Quick Trip Facts:

• Location: Quebrada Arroyo, Costa Rica
• Duration: 9 days
• Dates: Spring Break 2011
• Cost: $1,295 per participant
• What’s Included: The fee includes all food (3 healthy meals a day), lodging and homestay, transportation, materials, equipment, 24/7 guidance, programmed recreational activities, and a donation to the communities we visit. The fee does not include international airfare, health insurance, airport taxes, or personal expenses.
• Transportation: Severn will book all flights together through a travel agency.
• Company: Central American Service Expeditions
• Blog and Video from recently completed trip: http://www.costaricachs2010.blogspot.com
• Severn Contacts: Kathleen Donovan and Gray Smith  

Please contact Middle School Head Gray Smith by July if interested in this trip.

 

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1- Arrival

You arrive at the Juan Santamaría International Airport just outside the city of Alajuela. You will be picked up at the airport and after a 45 minute ride you arrive at your hotel in the center of San José. Welcome to Costa Rica! Get settled in and, depending on the time of arrival, we’ll have lunch and we may take a walk to explore the city. Tonight we have our introductory meeting about Costa Rica and what to expect during your Service Expedition!

Lodging and Meals: Casa Las Orquideas

Day 2- Poás Volcano

This morning we head out early with Rodolfo van der Laat to visit the Poás Volcano. Rodrigo is an expert volcanologist with the National Volcano Observatory. He’s the perfect guide to show us Poás: an impressive, active volcano. With luck we will have a chance to see the fumaroles lofting chemicals from the main crater. After a delicious lunch we head off to the town of Escazú to learn about how traditional Costa Rican masks are made and the role they play in Costa Rican society.

Lodging and Meals: Casa Las Orquideas

Day 3- Travel to Quebrada Arroyo and Hike in the Rainforest

We head out early today and travel west toward the resort town of Manuel Antonio. On our way we travel through the Central Valley mountain ranges and the sleepy towns of Atenas and San Mateo de Orotina. We will be treated to beautiful vistas of the forest and Pacific Ocean as we travel to the coast.

We pass through the surfer towns of Jacó and Playa Hermosa as well as extensive African Palm plantations on our way to the port town of Quepos, home to the world renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. Once out of Quepos the paved road stops and we head up the mountains to the small town of Londres. From there we put on our packs and hike through the rainforest to Quebrada Arrovyo, nestled in the mountains above Londres. This will be our home for the next few days.

Once we arrive at Los Campesinos we unpack and if we have time we may take a dip in one of the many pristine waterfalls in the reserve. Truly gorgeous! Los Campesinos is a private reserve run by the local farmers and this evening we will have an introductory meeting with members of the community. During the next few days we will learn first hand about the challenges of rural development and about life in the mountains of Costa Rica.

Lodging and Meals: Los Campesinos Eco-Lodge

Day 4- Service Project in Quebrada Arroyo

Today we begin our service work in the community of Quebrada Arroyo. We will divide our group into teams to help fix trails in the forest reserve or paint and help fix up the local school. Our work will depend on the needs of the community but you are guaranteed to get dirty and tired today so we will wash off the grime in one of the many waterfalls in the rainforest! Lodging and Meals: Los Campesinos Eco-Lodge

Day 5- Service Project in Quebrada Arroyo

Today we continue our service work in Quebrada Arroyo and this afternoon you might challenge the Quebrada Arroyo community soccer team to a match! Bring your game and we’ll see how well you do on the soccer field! (But remember, Costa Rica has gone to the World Cup three times!)

Lodging and Meals: Los Campesinos Eco-Lodge

Day 6- Service Project in Quebrada Arroyo

Today is our last day at Quebrada Arroyo. We continue our work in the rainforest of Quebrada Arroyo and this afternoon we dedicate ourselves to swimming in one of the reserve’s various watering holes. Tonight we deliver our donation to community leaders to support their efforts to help conserve the area’s rainforest, and we spend the evening talking about what we’ve seen and learned during our stay with the people of Quebrada Arroyo.

Lodging and Meals: Los Campesinos Eco-Lodge

Day 7- Zipping through the Forest!

This morning we say goodbye to our friends at Quebrada Arroyo and head back down to Manuel Antonio. We’ll drop our stuff off and then it is off to a canopy tour! You will be sliding on zip lines through the rainforest canopy 60 feet off the ground!

Lodging and Meals: Hotel Vela Bar

Day 8- Swimming in the Manuel Antonio National Park

Today we will explore the Manuel Antonio National Park and swim in the pristine, jungle lined beaches. We are sure to see iguanas sunning on the beach and if we are lucky we might see white-faced (capuchin) monkeys or the rare and endangered Costa Rican squirrel monkey.

This afternoon we travel up the mountains from Quepos and arrive back in San José.

Lodging: Casa Las Orquideas

Day 9- Back to the States!

We have an early breakfast and, depending on your flight time, we will do some souvenir shopping at the market in San Jose. We’ll have lunch and then it is off to the Juan Santamaría International Airport to return to the United States. Have a great trip home!