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Our “Costa Rica Explorer” trip is a unique combination of Costa Rica’s adventure highlights. We start with a few days of whitewater rafting and rainforest adventure on the Pacuare River. Here we will go on magnificent waterfall hikes, climb into the rainforest canopy, visit the Cabecar Indians and relax in our jungle cabanas right next to the roaring river rapids. We will then switch gears and spend a day at the Arenal Volcano, exploring one of the world’s most active volcanoes ending with a relaxing dip in the natural hot springs at Tabacon. The last few days of the trip are spent relaxing on one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful Pacific Coast beaches, Playa Tambor. Here we have the opportunity to snorkel, horseback ride, sea kayak, golf, play tennis, swim, hike in the rainforest and explore waterfalls, or simply relax at our luxury beach resort. Explore Costa Rica with us on this action-packed and relaxing vacation!
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| Brooke Harrington |
Brooke Harrington is Assistant Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at Brown. She is the recipient of numerous grants and honors, including awards from the National Science Foundation, the Russell Sage Foundation and Brown’s prize for excellence in teaching. She has been a visiting scholar at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business as well as Princeton University and the Santa Fe Institute. After earning a degree in English Literature from Stanford University, Professor Harrington worked as a reporter for Newsweek and Associated Press before earning a doctorate in sociology from Harvard University.
Professor Harrington has traveled extensively, including trips to Russia, Iceland, Cuba and New Zealand. She first visited Latin America as a 12-year-old, trekking to Macchu Picchu and floating down a tributary of the Amazon in Peru with her mother and grandmother. Since then, she has visited Guatemala and Belize – where she met Brown alums at a remote beach resort. She looks forward to meeting more Brunonians in Costa Rica!
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No experience is required for this trip which we classify as “moderate”. For those not comfortable rafting the Class III-IV rapids of the Pacuare River, we can arrange a special guided hike in and out of our rainforest lodge.
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A non-refundable deposit of $500 will guarantee your reservation. Full payment is due by February 10, 2006. For itineraries, more information or to register for this trip, please contact our tour operator, Global Adrenaline, Inc. at:
brown@globaladrenaline.com
or
or
1-866-884-5622
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| Good friends and great times. (Costa Rica) |
March 25 – April 1, 2006
$2,300 per person in double rooms
$3,300 per person in single rooms
- Global Adrenaline tour leader
- local Costa Rican guides
- 2 nights in San José hotel, 2 nights in rainforest lodge, 1 night in rainforest resort, 2 nights in luxury beach resort
- all meals as indicated (B=breakfast is included; L=lunch is included; D=dinner is included)
- activities as indicated
- entrance fees to national parks, historical sites and museums
- transportation as indicated
- airport transfers
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| Spectacular toucan. (Costa Rica) |
- international flights (approximately $400 to $600 for USA – San José – USA flights)
- international airport departure tax ($26)
- optional tours ($40-50)
- meals not included ($45)
- beverages (discretionary)
- tips and gratuities (discretionary)
- travel insurance (discretionary)
- phone calls, laundry and other items of a purely personal nature (discretionary)
- Pacuare Canopy Adventure ($40)
- Tortuga Snorkeling Adventure ($50)
- Montezuma Beach Horseback Riding ($50)
- Montezuma Beach & Waterfall by Boat ($50)
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Arrive in San José. We will be met by our Global Adrenaline trip leader upon arrival who will transfer us to our San José hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit local health care entrepreneur Rebeca Villalobos and her eye care clinic, home of the innovative “Little Windows of Light” program that trains schoolchildren as community-wide promoters of proper vision care in Costa Rica. Our guided tour of ASEMBIS (Asociación de Servicios Médicos para el Bien Social) begins with an engaging presentation regarding the founding and life of Rebeca’s mission, organization and results. During our visit, we will witness the impact of Rebeca’s health-awareness campaigns. Through translated conversations with the staff, we will learn about the different types of life-changing surgery performed at Rebeca’s clinic and experience the growth of a social network that reaches over 90,000 patients yearly.
