QUOTE
Costa Rica Program
Prepared for:
St. Margaret's School | Michael Jones and Lisa Ziebart
Proposal Date: February 22, 2024
Valid until: March 22, 2024
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN YOUR TRIP
Rainforest hikes and brisk high-altitude trails, rushing white-water rapids and world-class surfing: Costa Rica has it all. Here, outdoor adventures come in every shape and size – from the squeal-inducing rush of an activity to a sun-dazed afternoon at the beach. National parks allow visitors to glimpse life in both rainforest, and reliable easygoing surf breaks are suited to beginners and experts alike. We look forward to exploring Costa Rica with you and your students.
Activities & Attractions
Outdoor Adventure:
- Hike to see Mountain views, primary and secondary forests, river, waterfalls, swimming holes, and wildlife
- Beach time
- Participate in Tree Climbing and Waterfall Rappelling
- Participate in an optional sweat lodge experience
- Participate in various Hikes and Night Hikes to see local wildlife in the Rainforst
- Paddle down a Rainforest River in White Water Rafts
- Participate in Surf lessons with professional instructors
- Participate in a Canopy Tour
- Visit Manuel Antonio National Park or a Farm in that Area
Community Project and Cultural Interaction:
- Participate in community project at a local school
- Tree planting in the rainforest
- Spend time with a local family
- Learn the traditional ‘trapiche’ method of processing sugar cane
-
Learn the art of making tortillas and the history of chocolate
-
Learn about traditional medicinal plants from the Rainforest
- Make fresh food for a community dinner
- Learn how to salsa dance
- Learn basic Spanish
Trip Details
Accommodations
Hotels:
- Triple / Quad accommodation for students
- Double occupancy for staff
Eco-Lodge:
- Mix of dorm and cabin style accommodation.
Accommodations as follows, subject to change
- Night 1: San Isidro
- Nights 2-4: Rainforest Eco-Lodge
- Nights 5,6,7,8: Pacific Beach Location such as Hermosa (Jaco), Manuel Antonio
Meals
- Breakfast lunch and dinner included daily
- Students will have some time to purchase snacks other meals as needed
Transportation
- Return Coach Airfare from Victoria to San Jose, Costa Rica
- Private Coach Bus Transportation
- Use of smaller bus vehicles will be necessary to access remote areas
Additional Personnel
- 1 Local Evolve Tours Director + Additional Local Costa Rican staff
Exclusives
- Creative Trip programming and leadership activities
- Pre and Post Trip Curriculum
- Forever Green by Evolve Tours- Carbon Offset this whole trip (ask for details)
Insurance
- $86 – Student Youth All Inclusive Manulife Travel Insurance: Medical, baggage, cancellation and trip interruption coverage.
Package Price is based on
Students
22-25
Chaperones
3
Price per paying student
$4640
- Prices subject to availability and change until contract signed
- Total Package price may vary if number of paying customers changes
- Does not include airline baggage fees if applicable
- Happy with what you see? Sign a 2-year contract with Evolve and pay the same rate for two years. Ask us for more information. *Based on same group size
TICO #: 50017336
Itinerary
Costa Rica
Day 1:
Fly to San Jose, Costa Rica!
| Afternoon | Meet at Victoria International Airport at depart for SJO |
| Afternoon | Arrive at Juan Santa María International Airport in San Jose. |
| Guides will be standing by to meet & greet | |
| Pick up our luggage. Our private bus will transfer us from the airport to our hotel | |
| Evening | Get settled into accommodations |
| Dinner at Hotel | |
| Packing adjustment for Eco Lodge Adventure Center |
Day 2:
Rainforest Eco-Lodge Activities
| Morning | Transport to San Isidro |
| Program Orientation including Discuss Expectations & Expedition Behavior, Costa Rican Culture, Itinerary | |
| Transfer to Brujo by 4×4 (2 Hrs) to trailhead. Use of 4×4 Suv type vehicles on trail which is a gravel/dirt road along river (15 mins). Hand-powered Gondola across river to the Adventure Center (20 sec) | |
| Meet the Fonseca’s & Adventure Center Staff | |
| Afternoon | Lunch |
| Adventure Center Orientation, Bunk Assignments, & Settle In | |
| Learn the history of chocolate by peeling, grinding, and eating it | |
| Participate in a High Element Orientation & Safety Talk | |
| Dinner on site at the Eco Lodge | |
| Free Time |
Day 3:
Rainforest Eco-Lodge Activities
| Morning | Breakfast on site |
| Giant Tree Climbing – In the garden of the Adventure Center is a three hundred year old immense tree which is enclosed by a strangler fig. After being safely fitted with a harness and helmet, You will ascend on the fig vines to a 70 foot high platform. | |
