The Bribri Villages: A Rural Service Experience

Itinerary
BRIBRI VILLAGES A RURAL SERVICE EXPERIENCE
ITINERARY

Day 1 (Tuesday)

Depart United States for San Jose, Costa Rica.  Upon arrival at the San Jose airport you will be greeted by Rustic Pathways Staff and taken to the base hotel. Spend the evening meeting other students on the trip and enjoying Costa Rica!

Day 2 (Wednesday)

Depart from the base hotel bright and early on a 5 to 6 hour bus ride down to the small town of Suretka in the province of Limon. Have lunch on the way, sampling some of the regions exquisite Caribbean dishes and arrive at your new home in the afternoon. After settling into the house and the village, your group will get a chance to get to know your guides and each other by playing teambuilding games in the green surroundings of your new home. You will then eat dinner at the base and recover from the long day with a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 (Thursday)

After a fairly early wake up and breakfast, the group will head out to the community service project locations and begin work with local villagers.  Projects may include teaching English, assisting in small scale construction work, or other projects to improve local infrastructure. After eating lunch at the service site, continue working on the different projects, making new friends with children and youth of the community. After dinner back at the base house, the group will have some down time to hang out and relax.

Day 4 (Friday)

Enjoy a day dedicated to total relaxation on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean.  Soon after breakfast, the group will take an hour long drive to the beach for a full day of sun and sand.  Cahuita is a chill Caribbean town with a relaxed reggae vibe.  Once there, you will have opportunities to snorkel, play in the sand, relax in its warm waters or stroll through souvenir shops at their funky beachside locations. 

Day 5 (Saturday)

Wake up for to another day of satisfying service and fun at the Bribrí village. In the morning, work on a small scale construction project at a local school, helping to improve the impoverished conditions of the village. After all your hard work enjoy a game of pick up soccer with the local school children who are eager to get to know their new friends.  In the late afternoon, take a short hike to a hidden waterfall and cool off from all your hard work in the refreshing pool underneath the falls. Return to the base for a delicious dinner and evening activities with the group.

Day 6 (Sunday)

Enjoy your Sunday experiencing the cool waters and palm trees of the beaches of Puerto Viejo. In the morning, participate in an optional surfing lesson with some of the most experienced surf instructors of the region. Eat lunch at a local restaurant, sampling the best of the Caribbean cuisine. In the afternoon, enjoy some souvenir shopping and the palm lined beaches before heading back to the Bribrí village for a delicious Sunday dinner.

Day 7 (Monday)

Wake up for one last day of service and fun at the Bribrí village. Spend the morning finishing service projects and enjoying the community that has been your home for the last week. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour down a jungle river and prepare to get wet! This evening will be your last dinner together with your Bri Bri friends and adopted family.

Day 8 (Tuesday)

Wake up bright and early to enjoy the last breakfast at the base house. After packing up and saying goodbye to Suretka and its wonderful people, you will head back to San Jose to have one last group dinner together before returning to the base hotel and getting a good night’s sleep before a long day of travel.

Day 9 (Wednesday)

If you are heading home, you must say your last goodbyes to your new friends and head off to the airport bright and early in the morning. If you are heading off on another Rustic Pathways adventure in Central America, get ready!

***PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary above is not set in stone and may be changed by the staff running this program as they see fit. It is designed to give you a good idea of the day to day schedule and activities that the students will be participating in.***

BRIBRI VILLAGES PROGRAM SPECIFIC PACKING LIST
In addition to the general Costa Rica packing list available at http://www.rusticpathways.com/packing_lists/Costa_Rica.php all students should review the following information specific to the Bribri Villages Program:
• A raincoat is MANDATORY
• Quick dry clothes are very useful since it can be very muddy and rainy and you will be outdoors quite a bit.
• Bring a pair of shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy/dirty during service work and hikes.
• Bring Strap On Sandals (Teva or Chaco) that will not fall off your feet in water (rivers, etc.)
• Bring a Rash Guard for surfing. (optional)

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT YOUR LUGGAGE

1. Please try your best to pack light and fit everything into one MEDIUM size duffle bag or a backpack. We strongly recommend that you DO NOT use wheeled bags.

