Overnights:
San Jose 1, Gandoca 3, San Carlos 2, Samara Beach 2
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Depart from the USA. Arrive in San José, Costa Rica's capital and most cosmopolitan city.
Wake up early this morning and drive to Gandoca where you will begin participating in a sea turtle conservation project. This project, like other coastal-marine resource conservation projects, has its origin in the urgent necessity to protect the few natural nesting sites that do not hold any official category of protection from the Government. Tonight you’ll relax after a productive day in your simple, rustic cabin accommodations.
Today continue work on the sea turtle conservation project. The main jobs for volunteers include night patrols to search for nesting females and hatchery shifts. Additional assistance to the project may involve beach cleanup and small projects such as initial construction of the hatcheries.
Enjoy your final day of volunteer work with the sea turtle conservation project located in Gandoca.
Depart this morning for the northern plains region of San Carlos, the agriculture capital of the north. Arrive in the small town of La Fortuna. From here you'll have a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcano, a perfect cone more than 5,000 feet high and one of the most active in the world.
Begin your morning with a visit to the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall and hike to the swimming hole below. Continue to Jauri Tropical Farm, an ecological farm owned by a retired school principal who teaches you about the cultivation of different types of native produce and some of the culinary and medicinal uses they afford. In the evening, visit local hot springs where you can take a dip in the thermal pools. As you relax in the therapeutic waters, look up at their source, the Arenal volcano, above!
Depart this morning and drive past Arenal Lake to Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, an area containing one of the last tropical dry forests on the planet. Enjoy time to relax at the beach and explore the shoreline before dinner tonight.
Embark on an excursion to the rainforest, where zip-lines and treetop platforms will provide a bird's-eye perspective on the flora and fauna of this unique ecosystem during an adventurous canopy tour. Spend your final evening soaking in the beautiful Costa Rican coastline.
Depart for the USA.
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Jauri Tropical Farm Visit -
Included in Tour
Learn about the planting and harvesting of native produce, process sugar cane and make lunch with fresh traditional ingredients at an ecological farm.
Canopy Tour -
Included in Tour
Gain a bird's-eye perspective on the many species of birds, mammals and plants that make up a rainforest.
Sea Turtle Conservation Project
-
Included in Tour
Participate in an important coastal-marine conservation effort and learn about the life cycle and habits of nesting sea turtles.
Costa Rica Flora
Gandoca
Maleku Indigenous Reserve