Day 1 - Travel to Costa Rica!

Fly to San Jose, Costa Rica!

You will be greeted by the smiling face of your Evolve Tours guide and head to your hotel in a private bus. A snack will be provided upon your arrival at your hotel. Rest well in order to energize yourselves for the adventurous week of a lifetime that lies ahead!

Day 2 - Eco Ranch & Introduction to Eco Tourism

After a wholesome breakfast at the hotel, our tour begins by visiting a village located 2.5 hours from San Jose. This village has a population of 150 people, who live off the land and promote real Eco Tourism. All the meals that we will consume while visiting the Ranch are cultivated from the land (except for the packaged pasta, which is delivered to the Ranch). Drinks, vegetables, cheeses and breads are all grown, cooked, and prepared right on the property.

After savoring what the land has to offer in the form of lunch at the Ranch, we will break into 2 groups for the remainder of the day. One group will participate in a Sustainable Food Preparation activity at the Ranch, which will comprise of learning how to cook Costa Rican meals using a methane Biogester, rocket stove, cob oven and solar cookers. The other group will participate in an Iguana Chocolate Tour, which explores the making of chocolate from tree to bar.

After a thought-provoking and informative day, we will enjoy dinner together at the Ranch, as well as a special evening activity.

Day 3 - Natural Building Workshop, Sustainable Food Preparation, & Chocolate Tour

Enjoy breakfast at the Ranch.

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.

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

Eat dinner as a group before heading to bed.

Day 4 - Building Workshop, Hiking through the Rainforest, & Community Revitalization

Enjoy breakfast at the Ranch.

In the morning we will continue our Natural Building workshop.

Enjoy lunch as a group.

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.

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

Day 5 - Savegre River, White Water Rafting, & Salsa!

Enjoy breakfast at the Ranch and check out.

Transfer to the Savegre River for our white water rafting adventure! Before we begin, paddling, safety, and other on-river skills and instructions will be taught. We will need to work as a team to maneuver rapids. We will take a side hike to layered waterfalls and discover which one makes the best shower!  Our rafts will travel down river until we reach the coast.

Next, enjoy a catered lunch together. We will then transfer back to a beach town where we will check-in to our new accommodation.

Enjoy some free time before coming together as a group for dinner. In the evening, after dinner, we will learn how to Salsa dance.

Day 6 - Surfing Lesson, Whale Watching Tour, & Snorkeling

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. 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. The surfing classes will eb taking place

In the 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.

Day 7 - Manuel Antonio National Park, Wildlife, & Hermosa Beach

Breakfast as a group at the hotel. Head 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. Break for lunch.

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 en route to our night’s accommodation. Check in to our accommodation for the night and rest after another action-packed day.

Day 8 - Zip-lining & Baldi Hot Springs

Eat breakfast as a group. In the morning we will head to a Zip Line activity, which has over 20 sections.  As we zip through the rainforest, take in gorgeous views of the Volcano that can be seen from over-top of the trees.

After lunch we will travel to the Baldi Hot Springs Resort and have an opportunity to relax and soak up the day.

Return to the hotel for dinner as a group.

Day 9 - Arenal Volcano, Hiking, & Wildlife

Breakfast as a group at the hotel.

On this day we will participate in a hike near the Arenal Volcano. Within the national park, short trails will take us through both secondary forest and lava fields from previous eruptions. See plenty of wildlife along the way, including: deer, tapir, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys and snakes, or birds like parrots, orioles and brown magpies.

In the evening, transfer back to San Jose and check into accommodations.

Day 10 - Homeward Bound

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!