Spanish and 3 excursions (1 week package/host family accommodation)
Price: SINGLE $ 739 DOUBLE $ 699 TRIPLE $ 689
Available all year round.
Saturday
Airport Transfer. A member of the host family will be at Juan Santamaria International Airport with a sign with the name of the participant on it, if arrival is before 10:00 p.m. The participant will also have Airport transfer on departure date.
Sunday
4 IN ONE
Departure time: 6:20 a.m. approx
Length: 11 hours
To begin this recommended tour, which should really be called Ten in One, we take the Pan-American road to Alajuela, where we go to visit the Agriculture Monument, the Monument to Juan Santamaria and the Mango Park. A few minutes later we will stop at the famous Doka State. We take the Typical breakfast, visit the beautiful coffee plantation, the mill, and the roast room. As we continue to climb to Poas Volcano we pass throw coffee plantations, flower and fern nurseries and strawberry fields. The noticeable temperature and vegetation change will surprise you. Preparing us for the pleasure of the exuberant cloud forest in Poas volcano, where we will have time to enjoy the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles. We continue our trip on the Caribbean slope, stopping to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a natural park where we will walk in spectacular trails that take us to White Magic Waterfall, the most spectacular one in the area. Inside the park we will also visit the largest butterfly observatory in the country, a collection of tropical jewels and the impressive hummingbird gallery. A buffet style lunch is included here. After lunch we will continue on the Atlantic slope and once we arrive at Puerto Viejo we will be ready for a relaxing boat trip down the Sarapiqui River. Just sit down and enjoy the surrounds. During our boat ride our guide will unfold for us the simple life of the people who live along the riverbank. Before returning to San Jose we will drive thru unforgettable Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of the most important tropical rain forest reserves in Costa Rica.
Tour includes: breakfast, coffee plantation visit, craters and trails in Poas Volcano National Park, entrance fee to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, including Butterfly, Hummingbird Gallery and waterfall trails. Buffet lunch, boat trip on the Sarapiqui River with soft drinks on-board and drive thru Braulio Carrillo National Park.
We recommend: hat, a light jacket, comfortable shoes, insect repellent, binoculars and camera
Monday
Orientation session, placement test and walking tour. During orientation session new participants will meet ICLC staff and will receive general information about cultural aspects, weekly activities and details about the Language Program. Each student will have an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), to be placed according to the Spanish level (Novice, Intermediate, Advance or Superior level). A written test will also be given to assess writing skills and comprehension of Spanish grammar. The walking tour is an afternoon activity to learn how to come and go to the closest city and have access to banks, internet services, bus stops, stores, cafeterias, restaurants, gyms, dance academy, etc
Tuesday
Spanish classes. Spanish instructions will be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 m.d. Conversational Spanish will always be emphasized. There will be a maximum of 4 students in each group.
City tour in the Afternoon: Alajuela and San José city tour. It is an afternoon activity that initiates with a welcome lunch in the typical restaurant Las Delicias del Maíz. In addition to the panoramic tour around Alajuela city, you will see the Juan Santamaría’s Monument, the famous Mango Park and the Agriculture Monument. After this, in the central Capital City, you will start on the Western section of San Jose: La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Costa Rican Art Museum (was the first International Airport in Costa Rica). Afterwards, the tour continues to downtown San José through Paseo Colon (Central Avenue) where you can see the main bus terminals, hospitals, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Theater, the Democracy Square and the National Museum where you will stop for a short visit.
The entrance to the museum is included.
Wednesday
Spanish classes. Spanish instructions will be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 m.d.
1 hour lecture (cultural topic): Every afternoon ICLC offers a small lecture.
Thursday
Spanish classes. Spanish instructions will be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 m.d.
Site visit in the afternoon: an extracurricular activity as a continuing education of Costa Rican Culture.
ARENAL VOLCANO AND BALDI HOT SPRINGS
Departure time: 9:00 a.m. approx.
Length of tour: 12 hours
Located north of Costa Rica, the impressive Arenal Volcano is a natural phenomenon that attracts thousands and thousands of tourists due to its permanent, extraordinary and trusted volcanic activity, which on clear nights can seem like fireworks with intermittent explosions of ash and lava. In order to get to this wonder from nature we must go to the north of the country, and inevitably we must make a stop in the famous town of Sarchi, of international fame, it has earned the name Birthplace of Costa Rica’s Artisans. As we continue our trip we will go throw diverse plantations with agricultural products, ornamental plants and cattle ranches until we arrive at La Fortuna, for lunch in a cozy restaurant right in front of the volcano. This excellent location will allow us the best view in order to catch any volcanic activity. Before entering the beautiful gardens where the thermal springs are located we will visit Arenal Lake. Here we can easily walk on a road next to the Park where we will look for toucans, monkeys, coatimundis and other animals. Due to security reasons we will not enter the park. Later we will relax in one of the best thermal water places in the area where you will be able to enjoy an optional massage or other treatment that you will have reserved ahead of time. Last, a wonderful dinner will be served with a great view of the volcano so you will not miss any opportunities of to look out for the incandescent light explosions.
We recommend: swim suit, mosquito repellent, sweater and towel.
Free morning and optional tours
Return to San Jose at 1:30pm.
** Tour of Friday and Saturday includes:
Day 1: Transfer, breakfast and tour in Arenal Volcano Area, entrance fee to Baldi hot springs and an overnight in Arenal Volcano Area, including dinner.
Day 2: Breakfast and Transfer to San Jose at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Airport Transfer.
** Important Notes:
Host family accommodation: Students stay with Costa Rican families in order to use Spanish speaking abilities. The family will provide breakfast, dinner and laundry service and the opportunity to live in the way Costa Ricans live. Food provided is typical, balanced and very healthy.
Accreditation: ICLC is a well-known institution accredited in many colleges and universities in the United States. All procedures to apply for Academic Credits must be completed before arriving to Costa Rica. In order to earn Academic Credits participants must follow the guidelines established. For more information please contact: [email protected]
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