Language Immersion & Cultural Exploration
Day 1
Welcome to Costa Rica! Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!!! You relax and get to know your guides as they inform you about the wonders of the adventures that are to come.
Overnight: San Jose area
Day 2
You begin your journey by getting an early start for an unforgettable day of white water rafting on the Pacuare River. This is one of the top five rafting rivers on the planet, with class III and IV rapids. Professional experienced rafting guides safely navigate the river for your adventure. The river cuts through virgin forest on the Caribbean slope and passes numerous waterfalls that practically pour into your raft. You have lunch on the river and in the late afternoon travel to the charming community of Tres Equis to meet your homestay families and get settled in. Your guides will make all the introductions and make sure that everyone feels comfortable and welcome in their new homes. Tres Equis is a beautiful typical Costa Rican village, which serves as a perfect example of the warm and welcoming nature of the Tico culture.
Overnight: Tres Equis Homestays
Homestays are stepping stones to learning about the country you are visiting. Students and individuals stay with rural Tico (Costa Rican) families in their proper homes for several days or more. The idea is for the traveler to become part of the family and do what the family does. This unique experience not only exposes you to a different lifestyle and culture, it allows you to practice and enhance your language skills and make new friends.
Day 3
During your homestay, daytime activities may include local service projects, Spanish language classes, visits to schools, activities with the young folks and families, and exploring the village and surrounding areas. All meals will be eaten with the families.
Overnight: Tres Equis Homestays
Day 4
Today is focused on connecting with your homestay families and interacting with the local community. You want the students to experience “a day in the life” of a typical Costa Rican family and participate in their normal daily activities. Spontaneous soccer games are known to occur, which always creates a unique opportunity for everyone to bond. For those who prefer not to play, they can always cheer from the sidelines! In the evening, everyone will enjoy a final dinner with their respective families.
Overnight: Tres Equis Homestays
Day 5
After breakfast you bid farewell to your homestay families and head to the magical Caribbean Coast where you have the opportunity to visit the Jaguar Animal Rescue Center. “The mission of the project is not to be a zoo, but rather a rescue and education center with the end goal of releasing the animals back into the wild once rehabilitated.” This will be a perfect introduction to the colorful flavors of the Caribbean. In the evening you dine at one of town’s delicious restaurants.
Overnight: Caribbean Coast
Day 6
Today you drive to the end of the coast road and hike the only path through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. A local guide from the neighboring village of Manzanillo takes you on the trail and shows you the wonders of his ‘backyard’ while explaining the medicinal, culinary and other uses of many of the trees, fruits and plants along the way. You travel through the jungle and along the coast where the diversity of flora and fauna is both beautiful and abundant. You enjoy a picnic lunch upon your return to Manzanillo. In the afternoon you relax at Punta Uva, one of the coast’s amazing beaches, where the rainforest meets the sea.
Overnight: Caribbean Coast
Day 7
Your day begins with a visit to the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve where you learn about the culture and customs of the Bri-Bri peoples. You start out in the Iguana Farm, a local project working to save the endangered Green Iguana. A Bri-Bri native guide will take you on a walk through secondary and primary forests to teach you about the medicinal plants and trees that have supported their people’s existence for thousands of years. Upon your return, you will be served a lunch prepared with organic foods from their local gardens. After lunch, you return to the capital city for your farewell dinner, where you will have a Spanish-only evening, sharing stories you have written about or favorite experiences in Costa Rica using your strengthened Spanish skills.
Overnight: San José Area
Day 8
Today you fly home with memories to last a lifetime.
Get a taste of small town life in Costa Rica with a homestay in the community of Tres Equis. You will truly feel at home with the welcoming families who love to open their doors to our travelers. Visit a school, enjoy home cooked meals, and join in a soccer game as you become part of the community. Leave a positive lasting impact by participating in a community service project. The warmth and friendliness of the people in Tres Equis will be a part of your Costa Rican Adventure you will never forget.
At the Animal Rescue Center in the Southern Caribbean, you can meet and interact with sloths, monkeys, wild cats, anteaters, colorful frogs, and many other species. The Rescue Center is also home to caimans, birds of prey, and all the venomous snakes of Costa Rica! Learn about these amazing creatures and what this locally staffed organization is doing to help mistreated, injured, or confiscated wild animals. The center works to rehabilitate and release the wild animals into a protected rainforest reserve that is supported by visitors like you.
Chill Expeditions also travels to Spain, Ecuador, Peru, and Belize
