Teen Tours in Costa Rica
RUSTIC PATHWAYS IN COSTA RICA
Rustic Pathways opened its operations in Costa Rica in 2003 with just seven programs. Today we offer twenty diverse programs in Costa Rica that range from helping save sea turtles on the Pacific Coast to working with an indigenous tribe in the Caribbean and exploring the jungle in Corcovado National Park. We have a beautiful Base in the rainforest, a house on the Pacific, and many local families who are waiting to open their homes to our students. Rustic Pathways also maintains a year-round office in Costa Rica located in the capital city of San José.
AIRLINE INFORMATION and PROGRAM CONNECTIVITY
Weekly escorted flights for Rustic Pathways students depart from both Newark and Houston and fly directly to San José. The flight leader escorts students both to San José and on their return to the U.S. Please see rusticpathways.com/flights for details. All of our Costa Rica programs connect together seamlessly and can also be connected directly to Panama and Peru programs. All departure dates show physical departures from the United States.
| FACT FILE | |
| Population | 4.5 million |
| Capital City | San Jose |
| Currency | Colon – 1 U.S. dollar buys about 500 colones (as of September 2010) |
| Language | Spanish |
| Well-Known Attractions | Arenal Volcano – one of the most active volcanoes in the world Beaches – whether on the Caribbean or Pacific Coast, the beaches are simply stunning Corcovado National Park – a showcase of Costa Rica's biodiversity and commitment to conservation |
LOCAL LINGO
| Pura vida | Pura vida literally means "pure life," but more than anything, it's a way of life. |
| Ticos | A Costa Rican man is a Tico, and a Costa Rican woman is a Tica. |
| Tuanis | Originating from the English phrase "too nice," tuanis is a slang word for cool. |
DID YOU KNOW?
Relatively small in size – it's comparable to West Virginia – Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet; it contains 5 percent of the world's biodiversity. And with one-quarter of its landmass under some sort of environmental protection, it has become a global leader in conservation and ecological responsibility. In fact, there are plans to make it the first carbon neutral nation in the world by 2021. Costa Rica officially abolished its armed forces in 1948. The country's life expectancy is just over 77 years old, one of the highest in the world, and it is consistently ranked as one of the planet's happiest nations.
