EF DISCOVERY
Roadmap
COSTA RICA
Language Travel for students aged 14-17
N W
E S
EF DISCOVERY
™
COSTA RICA
A tour of the tropics. There’s never a dull moment in Costa Rica, where natural wonder is part of everyday life. Remember to pack a healthy sense of adventure and get ready to explore incredible rainforests, stunning beaches and towering volcanoes.
LOOKING FOR PARADISE? YOU’VE FOUND IT. Tucked away in the middle of Central America is Costa Rica, a land where majestic mountains slope to white sand beaches and steamy rainforests teem with colorful wildlife. As you travel through this majestic landscape on an EF DiscoveryTM adventure, you’ll learn the key ways to express yourself in English – and even how to communicate in Spanish with the locals.
Days 1-2: San Jose
Days 2-3: Arenal region
What to look forward to: > Arrival in exciting San Jose > Visit INBioparque national park > Discover the Poás volcano and hot springs
What to look forward to: > Introduction to the incredible Arenal region > Kayak along Lake Arenal > Hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall
Your EF DiscoveryTM experience will introduce you to the fascinating INBioparque in San Jose, before heading to the Arenal region – stopping at the Poas volcano en route. You’ll continue on to the Monteverde region, where you’ll explore some of the country’s most stunning national parks, then head to the Central Pacific coast to see for yourself the beaches that dreams are made of. Along the way, you’ll find out what everyday life in Costa Rica consists of and experience the natural wonder of this Central American paradise first-hand. From ordering food to naming some of Costa Rica’s most incredible wildlife, you’ll head home with a new outlook on Central America – not to mention a knowledge of English and even a little Spanish, to set you well on the road to fluency.
ARENAL
MONTEVERDE
SAN JOSE
CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST
Days 4-5: Monteverde What to look forward to: > Santa Elena Cloud Forest canopy tour > Plant a tree in the rainforest > Meet locals your own age on a school visit
3
Call us now 123 456 789
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE? Tours: > A full-time EF Leader traveling with you from your country of origin > A full-time EF Tour Director > One sightseeing tour led by your Tour Director > Three walking tours
Visits: > Entrance to INBioparque; Poás Volcano; Hot springs; Lake Arenal kayaking; La Fortuna Waterfall; Santa Elena Cloud Forest; Canopy tour; Carara Biological Reserve; Manuel Antonio National Park
Travel: > Round-trip flights > Comfortable coach > Eight overnight hotel stays with private bathrooms > Three meals per day > Dinner on arrival day > Breakfast on departure day > Tipping for Tour Director and drivers
USA
COSTA RICA
Days 6-9: Central Pacific Coast What to look forward to: > Visit Carara Biological Reserve > Explore Manuel Antonio National Park > Return to San Jose via quaint village of Sarchi
www.ef.com/travel 4
N W
E S
EF DISCOVERY
™
COSTA RICA
IN FOCUS: YOUR ITINERARY DAYS 1-2: SUPER SAN JOSE!
Flying into Costa Rica, you’ll land at the capital city, San Jose. You’ll recognize the style of the buildings from the cities of the European countries that founded Costa Rica and there’s an infectious tropical vibe that you’ll feel from the moment you touch down. Meet your EF Tour Guide and head to your hotel, where you’ll sit down for your first Costa Rican dinner. On your first full day in San Jose, you’ll head out for a guided visit to INBioparque – San Jose’s resident park of natural Costa Rican wonders including snakes, lizards, butterflies, bird and tortoises. After a long morning exploring this incredible park, you’ll head away from San Jose towards the region of Arenal. Destination highlights: > See vibrant San Jose and enjoy a Costa Rican dinner > Visit INBioparque, home to some of Costa Rica’s most iconic and delightful species of wildlife
USA
DAYS 2-3: AWESOME ARENAL
As you arrive in the Arenal region, prepare yourself for an adventure to remember. Keep a look out the window for the towering Arenal volcano, which rises with smokey mystery out of the rainforest canopy. This mighty mountain has been active for the past 7,000 years and you’ll get a great look at it from your kayaking expedition on the Arenal lake. You’ll also get the chance to relax in the naturally-heated pools, which are powered by the volcano. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also take a stroll through the forest to the bottom of La Fortuna waterfall. If you’re looking for paradise, you’ll definitely find it in the forests of Arenal. Destination highlights: > Visit the Poás volcano and active Arenal volcano > Go kayaking on the Arenal lake > Take a dip in hot springs heated by volcanic thermal energy > Hike to La Fortuna waterfall
DAYS 4-5: MAGNIFICENT SIGHTS IN MONTEVERDE
Also known as the ‘Green Mountain region’, you’ll find Monteverde near the Continental Divide that’s home to a spectacular range of flora and fauna divided into six unique ecological zones. Here, you’ll take a special tour of the Santa Elena Cloud Forest, where you’ll literally be walking through the clouds and looking out for rare orchids, birds and wildlife. You’ll leave your mark on the forest by planting a tree as a group, before heading to a local school to meet locals your own age, practice your new Spanish skills and find out what everyday life is like in Costa Rica. Destination highlights: > Walk through the clouds at high altitude and look out for rare wildlife in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest > Plant a tree and leave your mark on the rainforest > Visit a local school to test your language skills and meet new friends from Costa Rica > Still want more adventure? Take an optional horseback riding excursion
5
Call us now 123 456 789
ARENAL
MONTEVERDE
SAN JOSE
CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST
DAYS 6-7: CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST
As you leave the Monteverde region and head towards the Central Pacific Coast area, you’ll stop at Carara National Park on the way. It’s the perfect place to look out for some truly spectacular Costa Rican birdlife. Walking through the rainforest, you’ll spot parrots, hummingbirds, motmots and jagmars – not to mention reptiles like crocodiles, snakes and tiny poison arrow frogs. Once you’ve arrived in the Central Pacific Coast area, you’ll head to Manuel Antonio National Park. It may be one of the smallest national parks in the country, but it’s home to over hundreds of species of birds and mammals. From monkeys to hawks and dolphins to iguanas, you’ll need your camera ready from the moment you arrive.
DAYS 8-9: SARCHI AND BACK TO SAN JOSE
After an incredible experience in the forests of the Central Pacific Coast, you’ll head back to San Jose. On the way, you’ll stop at the village of Sarchi, known for its traditional Costa Rican crafts and other produce. This quaint village is the perfect place to practice your Spanish, buy a few gifts for family and friends back home and take a picture in front of the world’s largest Oxcart. Once back in San Jose, you’ll experience a traditional folklore evening and make some final memories before catching your flight back home the next day. Destination highlights: > Stop at the village of Sarchi for a traditional Costa Rican experience > Enjoy a traditional folklore evening in San Jose
Destination highlights: > Visit the stunning Central Pacific Coast, where rainforest meets the sparkling ocean > Stop at Carara National Park on the way and explore the stunning rainforest > Spend a day at Manuel Antonio National Park, where some of the world’s most incredible wildlife are waiting to meet you
COSTA RICA
www.ef.com/travel 6
www.ef.com