| Costa Rica is
a beautiful country and we encourage you to take advantage of
your free time to get to know the countryside.
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.
Price range is $50-60.
Tortuguero Canals
& National Park
Leave San José on Saturday
morning to travel to Tortuguero by air and return Sunday 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. 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.
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.
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