Page 256 - Discoveries Await in 2022 & 2023

Itinerary DAY 3 • Explore Poás • Visit coffee enjoy a Spanish language lesson before arriving at
finca • Controversial Topic: Nicaraguan our hotel.
immigration • Sarapiquí B,L,D — Chachagua Rainforest Hotel or similar
DAY 1 • Depart U.S. • Arrive San José, Begin the day exploring the town of Poás. Then,
Costa Rica enjoy a tour of a family-owned coffee finca, or DAY 6 • A Day in the Life of San Juan de
Upon arrival at our hotel in San José, we’ll meet farm, located on the fertile slopes of Poás Volcano. Peñas Blancas village • GCF visit: San
our Trip Experience Leader and fellow travelers, While here, we’ll also learn about the Controversial Juan de Peñas Blancas school • Home-
including those arriving from the pre-trip Topic of Nicaraguan immigration in Costa Rica from Hosted Lunch
extensions to Antigua & Tikal: Guatemala’s Colonial the plantation owner and a Nicaraguan migrant Today, we’ll drive out to San Juan de Peñas Blancas
Capital and Mayan Ruins and El Salvador: Colonial worker. Later, we’ll depart for Sarapiquí. to spend A Day in the Life of a Costa Rican village.
Suchitoto, San Salvador & the Flower Route. B,L,D — La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge or similar We’ll visit a local elementary school, supported in
Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel or similar part by Grand Circle Foundation, as well as a
DAY 4 • River rafting • Visit a local cantina stop by a women’s association followed by a
DAY 2 • Discover Escazú • Explore San José We’ll drive to the nearby Río Sarapiquí for elective Home-Hosted Lunch with a local family. After
After a Welcome Briefing, we’ll drive to the nearby white-water rafting along Class I-III rapids— returning to our lodge for some free time, enjoy a
suburb of Escazú for a walking tour of this quiet challenging enough to be fun, but mild enough to be lesson on Costa Rican bocas, a local version of tapas
rural neighborhood. While here, we’ll learn about enjoyed by first-timers. Tonight, we’ll visit a local that are served during celebrations or gatherings.
the role that mascaras—traditional Costa Rican cantina for an opportunity to interact with the locals B,L,D — Chachagua Rainforest Hotel or similar
masks—play in local culture during a visit to a who have come to relax after a hard day’s work.
mask-making workshop. We’ll then return to San B,L,D — La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge or similar DAY 7 • Travel to La Fortuna • Arenal
Jose for a Welcome Lunch followed by a panoramic Volcano National Park
city tour. DAY 5 • Tirimbina nature walk • Travel Today, we travel to La Fortuna, stopping at Arenal

B,L — Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel or similar to Chachagua Volcano National Park for a nature walk along the
Enjoy a nature walk along the woodland trails of the Peninsula Trail. Then, we depart for our hotel in La
Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Then, we depart for Fortuna, the “front yard of the Arenal Volcano,” a
Chachagua, located on a private rainforest reserve, town of thermal spas and verdant hills.
stopping en route at a local market. Later, we’ll B,D — Villas Eco Arenal or similar

Meet the people who call
Costa Rica home

Coffee Farmers : We will tour a family-
owned coffee farm, or finca, in Poás on
Day 3 where we’ll meet the farm staff
and learn about how they grow, harvest,
process, and package their coffee.

Costa Rican Village : We’ll get unique
insight into daily life, education, and community dynamics
during our
A Day in the Life of a Costa Rican village experience on Day 6. We’ll spend
time with students during our visit to a school supported by the Grand Circle
Foundation and split into smaller groups to share a traditional meal with a
local family during a Home-Hosted Lunch.
Cacao farm : On Day 9, we’ll visit a local organic cacao farm to learn more about
one of Costa Rica’s most prized agricultural products. Farm representatives will
give us a tour of the grounds and enlighten us on the production process, and
show us how Costa Rican chocolate is planted, harvested, and processed.

Fishermen in Tárcoles : The Coope Tárcoles is a fishermen’s cooperative
founded in 1986 that works to promote environmental and social responsibility.
During our visit on Day 11, we’ll meet cooperative members and learn about the
rules and techniques they follow to fish sustainably.

On Day 6, spend A Day in the Life of a Costa Rican village.

256 Real A ordable Costa Rica www.oattravel.com/ rac

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