| Afternoon | Lunch on site |
| Here we will participate in a rotation of activities. The first group will will dive deep into the world of medicinal plants. Our workshop will be held by Alvino Fonseca who is a trained Shaman of the Cabecar tribe. Alvino has grown up and used these plants in his healing work for over 2 decades. The other group will Learn the Art of Making Tortillas and other traditional foods from scratch. | |
| After settling in, there may be time for a quick swim in the most beautiful rainforest river. | |
| Evening | Dinner on Site |
| Jungle Nightlife Program – see the forest come alive at night through its nocturnal wonders | |
| Free Time |
Day 4:
Rainforest Eco-Lodge Activities
| Morning | Breakfast on site |
| One of the unique activities at the Adventure Center is waterfall rappelling. A ten minute hike away from the lodge is a 100 ft. waterfall with a permanent anchor system in place for the lower 60 ft. Using traditional rappelling methods, but with the back up system of a secondary rope, safety is insured but adrenaline is not compromised | |
| Afternoon | Lunch on site |
| The rest of the day we will participate in a variety of fun hands on educational activities right in the rainforest, including an ecology hike, where we will identify and forage edible plants, roots and trees and prepare a traditional meal. | |
| Evening | Optional Sweat Lodge Ceremony- Over the past few days that the group has been at the lodge, there has been an abundance of knowledge shared with them; cultural info, personal growth, self development, exposure to general diversity of the RainForest, and much more.Through silent observance, the sweat lodge activity melts the various experiences into one place deep within the self, in the most respectful way. |
| Traditional cooking classes with Doña Rosa | |
| Dinner on site | |
| Discussion with the family to ask any questions the group may have | |
| Free Time |
Day 5:
Savegre River, White Water Rafting & Salsa!
| Morning | Wake Up/ Pack up |
| Breakfast on site | |
| Hike/4×4 to Trail Head. Change into rafting gear. Place Bags in Vehicles. Safety Talk, Get into Rafts | |
| Rafting Safety Talk: 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. | |
| Rafting along the Savegre River Guided in Boats by local professional River Rafting Guides. Depending on River Heights, you can expect Class 2-4 rapids which are regularly enjoyed by Beginner, Novice and Advanced rafting participants. We will take a hike to layered waterfalls and discover which one makes the best shower! Our rafts will travel down river until we reach the coast. | |
| Afternoon | Meet Vehicles, Change clothing |
| Lunch on the river catered by the Rafting company | |
| Transfer to Hotel by Coach Bus or Smaller Coaster Busses | |
| Room Assignments and settle in. | |
| Pool time at the hotel | |
| Evening | Dinner and discussion on next portion of the trip and expectations |
| Salsa Dancing at Hotel |
Day 6:
Community Project and Surfing
| Morning | Breakfast at Hotel |
| Coach Bus Transportation to Community Project | |
| Community project | |
| Prepare a chemical and pesticide-free hydroponics vegetable and garden for a school kitchen | |
| Afternoon | Lunch Catered at Project |
| We will head straight to the beach for our private surfing lessons. We will spend some time learning the techniques of surfing (with certified/experienced instructors) on the beach before we head into the water for lessons. | |
| Evening | Dinner at the hotel |
| Free Time, Rest & Relax, go for a Swim at the Hotel | |
| Lights Out |
Day 7:
Community Project and Surf or Canopy
| Morning | Breakfast at Hotel |
| Coach Bus Transportation to Community Project Activity | |
| Continue Community Project | |
| Afternoon | Lunch Catered at Project |
| In the afternoon, we will have a chance to surf again or participate in a Canopy Tour high above the forest. | |
| Evening | Dinner at Hotel |
| Debrief. Rest & Relax, go for a Swim | |
| Lights Out |
Day 8:
Manuel Antonio or Farm
| Morning | Breakfast at Hotel |
| Coach Bus Transportation to Manuel Antonio Park | |
| Visit Manuel Antonio National Park or Villa Vanilla Farm | |
| Afternoon | Lunch |
| Visit Artisan Market | |
| Transport to San Jose. Check in at Hotel on arrival | |
| Evening | Dinner at Hotel |
| Debrief. Rest & Relax, go for a Swim | |
| Lights Out |
Day 9:
Homeward Bound
| Morning | Breakfast at Hotel |
| Transfer to Airport | |
| Afternoon | Depart for Victoria |
| Arrive Home. End Trip |
