"LA PURA VIDA" COSTA RICA: A PERSONAL MEMOIR

This summer I (Coordinator) visited Costa Rica for the first time, and I can personally assure you that it is one of the greatest destinations on earth. I spent 11 days, based around our most requested Itinerary, Costa Rica: No Artificial Ingredients, which covered 4 diverse regions of the country. What I found was a nation as friendly and accommodating as any I had visited and a set of activities that was unlike any other travel experience. Costa Rica is so incredibly beautiful and is a perfect destination for all groups! Spanish teachers can take students to practice their Spanish, Science teachers can have students view the diverse flora, fauna of Costa Rica, or anyone can provide an amazing adventure! Please be sure to view our 25 detailed Costa Rica Itineraries.

	It is incredibly difficult to choose a favorite activity or adventure, however for me two such trips were at the top of my list. First was La Paz Waterfalls & Gardens and second was the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. If you like huge waterfalls and viewing animals in their natural environment, these visits are a must!
	La Paz Waterfalls & Gardens features a Butterfly Garden, a Hummingbird Garden, and Orchid Garden, a Serpentarium and a trail with 5 viewing platforms of the massive waterfalls. The Cano Negro Tour takes you on a flat bottom boat up the river to view capuchin and howler monkeys, caiman, long nose bats, and amazing birds, like the great Anhinga.

FOUR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE AT THE BUENA VISTA LODGE IN GUANACASTE
	VOLCANIC MUD BATH & HOT SPRINGS
	This was one of the most relaxing experiences I have ever had! First you take a 10 minute sauna. Then you cover your body in hot, volcanic mud - head to toe. After baking on the sun deck, you are hosed off and can feel your smooth skin. Next comes a soak in the natural volcanic hot springs and finally a soak in the 75 degree natural spring as a conclusion to a unique and relaxing experience.
	AN EXCITING CANOPY TOUR
	Zip from platform to platform on this exciting, high-flying adventure. Trained local guides from the lodge provide safety instructions and are present at each platform. With your safety harness you fly through the air a you descend down the cable to the next platform. One of the best lines takes you high above the beautiful Hot Springs, and the other 11 lines provide equally thrilling adventure for all!
	A NATURAL WATERSLIDE
	Located in the forests below Rincon de la Vieja Volcano, this one-of-a-kind Natural Waterslide uses natural water to create a speedy and exciting experience. As you climb to the top through the forest, you put on your tube and helmet and natural flowing water is released and down you go. At almost 1/2 a mile, this thrilling ride is unlike any other and concludes as you fly through the tunnel to the pool at the bottom!
	HORSEBACK RIDING
	From the lodge stables, we mounted our horses and with our Local Trail Guide (Don Jose), we began a relaxing trail ride. The scenery was amazing and beautiful, including views of the volcano, forested areas with natural streams and spectacular rock formations. This was a unique and exciting way to take in the beauty of the region. The horses took us to the base of the natural hot springs and mud bath.

COSTA RICA OFFERS FANTASTIC ACTIVITIES FOR ANY TRAVELER, ADD THESE TO YOUR CUSTOM-DESIGNED ITINERARY!
	WHITEWATER RAFTING
	Looking for adventure? Look no further than a Whitewater Rafting Trip on the Pacuare or Reventazon Rivers! As a full day trip out of San Jose, this was an experience of a lifetime. Our tour, which included breakfast and lunch, featured class 2 through 4 rapids.
	COFFEE PLANTATION TOUR
	This was the most surprising tour on my entire trip, because I never imagined it would be as amazing as it was! Cafe Britt provides an informative, well designed, entertaining and hilarious tour of their coffee plantation and the lunch which was included was one of the best I had.
	BUTTERFLY FARM
	Costa Rica features 80% of the world's butterfly species and the original butterfly farm outside of San Jose was a great way to learn about these beautiful creatures. We had Melvin, a top biologist, as our local guide and I learned to admire and appreciate these amazing creatures.

	THE ORIGINAL CANOPY TOUR
	Below the Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde, we donned the appropriate gear, before hiking to the first platform. The guide ensured that everyone was comfortable and safe and the real adventure started. We traveled by zip line from platform to platform, and we climbed up into a strangler fig.
	HOT SPRINGS IN ARENAL
	After a wonderful day at the Cano Negro Refuge and time to relax at Tilajari Resort (our preferred hotel), we traveled to the base of Arenal Volcano to visit the Eco-Termales Hot Springs. These stunningly beautiful natural springs provide a wonderful environment to relax and soak up the beauty.
	POAS VOLCANO
	Costa Rica features many volcanoes, but the beauty of Poas Volcano and its two craters is an adventure not to be missed. We ascended the volcano to the Visitor's Center, and the walked along the beautiful path to the Crater's Edge. Here we wait for the clouds to clear & view the colorful crater!

	SAN JOSE'S THEATER & MUSEUM
	Central San Jose, Costa Rica's capital city, offers two fantastic visits, the National Theater, an architectural masterpiece and the Museo del Oro Pre-Columbiano, the most treasured museum in the country, featuring one of the world's finest collections of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts.
	TIQUICIA SHOW & DINNER
	A unique touring experience from Casterbridge, we take groups up the steep mountain outside of San Jose for a wonderful evening of traditional food, dance and interaction with local children. Students will meet local children and then watch or participate in a performance of local dance.
	SOL PLAYA HERMOSA RESORT
	Guanacaste offers many magnificent beaches and we were fortunate to stay in Playa Hermosa at the Sol Playa Hermosa Resort (one of our preferred hotels). This all-inclusive resort featured fantastic food, two incredible pools and a number of activities to choose from, including snorkeling & kayaking.

PLEASE BE SURE TO VIEW OUR 25 DETAILED COSTA RICA ITINERARIES REGISTER ONLINE TO RECEIVE A QUICK QUOTE FOR THESE PROGRAMS OR TO CUSTOM-DESIGN THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME