Costa Rica
Hero Treatment
Overview
Who: 7th and 8th Graders
When: March 14, 2020 - March 19, 2020
Trip Leaders: Mrs. Kellstrom, Dr. Mead, Mr. Deisher, Mrs. Swanson
Once again, MBS 7th and 8th Graders will have an opportunity to experience “pura vida”
(pure life!) by visiting Costa Rica — a wonderland of natural attractions known for its
beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, and biodiversity. This exciting trip will include a canopy
zip line tour, a butterfly farm and terrarium visit, a whitewater rafting excursion and
more! The group will also visit a local school and participate in volunteer activities.
Full Itinerary
- Day 1 - Hola, San José
- Day 2 - San José–Coastal Puntarenas
- Day 3 - Coastal Puntarenas
- Day 4 - Coastal Puntarenas–San José
- Day 5 - San José
- Day 6 - