-Day 1 Hola San Jose (groups flying from the west coast may be required to depart day 0)
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Day 2 San José--Arenal
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: 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 3 Arenal
Details: Canopy zipline tour
Soar through the treetops for the unmatched close-up of the New World’s best wildlife refuge. Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then step into thin air and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird-eye view from your new aerial perspective. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.
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: Costa Rican cooking class and lunch
Create authentic Costa Rican foods and sit down to savor your delicious creations.
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: 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 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--San José
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: Ox Cart art class
Spend some time learning how to paint a national symbol of Costa Rica, the wheel of an Ox Cart. While we are painting there will be contests, games and little dances. All fees and materials for this opportunity are included.
Day 6 San José
Details: Guided Excursion to the Irazú Volcano
Gape at the 11,260-foot Irazú Volcano, the highest in Costa Rica. Still active, it last erupted in 1963 on the day that Kennedy visited; the eruption sent enough ash into the air that it dammed a nearby river and flooded the towns below. From its peak you can look inside the crater to see the bright green, sulfurous water inside or look out on the more tranquil view of both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
Details: San Jose choir performance
Venue options for choral groups includes the Metropolitan Cathedral. Completed in 1871 the cathedral is a unique blend of Greek Orthodox, Neoclassical and Baroque architecture cultivating an excellent acoustic. Additional venues for choral and instrumental groups includes the Templo de la Musica in the Parque Morazán. A popular bandstand inspired by the Temple of Love and Music at Versailles. The San Jose City Band and National Symphonic Orchestra both perform here on special occasions.
Day 7 Flight home from San José
-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 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.
Day 8 Flight home from San José
Tour Includes:
- Round-trip airfare and other transportation described in the itinerary
- 5 overnight stays (7 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
- Breakfast daily
- 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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