puerto Viejo, a happening Caribbean haven.
  • Local guides and tours ensure that the indigenous communities benefit from tourism revenues and protect the environment.
  • Caribbean beaches, and more Caribbean beaches!
  • Caribbean cooking class
    Meals included in cost of trip: 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners


                                      Trip Itinerary

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Saturday, April 21
Welcome to Costa Rica!

  • Arrive at the San Jose International Airport (SJO), and check into hotel
  • Explore Downtown San Jose - while getting to meet your group-mates for the week; see Plaza De La Cultura, the National Theater.
  • Group dinner in downtown San Jose
  • It is Saturday night, and if you are up to it, you can check out the Latino vibe of the local nightlife.
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The National Theater in downtown San Jose
Sunday, April 22

Today we will be heading south to the coast, and on the way go on a rafting adventure on the mighty Pacuare River, known as one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids (Class III-IV).

Late afternoon: we will arrive at Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast - one of the most happening places in Costa Rica - a place the international crowd blend with the local Latino, Afro-Caribbean and Bribri indigenous cultures, with its pristine coastline acting as a backdrop!

After dinner, enjoy live Reggae music with moijtos, daiquiris or fresh Pina Colada! 
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Rafting adventure on the Pacuare River

Monday, April 23

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Punta Uva beach
Today we have a free morning on the amazing Caribbean beach. Options include:

  • Sunbathing
  • Beach Cruiser bike rental- check out the different beaches nearby!
  • Take a surfing lesson
  • Visit the local Jaguar Rescue Center
  • Visit the local botanical gardens

Afternoon
: we will visit the Indigenous BriBri Tribal Area and learn about the history of the native people of Costa Rica, medicinal plants, as well as the history and production of chocolate – including tasting!

Late afternoon:
  enjoy a sunset swim along the magnificent Punta Uva beach, thought by many as the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica!

Later, we will participate in a Caribbean cooking lesson: using fruits and veggies typical to Coastal Talamanca, you’ll learn to cook in the traditional Caribbean way from some of the local matriarchs - and enjoy a great meal afterwords.

Night
: explore the town– all while taking in the special and laid back ambiance of Puerto Viejo. We may hit one of the bars, clubs, or live music venues that dot the town…

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Traditional chocolate making at the BriBri reservation


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Tour participant with young howler monkey at the Jungle Rescue Center
Tuesday, April 24
  • Morning: half day hike in the amazing Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge– one of the best trips for jungle wildlife viewing in all of Costa Rica!
  • Lunch at Maxi’s Restaurant, considered by many to be the best seafood restaurant in the Caribbean
  • Free afternoon on the tranquil beaches of Manzanillo, with optional snorkeling and water activities.
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Hiking the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Wednesday, April 25
  • Morning: an amazing Jungle Canopy Tour, where we will literally fly through the forest by zipline.
  • After lunch, we take a ride up the coast to the port of Limon, where we take a boat ride up the inner coastal canal, bringing us to the tiny island village of Tortuguero  Tortuguero, and the nearby national park.
  • Check into to the jungle Evergreen Lodge – free evening in hotel.
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Zipline adventure in the Talamanca Mountains!
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The Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero

Thursday, April 26

  • Early morning: Join a canal boat tour of Tortuguero National Park- experience the awakening jungle up close!
  • After breakfast, hike Tortuguero Hill, the highest point on the Caribbean side of the country (approximately 119 meters), and learn about the unique flora of the jungle from an experience naturalist. On a clear day a view of Tortuguero and the surrounding areas can rally capture you!
  • Afternoon visit the local village - a chance to interact, shop, and experience this secluded Tico community.  During this time you can also head to the beach and enjoy the Caribbean sands at sunset! 
  • Late night (option): take a night tour to see the female green or Leatherback turtles, which come during this season to lay their eggs on the picturesque coast.  As this is early in the season, the tour will depend on turtle sightings.