After we finish our visit to the ASEMBIS eye clinic, we will transfer back to our San José hotel where we will spend the night. Overnight at our San José hotel.
Our whitewater rafting company, will pick us up in the morning for our rafting adventure. A note advising the exact pick-up time will be waiting at our San Jose hotel the night before.
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| Rafting on the Pacuare River. (Costa Rica) |
On the first day of our journey into the Pacuare Rainforest, we will pass through Braulio Carrillo National Park, stopping for an authentic Costa Rican breakfast before reaching our site of embarkation. Then, once in the water, we will experience the exhilaration of riding the waves on this magnificent river, which courses through a tropical wilderness of dense vegetation and steep gorges that rise majestically above its banks. Dozens of species of mammals and birds abound in this tropical paradise.
Arriving at our overnight destination, we will find our rainforest lodge, a jungle oasis nestled in the middle of an enchanting and captivating rainforest. Surrounded by nature in its purest and most primitive state, this two-story jungle lodge houses rustic but comfortable dining facilities on the first floor, and plenty of relaxing hammocks in an open-air second floor lounge. Imagine being surrounded by the raw beauty of nature, without the blare of radios, the glare of television, or the ringing of telephones! After a hearty lunch, try a Canopy Tour into the forest trees, take a guided waterfall hike into the rainforest mountains, or just relax.
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| Zipping through the rainforest canopy. (Costa Rica) |
OPTIONAL TOUR
Canopy Tour ($40)
We begin our canopy tour with a safety orientation and outfitting of specialized equipment. We will then begin a 20 minute hike up to the first platform. On this walk, we will enjoy gorgeous views and magnificent scenery. Before exploring the canopy’s delicate environment, we will receive a thorough review and demonstration of all safety guidelines. We will spend the next 1 ½ hours facing the exotic beauty of the rainforest head on, feeling the adrenaline of dramatic views, rappelling down towering trees and sliding along cables from tree to tree as we descend the jungle cloaked mountain toward the lodge for a final thrilling rappel that leaves you just steps away from our main lodge! We will experience this excitement secure in the knowledge that we are safely anchored with a safety harness. Tour Duration = 2 hours.
Resplendent with tropical birds, butterflies, exotic plants, and animals, this truly stunning natural paradise provides a one-of-a-kind setting for photographs, or just lasting memories. Happy hour truly becomes a happy time as we share our day’s experiences with other rafters. Later, a candlelight dinner with wine is served by our guides, who have been trained by the lodge’s French chef. Overnight at our rainforest lodge. (B, L, D)
Today we will have the choice of one of two tours. We may also choose to relax at the lodge and enjoy the beauty of the rainforest.
- Option A: Cabecar Indians Tour (Hiking)
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| Cabecar boy. (Costa Rica) |
The Talamanca Mountains are host to the Cabecar Indians, the largest indigenous group in Costa Rica. The Cabecar, who retain many of their traditional customs and beliefs, live in small family units scattered throughout this isolated region that includes the Pacuare zone. The Zutkia, or shaman, plays a multifaceted role in Cabecar culture as priest, magician, metaphysician or healer. A cultural exchange with a shaman is the perfect way to experience the culture and mysticism of the Cabecar tradition. From our lodge, it is possible to visit a shaman and isolated family groups to learn something of their folklore and way of life and enjoy the tropical rainforest. The tour lasts the whole day and is quite physically demanding.
After breakfast, we will depart the lodge for an uphill climb through lush rainforest, crystal clear streams and stunning wildlife. The hike takes 1.5 hours and is accompanied by a naturalist guide. Once at the shaman’s hut, we will listen to him share his knowledge of the healing properties of the jungle's rich plant medicines, and of the traditions and customs that have survived for centuries and which provide the foundation for the Cabecar’s relationship with nature. The Zutkia speaks Spanish and Cabecar, his native tongue so our guide will assist and translate so we can fully join in this cultural and educational exchange. After enjoying a farewell health beverage prepared by the shaman, we will visit briefly with a nearby Cabecar family before hiking back down to the lodge. We urge our guests to request permission before taking photographs of any Cabecar people. The Cabecar do not like to be photographed, and we strongly respect this wish.
