EVENT DETAILS
Start off your New Years with an Adventure. Travel with Team Green to Sunny Costa Rica, soaking in volcanic hot springs, soaring through the trees on a Canopy Zip Tour, white water rafting the rainforest rivers, mountain biking through exotic orchards, and surfing on the relaxing beaches of Costa Rica's coastline.
When: December 27th through January 3rd
Where: Coasta Rica
Cost: $1550 Members, $1650 Non-Members
Register Deadline October 30th
Total Balance Deadline: October 27th
Difficulty: It's easy to take advantage of this tropical getaway
Children Policy: This is an 18 and up event
Dog Policy: Dogs are not permitted on this trip.
Refund Policy: This event is subject to a $50 cancellation fee. There are no refunds after October 5th.
Airfare: Book your airfare NOW as prices are continuing to rise! Your departure should be from Nashville (NBA) to San Juan International (SJO). You will need to arrive in SJO on December 27th before 3pm. Your return flight home can be from either Liberia Airpot (LIR) in the early afternoon or from San Juan (SJO) in the late afternoon.
TRIP ITINERARY
Trip Itinerary is subject to change
Sunday, December 27th: Arrival
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Our trip guides will beet us outside the Baggage Claim area for international flights and board us ont a Coaster Bus to the small city of Turrialba. In route, we will stop at the most famous cathedral in Costa Rica, the Basilica de Los Angeles. This site of a famous miracle is a good introduction to the Cultural base of the country.
Monday, December 28th: CATIE & Bike Tour
In the morning, we visit CATIE (Centro Agronomo Tropical de Investigation) one of the worlds leading tropical agricultural research stations. The focus of CATIE is sustainable agriculture and research with over 300 varieties of tropical plants. CATIE is one of the primary facilities working to develop a Central American tropical wildlife migratory corridor. Part of the process is to re-establish forest in regions where the land has been denuded. After learning about the importance of wildlife migration and the work of CATIE, we will take a bike tour of CATIE's projects in the area. If time allows, we will visit the Guayabo National Park and see the ruins of an ancient indigenous settlement or enjoy an afternoon of casual bike riding.
Tuesday, December 29th: White Water Rafting
Today's rafting is on the awesomely beautiful Pacuare River. The Rio Pacuare is truly one of the premier jungle river runs in the world, ranking in the top 10 most beautiful rivers. This river has it all--big open rapids, waterfalls that tumble from hundreds of feed above the river, and spectacular scenery and whildlife, toucans and butterflies. Watch for your first monkey sighting! After the day of long river rafting, we will travel to the Sarapiqui region.
Wednesday, December 30th & Thursday, December 31st: Wildlife Boat Ride & Rain Forest Hike
We will take a boat ride to see wildlife in the morning on the Sarapiqui River in La Selva and enjoy the afternoon on a rain forest guided hike where we can view wildlife and the old growth forest.Travel to Arenal Volcano. The Arenal Volcano is the most active volcano in the Western Hemisphere and hopefully we will get to view small eruptions as the volcano spews lava boulders that tumble down the mountainside. We will visit La Fortuna Waterfall as a nice way to enjoy the forest and the rivers. At the base of the waterfall there is a "natural pool" where we can swim in the fresh water of La Fortuna River. Today is also your time to see the forest from the top! We will enjoy a canopy tour which is a series of zip lines extending from tree top to tree top through the forest. It's such a beautiful way to view the layers of the rain forest and the inhabitants within. Look carefully, often people can see toucans, monkeys, and orchids along the way, flying over 300 feet from platform to platform. After the Canopy experience we will ride horses on our way down from the mountain. Once in town we will have time for shopping, mixing and mingling with the localsWhen it's time to check in at your Hotel, relax at the Hot Springs or the hot spring wet bar overlooking the active volcano. Celebrate New Years relaxing in the Hot Spring, or head into town where the Big Celebration is. Ocoee Adventure Travel will have regular shuttles between town and the hotel so you can stay out as long as you want, or come back early.Canopy Zip Tour & Horseback
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Friday, January 1st & Saturday, January 2nd: Surfing & Leatherback Sea Turtles
Travel to Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and on the way we will experience a transition from the rain forest to the dry forest of the Northwestern Guanacaste Province. Play with, learn, and experience one of nature's most incredible wonders, the giant Leatherback Turtles of Junquillal. Junquillal beach is a nesting place for the Leatherbacks and the World Wildlife Fund critical preservation area. If the timing is right, the group will have the opportunity to participate in the release of hundreds of tiny hatchlings into the sea. While at the beach we will also have some time to learn to surf or snorkel!
Sunday, January 3rd: Departure
You can choose to fly out of Liberia Airport, which is a 2 hour drive from Junquillal or drive back to San Juan and catch an afternoon flight.
RESERVATIONS
To reserve your spot on this trip, you will need to place a deposit. $550 Members, $650 Non-Members. Deadline for Registration is October 5th. Final balance is due October 27th.
Your Trip Cost Includes:
- Ground Transportation while in Costa Rica
- Lodging from December 27th through January 2nd
- Guides and fees for all activities planned during the trip
- Meals while in Costa Rica, except while at the airport
Your Trip DOES NOT Include:
- Airfare to and from Costa Rica
- Souveneirs or alcoholic beverages
- Exit Fee at customs (~$30)
- Activities outside the planned itinerary
- Tips for our trip guide and bus driver
- Tips for our activity guides (such as rafting and zip tours)