Trip Itinerary

Monday, June 13

We will arrive in San Jose and head directly to the South Pacific Coast.  Welcome to Costa Rica!!

Tuesday, June 14 & Wednesday, June 15

We begin our adventure in the breathtaking area of Bahia Ballena.  This South Pacific pueblo boasts picturesque beaches, pristine rainforest, stunning waterfalls, and the famous “Whale Tale” reef formation.  Although this remote town is known for it’s ever-present Tico culture, there is nothing like the sight of monkeys playing in the treetops as the high tide waves roll into the rainforest at sunset.  Bahia Ballena is an amazing area to practice your Spanish, explore Costa Rica’s natural beauty, and provide much needed service to the local community.  Upon arrival into Bahia Ballena, you will meet the locals, familiarize yourself with the community, and settle in.  At sunset, we will all head to the ocean to hang out, swim, or just admire the views.

We will complete community service activities in the morning and play in the surf in the afternoon.  We have two community service projects this year: assisting with the construction of homes and basic infrastructure in the village and helping with environmental conservation projects at the national park.

Thursday, June 16

Today the physical adventure begins!  After breakfast and a short bus ride, we will hike for three hours through primary and secondary rainforest up a steep hillside.  This forest is privately owned and rarely visited, resulting in tons of wild flora and fauna in every direction.  As we reach the top of the hill, there is a small waterfall and a natural pool where we can cool off and relax.  After our swim, we will hike back down part of the rainforest trail to the top of a 100-ft waterfall.  From there we will individually put on a harness and rappel off the side of the waterfall into our new home for the evening - The Cave.  This cave was once inhabited by the local shaman and still maintains the feeling of magic in the air.  We will spend the night in a fully equipped cave hidden behind a waterfall.  Although it is rustic, there are beds, bathrooms, and a kitchen.  After dinner we will make a small campfire where we can play music, tell stories and wind down after an epic day.

Friday, June 17

Wake up to the golden light of sunrise filtering through a shimmering curtain of falling water and soak up this incredible moment of life.  After a hearty breakfast, we will take a morning hike through the rainforest in search of toucans, monkeys, sloth, and other wildlife before finally arriving at a 300-ft waterfall that opens up the forest to a panoramic view of the entire Pacific Coast.  We will make our way down to the famous Nuyaca waterfall before taking one last swim and heading out of the bush for good.  Enjoy a typical Costa Rican lunch of rice, beans, salad, chicken and potatoes and then a nice siesta in the bus as we head back to Uvita.

Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19

Back in Uvita we will follow a similar format to Tuesday and Wednesday.  In the morning we'll head to the ocean to surf and in the afternoon, we'll continue with our community service projects.

In the evening, we'll enjoy soccer games, yoga, animal tracking, and the beautiful sunset.

Monday, June 20

Wake up and put on your swimsuit because today everyone will enjoy a full day boat tour to Cano Island.  On the way to and from the island, take pictures of the countless whales and dolphins.  This specific area has some of the best whale watching in all of Costa Rica.  Once at Cano Island, all students will have the opportunity to jump in the water and snorkel with the fish and sea turtles.  Lunch will be served at Cano Island, then we will head to Turrialba.  We will settle into our rooms and spend the rest of the evening in town.

Tuesday, June 21

Today we will whitewater raft the #4 river in the world!  The Pacuare River is one of the most famous rivers in the world because of it’s class IV and V rapids, as well as the numerous waterfalls and surrounding rainforest.  This is a day you will never forget.  We will return to Turrialba, completely exhausted, for one final group dinner.  Everyone will be expected to talk about lessons learned, tell their favorite story from the trip, and breakdown their theory of the Pura Vida Lifestyle.   

Wednesday, June 22

Unfortunately today we have to head back to the states.  We will have one last Costa Rican breakfast and then enjoy a 2-hour drive to the airport.  We will be sure to get there in plenty of time so there will be no stress involved. Pura Vida!