Costa Rica 11-day Adventure

Fly to San Jose, Costa Rica

Pick up your luggage and meet your Evolve Tours guide. Our private bus will transfer us from the airport to San Isidro

Check in at Hotel, Dinner as a group

Program Orientation including Discuss Expectations & Expedition Behavior, Costa Rican Culture and Itinerary

MORNING
Pick up your luggage and meet your Evolve Tours guide. Our private bus will transfer us from the airport 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
Adventure Center Orientation, Bunk Assignments, & Settle In. Learn the history of chocolate by peeling, grinding, and eating it.

EVENING
Evening program led by evolve guide

MORNING

Biology/Science project* T.B.D. Some of the workshops can include:

Individual or group field research project, data collecting on Beach Short and Rainforest

Learn about rainforest ecology and biodiversity

Understand rainforest conservation efforts

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of rainforest biology in Costa Rica, gaining a deeper appreciation for its ecological wonders

Present your research project findings, before our wrap-up and closing activities at the lodge.

*Project details will be thoughtfully crafted to align with the teacher’s instructional objectives and curriculum requirements

AFTERNOON

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

Jungle Nightlife Program – see the forest come alive at night through its nocturnal wonders exploration.

MORNING
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

EVENING

Discussion with the family to ask any questions the group may have
Free Time

MORNING/AFTERNOON*

All day biology/science projects in the rainforest.

Individual or group field research project, data collecting on Beach Short and Rainforest

Learn about rainforest ecology and biodiversity

Understand rainforest conservation efforts

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of rainforest biology in Costa Rica, gaining a deeper appreciation for its ecological wonders

Present your research project findings, before our wrap-up and closing activities at the lodge.

*Project details will be thoughtfully crafted to align with the teacher’s instructional objectives and curriculum requirements

Individual or group field research project, data collecting

EVENING

Evening program, student presentations

MORNING

Transfer to the village of Mastatal, which is located 2.5 hours from San Jose. The town of Mastatal has a population of 150 people, who live from the land and promote real Eco Tourism. All the meals that we will consume are cultivated from the land. The only item that is brought into the Ranch is packaged pasta, everything else, including drinks, vegetables, cheeses, breads etc is all grown, cooked, or prepared right on the property. Students will take an active role during meal time throughout the trip.

In the morning we will participate in a Ranch Tour and Orientation.

AFTERNOON

After having lunch at the Ranch, we will break into groups for the remainder of the day. Half the group will participate in a Sustainable Food Preparation activity at the ranch which will comprise of learning how to cook Costa Rican meals in a responsible way by using a methane Biogester, rocket stove, cob oven and solar cookers. The other half will participate in an Iguana Chocolate Tour (making chocolate from tree to bar).

EVENING

Evening activity at the Ranch (journaling, games, discussion).

MORNING

In the morning we will participate in a Natural Building workshop, designing and building structures to minimize the impact on our environment and maximize their sustainability. Using stones and rocks, Straw/Natural Grasses, Bamboo, and even Manure, students will learn techniques such as Cob Building, that utilizes clay, sand and straw or other fibers; Wattle and Daub, which uses woven woods or bamboo to construct a structure at the Ranch that avoids using concrete which is widely used across Costa Rica.

Refuel and have lunch as a group and rest before our afternoon activity.

AFTENOON

In the afternoon half the group will participate in Sustainable Food Preparation and the other will participate in a chocolate tour at a local Chocolate farm where we will make chocolate from tree to bar.

Eat dinner as a group before heading to bed.

MORNING

In the morning we will continue our Natural Building workshop.

Enjoy lunch as a group.

AFTERNOON

In the afternoon we will participate in a hike through the primary and secondary forests, for Mountain views and to see the wildlife. We will have a chance to hop into one of the many rainforest rivers for a quick swim in one of the pristine waterfalls or swimming holes.

We will then work on a revitalization of the soccer field with maintenance and cleanup. The soccer field in the town is a community centerpiece (like it is throughout the country). Working to enhance the field will bring joy to the community as whole and, more specifically, to the children in the community. In the late afternoon, following our enhancement of the field, we will organize a summer camp activity for local kids on the field.

EVENING

Come together for a group dinner before turning in after a day of hard work.

MORNING

Depart Mastatal, travel towards Quepos and visit Manuel Antonio National Park.

Arrive and participate in a guided hike of this beautiful oasis. Be fortunate enough to see families of Monkeys and Sloths that live within the park’s pristine eco-system.

AFTERNOON

We will get on board a boat tour of Whale Tail National Park; snorkel, swim, and perhaps see dolphins at play– with licensed tour boat operator for Costa Rica

Upon returning from our afternoon adventure, we will head to dinner at a hillside restaurant. On a clear day we will see one of the most unbelievable sunsets.

MORNING

In the morning 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. Afterwards we will make our way to town where we will eat lunch as a group and relax.

AFTERNOON

There are various attractions or small excursions which we can stop at on our way to Hermosa Beach such as coffee plantations, the crocodile bridge lookout point, incredible waterfalls, or other points of interest.

Dinner at a Soda on route to our night’s accommodation.

Wake up nice and early, enjoy breakfast and say our goodbyes.

Board your flight home, eager to see family and friends after an amazing trip to Costa Rica together!