Day 01 (Tuesday)
Depart the USA en route to San Jose, Costa Rica. Upon arrival your Rustic Pathways Staff will greet you at the airport. From here you will transport to the hostel rented out by Rustic Pathways where you will spend the first night meeting new friends and mingling about with students preparing for our many enriching programs. Good luck and enjoy your stay in beautiful Costa Rica!

Day 02 (Wednesday)
Wake up for an early breakfast before heading by bus toward the beach town of Dominical, where you will get your first taste of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and spend the evening making new friends and preparing your day pack for tomorrow’s hike.

Day 03 (Thursday)
Today is when the physical adventure begins! The morning begins with a 3-hour hike through primary and secondary rainforest. Once you reach the top, take a plunge off a small waterfall into a pool below where you can cool off and enjoy the surrounding environment. After a relaxing swim, we will hike back down part of the trail to a different waterfall, from which we will harness up and rappel 100 feet off the side of the falls to reach our new home for the evening.**

We will spend the night in a fully equipped cave hidden behind the waterfall. It is rustic, but there are beds, bathrooms, and a kitchen. After dinner we may make a small campfire where we can play music, tell stories and wind down after an exciting day.

**For those who do not wish to rappel, our Rustic Pathways Staff member can walk you down a separate trail that leads to the cave.

Day 04 (Friday)
After a hearty breakfast, we will hike back through the rainforest to a trail leading to one of the most amazing waterfalls in all of Costa Rica. We will then have another safety talk by our experienced guides before preparing for a rappel nearly two times larger than yesterday!** After a swim at the base of the falls, we will make our way back to the Dominical beach for a good night’s sleep.

**An optional hike down a side trail with one of the Rustic Pathways Leaders is offered for those who do not wish to rappel. There the group will reconnect at a spectacular swimming hole at the bottom of the waterfall.

Day 05 (Saturday)
Wake up early and travel up to the coast to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park to spot monkeys, hike through the rainforest and chill on hidden beaches. For those that want to explore the waterways of the park, an optional sea kayaking trip will be offered. Spend the night savoring the local cuisine of the Pacific coast.

Day 06 (Sunday)
Get ready for a fun day of traveling as we venture north passing beaches and small villages on our way to Playa Avellanas on the Nicoya Peninsula. After a fun bus ride filled with beautiful scenery and fun games, we will arrive by nightfall at Playa Avellanas where we will spend the next few nights cooking meals together and watching the stars near the beach!

Day 07 (Monday)
Surfs up! There will be an early morning breakfast and then it's off to the ocean. Spend a portion of the day learning how to surf from professional surf instructors. Playa Avellanas has been noted as being one of the best places for surfing in all of Costa Rica with its consistent, high quality waves. After lunch, we will head to a beach up north for an afternoon sailing and snorkeling trip through the waters of the Nicoya Peninsula. Relish in the luxury of the day while watching the sun create a masterpiece before your eyes as it sets on the horizon. Return to the mainland for another wonderful night’s sleep.

Day 08 (Tuesday)
This morning will be spent splashing in the waves on the beautiful Avellanas beach, relaxing in a hammock or wandering through the local markets of the nearby beach town of Tamarindo. For our last night we will break into teams and cook up a big feast. Enjoy an evening with your new best friends, eating great food and listening to music under the stars.

Day 09 (Wednesday)
Enjoy a relaxing morning and then a light breakfast in the sunshine at Playa Avellanas. After breakfast, we will hit the beach quick to soak up a few last rays of sun on the beach before heading out to the town of La Fortuna, home of the famous Arenal Volcano. We will arrive in time for dinner at a typical local restaurant and with a little luck, we will enjoy our meal with a view of the nightly lava flow of the Arenal Volcano!

Day 10 (Thursday)
The adventure continues today. Wake up for a hike that will lead you through the rainforest with views of a spectacular waterfall, cooling swimming pools and unique rock formations along the way. In the evening, relax all those hard worked muscles at the EcoTermales Hot Springs. These naturally hot pools provide a soothing end to a wonderful day.

Day 11 (Friday)
Start your day with an amazing zip line adventure that will take you soaring above the rainforest canopy. In the afternoon, head over to Arenal National Park where you will witness the remains of the lava flow from a past eruption of Arenal Volcano. In the evening, choose to return to the hot springs or enjoy your last day souvenir shopping in la Fortuna.

Day 12 (Saturday)
Today we will awake early to catch our bus to Turrialba. Along the way, we will make a bungee jumping stop, where you will have the opportunity to jump off the tallest bungee bridge in the Americas. If you are up to the challenge, strap up for an amazing ride as we leap 285 feet through the air for the experience of a lifetime!!!** After a taste of true adrenaline pumping adventure, we will head towards Turrialba for a good night’s rest at a nice hotel in this beautiful town.

