Day 01 (Tuesday)   
Depart the United States for San Jose, Costa Rica. All scheduled flights to Costa Rica are non-stop and escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. Upon arrival at the San Jose airport you will be greeted by your Rustic Pathways Staff. From here you will head over to the Rustic Pathways base where you will meet the other students on your trip and spend your first night. Good luck and enjoy your stay in beautiful Costa Rica!

Day 02 (Wednesday)
Wake up for an early breakfast before departing with your group on the 5 hour bus ride northwest to the Pacific beach town of Avellanas on the Nicoya Peninsula. After the beautiful drive settle into the surf base – a hotel with cabins, swimming pool, rec area, and restaurant. After lunch walk over to the beach for your first introduction to Avellanas’ famous waves. RP will provide boards for those who choose not to bring their own. After safety talks and your first lessons, enjoy an afternoon of surfing the Pacific waves. In the evening, return for dinner at the base and enjoy a relaxing evening making new friends.

Day 03 (Thursday)
Rise early for breakfast before heading out to catch some morning waves. Avellanas Beach has breaks for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers and all levels will receive instruction from our surf staff. After lunch at the base house return to the waves if the tides are right. If the tides aren’t cooperating students will be able to hang out at the surf base and swim, play fusbol, and read, or explore the town of Avellanas for a chance to practice Spanish with the locals or play pick up soccer on the town field. Return to the base house for dinner and another fun night hanging out with friends.

Day 04-05 (Friday-Saturday)
Surfing times will be determined by the tides and the weather on these days. Students will be able to surf one or two times per day depending upon the tides. When not surfing students may be able to partake in optional activities including a ziplining canopy tour and/or a boat fishing trip in search of tuna and other ocean fish. Dinner will be at the base or a local restaurant. Evenings at the base may include guitar playing, movie or surf video watching, card playing, impromptu dance parties, and more.

Day 06 (Sunday)
Enjoy a morning sailing tour on the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Snorkel, swim, sunbathe, relax on this beautiful catamaran sailboat. In the afternoon surfing will be at either Avellanas beach, Playa Grande, Tamarindo, or another nearby break as determined by the guides. Advanced surfers may have the opportunity to surf at Witches Rock or other advanced breaks at an extra cost – this will depend on the number of students interested, their ability levels, and the weather and swell conditions.

Day 07 (Monday)
Surfing and a possible excursion into the nearby surf town of Tamarindo for internet, phone calls, souvenir shopping, and a final dinner as a group.

Day 08 (Tuesday)
After breakfast, the group will have one last opportunity to surf, before its time to say goodbye to friends who are staying for a second week. Those who are staying for a second week will remain at the surf base with an RP staff member and have the afternoon and the following morning to surf before a new group arrives. For those heading home or on to another RP program, its time to head towards San Jose.

Day 09 (Wednesday)
A sad departure for the USA or on to more great adventures with Rustic Pathways!

*** PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary described above is typical but not set in stone as the surf schedule and optional activities vary depending upon the tides, the quality of the waves, as well as the weather. The number of times you surf per day will be determined by the tides and will vary from week to week. This itinerary is designed to give you a good, general idea of the day to day schedule and activities on this program but may be changed during the summer as staff see fit. This program is for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers. The focus of this program is surfing and students should come with that in mind. Be aware that surfing can be a dangerous sport and injuries occasionally occur. ***

Surf the Summer 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 Surf the Summer:

• Surf Boards - Rustic Pathways boards are available however experienced surfers may prefer to surf on their own boards since RP has only fun boards and long boards available. Airlines typically charge extra to transport surfboards. Be sure to pad the surf boards well since airlines don’t treat them any differently than normal luggage.

• Board Shorts – you can bring a few extra pairs of “boardies” – bathing suits for surfing. Girls may even want to bring a pair or two to protect their legs from chafing on the soft top surf boards.

• Rash Guards – RP will provide them but if you have one, feel free to bring it. It is a shirt that can be worn while surfing to prevent a rash from forming on your chest when it rubs against the board. Long sleeve ones can also help protect your arms from a rash and from the sun.

• Waterproof Sunblock – for use while in the water. Many surfers also choose to bring some form of sunblock with Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide in it to further protect their faces.

• Flip Flops – a must for being on the beach. Flip flops are easily stolen on the beach so only bring cheap flip flops or flops you are prepared to part with.

• A towel to dry off with after surfing and one to use for showers in the house is a good idea.

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- During the Surf the Summer program, students will spend the majority of time in the Guanacaste province.  They will spend their first and last night in country at a hotel located in Heredia, close to the airport. 

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—The bus ride from San Jose to Avellanas is approximately 5-6 hours depending on road and weather conditions.

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A—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— No, the focus of this program is on surf and ocean activities.  Students will have limited interaction with the local communities.    

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- Surf the Summer is appropriate for students of most physical activity levels.  Students should be ready to surf and spend time daily at the ocean.  

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— The hotel has an ample kitchen where on some days students will have the freedom to prepare their own breakfasts and lunches with the food provided including cereal, fresh fruits, eggs, peanut butter, bread, sandwich materials etc.  Students will eat some lunches and most dinners at restaurants in the area.  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’s 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 sleeping in cabins at a surf hotel near Avellanas Beach on the Nicoya Peninsula in northwestern Costa Rica. Girls and boys stay in different cabins.

18.  What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- The surf hotel has modern bathrooms for each cabin including running water, American style toilets and hot water showers.

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – We expect a mix between girls and boys 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 will only be available for students staying more than one week on the Surf the Summer program. For all others connecting with another program they can do laundry in San Jose at a cost of $10-$15 USD per load.

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 Tamarindo, where they can go to 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. 

24 – Will Surf Boards be provided on this program?
24A-Yes, surf boards will be provided. However advanced surfers may prefer to bring their own as Rustic does not have any short boards to use.