GREENER TRAVEL COMPANY - SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURES

  • Home
  • Group Tours
    • Summer 2019 Jewish YP 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
Overview
What's included?
Detailed Itinerary
Pricing & Terms
FAQ
August Costa Rica Trip Itinerary 
Friday, July 31, 2015  


Early arrival option

Arrive today and visit San Jose and spend Shabbat with the local Jewish Community.
  • Explore downtown San Jose
  • Oneg Shabbat & dinner with the Jewish community - Bani Israel liberal synagogue 

Accommodation in San Jose – Hotel Palma Real


 Saturday, August 1

  • Participate in synagogue morning services at the central synagogue, followed by a communal lunch.
  • Explore Downtown San Jose on a walking tour: Plaza De La Cultura, the National Theater and the National Museum.
  •  Take a day-trip to the beautiful Poás Volcano, just north of town.               
  • If you arrive today: rest up a bit in the hotel, and join the rest of the group in exploring downtown San Jose and for dinner at Chateau 1525. 

Accommodation in San Jose – Hotel Palma Real 

Sunday, August 2

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!

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…

After dinner, enjoy live Reggae music with moijtos, daiquiris or fresh Pina Colada! 

Accommodation  –  Pizote Lodge. We will be staying in the best rooms on the house: A/C cabins, which have a boutique hotel feel to them!

Picture
Punta Uva beach

Tuesday, August 4

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. 


Dinner at the Israeli owned Pita Bonita restaurant, serving some of the best Hummus outside of the Holy Land!


Accommodation  –  Pizote Lodge

Wednesday, August 5

This morning we take a ride to Siquirres, the heart of Banana and Pineapple land, where we will have lunch. We will head to the dock at Pavona, where we will take a boat ride on a canal, bringing us to the tiny island village of Tortuguero, and the nearby national park. 

Afternoon visit the local village - a chance to interact, shop, and experience this secluded community.  During this time you can also head to the beach and enjoy the Caribbean sands - but the seas is rough - no swimming here!

Tonight: green turtle nesting excursion along the beach! 


Accommodation  – Laguna Lodge 

PictureGinger smoothies at Fincal Luna Nueva
Thursday, August 6

Early morning: We will join a canal boat tour of Tortuguero National Park- experience the awakening jungle up close!

This afternoon we head
to the town of La Fortuna, near the majestic Arenal Volcano, with a possible stop at a traditional coffee plantation along the way. We will check into the Finca Luna Nueva Farm which offers an intimate experience of primary rainforest together with a certified organic biodynamic farm. Here, you will experience the Costa Rican rainforest, learn about the farm's sustainable practices  -   its 240 acres offer many opportunities to view its natural beauty- and just to relax!

Afternoon: Visit the Baldi Hot Springs, Mother Nature's enormous hot tub – including an extensive lunch buffet. The hot springs are fed by an underground river heated naturally by the Arenal Volcano to the perfect temperature of 101 degrees!

Tonight, enjoy an amazing organic meal, soak in the ozonated, solar powered hot tub, and take a short guided nightwalk in the surrounding rainforest!

 

Picture
Fresh Challah is baked on the farm!
Friday, August 7

Morning: an amazing Jungle Canopy Tour near Arenal, where we will literally fly through the rainforest by zipline!

Time at leisure at La Fortuna Town to walk around and have lunch (not included).

Afternoon: Farm tour of Finca Luna Nueva. 

Night: Festive Shabbat meal !

After dinner:
  Social activity and games - or just feel the serenity while lounging on the hammocks and listening to the rainforest!

Sunday, August 9

Time to say goodbye! We will leave Finca Luna Nueva by 7:00 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.
Picture
The National Theater in downtown San Jose
Picture
The Poas Volcano Crater Lake
Picture
Pacuare River Rafting
Picture
Young howler monkey at the Jungle Rescue Center
Picture
Beach Cruiser bikes near Puerto Viejo
Picture
Volunteer work at the Kekoldi Indigenous Reservation
Picture
Caribbean cooking lesson with Junior Palmar
Picture
Hiking the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Picture
Tortuguero National Park
Picture
Tortuguero National Park tour
Picture
On the bus!
Picture
Baldi Hotsprings
Picture
Arenal Volcano
Picture
Sacred Seeds Sanctuary
Picture
Steven Farrell, manager of the farm, leads the Sacred Seeds tour
Picture
Iguana Sanctuary in BriBri



Practical details


Dates

The Costa Rica Experience trip will take place from Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 9, 2015 (8 nights in total; 9 nights for those wishing to arrive on Friday, July 31). 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 August 1st. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, please arrive by 3 pm on Friday, July 31st. Your flight home should be no earlier than noon on Sunday, August 10th.

If you observe the Sabbath you have an option of arriving on Friday and spending the weekend in San Jose, attending services in the Jewish community – or arriving Sunday and joining the group in Puerto Viejo. 


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 Hotel Palma Real, a comfortable 3 star hotel which is walking distance from the Synagogue and a short ride from downtown.

On Finca Luna Nueva, guests will stay in rustic but comfortable rooms - right in the rainforest!

For our time in Turtuguero, we will be staying at the tranquil Laguna Lodge, set in the rainforest right outside the National Park.

On the southern Caribbean coast we will be staying in a comfortable yet exotic Pizote Lodge


Guides

For your Costa Rica Experience, will provide you with an experienced Costa Rican guide throughout the trip, as well a
Greener Travel group leader 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 trip.
Picture
Laguna Lodge, Tortuguero

Our Trips

Jewish Group Tours
Tailored Trips
Group Trips

Company

About us
Contact us
Blog



Picture
 Greener Travel Company, LLC. │Washington, DC │ +1-202-599-0655 │info@costaribbean.com
  • Home
  • Group Tours
    • Summer 2019 Jewish YP 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