Arrive To: Arrive in San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. Please use the exit door on the right. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in, followed by time at leisure.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3PM.

Lodging: Hotel Boutique Jade

San José -
Orientation to Costa Rica Language Academy/Transfer to Sarapiqui.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Walk to the Costa Rican Language Academy (CRLA) for an orientation session introducing the language component of the program.

The CRLA is a privately owned language school with over 19 years of experience teaching Spanish to students from around the globe. The language academy has 35 classrooms, 2 computer rooms with internet access, 2 classrooms for Latin dance classes, a kitchen for cooking classes, a cafeteria, terraces, and gardens with sitting areas. The teaching staff at CRLA is accredited with the Costa Rican Department of Education and all hold degrees either from the University of Costa Rica or the Universidad Nacional.

Lunch: At the Costa Rican Language Academy.

Afternoon: Depart for Sarapiqui.

Sarapiqui is an area known for its natural beauty and biological diversity, nestled in the lush Caribbean lowlands of northeastern Costa Rica. Nature reserves such as those at La Selva Biological Station, Braulio Carrillo, Tirimbina and Selva Verde have greatly contributed to the preservation of the region’s rich plant and animal life by safeguarding large tracts of primary forest.

Arrive at the lodge and check-in.

Orientation to the lodge, followed by free time to relax in the pool or make use of other lodge amenities.

Enjoy a pre-dinner get together with CRLA instructors, to practice conversational Spanish.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: Evening presentation: The Birds and Animals of Selva Verde.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sarapiqui -
Spanish Classes/River Rafting/History of Chocolate/Dance Lesson.

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: This morning, join the CRLA instructors for an hour of Spanish classes at the lodge.

Take a break from class to embark on an energizing river rafting excursion on the Sarapiqui River.

Return to the lodge.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: Join the CRLA instructors for an hour of Spanish classes at the lodge.

Transfer to the Tirimbina Rainforest Center. Embark on a delicious exploration of chocolate--from its history as a Maya and Aztec beverage, to its arrival in Europe, and its transformation into the current product we know and love. During an interactive walk through a former cacao plantation, examine traditional methods of cacao cultivation and the processing of the beans into chocolate.

Return to the lodge.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Evening: After dinner activity: Join in a dance lesson with locals.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: This morning, join the CRLA instructors for an hour of Spanish classes at the lodge.

Give your brain a rest from morning Spanish sessions and lace-up your tennis shoes to embark on an energizing rainforest walk. A guided hike through old and new growth forests will expose you to the unique flora and fauna of this biologically diverse habitat.

The rainforest surrounding the lodge provides habitat for over 300 bird species, 120 species of mammals, 48 amphibian species, 89 reptile species, more than 10,000 species of insects, 330 species of trees, and countless plant species.

Return to the lodge in time for lunch.

Lunch: At the lodge.

Afternoon: Join the CRLA instructors for an hour of practical Spanish classes at the lodge.

Time at leisure for swimming and/or bird watching.

Casual pre-dinner get together to learn how to make tortillas and for Spanish conversation with CRLA instructors.

Dinner: At the lodge.

Lodging: Selva Verde Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: Join the CRLA instructors for an hour of Spanish classes at the lodge.

Check out of the lodge and transfer to Arenal.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Enjoy a swim in the lodge's thermal pools.

Take part in an hour of Spanish instruction given by CRLA teachers at the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Arenal Paraiso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a walk around the Arenal Volcano.

Arenal was once Costa Rica's most active volcano and a main draw to the town of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano National Park. The volcano lords over the countryside with its perfectly conical shape and occasional smoke and gas emissions. While minor activity excites visitors, they are rarely acknowledged by the locals who have learnt to accept the antics of the volcano as part of their daily lives. The thermal waters emanating from the volcano, the clean air and the energy associated with Arenal, makes this a favorite destination for health spa enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Transfer to the Arenal Hanging Bridges for a chance to experience all the layers of a rainforest.

This private nature reserve in La Fortuna de San Carlos features a network of standing bridges, hanging bridges, and trails that crisscross 250 hectares of tropical rainforest. The park's mission is to provide natural history education in a responsible and sustainable way. Visitors are able to view the rainforest from different angles and heights, from ground level to canopy level, learning firsthand about this fascinating and biologically diverse environment.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Return to the hotel for leisure time.

Attend a Spanish class.

Enjoy a window shopping scavenger hunt in La Fortuna.

The community of La Fortuna, in the province of Alajuela, is the nearest to the Arenal Volcano. The town's proximity to the volcano makes it a perfect vantage point from which to admire Arenal's perfect cone. Although increased revenue from tourism led to improvements in La Fortuna's infrastructure and the emergence of hotels, it has managed to retain its local flavor and overall small town feel.

Dinner: Dinner in La Fortuna with local families.

Lodging: Arenal Paraiso

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Punta Leona-
Tarcoles River Crocodile Safari/Beach Activity/ Pool Activity.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Attend a Spanish class, then transfer to Punta Leona.

After your morning lessons, begin the transfer to Punta Leona on the Pacific coast.

Lunch: At a local restaurant en route.

Afternoon: Before reaching Punta Leona, take part in a crocodile safari on the Tárcoles River.

Over 400 bird species make their homes along the Tárcoles River and its accompanying estuary. The river is also well-known for its abundant crocodile population. American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) are frequently spotted sunning their large scaly bodies on the muddy riverbanks. Some of these prehistoric reptiles can reach lengths of up to 20 ft! Continue the transfer to Punta Leona.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

A local beach will serve as our interactive classroom this afternoon. Put on your flip flops and join in on a fun Spanish language beach activity.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: Swimming pool activity.

Lodging: Hotel Punta Leona

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Join the CRLA intstructors for one hour of Spanish instruction.

Depart from the hotel for an invigorating excursion on ocean outriggers.

Return to the hotel.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Trade your pens and notepaper for bathing suits and sunscreen. Head to the beach for a bit of outdoor fun.

Before dinner, gather around for a final Spanish language session with your CRLA instructors.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Punta Leona

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This morning take part in a zip line canopy adventure. After reviewing proper zip lining techniques and double-checking the equipment, delight in a heart-pumping ride through the forest canopy.

Check-out of the hotel and begin your transfer back to San José.

Lunch: Farewell lunch celebration at the Costa Rica Language Academy.

Afternoon: Enjoy a visit to a local shopping mall. During this excursion participants will have the opportunity to see what a Costa Rican shopping center looks like, use their learned Spanish while exploring local shops, and make any needed last minute purchases.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in.



Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Wyndham San José Herradura Hotel & Convention Center (previously a Ramada property)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Transfer to the Juan Santamaria International Airport for flight to U.S.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight times).

Meals Included: Breakfast