- Option B: The "El Bajo del Tigre" Experience (Horseback Riding or 4 Wheel Driving)
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El Bajo del Tigre schoolchildren.
(Costa Rica) |
El Bajo del Tigre, the closest hamlet to our rainforest lodge, is located several kilometers away on the opposite bank of the Pacuare River. To begin this tour, we will take a short hike from the lodge back to the Pacuare River where we will cross over on a gondola—an experience in itself! On the other side of the river horses will be waiting, along with a local horseman. Note: A four-wheel drive tour is also available for those who prefer not to ride horseback.
Our group will travel along a dirt path from which we can appreciate breathtaking views of the Pacuare River and the protected rain forest. The first part of the ride climbs up to an intermediate point from which we can view the tiny community of Bajo del Tigre. The community’s peculiar name comes from the first settlers who, years before, endured hardship and suffering to make this jungle habitat their home. Today these people continue to strive for survival, while dedicated to the harvesting of fruits and exotic plant species. Here we will have a chance to meet these simple farmers, to partake of their experiences and to observe firsthand their interests, triumphs and struggles. This cultural exchange is a unique opportunity for personal growth, mutual respect, and cross-cultural understanding.
Our first stop will be at the community’s small school, where young students will be happy to show you their accomplishments, projects, necessities and dreams. In this one-room schoolhouse, children of various ages are taught by a single teacher of untiring dedication. Next we will visit the home of a man who has dedicated a great part of his life to the care and nurturing of a beautiful orchid garden. This remarkable self-taught individual will captivate you with his ability to casually expound on the innermost details of these fascinating tropical plants. In the afternoon we will return to the lodge by a different route, stopping along the way at an invigorating waterfall where we can swim or take photographs.
We will return to “base camp” at the lodge in time to shower, rest or play before this evening's Happy Hour, followed by dinner prepared by one of our expert guides/chefs. As the sun sets over the jungle canopy, and the beautiful Pacuare River rushes on beneath crimson skies, we will have a chance to share with others what very few have experienced before. Overnight at our rainforest lodge. (B, L, D)
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| Exploring the rainforest. (Costa Rica) |
In the morning, after a hot breakfast, we will have some time on our own to explore the rainforest surrounding the lodge. Then we launch the rafts again for the next day of our trip. Rafting becomes even more exciting today as we begin to use the skills and experience we gained at the beginning of our trip. Our guides will stop the rafts along the journey and lead us up paths and side streams that open onto pristine waterfalls and natural water slides. Here we can swim, splash, and live it up! Lunch will be served along the river.
When we reach our final destination, we will have the opportunity to shower and change before transferring to our rainforest resort. Dinner and overnight at our rainforest resort. (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we will transfer to the Arenal Volcano. Dormant for centuries, Arenal Volcano exploded in a massive eruption of molten lava and ash in 1968. Since that time, it has continued to belch great clouds of ash and occasional lava. The Arenal Volcano is 5,358 feet high and 4,000 years old and still has a lot of growing to do. It is now one of the world's most active volcanoes and volcanologists from all over the world come here to study this tropical volcano.
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| Arenal Volcano. (Costa Rica) |
After visiting the volcano from a safe viewpoint, we will visit the Tabacon Hot Springs. Here, we will enjoy a buffet lunch and a few hours of relaxation in the thermal waters nestled amid the lush tropical vegetation at the base of the Arenal Volcano. The Tabacon River emanates from deep within the heart of the volcano and its naturally heated waters spring forth at about 102 degrees year round. The thermal waters cascade over intriguing rock formations that create inviting waterfalls and pools of warm, smooth water that soaks away every aching muscle. Entrance to Las Fuentes Spa is included in the tour price, where we can soak away all our stress in the many hot water pools. Massages, mud packs and other spa treatments are available at extra cost.