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Tortuguero National Park
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A Howler monkey is one of the many animals that inhabit Tortuguero

Friday, April 27

Time toget on a boat for a last trip though the canals to the village of Pavona, from where we will head up to Finca Rio Perla, an -farm up in the Caribbean Highlands. This is where we will spend  our last two nights in Costa Rica. After eating a delicious vegetarian lunch, today’s activities will include:

  • Farm tour and orientation
  • Horseback ride , followed by macadamia picking, fresh sugarcane tasting, a view of the big waterfall (over 100 ft!), and a hike to another waterfall where we will take a swim in the cool water and enjoy the rainforest around us.
  • Tilapia fishing (tonight’s dinner- depending on fish availability)
  • Festive meal
  • After dinner:  Social activity and games - or just feel the serenity while lounging on the hammocks!
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Horseback riding on Finca Rio Perla
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Lunch at Finca Rio Perla
Saturday, April 28

Good morning Finca Rio Perla!   

Today is our last full day in  Costa Rica– and depending on what you are up to, you can chill during the day, explore the area and/or partake in some farm activities:

  • Wake up early and to milk the dairy cows and goats – we will use the milk to make cheese later!
  • Plant trees to help reforest the area and offset travel associated carbon emissions
  • Sow the seeds and cultivate the land at the farm’s organic vegetable and herb garden or collect fresh eggs from the hen coop
  • Using machetes, clear brush and pick nuts at the macadamia grove.
  • Tico style cheese/ice cream making workshop with Vivian
                                                  
                                           Later in the day....
  • Afternoon: hike to the small waterfalls or explore the larger, more remote ones.
  • Evening:  dinner (including our homemade cheese and ice cream)
  • Night: Option of going into town to enjoy a local Tico bar – our last night in Costa Rica!

Sunday, April 29

Time to say goodbye! We will leave Finca Rio Perla by 7:30 am, in time to make our flights back home.  

 ***Please note that the time and location of an activity might change due to unexpected circumstances, such as inclement weather and hazardous road conditions.


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Finca Rio Perla Activities
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Hot pepper in the farm's organic garden

For a full detailed itinerary of the trip, click here!


   Practical Details
                                                                                                                     
Dates

The Caribbean Experience trip will take place from Saturday, April 21st to Sunday, April 29th, 2012 (8 nights in total). We will be meeting at and leaving the San Jose (the capital) international airport (SJO).

We ask that you plan to be on a flight that will land in San Jose by 4 pm on April 21st Your flight home should be no earlier than noon on Sunday, April 29th.

If you want to arrive a day or two earlier, or choose to leave later, please let us know how we can help you experience more of this magnificent country.  We can arrange for a pick-up or drop-off in another part of San Jose at the beginning or end of the trip.  Day trips from San Jose include the nearby volcanoes of Poas and Irazu. If you are interested in this option, please let us know!


Accommodations

  • In San Jose, you will stay in a comfortable hotel in the downtown area, such as the Costa Rica Guesthouse.
  • On the Finca Rio Perla farm, guests will stay in rustic but comfortable rooms, with shared bathrooms and toilets.
  • For our time in Turtuguero, we will be staying in the tranquil Evergreen Lodge, set in the rainforest right outside the National Park.
  • On the southern Caribbean coast we will be staying in a comfortable mid-level hotel, such as the elegant Banana Azul, or the Shawandha. We will be pairing up to share the rooms, though you might choose to be in a single room for an extra fee. 

Guides

For your Caribbean Experience we will provide you with an experienced driver/guide that will escort you for the length of your trip. In various activities, we use the best local specialty guides with years of expertise in introducing tourists to the natural beauty of Costa Rica.  We work mostly with local guides as well as with tourism non-profit organizations such as ATEC, which make sure that the local indigenous communities benefit from tourism revenues while protecting the environment and the traditional way of life.

Transportation

We provide all transfers during the week using an air conditioned van or minibus, driven by a bilingual driver / guide.

Packing list

Before departing, you will receive a comprehensive list of suggested things to bring on the Caribbean Experience.

Cost of trip

The cost per person is $1450. 

Great! How do I sign up?

