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Costa Rica

Observe a wide array of biodiversity amongst some of Central America's most picturesque beaches and waterfalls, and learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle with our environment.

Join Evolve Tours to experience Costa Rica beyond the classroom: you’ll explore immaculate rainforests, warm rivers, white-sand beaches, and a Pura Vida (“pure life”) lifestyle that is unmatched throughout the world. Hike the trails less traveled and participate in hands-on workshops with a differentiated learning approach to see what Costa Rica is really about. Student trip itineraries are completely customizable for your group, desires, and needs.

Costa Rica
Intro
Program Highlights
Sample Itineraries
Learning Objectives
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Program Highlights
- Manuel Antonio National Park, Corcovado, Arenal and more
- Puriscal Eco-ranch
- Surfing, kayaking, snorkeling
- Food-processing
- Hands-on permaculture workshops
- Play soccer with locals
- Visit waterfalls
- See monkeys, sloths, lizards, toucans and more
- Wattle and daub building
- Harvest fresh produce and cook meals
Program Highlights
- Participate in a community service learning project
- Hikes through pristine forests
- White water rafting on the Saavegre river
- Surf lesson with professional instructors
- Zip Lining & Swimming in a natural swimming holes
- 3 Days stay at remote eco-lodge
- Workshops on natural building, perma-culture and natural food processing
- Chocolate workshop
Program Highlights
- Salsa dancing and learn basic Spanish
- Osa Peninsula Eco-lodge stay
- 4 day biology workshops including basic sampling and data recording for marine and rainforest habitats held in the Osa Peninsula
- Hike through Corcovado National Park
- Night Hike
- Snorkel excursion to Isla del Caño
- Giant Mangrove Forest Visit
- Climb up an ancient rainforest tree

Sample Itineraries

Pura Vida

Day 1: Travel to Costa Rica

Meet as a group and travel to Costa Rica. Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. In the evening we will eat a delicious dinner after a long day of travel and get some rest in our hotel in San Jose.

Day 2: Eco Lodge

Depart early this morning on our private bus to a small village near Zapaton, which is located 2.5 hours from San Jose. The town of has a population of 150 people, who live from the land and promote real Eco Tourism. Upon arrival, we will participate in a Ranch Tour and Orientation and enjoy our first delicious meal. Spend the afternoon participating in a Sustainable Food Preparation Activity. Learn how to cook Costa Rican meals in a responsible way by using a methane Bio digester, rocket stove, cob oven and solar cookers. Our workshop will be followed by a swim in the on-site Waterfall. In the evening gather for dinner followed by evening activities at the Ranch (journaling, games, discussion).

Day 3: Eco Lodge

This morning participate in a Natural Building Workshop. You will learn about different methods of natural building such as waddle and daub and Cobb construction. Here you will get to make adobe bricks or build a wall! After lunch and a bit of downtime we will walk to a local chocolate farm to participate in a chocolate making and tasting workshop - buen provecho! This evening enjoy more games and hammock time.

Day 4: Eco Lodge

Today participate in a perma-culture workshop; get a truly hands on experience as you learn about and cultivate seasonal fruits and vegetables. This workshop emphasizes the importance of sustainable agriculture, and includes an educational component for students. After your morning’s hard work, you will be rewarded with another delicious organic farm cooked meal followed by a hike through primary and secondary forest for a swim by the river. Participate in a final evening reflection.

Day 5: Rafting the Savegre River/Pacific Coast

Today we will wake up early and head out on a full day white water rafting adventure on the Savegre River! The Savegre is one of the best rivers for rafting in the world. Before we begin, paddling, safety and other on-river skills and instructions will be taught. We will need to work as a team to manoeuvre rapids. Along the way we’ll take a side hike to layered waterfalls and discover which one makes the best shower! Tonight we will stay in a quaint town on the Pacific Ocean just outside of the tourist hubs and famous for it’s surf breaks.