2. Do not forget to bring a small backpack that you can use to fit your daily gear would make a great carry on.

3. Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry on regulations of the TSA http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

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 Peru are NOT escorted by a Rustic Pathways guide. 

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 Bribri Caribbean Service Project students will briefly pass through provinces of Heredia and Alajuela during their travel to the Bribri village.  The majority of their time will be spent in the province of Limon, where the village is located.

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 afternoon students will depart from the Bribri Village for San Jose. They will have a final dinner with their group en route then sleep in a hostel rented out for Rustic Pathways students in Heredia. Wednesday morning students will meet with their new group and go off on their new program.

7 – How long is the drive from San Jose to this program?
7A—The drive from San Jose to the Bribri village is approximately 5 to 6 hours depending on weather and other driving conditions.  

8 – What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
8A—The Bribri program takes place in the Caribbean, a very green, tropical area of the country.  Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s. When it is sunny it is VERY hot, and when it rains it is VERY wet and humid. Students should be prepared for a mix.

9 - Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
9A—The Bribri Caribbean Program does not include formal Spanish language instruction; however students will have multiple opportunities to practice Spanish with people from the village.  Children at the local schools are especially eager to help Rustic Pathways students with their conversational Spanish. Students may also have the opportunity to learn vocabulary from the Bribri indigenous language.

10- What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
10A- Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. In the Bribri villages, Students will work on small scale construction projects that will help improve community and school infrastructure.  Students will also facilitate educational and recreational projects with local children and youth.  During the first two weeks of July, Costa Rican school children are on vacation, so students should expect to work with students in more informal environments.
 
11 – How physically strenuous is this program?
11A- The Bribri program is appropriate for most physical activity levels.  Students should be prepared for light physical activity including short hikes and some manual labor during the service projects.

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 handicrafts from local Bri Bri artisans, or want to purchase additional snacks or soda from the grocery store. During their day-trips to the Caribbean beach town of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, students may also go souvenir shopping or 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-Snorkeling, a surf lesson, a hike to the waterfall, and a jungle river tour are all included in the program.  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 traditional Costa Rican food prepared by local Bri Bri women, and eating these meals in an outdoor dining shelter at the base house. Breakfast may include gallo pinto (a mix of rice and beans) with eggs and bread.  Lunch and dinner will be the traditional “casados” which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish. Students will also experience specialty dishes from the Caribbean which are known for their distinctive coconut and curry flavors. 
15 - Can we cater to specific diets?
15A-Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. There will be ample access to fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and grains for those who are vegetarian.  Vegan diets can be accommodated, but with a little more foresight and planning as this is not a diet commonly encountered in Costa Rica.  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—The water in this region is NOT potable, so we purchase gallons of water for students to fill up their water bottles and consume during meals. Students may also purchase bottled water at the local store.
17 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
17A—During their time at the Bribri village, students will stay in an educational lodge on the Bri Bri reservation. It is a wooden two story building with small rooms furnished with single beds. Each room sleeps approx. 3 students per room. Boys and girls will sleep in different rooms.   The lodge is rustic and simple, but comfortable.

18.  What are the bathroom facilities?
18A- The bathroom facilities are located in a separate building directly next to the students’ rooms.  They have running water and American style toilets and showers; however hot water is unreliable.

19 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
19A – There are typically more girls than 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 enough clothes and personal items to last through the end of the Bribri Caribbean program. Laundry is not easily available in the Bribri village, but has been done in the past by the local staff at the lodge. 
  
23 - How often will they have access to phone and internet?
23A-Students will have access to internet once during their stay in Bri Bri, at an internet café in Puerto Viejo. Phone cards can be purchased from the Rustic Pathways guides and used at the public phone in the Bri Bri lodge.