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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Participants must arrive in San José no later than 4:30 p.m. to be in time for the Orientation session. Some Road Scholar gateways require the use of overnight flights in order to arrive in San José by the suggested time. Please contact your Road Scholar Program Provider at 1-800-866-7111 or roadscholarprograms@holbrooktravel.com if you made plans to arrive a day early and would like assistance in booking your hotel. See your program’s "Getting There" information regarding transfers.
Afternoon: Orientation: 6:00 p.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Meals on our program feature local cuisine. In many cases, they will be plated and served set meals; in others, we will have buffets with multiple options. Beverages include coffee, tea, water; other beverages are usually available for purchase. Unless otherwise specified, transportation during your program will be provided by air conditioned bus. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 70 miles, approximately 2.5 - 3 hours riding time. Traveling on winding mountain roads at elevations up to 11,000 feet at Cerro de la Muerte. Elevation at program site is about 7,000 feet. Prepare for cooler weather at this location.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: A local expert will join us at the hotel for an informative overview of Costa Rica, providing insights into the country’s history, culture and geography. We’ll check-out of the hotel, board the Road Scholar bus, and begin our scenic journey to the Valley of the Saints. While driving near the farm owned by President Pepe Figueres' family, we will stop for coffee and cookies and discuss his political legacy in Costa Rica with our Group Leader. Don José “Pepe” Figueres Ferrer holds hero status in Costa Rican history; a position earned through a lifetime of political activism. Don Pepe, as he was known locally, was a key figure in the 1948 revolutionary movement that led to the ousting of President Teodoro Picado and the creation of a new constitution. Next, we’ll take a field trip to a gourmet coffee cooperative in the Valley of the Saints region to learn about coffee farming and processing and also to sample some world-class brews. The Valley's landscape, acidic soil composition, and well defined dry and rainy seasons all lend themselves to raising coffee. Harvesting is done during the region’s dry season (Nov. – Mar.). Limited rainfall during those five months gives fruit an opportunity to ripen evenly and also facilitates the sun drying process.
Lunch: At the home of one of the owners of the coffee cooperative.
Afternoon: Continuing our ride, we’ll arrive at the lodge and check-in with some time to freshen up, relax, and explore the lodge grounds.
Dinner: At the lodge.
Evening: After a review of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Getting in/out of four-wheel drive vehicles; about 3 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking 1.5 miles on undulating forest trails, potentially muddy; wear closed-toed/heel shoes.
Breakfast: At the lodge.
Morning: We will start our day in the cloud forest searching for the bird of ancient royalty, the colorful and elusive Resplendent Quetzal. In addition to learning about the life history of the Resplendent Quetzal we'll investigate the myriad other flora and fauna that are characteristic of this highland environment. We'll accompany our Group Leader on a nature walk on forest trails leading to the 400 year-old oak forest situated on the upper slopes of the valley.
Lunch: At the lodge.
Afternoon: Free time. You might like to go bird watching, walking/hiking, or try out some of the lodge amenities (additional costs might apply). Before dinner, we'll enjoy a presentation by a member of the Chacon family, for personal accounts of this pioneering family's long relationship with the Savegre Valley.
Dinner: At the lodge.
Evening: After a review of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare luggage for check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 84 miles, approximately 3 - 3.5 hours riding time. Walking on irregular forest trails and potentially muddy conditions. Wear closed toed/heeled shoes with lug soles.
Breakfast: At the lodge.
Morning: We’ll check out and depart for the Pacific coast and the transitional Pacific jungle.
Lunch: At the home of a local resident of the small town of Santo Domingo, we’ll have a meal with traditional Costa Rican cuisine.
Afternoon: Arriving at the tented camp, we’ll settle in and take some time to freshen up before our next adventure. We'll accompany a camp guide and our Group Leader on a nature walk along the lodge's forest trails to learn about resident plants and wildlife. We'll also learn about the efforts to reintroduce the tapir to this area. We’ll gather before dinner for a sunset discussion with the owner/manager of the camp to learn about the fascinating story of Rafiki.
Dinner: At the camp.
