Costa Rica Adventure with Marshfield High School

Upon arrival at the Juan Santamaría International Airport meet your driver and transfer to your hotel. This evening welcome dinner and orientation to your program, get to know your guide as well as learn about the amazing country that will be your home for the next week.

This morning after breakfast transfer from San José to Sarapiquí. En route, stop at Braulio Carrillo National Park, home to over 500 species of birds and 135 species of mammals. Board the aerial tram and explore the forest canopy at 170 feet. Continue to Selva Verde Lodge. After settling in, enjoy a hike in the reserve forest. Your guide will discuss the complex details of the ecosystem and how life in the rainforest thrives, also receive an introduction to the amazing tropical birds. This evening enjoy a dance lesson hosted by the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center (SCLC), a not for profit organization founded to preserve the cultural integrity of the rural community of Chilamate and aid in sustainable community development projects.

After breakfast participate in a reforestation project. Planting native trees helps preserve the rainforest and a multitude of endangered animals by creating biological corridors. Enjoy lunch and time with a local family on their farm. This afternoon take an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip on the Río Sarapiquí. A professional river guide escorts all trips and all necessary safety equipment (helmet, life jackets, etc.) will be provided. Following a thorough safety orientation and basic rafting lesson, enjoy both Class II and Class III rapids of the Rio Sarapiquí. Next, visit Best Chocolate to learn about the history of cacao and how it is processed from fruit to the final product. This is an authentic experience that also helps support a family-owned sustainable tourism initiative in the community.

Early departure from Sarapiquí to visit Ecotermales Hot Springs in La Fortuna. Have a soak in the thermally heated hot springs warmed by Arenal Volcano and have lunch on site before departing for Monteverde. Cloud forests occur near mountain peaks where rain turns into a life sustaining mist, hydrating and nourishing epiphytic plants, providing a consistent cool and wet environment; this one in particular receives over three meters of rain annually and is home to an astounding variety of flora and fauna. Over 2,500 plant species have been identified here including 300 individual orchid species and over 200 species of ferns. The beginnings of the preserve can be traced back to a group of Alabama Quakers that emigrated to Monteverde in the early 1950s. Visiting biologists discovered that the cloud forest, located above the Quaker community, was rich in plant and animal life. Due to the incredible foresight of the Quakers and the Tropical Science Center, Monteverde and Santa Elena reserves were born. Continue to check in at Fondavela. Dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast enjoy a guided hike in the Curi Cancha Reserve. Cloud forests occur near mountain peaks where rain turns into a life sustaining mist, hydrating and nourishing epiphytic plants. Return to the lodge gor lunch then spend an adventure filled afternoon in forest canopies as you navigate the zip lines of the Monteverde Treetopia Park. Explore the cloud forest with Treetopia's exhilarating zip line adventure through the forest canopy. (Please note there is a 225lb weight limit for the ziplining program.) The zipline has a system of three platforms suspended above the ground in the midst of tree boughs. Zip lines attached from one platform to the other allow you to slide through the canopy. Each platform commands exceptional 360 degree views of Guanacaste, San Carlos, and Puntarenas. This evening have dinner at a unique local restaurant.

This morning depart for Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. En route stop for a horseback riding excursion at on a cattle ranch. Ride through different natures trail where you will discover wonderful flora and fauna. Travel to the highest point of the ranch offering incredible views of the river, the coast and Carara National Park. Have lunch then continue on to Quepos to check in at the hotel and have some time to relax by the pool.

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, hike in the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is situated along the Pacific coast and is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Spend the morning exploring the park's trails and beach. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at the public beach at Espadilla with beach chair and unbrella rentals included. This evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast depart for San José, en route stop at a local school. Enjoy some games and learn about their day to day life and provide donations. Have a pizza lunch at a local restaurnat then explore the town of Tarcoles. Continue on to the hotel in San Jose, after check in enjoy a farewell dinner and a de brief of the program.

This morning depart for your flight home.