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Trip Itinerary

Friday, February 14

Early arrival option: 

Arrive a day early today, see San Jose and spend Shabbat with a visit to the local Jewish Community.
  • Explore downtown San Jose, the capital city!
  • Kabalat Shabbat at the impressive central synagogue

Saturday, February 15

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, we will be checking out the Latino vibe of the local nightlife!

Sunday, February 16

Morning:  A walking tour of downtown San Jose, including an amazing introduction to Costa Rica from a senior tour guide.

Afternoon: Drive to the town of La Fortuna, near the majestic Arenal Volcano, with a possible stop at a traditional coffee plantation along the way.

When we arrive in La Fortuna, we will check into the Monte Real hotel, which is in a great location - from your rooms you will be able to observe the magnificent Arenal volcano!

Monday, February 17

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

Afternoon: Arenal Volcano Tour Hike – we will enjoy a gentle hike along the base of this marvelous “Mountain of Fire”, climbing close to the crater of the volcano, which has been pretty active since 1968.

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

Tuesday, February 18

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Ginger smoothie on Finca Luna Nueva
Today we will visit 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!

Morning: We will take a tour of the Sacred Seeds Sanctuary at Luna Nueva, a dynamic collection of medicinal plants that protects and celebrates not only biological diversity in Costa Rica and the tropics, but also the diversity of cultural knowledge related to these plants worldwide.
Housing over 275 tropical plants, this collection is a delight for anyone interested in botany, herbal medicine, or indigenous culture.

The tour will be followed by some chill time - to relax in the ozonated swimming pool or solar powered hot-tub, to drink an amazing, locally sourced ginger smoothie, or to practice some yoga.

Afternoon: Time to put on your rubber boots, and head on the Cavalonga Trail hike, through amazing primary rainforest. The experienced guide will take you through the trails, which are connect to the  50,000 acre Children's Eternal Rainforest via a biological corridor. On your way, you will see many animals, and learn about the various trees and plants.

We will return to the farm, and learn about what keeps the crops healthy, from the happy water buffalo to the wiggling worms in the  compost. We will stroll through the biointensive garden, where we will taste numerous plants and herbs, the same ones served daily in the farm's restaurant.


We will end the day feasting poolside on an amazing Costa Rica/Asian fusion style dinner, all organic and locally produced!


Wednesday, February 19

Today we will be heading south to the Caribbean coast, and on the way go on a rafting adventure on the nearby 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! 

Thursday, February 20

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. 

Later, we will participate in a Caribbean cooking lesson: using seafood, fish, 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…


Friday, February 21

Morning:  we will be participating in a service project with one of the indigenous communities living in the area: this could be helping to build a local school, working in a vegetable garden or tree nursery, or working with the folks from the Ara Project, the Great Green Macaw reintroduction team with the school kids. We are working with the Talamancan Association of Ecotourism and Conservation (ATEC) on the service project, and will have specifics as we get closer to the date of travel. During our time volunteering, we will learn about the Indigenous BriBri Tribal Area and the history of the native people of Costa Rica, the medicinal plants they use. We will end the day learning about the history and production of chocolate in the area– including tasting!

Later, experience the peace and tranquility of the magical waterfall at Volio. Enjoy a refreshing swim, see tropical flora, fauna, and with a little luck see animals such as birds, monkeys, sloth, blue Morpho butterflies…

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

Festive Friday night Dinner at the Israeli owned Pita Bonita restaurant, serving some of the best Hummus in Central America!


Saturday, February 22

It is Saturday, so it is time to rest and chill...

This morning, we have an option to visit the local Jaguar Rescue Center, a unique animal rescue center, where you will learn about (and hold!) some of the amazing animals (including monkeys) that call this area home.

Some other late morning / afternoon options include:
  • Sunbathing
  • Beach Cruiser bike rental- check out the different beaches nearby!
  • Take a surfing lesson
  • Visit the local botanical gardens
Later today it is time to bid farewell to the Caribbean Coast, and head back up to San Jose, where we will spend the night before heading home tomorrow. We will spend the evening in the small town of Alajuela, not far from the international airport.

Sunday, February 23

Time to say goodbye! Depending on our time of departure, we will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the airport.

 ***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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The National Theater in downtown San Jose
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The Shaarei Zion synagogue in San Jose
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Arenal Volcano
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Hotel Monte Real, Arenal
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Tour participants on the Jungle Canopy Tour
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Sacred Seeds Sanctuary
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Steven Farrell, manager of the farm, leads the Sacred Seeds tour
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You will meet and hear the Howler Monkey in the rainforest!
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Pacuare River Rafting
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Hiking the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
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Caribbean cooking lesson with Junior Palmar
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The Volio waterfall
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Traditional chocolate making workshop
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Tour participant with young howler monkey at the Jungle Rescue Center
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Beach Cruiser bikes near Puerto Viejo


Practical Details

                                                                                                                     
Dates

The Costa Rica Experience trip will take place from Saturday, February 15 to Sunday February 23, 2014 (8 nights in total; 9 nights for those wishing to arrive on Friday, February 14). 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 5 pm on February 15. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, please arrive by 3 pm on Friday February 14 so we can prepare on time for Shabbat. Your flight home should be no earlier than 12:30 pm on Sunday, February 23.

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

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 which is walking distance from the Synagogue and a short ride from downtown, such as the La Sabana.
  • On Finca Luna Nueva, you will stay in rustic yet luxurious accommodations on the edge of the Costa Rican rain forest.
  • On the southern Caribbean coast you will be staying in a comfortable mid-level hotel, such as the elegant Namuwoki, 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 Costa Rica Experience, Greener Travel will provide you with an experienced 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 Costa Rica Experience.

Entry Requirements

A valid passport is required for all visitors to Costa Rica. Airlines traveling to Costa Rica require a passport valid for at least 6 months after the initial flight date in order to board the flight. US and Canadian citizens do not need a tourist visa to enter the country. Visitors from all other nationalities should check with the Costa Rican Embassy.

Weather

Weather on the trip should be warm and comfortable.  On Arenal expect it to be 75 -85 f, though it cools off a bit at night, and on the coast should be a bit hotter. It is Costa Rica, and it can rain, so please bring a poncho or a light and breathable rain coat.

Health Concerns

No immunizations, shots, inoculations or vaccinations are required to enter Costa Rica.

Electricity

Costa Rica has the same electric system as the United States. Electric outlets are 120 volts / 60 Hz.

Water

Drinking tap water is safe in Costa Rica, though the water on the coast (Caribbean) has an aftertaste and visitors tend to buy bottled water. We suggest you purchase a big water jug when you reach the coast (1 gallon) and use it to refill a smaller bottle – it saves money and is better for the environment. The hotel where we will be staying has a fridge where you will be able to chill your water and store food.

Currency

The Costa Rican currency is the colón (cólones in plural), and the exchange rate is about 500 to one USD. You can change dollars at the airport, or just use a bank/credit card and withdraw money at the airport. ATMs can be found all over Costa Rica. Keep in mind that there is a few dollars fee for international withdrawals, though from experience it could be safer to travel with a bank card then with a large sum of cash that can get lost/stolen.  The hotels you will be staying in will have safes where we can leave valuables and passports during the day. 

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 Greener Travel Company, LLC. │Washington, DC │ +1-202-599-0655 │info@costaribbean.com