**Bungee Jumping is optional and costs extra (approximately $65).

Day 13 -15 (Sunday-Tuesday)
Upon sunrise, we will head out to the world class Pacuare River for a 3-day river rafting adventure. Nights will be spent in permanent tents placed on platforms in the rainforest near the soothing sounds of the river. Upon returning to San Jose, we will have a group dinner and a final nights sleep at the Rustic Pathways base hostel.

Day 16 (Wednesday)
Sorry but today we escort you to the airport to return home.........or travel on to one of Rustic Pathways other amazing adventures!

COSTA RICA ADVENTURER PROGRAM SPECIFIC PACKING LIST

In addition to the general Costa Rica packing list available at http://www.rusticpathways.com/2009/packing_lists/Costa_Rica.html all students should review the following information specific to the Costa Rica Adventurer:

• Be sure that your carry on bag can be used for over night hiking trips. You will need it to fit all essentials for one or two nights AND be comfortable to carry the pack on your back while hiking up trails.

• Packing light for this program is a good idea since you will be moving around a lot.

• Quick dry clothes are very useful since you will be outdoors in the rainforest frequently.

• Bring Strap On Sandals (Teva or Chaco) that will not fall off your feet in water (rivers, etc.) - these will be good for whitewater rafting and hiking in some locations.

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

2 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
2A – Yes. All flights between Costa Rica and the USA will have a flight leader starting in both Newark and Houston. Return flights to the USA will also have a flight leader as far as Newark and Houston. Flights between Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua are also escorted by a Rustic Pathways guide.  Flight from Costa Rica to Peru and Mexico will not be escorted.

3 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
3A – Students from the United States and Canada will be automatically issued a 90 day tourist visa upon entry into Costa Rica.

4 – What Costa Rican province(s) does this program pass through?
4A- 5A – During the Costa Rica Adventurer, students will pass through all 7 of Costa Rica’s provinces including San Jose, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago, Limon, Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces. 

5 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
5A – Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations.  We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above).  You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information.  Yellow fever vaccinations may be required to enter Costa Rica if you have traveled to some international destinations including Peru prior to your trip to Costa Rica.  Please check the Center for Disease control website for more information.   

6 - How does this program connect to other programs?
6A – On Tuesday night students will have a final group dinner and stay the night in Heredia at the hotel. Wednesday morning students will meet with their new group and guides at the same hotel where they stayed and go off on their new program.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
7A—Students will be traveling through a variety of different locations.  Bus rides will vary between a one hour drive to a 5 hour drive.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A— Students will visit a variety of different locations but most of the time, students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80’s and 90’s during the day with a daily afternoon rain shower. 

9 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
9A— Students can practice Spanish with their guides as well as local tour guides, but the focus of the trip is on adventure.
 
10- What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
10A-. There are no service projects on this program.
 
11 – How physically strenuous is this program?
11A- The Costa Rica Adventurer program is appropriate for students of most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for hikes and adventure activities that may require moderate physical activity.   

12- What costs are not included on this trip?
12A- The majority of costs associated with the program are included on this trip. Students should have extra allowance money if they wish to buy souvenirs or additional snacks or sodas from the local grocery stores. Students should bring extra money if they choose to participate in optional activities that are not included in the trip costs.

13 – What are the optional activities available at an additional cost on this program?
13A-Optional activities are:

Please note that these optional activities are subject to change.  Occasionally Rustic Pathways staff identify new opportunities throughout the summer that we feel will enhance the students overall experience.  Optional activities may also be canceled. 

14 - What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
14A— Students will be eating at local restaurants as they travel throughout Costa Rica.  The food will vary between traditional Costa Rican food and occasional American and international selections. 

15 - Can we cater to specific diets?
15A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. Vegetarian diets can be accommodated.   Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met.  Please contact costarica@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.

16 - Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
16A—Costa Rica water is generally potable, so students should feel comfortable drinking tap water unless otherwise advised.  They can also purchase bottles of water in the local grocery stores.  

17 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
17A— Students will be staying in hotels during their travels. The hotels are carefully chosen according and are clean, comfortable and safe.  Students will also have one night in a fully equipped cave at the base of a waterfall and several nights at base camps along the river during their rafting trip. 

18.  What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- All accommodations have bathroom facilities with running water, American style toilets and showers. 

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – We expect a good mix of boys and girls  however the exact numbers vary from week to week

20- What is the ratio of guides to students?
20A- Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students. Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our program managers and a full background check.

21-Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
21A-   Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

22 - How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
22A—Students should pack reasonably for this program. Laundry at the end of the first week for a cost of approximately $6-$10 a load.    Those that will be connecting to another program will have access to another laundry service in San Jose at the end of their program for a cost of approximately $10-$15.        

23 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
23A-Students will have limited access to internet during their program when they visit towns with internet cafes. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in Costa Rica from the guides or at local convenience stores which can be used to call home from the public phones.