-Day 1 Hola San Jose
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Day 2 San Jose--Arenal
San Jose guided sightseeing tourNational Center of Art and Culture visit,
Gold Museum,
National Theater Details: Gold Museum
Explore this museum to learn about the importance of gold to the pre-Columbian Costa Ricans and to see more than 2,000 examples of gold artifacts.
Details: Travel to Arenal
Arenal is famous for its volcano, an unavoidable presence while traveling within this part of the country. It is tall, imposing, perfectly symmetrical shape makes it instantly recognizable.
Details: La Paz Waterfall Gardens visit
Visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens, one of the most beautiful and fascinating attractions in Costa Rica. Enter the Aviary to explore the birds of Costa Rica. Continue into the huge Butterfly Garden featuring a variety of species and an excellent learning center. View the monkeys and explore the hummingbird and orchid gardens. Hike down the perfectly laid out trails to viewing points along the 4 La Paz Waterfalls, each viewing point seemingly more impressive than the last.
Details: Arenal Volcano National Park visit
Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the northern region of the country and is home to one of the world’s most active and impressive volcanoes. Besides the volcano, this national park has various hiking trails that wind through the tropical highland forest as well as the lowland wet forest. Also within the park is a magnificent man-made lake, Lake Arenal (the largest lake in Costa Rica), which provides over 40% of the country’s energy production.
Day 3 Arenal
Details: LEAP Cocina Tica
Cook Costa Rican style! Create authentic local foods and sit down to savor your delicious creations.
Details: Arenal choir performance
Choirs often enjoy performances at churches (some have restricted sacred repertoire and others allow secular,) temples, museums and cultural centers, significant historic sites or exchange concerts with local schools, universities, or community groups. Participating in a choral or cultural festival can also be a rewarding experience. For all performances we work closely with each group to ensure the perfect venue to meet their vision. Speak with your Worldstrides representative about what options would be best for your group.
Details: Hot springs visit
Let the volcanoes take you away. At Arenal’s hot springs, bubbling lava fields heat the waters to make nature’s own jacuzzi.
Day 4 Arenal--Monteverde
Details: Travel to Monteverde
Because of its humidity and latitude, the entire city of Monteverde can disappear in a second under a massive cloud cover. Founded by Quakers in 1951, the city boasts the best in Costa Rican creatures. Observe a proud display of howler monkeys, revered quetzals and native frogs in the dense cover of the cloud forest.
Details: Canopy zipline tour
Harness in and soar above the jungle canopy on a thrilling zip line tour that takes you through the Costa Rican rainforest.
Details: Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve night walk
Step into the Monteverde Cloud Forest and be transported to the lush world of the Costa Rican rainforest. The towering trees, abundant shrubs and vibrant flowers create a luscious oasis for a huge array of animals, including jaguars, toucans and monkeys.
Day 5 Monteverde
Details: El Trapiche farm visit and chocolate tour
World-renowned Costa Rican coffee has grown to be an emblem of local culture. Learn how the country's elevation, eco-system and volcanic history have all contributed to its unique taste as you explore the coffee production process, the culture around coffee, and try a cup. The farm visit also includes a chocolate and sugar cane tour, including a chocolate tasting.
Details: Monteverde choir performance
The stunning scenery and climate provide the perfect setting for choral and instrumental groups to perform outside. Potential venues include (but not limited to): the Outdoor Amphitheater, which also hosts performances by Costa Rica's elite musicians and dancers. Other natural locations used for choral and instrumental performances include El Establo Mountain Hotel, founded by Quakers from the USA in the early 1950's. Subject to final confirmation.
Day 6 Monteverde--San Jose
Travel to San José via Zarcero and Sarchí
Details: Parque Francisco Alvarado visit
The picturesque town of Zarcero is perched on the edge of the Central Valley in the San Jose Highlands. The small town is known for its crisp climate and dramatic mountain landscapes. Without a doubt, Zarcero’s most popular attraction is its surreal topiary gardens. Visit the Parque Francisco Alvarado, which includes a monkey on a motorcycle, people and animals dancing, an ox pulling a cart, a man wearing a top hat, and a large elephant.
Details: Sarchí craft village visit
Costa Rica's premiere crafts village provides the perfect opportunity for souvenir shopping. Sarchí became famous in the mid-1800s for its elaborate hand-painted oxcarts, and now its artisans create clothing, shoes, chess sets, and other items all decorated in the traditional manner.
Details: LEAP Ox Cart Crafts
A local artisan introduces you to the origins of traditional Costa Rican craftmaking, such as Ox Cart painting. Try your own hand at painting and take home your art as a souvenir.
Day 6 Start Manuel Antonio extension
Travel to Manuel Antonio
Butterfly Farm visit
Day 7 Manuel Antonio--San Jose
Travel to San José
Details: Manuel Antonio National Park guided visit
Combining white sandy beaches with lush tropical forest, Manuel Antonio is the perfect place to see a variety of Costa Rican wildlife, from white-faced monkeys and sleepy-faced sloths, to green turtles and orange-and-black-shelled land crabs. Explore the cays and inlets of this national park during a guided excursion.
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Tour Includes:
- Round-trip airfare and other transportation described in the itinerary
- Accommodation in three- or four-star hotels in twin (or occasional triple) rooms with private facilities guaranteed throughout
- Plentiful daily breakfast to start the day energized and ready to go
- Appetizing, culturally representative, three-course lunch and dinner daily
- Full time, multilingual, WorldStrides tour director who is LEAP-trained in experiential education
- Local guide at sites and on city tours as described in the itinerary
- All of the venue arrangement fees and promotional costs for included concert performances
- LEAP! Learning through Exploration and Active Participation; trademarked immersive approach of learning by doing
- Entrances and transportation to sites and activities described in your itinerary
- Local guide and local bus driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
- Basic Medical, Dental, Emergency Evacuation Insurance during trip
- 24/7 On Tour Emergency Support
- Up to three college credits upon course completion (grades 9-12) or high school credit (grades 6-12)
- Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
- Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, costs for rental, transport of instruments or music stands, any passport or visa fees, or tips for the Tour Director or multi-day bus drivers. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid tips, or other customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.
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