To reserve your spot on the trip, click on the link to the right to make your secure deposit of $150 via the Google Checkout system. After securing your spot, please fill out our tour registration form.

The trip will leave with a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 16.
If this number is not reached by March 15, we will cancel and postpone the trip, and you will be fully reimbursed.

If you cancel your attendance after March 15
, we will reimburse you the sum of $1300, with $150 kept as cancellation fee.

One we reach the minimum of 8 participants, we will notify you so that you can go ahead and purchase your flight.

For general questions about the trip, please write us at:  [email protected]


Please feel free to forward this info to any friends of yours that might be interested in joining us for this week - ask us about our special registration price for groups of two or more that register together! 
Deposit for April 2012 trip
150$ holds your spot for the amazing April 21-29, 2012 trip. To participate you must cover the full balance by March 15, 2012.
$
150.00    
Full payment for April 2012 trip
1450$ reserves your spot on the April 21-29, 2012 trip.
$
1,450.00    
Remaining balance for trip
1300$ is the amount that must be payed by March 15, 2012 if you have already made the $150 deposit.
$
1,300.00    



If you have a discount code, you will be asked to provide it before submitting a payment via Google Checkout.

The cost of the trip includes:

  • Transportation and transfers to and from all locations in Costa Rica by a bilingual guide/driver.
  • Full accompaniment by a Costa Rica Caribbean Experience staff person. 
  • 8 nights of accommodations on the Finca Rio Perla farm, in San Jose, in Hotel Monte Real in Arenal, and in a hotel in Puerto Viejo.  Price is for accommodations of 2 per room.   Single occupancy rooms are available for an additional nightly fee.
  • All activities and all meals during our 2 nights at the Finca Rio-Perla eco-farm.
  • Canal Tour, nature hike and tour of village in Tortuguero
  • Meals included in trip: 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 6 dinners!
  • One day of amazing whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River (including breakfast/lunch)
  • Gandoca –Manzanillo Wildlife Hike
  • Caribbean cooking class
  • BriBri Cacao Tour (history of local indigenous people and organic chocolate making)
  • Jungle Canopy Tour/ Zipline Adventure
  • Welcome night dinner in San Jose

Please note that if you do not wish to partake in the rafting, canopy tour, and zipline, you may opt out and we will reduce the cost of your trip accordingly.

The cost does not include:
  • Airfare
  • Costa Rica departure tax of $28
  • Traveler insurance (we will be able to arrange this for you if needed)
  • Some meals on the Caribbean coast and in San Jose 
  • Optional late night turtle nesting tour in Tortuguero
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Tips and gratuities
 
Our tours are organized by the Costa Rica Caribbean Experience, a destination of Greener Travel Company, LLC. The company was founded by Ami Greener, an experienced and enthusiastic environmentalist that has been captivated by the unique beauty of Costa Rica. By forming personal relationships with local providers in Costa Rica (hotel owners, activity outfitters and the staff of Finca Rio-Perla, the amazing farm that we visit), we are able to offer a tailored experience to both individuals and couples traveling alone and looking to explore the area, as well as group tours which a member of our staff or local Costa Rican associates will guide.

Though the dates for this trip are set, if you want to join and cannot take the whole week off from work, we could accommodate you for part of the trip, and price it differently as well.

If you cannot make it on these dates, but would like to plan a visit alone, with a small group of friends or a romantic getaway with a significant other - we can help you plan that trip as well with some of these amazing adventures – we regularly send couples, families and small groups of friends on a tailored Caribbean Experience!

For further information and questions, please contact us at:

The Costa Rica Caribbean Experience                                                               
[email protected]
                                                                                                                     
US: +1-646-469-9743        


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  • Home
  • Group Tours
    • Baja Whales & Island Safari
    • 2024 Jewish Costa Rica
    • Group Tour Registration Form
  • Tailored Trips
    • Pacific & Mountain Costa Rica
    • Sample itinerary
    • Trinidad & Tobago
    • Free trip
    • Rio Perla >
      • Finca Rio Perla lodging and activities
  • Testimonials
  • About
  • Greener Blog
  • Contact Us