Day 6: Pacific Coast and Surfing

Surfs up! Today is the day you get out on those waves! Our professional surf instructors will give us a full inland lesson on safety and technique so that we can have the best possible session! In the afternoon we will go zip lining through the treetops for spectacular views of the forest and the Pacific Ocean. In the late afternoon, we will have time for shopping to purchase Costa Rican handicrafts and gifts for friends and family back home, as well the chance to view a spectacular sunset on clear days. After dinner get your dancing shoes ready for our evening salsa class!

Day 7: Pacific Coast; Community Service and Surfing

Enjoy one more surf lesson this morning before heading out to our community service project. Here students will be split into 2 groups where they will be able to take a personal role in improving the learning conditions in a facility that has become dilapidated. We will also help construct or repair a hydroponic garden that is used to feed many of the local students. Afterwards, we will return to our hotel to eat dinner and enjoy the sunset on our final night in Costa Rica.

Day 8: Homebound

Begin our journey home after an amazing trip to Costa Rica.

Marine Biology Trip

Day 1: Travel to San José

Travel to San José where your Evolve Tour Leader will be awaiting your arrival! After we’ve gotten settled in for the afternoon we will start our journey with an in depth walking tour of San José, the country´s capital with an expert local guide. What to expect from San Jose; Bustling markets, endless pedestrian walkways, small parkets and colourful local eateries.

Day 2: Osa Peninsula / Eco-Lodge

This morning embark on a full day´s travel from San José to our Eco-loge in the Osa Peninsula. On our journey we´ll have the privilege of travelling through many different habitats as we wind our way down the mountains from San José´s Central Valley all the way to the stunning Osa Peninsula. Our journey will include a boat ride along the Sierpe River, home to the largest mangrove forest in all of Central America! Be rewarded by awe inspiring views as we travel further and further away from “civilization” before arriving to our beach eco-lodge paradise! Now get ready for a real Nature Adventure! Our eco lodge has no electricity so make sure you charge your cameras the night before and bring a headlamp! Our classroom and home for the next few days is situated right beside Corcovado National Park. This pristine part of Costa Rica is home to humpback whales, dolphins and a wide variety of wildlife. In the afternoon we will participate in a bat cave activity before dinner. For evening program we will learn about Mangroves before falling asleep to the ambient sounds of the forest and ocean that surround property.

Day 3: Osa Peninsula / Eco-Lodge

At the Eco Lodge students will have an opportunity to work on a variety of biology related projects. One of our more popular programs with high school students is our Neo Tropical Ecology workshop. Students can observe a diversity of life zones, ecosystems and species in the tropics. Lectures and discussions will be held on topics such as: the role of the national park system, deforestation and the responsibility of private reserves and the private citizen. Students will engage in field research and individual projects.

Day 4: Osa Peninsula / Eco-Lodge

Today we will continue with biology workshop. Along with the biology component students will always have a chance to swim, snorkel and relax on our very own private beach.

Day 5: Osa Peninsula / Eco-Lodge

This morning we will rise early to avoid the heat, have a delicious breakfast, and hike to San Pedrillo in Corcovado National Park. Lead by an expert local guide, our purpose is to observe and learn about the flora and fauna along the way. San Pedrillo is the northernmost ranger station within Corcovado National Park, and we’ll stop here for a refreshing dip in the swimming hole and visit the beautiful waterfall upstream. After lunch we will boat back to the lodge and enjoy our surroundings before preparing and packing for the next part of our trip. We will enjoy a dinner in the Lodge before our closing activities at the lodge.

Day 6: Osa Peninsula / Isla del Caño Snorkel Tour

Isla del Cano, a marine reserve in it´s own right can be found just off shore from the Osa Peninsula. Known as the best spot in Costa Rica for snorkelling, we will embark on a morning journey of underwater snorkelling where you will have the chance to spot barracudas, rays, turtles and many varieties of fish. We will also have the opportunity to have lunch on these uninhabited islands.

Day 7: Uvita Beach / Waterfall Visit

After a busy few days in the Osa Peninsula enjoy relaxed beach time at Marino Ballena National Park and some nearby local waterfalls. The evening will be filled with team building exercises lead by your evolve tour leader.