Evening: After reviewing the schedule for tomorrow, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off four-wheel drive vehicles; about 6 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time on bumpy, undulating dirt roads. Getting in/out of a rubber raft; about 9 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Class II-III rapids with medium-sized waves, strong eddies and currents. Sunscreen and water shoes or athletic strap sandals (e.g., Teva, Keens, etc.) are advised for the river rafting activity.
Breakfast: At the camp.
Morning: We’ll embark on a jungle safari in four-wheel drive vehicles. As we explore the area and observe the transitions from pasture land to secondary and primary forests, we'll discuss the flora and fauna seen along the way. Next, we'll disembark at a river drop off point for a river rafting adventure. After a preparatory session with local experts, we'll board the rafts and embark on an invigorating ride paddling down the Savegre River. Delight in the swells and dips of the rushing river; a natural roller coaster ride that will make our inner child cheer and laugh out loud (even as you get a good upper-body workout!). We’ll return to camp at the end of our field trip.
Lunch: At the camp.
Afternoon: Free Time. You might like to enjoy activities such as bird watching, walking/hiking on local trails, kayaking, horseback riding, or simply relax.
Dinner: At the camp.
Evening: After a review of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 30 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking 1/2 mile on mostly flat terrain.
Breakfast: At the camp.
Morning: We’ll check out and begin our transfer from the lower Savegre Valley to Manuel Antonio. As we travel through the forested hills of Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Region we’ll take the opportunity to visit the small farming community at El Silencio. During our field trip, we’ll learn about the history and ongoing projects of Coopesilencio—an agricultural cooperative in the area—during interactions with some of the residents. The farmlands that now make up El Silencio were once part of the United Fruit Company’s large banana growing operation in Central America. With the departure of the United Fruit Company in the early 1970s, local farmers had the opportunity to buy lands they had worked on for years. Area families created Coopesilencio in order to pool resources and work together on projects that benefit the community. Getting back on the road, we expect to arrive in Manuel Antonio in time for lunch. El Avion — “The Airplane” — is an historic restaurant literally built around a C-123 Fairchild cargo plane. We’ll learn about its fascinating connection to the U.S. Iran-Contra Affair. The plane was one of a handful of aircraft purchased by the U.S. to secretly aid the counter-revolutionary movement in Nicaragua in the 1980s.
Lunch: At El Avion restaurant.
Afternoon: We’ll check in to our hotel upon arrival with time to freshen up and relax. Late afternoon, at the hotel, we'll enjoy an expert presentation on the ongoing squirrel monkey (Mono Titi) conservation efforts taking place at Manuel Antonio.
Dinner: On your own to explore local fare. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: After a review of tomorrow’s activities, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2.5 hours; unpaved forest trails and sandy paths; wear comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Free time activities in Manuel Antonio are at our own expense.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We'll accompany our Group Leader on a walking field trip in Manuel Antonio National Park to learn about the park's flora and fauna. This is one of the best areas in the country in which to view monkeys. In fact, three of the country's four species of monkey can be found here, including the highly endangered Titi Monkey (Grey Crowned Red-backed Central American Squirrel Monkey) which can only be seen here and in the Corcovado region. Once we conclude our field trip we’ll walk back to the hotel to freshen up.
Lunch: On your own to explore local fare.
Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most in Manuel Antonio. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner: On your own to explore local fare.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.
Activity note: Getting on/off a pontoon boat, riding approximately 2 hours. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 107 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After a leisurely breakfast we’ll check out, say goodbye to Manuel Antonio, and begin our transfer to San José. En route, we’ll stop for a crocodile safari boat ride on the Tarcoles River. As we navigate up the river, a local expert will provide background information on the resident crocodiles. The Tárcoles River Basin is one of the most important in the Pacific coastal region, virtually draining the entire western side of the Central Valley. Tárcoles hosts an amazing diversity of wildlife along its banks and in the extensive mangrove ecosystem. Perhaps the most famous of all the river’s inhabitants are its enormous crocodiles (Crocodilus acutus). These crocodiles have been studied by numerous local and foreign specialists and featured in TV series and specials.
Lunch: At a local restaurant en route.
Afternoon: Arriving in San José we’ll check in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner: At the hotel, we'll enjoy a farewell dinner. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening: At leisure. Enjoy our last evening together as a group in Costa Rica. Finish packing and get a good night’s rest in preparation for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out is by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s "Getting There" information regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight times). This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!