Exploring Costa Rica during
your free time
Costa Rica is a beautiful
country and we encourage you to take advantage of your free
time to get to know the countryside. ILISA has its very own
in-house travel desk through which we have excellent relationships
with a select group of quality tour operators and hotels. These
companies provide first class service and offer an excellent
value for all of our students.
If you don't want to participate
in an organized tour, the travel desk will also be able to provide
information and help with your travel plans. ILISA has listings
of bus schedules, hotels and destinations of interest. For those
of you who would like to rent a car, ILISA works with an agency
that offers a special rate for students that includes insurance.
The company will even drop the car off at the school, and when
you are done, pick it up!
Below a few of our students' favorite destinations:
White-water rafting
Experience an exciting day of action on one of the beautiful
rivers of Costa Rica. Tours include guides, equipment, transportation,
breakfast, and lunch. The ILISA-student price range is $50-60
(about half the normal price). Check with the office staff or
details.
Tortuguero
Canals & National Park
Leave San José on
Saturday morning to travel to Tortuguero by air and returnSunday
by bus and boat. On Saturday and Sunday morning you will be
able to see the canals of Tortuguero and, between July and September,
you can take an optional "turtle walk" on the beach
to look for nesting turtles. The two day-one night tour costs
$150 per person and includes transportation, excursions, all
meals, and lodging. The turtle walk is $15 extra.
Arenal
Volcano & Hot Springs
Head to the Arenal volcano
with a small group of students. The tour leaves on Friday afternoon
after classes and returns on Sunday afternoon.
The drive to Arenal through
the central highlands takes you past beautiful Costa Rican villages,
descends into the San Carlos Plains, and finally climbs up to
one of Costa Rica's active volcanoes.
At night you will have the
opportunity to see red-hot lava near the volcano's peak and
to hear the frequent eruptions. During the day, you can visit
hot springs in the area and take a walk through a nature reserve
to see a spectacular waterfall. The three day-two night tour
costs $120 and includes transportation, guide, entrance the
nature reserve and lodging.
You can also rent a car (around
$60 daily including insurance and free mileage) and go there
yourself or even better, invite some fellow students to share
the car rental expenses. A double hotel room will cost you between
$30-100 per night, depending on your requirements. You can pick
up your car early Friday afternoon and will arrive at Arenal
in the late afternoon or early evening. Return your car Monday
after classes. You might drive around Lake Arenal on the way
back and enjoy the additional spectacular scenery. Or, you can
also take the public bus. Price varies depending on transportation
and accommodations you select.
Coffee
tour - Half-day
Costa Rican coffee is well
known around the world for its strong flavor and tantalizing
aroma. Cafe Britt, widely known for its gourmet coffee, offers
visitors a trip through a coffee farm near Barba. You will enjoy
a multimedia presentation about the history of coffee, a visit
through the factory, and then a delicious trip to the tasting
room. Cost of the tour: $20.
Irazu
Volcano
This active volcano is located
55 km from San José. The trip, easily done by public
bus, includes a stop in Cartago to visit the Basílica
de Los Angeles, Patron Saint of Costa Rica. As you climb the
slopes to the volcano you'll pass through the most important
potato producing area of the country. The view at the volcano
is spectacular. On a very clear day it is possible to see both
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Take a tour and combine a
visit to Irazu volcano, Cartago and a visit to the beautiful
Lankaster Gardens for just $53. You can also travel to the volcano
by public bus on Saturdays and Sundays.
Butterfly
Farm
This farm features thousands
of live butterflies in all stages of the life cycle(eggs, larvae,
chrysalides, and adults) in an enclosed tropical garden. All
visitors will receive an hour-long guided tour and learn about
the natural history of the butterfly and the farm's operations.
You can either take tour transportation or arrive by car or
public bus. Cost: $25.
Braulio
Carrillo National Park
This park covers area in
both the provinces of San José and Limon. It is composed
of a very dense, complex, evergreen forest, tall mountains and
numerous rivers that carve deep canyons. It is a paradise for
bird watchers and people who love nature. Take a public bus
to the park, bring a sack lunch and enjoy a day in the woods.
Poas
Volcano and National Park
See the biggest geyser volcano
in the world only 90 minutes from San José. The park
offers spectacular views and nice trails and is easily reached
by public bus. A public bus leaves from in from of Parque de
La Merced daily at 8:00 and costs $5 round trip. Alternatively,
combine a visit to Poas in the mornings with a trip to the La
Paz waterfalls in the afternoons, all for $35.
Monteverde
Cloud Forest - 2 days, 1 night
You
will travel 4 hours through mountain ranges and coffee plantations
and on into the community of Monteverde. In the private Monteverde
Reserve, you will see the richest and most abundant displays
of epiphytes in the world: ferns, orchids, and bromeliads (where
the famous Resplendent Quetzal bird finds protection). There
is also a lot of wildlife: monkeys, toucans, bellbirds, etc.
and a special "Hummingbird Gallery" where numerous
hummingbirds come to feed. In addition to the private reserves
in the area, you can visit a cheese and ice cream factory, butterfly
farm and snake museum, and go horseback riding. Take the public
bus or rent a car. Cost, depending on transportation and accommodations,
is between $100-200.
Manuel
Antonio National Park and other beaches -- 3 days, 2 nights
Rent a car or take the public
bus to enjoy visiting one of the most beautiful beaches and
national parks of Costa Rica. There are many hotels in the area
in all price ranges.
In
addition, Costa Rica offers more beautiful beaches including
Tamarindo, Nosara, and Montezuma, all on the Pacific coast.
Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, and Playa Chiquita on the Atlantic, can
be visited by making similar arrangements. The hotel accommodations
on the Atlantic coast tend to be less expensive. Remember that
finding accommodation at any beach during December through March,
especially around Easter, can be difficult. ILISA can make reservations
prior to your arrival only if you give them your credit card
information. Costs range from $30 to $200.
Rain
Forest Aerial Tram
The
Rain Forest Aerial Tram is located in a private reserve an hour
away from San José and offers visitors a bird's eye view
of the rainforest. The tour includes a 1-1/2 hour guided tour
on a modified ski-lift through primary and secondary forest,
a guided nature hike and a film about the rainforest and the
construction of the tram itself. Cost with ILISA ID: approximately
$55 including tour, transportation and lunch.
Much
of the information on our site as it relates to Costa Rica is:
Courtesy
of Christopher P. Baker and Avalon Travel Publishing.
© 2004 Christopher P. Baker. All Rights Reserved.
Spanish Abroad, Inc. highly
recommends Christopher P. Baker's book: Moon
Handbooks Costa Rica. Click on the image to
visit his website where you can purchase this book or find out
more about the author.