Day 8: Uvita / Zip Lines / Return to San Jose

Enjoy one last dip in the ocean before heading out on our final day of adventure in Costa Rica. This morning we will head out for our forest canopy zip-line adventure! After spending two hours soaring above the treetop canopy we will make our way back to San Jose. Enjoy a lively salsa lesson before our farewell dinner.

Day 9: Homeward Bound

Begin our journey home after an amazing trip to Costa Rica!

Active Outdoors Adventure

Day 1: Travel to Costa Rica / San José

Fly to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica and transfer to our hotel. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a traditional Costa Rican meal then head to bed to energize ourselves for the week ahead.

Day 2: Arenal / La Fortuna

Depart early in the morning for our white water rafting adventure! Before starting our journey down one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful rivers, our professional rafting guides will prepare us with safety instructions and then off we go… Enjoy gorgeous scenery and secret waterfalls as we work together as a team to navigate the cool rapids. Lunch will be held mid trip on a secluded spot along the river. After our adventure, we will continue north to La Fortuna where spectacular views of Arenal volcano await us. We will conclude our first full day in Costa Rica with dinner at the Baldi hot springs resort.

Day 3: Arenal / La Fortuna

Today get your adrenaline fill on a zip line canopy adventure- soar through the forests through a series of cables to get a true sense of the majestic nature of the Arenal Volcano. Our afternoon will be spent hiking around the base of Arenal volcano.

Day 4: Puriscal Eco Ranch

Depart early morning and transfer to our eco-lodge in the mountains of Puriscal. This unique destination allows us to experience Costa Rica in a truly authentic way. Situated in a town of only 150 people, the eco-ranch is a permaculture farm and education centre that promotes environmental sustainability, community living and social consciousness. During our time here we will participate in a number of lectures and hands-on workshops that invite us to reflect on how we interact with our environment and introduce us to new ways of living. This afternoon we will arrive just in time for lunch and a food-processing workshop followed by a group activity such as a soccer game with the local community.

Day 5: Puriscal Eco Ranch

Today we will participate in workshops on natural building and permaculture! Get right into it and get your hands dirty, using the wattle and daub method, then later we will as have the opportunity to harvest local fruits and vegetables from the farm and use them to help cook tonight’s meal! Finish off the day with a walk through pristine forests to the onsite waterfall! Enjoy our delicious, organic dinner before participating in a final night’s reflection.

Day 6: Manuel Antonio / Surf Lesson

Surfs up Beach Day! Enjoy breakfast and depart for our surf lesson! Upon arrival our professional surf instructors will give us a full inland lesson on safety and technique then we all hit the water together. Enjoy some beach time before travelling down the pacific coast to our accommodations.

Day 7: Manuel Antonio

This morning we will embark on a guided walk through Manuel Antonio National Park. Our certified local naturalist guide will teach us about the local flora and fauna as well as talk about the impacts of tourism on the ecosystem. Here we have a good change of seeing several species of monkeys, sloths, lizards, toucans and many other animals. After our guided hike we will have time to swim in the pristine turquoise beach within the park limits. Our afternoon will be spent on a kayak or snorkelling excursion. We will end our day with a delicious meal in one of Manuel Antonio’s chic restaurants and perhaps catch a classic pacific coast sunset!

Day 8: Homeward Bound

Pack up and say goodbye to Costa Rica as we travel onward to the airport and then homeward bound.

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Learning Objectives

Integration

Just as ecosystems depend on their relationships with one another for support, so do we. By working together, we mirror the lessons our environment teaches us and learn how to be more integrated and intentional global change-makers.

Use and Value Diversity

Although it is a small country, Costa Rica is home to six percent of the world’s biodiversity, making it one of the best places to recognize the abundance and beauty in nature. Students will learn to honor the environmental bounty Costa Rica offers and value the power of relying on individual strengths to solve complex problems.

Zero waste

As they consider all elements that make up whole systems, in Costa Rica, students will learn the positive impact of zero waste approaches to environmental sustainability and how to bring these sustainable practices home.

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