Costa Rica Gap Year (800) 321-4353

From the vibrant villages of the north to the pounding surf on the Pacific coast, the beauty and natural splendor of Costa Rica stretches as far as the eye can see. A country just one-eighth the size of California, Costa Rica is considered one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world and is home to stunning volcanic ranges, lush tropical rainforests and endless golden beaches. Your trip will open your eyes to the world of “Pura Vida!”

ADVENTURE IN THE SHADOW OF ARENAL VOLCANO
Begin your adventure just north of the capital city of San Jose with a visit to the breathtaking Poas Volcano. You’ll make your way to the volcano’s smoky crater before enjoying a relaxing afternoon touring though the colorful landscapes of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

We’ll then head to the town of La Fortuna, Costa Rica’s center of action and adventure! Not only will you have a great view of Arenal Volcano from your window, you will also be zip-lining high above the rainforest canopy at its base, making this one of Costa Rica’s most memorable adventures!

In addition to the adrenaline-pumping pursuits during your time in La Fortuna, you will also work on a variety of gratifying service initiatives in the hospitable, rural communities which dot the Arenal region. One day you may be teaching in an elementary school, while the next you may be helping with conservation efforts in one of the local wildlife reserves.

WILDLIFE AMID TROPICAL CULTURES
Exploring deeper into Costa Rica’s countryside you’ll travel to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, a protected natural reserve with a vast array of exotic birds and wildlife. Beyond the natural beauty of the area, you will experience the warmth of the surrounding villages, as local families welcome you to join them for an afternoon “cafecito” and children enthusiastically invite you to join an exciting game of “futbol.” Leaving behind new friends, you will make your way to Palenque Tonjibe, a Maleku village where villagers will teach you about the rich cultural traditions that their people have carefully protected for hundreds of years. You may even have the opportunity to participate in a traditional Maleku ceremony!

TURTLES, BEACHES, AND SURF
After rewarding weeks of service and cultural immersion, trade the volcanoes and rainforests of the north for the sandy beaches and inviting waves of the Nicoya Peninsula in the west. You’ll spend your days on the coast visiting sea turtle conservation projects in Ostional, learning to surf in Samara and sharing stories with new friends as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. A full-day rafting trip down the Pacuare River’s world-class whitewater will add the perfect finishing touch to your Costa Rica adventure before heading home or continuing on to our Peru Gap Year programs!

Fantastic food, amazing adventures, beautiful landscapes and friendly people await you in the land of “Pura Vida!”

If you have any questions about the Costa Rica Gap Year Program, please send an email to our Gap Year Divisional Director, Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com.

Special Note: Scheduled Gap Year programs generally include all breakfasts, and about half of the lunches and dinners during your program. Students are responsible for getting themselves to the starting point for their gap year program. Internal transportation and all accommodation and included tours, activities, admissions, and fees are included as stipulated in the itinerary. If you have any questions about any of our Gap Year programs, please email our Gap Year Divisional Director, Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com.

Costa Rica Gap Year Schedule
Sep 2nd- Sep 22nd -2009

Sep. 2nd- Arrival Day
Arrive in San Jose to a friendly Tico welcome! A Rustic Pathways staff member will pick you up and get you oriented at Toruma Hostel where you will spend your first night.

Sep. 3rd – Poas & La Paz Day 2
Today you will tour the Poas Volcano and visit the La Paz Waterfall Gardens which include a serpentarium, a butterfly garden, a hummingbird sanctuary and the incredible falls of La Paz. The second night will again be spent in San Jose at Toruma Hostel.

Sep. 4th – 8th - Fortuna Day 3/4/5/6/7
Head towards the town of Fortuna which is located in the center of the country and offers a wide variety of adventure and service opportunities. Students will visit local communities that Rustic Pathways works with during the summer and will help put the finishing touches on existing service projects. In addition, Fortuna offers countless adventure opportunities including ziplining, horseback riding, hiking to an extinct volcano, relaxing in hot springs, and of course, viewing the spectacular Arenal Volcano. During your time in the Arenal area we will stay at a small hotel in the town of Fortuna.

Sep. 8th – 12th – Cano Negro Day 7/8/9/10/11
After Fortuna you will head to Cano Negro which is a small town in the north of Costa Rica. This is a rural area full of natural beauty and laid back people. Students will take a boat trip through the wildlife refuge of Cano Negro and experience the abundance of wildlife including thousands of tropical birds, caimans, alligators, iguanas, monkeys, sloth and more. Students will also participate in service projects at elementary schools in the area and will spend evenings with a local family making this segment of the trip a truly cultural experience.

Sep. 12th - 15th - Maleku Day 11/12/13/14
After saying goodbye to Cano Negro, students will head to Palenque Tonjibe, a Maleku tribe village located an hour southwest of Cano Negro. This a small indigenous community where students will immerse themselves in the life of the local people and learn about local medicinal plants, native art and the history of the unique Maleku culture.

Sep 16th – 20th – Nicoya Peninsula Day 14/15/16/17/18
After a true Costa Rican rural life experience you will head west to get some sun on the golden beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula. This will be a good time to catch up on emails, relax while watching amazing sunsets, and enjoy some surf lessons in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. You will be staying in nice and comfortable hotels during these four nights and leave for Hostel Toruma in San Jose on the fifth day to get ready for one final adventure.

Sep 21st - Turrialba Day 19
Early morning you will depart San Jose for the town of Turrialba and start a day long white water rafting adventure on the world famous class IV rapids of the Pacuare River. This last day of fun will surely put an appropriate end to the amazing 20 days you have just completed in beautiful Costa Rica.

Sep 22nd - Departure Day 20
Time to say goodbye to your new Rustic Pathways friends in Costa Rica and move on to your next destination. Pura Vida!

An Important Note about Schedule Changes: Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

1 - How long is the flight to this country?
A – Direct flights from Newark to San Jose take approximately 5.5 hours. Direct flights from Houston to San Jose take approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

2 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
A – Students from the United States and Canada will be issued a 90 day tourist visa upon entry into Costa Rica. Students from other countries should check with their consulate.

3 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
A – See CDC or WHO websites.

4 – What Costa Rican province(s) does this program pass through?
A – Students will travel through San Jose, Cartago, Alajuela, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon provinces.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
A – The travel time will vary, but will generally be between 1-5 hours.

8 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
A – This program is a great opportunity for students to practice Spanish and get to know the local people. During the program, students will have daily opportunities to improve their Spanish language skills.

9 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
A - The food mainly consists of traditional Costa Rican dishes (rice, beans and different meat dishes) but there will be a variety of restaurants along the way that will keep the food options widely open. We are also able to accommodate different dietary needs (vegetarian, kosher etc) if necessary.

10 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
A – The water in Costa Rica is potable and drinking tap water has not been a problem for our students or staff. However, the option of drinking bottled water is also available.

12 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
A – Accommodations will vary throughout the program. Students will experience the hospitality of Costa Rican families as well as the comfort of local hotels and lodges along the way. The accommodations are always safe, clean and comfortable.

13 - How often will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
A – Laundry service will be offered once a week at a cost of approximately $5-$10 (depending on the amount of clothes); however we are flexible when it comes to additional enquiries.