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This trip has passed. Check out our May, July and August 2013 Jewish trips to Costa Rica and our August Alaska trip! |
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August 2012 Jewish group tour
The 8-night Costa Rica Experience for Jewish professionals next March (for those in their 30s. 40s and 50s) a diverse adventure that combines the volcanic mountains 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 ,with a visit to the Jewish community; goes on to the famous Arenal volcano and it’s just as famous hot-springs, all while based on the Finca Luna Nueva eco-lodge, surrounded by primary rainforest; continues with a whitewater rafting run and ends on the Caribbean Lowlands, with their tropical beaches, unique flora and fauna, active nightlife, and indigenous culture.
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 – 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.
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Trip Itinerary
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Saturday, March 9
Welcome to Costa Rica!
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The National Theater in downtown San Jose
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Sunday, March 10
 Casa Luna Nueva
Morning: A walking tour of downtown San Jose, including an amazing introduction to Costa Rica from a senior tour guide.
The walking tour will be followed by a visit to the local Jewish Community - including a visit to the impressive synagogue and museum, and an introduction to the history of Jews in Costa Rica. 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. We will check in to our home for the next three nights, the Finca Luna Nueva Lodge. Finca Luna Nueva is a sustainable rainforest eco-lodge hotel, offering 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 and relax in rustic yet luxurious accommodations! Tonight, enjoy an excellent organic dinner, chill by the pool and take a night hike of the surrounding rainforest - and discover its unique nocturnal denizens. |
 The Shaarei Zion synagogue in San Jose 
Finca Luna Nueva Eco Lodge
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Monday, March 11 Morning: an amazing Jungle Canopy Tour near Arenal, where we will literally fly through the rainforest by zipline! 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! 
Arenal Volcano
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 Tour participants on the Jungle Canopy Tour 
Baldi Hot Springs, Arenal
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Tuesday, March 12
 Ginger smoothie on Finca Luna Nueva
Today we will stay in the Finca Luna Nueva area - 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! |
Sacred Seeds Sanctuary
Steven Farrell, manager of the farm, leads the Sacred Seeds tour
You will meet and hear the Howler Monkey in the rainforest!
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Wednesday, March 13 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! |
 Rafting adventure on the Pacuare River |
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Thursday, March 14 Morning: We will visit the Indigenous BriBri Tribal Area and learn about the history of the native people of Costa Rica and the medicinal plants they use. We will end the visit by learning a bit about the history and production of chocolate in the area– and participate in the process of turning the coco-bean into chocolate - including tasting, of course! 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… Afternoon: Free time on the amazing Caribbean beach. 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! 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.  Traditional chocolate making workshop |
Caribbean cooking lesson with Junior Palmar
The Volio waterfall
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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Friday, March 15
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Hiking the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
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Saturday, March 16
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:
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.
Beach Cruiser bikes near Puerto Viejo
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Tour participant with young
howler monkey at the Jungle Rescue Center
Surfing lesson near Puerto Viejo
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Sunday, March 17 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. |
Practical Details
Dates
The February Caribbean Experience trip will take place from Saturday, March 9 to Sunday, March 17, 2013 (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 6 pm on March 9. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, please arrive by 3 pm on Friday so you can prepare for Shabbat. Your flight home can be anytime on Sunday, March 17.
You have an option of arriving on Friday and spending the weekend in San Jose, attending services in the Jewish community - let us know if you are interested in this option!
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 Caribbean Experience we will provide you with an experienced 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 of the trip is $1980.
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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 $200 via the Google Wallet system. After securing your spot, please fill out our tour registration form. Our trips have a maximum of 18 participants, and a minimum of 8. Once we reach the minimum needed and call the trip, the $200 deposit becomes non-refundable - we need to enforce this policy in order to cover loss from last-minute cancellations. If you cancel your attendance after February 5, 2013, we will reimburse you the sum you paid, with $200 kept as cancellation fee. 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! If you have a discount code, you will be asked to provide it before submitting a payment via Google Checkout. |
Deposit for March 2013 trip
Reserves your spot for the amazing December 2012 trip. To participate you must cover the full balance by February 5, 2013.
$
200.00
Remaining balance - March 2013 trip
Pay your remaining balance if you have already made the $200 deposit.
$
1,780.00
Full payment for March 2013 trip
Deposit and remaining balance for Aug. 2012 trip, including all accommodations, 17 meals, and tons of activities.
$
1,980.00
Friday early arrival
An extra fee of $80 is required for arriving a day earlier to San Jose, including night at a hotel and visit to Jewish Community.
$
80.00
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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 in the capital San Jose, on Finca Luna Nueva lodge near Arenal, and in a Puerto Viejo hotel. Price is for double occupancy accommodations. Single occupancy rooms are available, based on availability, for an additional fee.
- All activities and meals during our 3 nights while on the Finca Luna Nueva lodge .
- Meals included in trip: 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 6 dinners!
- Walking tour of San Jose - including intro to Costa Rica history
- Visit to main synagogue in San Jose
- Jungle Canopy Tour/ Zipline Adventure in Arenal
- Entrance to the Baldi hot-springs in Arenal, including a buffet dinner
- 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)
- Welcome night dinner in San Jose
- Friday night dinner at Pita Bonita in Puerto Viejo
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, in San Jose and Arenal
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tips and gratuities
- Visit to the Jaguar Rescue and other optional activities on the coast
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: +1-202-599-0655