After lunch, we will depart for Playa Tambor on the sunny Pacific Coast for a few days of beach relaxation. The picturesque region opens a doorway to the romance and serenity of flat lands, green mountains and rich foliage. Because of the unique climate, the region boasts a tremendous diversity of terrain from dense rain forests to airy deciduous forests, towering active volcanoes to lush sugarcane fields, and thick lagoons to unburdened beaches. The natural wonders of this region are so astonishing that, for a moment, we will forget the world we have left behind once we have crossed the threshold into nature's playground.
At our beach resort, the opportunities for relaxation and adventure are endless. Two private beaches have over a mile of sand for walking and sunbathing. Venture along the cliffs to the Mirador for a breathtaking panorama of beach and ocean. Then explore the coastline and a sign-posted nature trail on a visit to a nearby cove where we will discover a 40-foot waterfall bursting through a cliff into the natural ocean pool below. Or, take a refreshing dip in our pool during the day or evening. Enjoy a game of tennis during the day or evening on the illuminated courts. Or, do what most other people do...laze amid the beautiful surroundings of the spring-fed swimming pool set in a picture-perfect jungle garden of exotic plants and trees. Dinner and overnight at our luxury beach resort. (B, L, D)
We will spend the morning relaxing at our luxury beach hotel. For those who are interested, we may choose to take an optional snorkeling tour to Tortuga Island or a boat or horseback riding tour to Montezuma Beach and the Montezuma Waterfall. In the evening we will have a farewell beach bonfire. Dinner and overnight at our luxury beach resort. (B, D)
OPTIONAL TOURS
Tortuga Snorkeling Adventure ($50)
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| Tortuga Island. (Costa Rica) |
This tour includes fantastic snorkeling (without a wet suit of course) and time to enjoy the incredibly beautiful Tortuga Island. We start by boarding our boat in Bahia Ballena and enjoying a relaxing cruise. Watch the sea birds and jumping fish while we cruise out of the Bay on our way to Tortuga Island. We may see dolphins, whales and sea turtles along the way. We will pass a shipwreck and a magnificent rock archway carved by nature. Once we get to the island, we can snorkel and see lots of coral, a large variety of tropical fish, oysters and octopus. The flora and fauna is stunning and is nature at its best! We can stroll along the gorgeous white sand beaches and rent kayaks and other water sport equipment. We return to Tango Mar just after sunset.
Montezuma Beach Horseback Riding ($50):
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| On the way to Montezuma. (Costa Rica) |
What a great way to see the sights at and around our luxury beach resort and Montezuma! Our gentle horses are a pleasure for anyone to ride. We will depart right after breakfast from our stables (time will depend on the tide). Most of this ride is along the beach and some of it is through the jungle. This tour offers some of the world's best beach riding. We will ride through the Montezuma Absolute Reserve and will be able to make several stops along the way. Once in Montezuma, we will enjoy a short hike to the famous Montezuma waterfall where we will stop for a swim beneath its cascading falls. After this hike, we will enjoy some of the local scenery and perhaps try a few of the local restaurants in town.
Montezuma & Waterfall by Boat ($50):
Our tour includes an easy adventure by water to the town of Montezuma and then a short hike to the famous Montezuma waterfall where we will stop for a swim beneath its cascading falls. We will depart right after breakfast and board our boat in Bahia Ballena. We will enjoy a 25 minute relaxing cruise along the Pacific Coast, observing the different beaches and perhaps some dolphins, whales and sea turtles before entering Montezuma Bay. At the village of Montezuma, our guide will take us on a 30 minute hike through primary jungle to the famous Montezuma waterfall where we can take a refreshing dip in a natural pool. After this hike, we will enjoy some of the local scenery and perhaps try a few of the local restaurants in town.
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The pool at our beach resort.
(Playa Tambor, Costa Rica) |
Today we will enjoy relaxation on the beach at our luxury beach resort. We will enjoy lunch on our own before we return back to San José in the afternoon. We spend our last evening in San José enjoying our last taste of Costa Rican food and nightlife. Overnight at our San José hotel. (B)
Today we say farewell to Costa Rica, taking home many fond memories of our rainforest and beach adventures. Transfer to the airport for our flights home. Buen viaje (good travels)! (B)
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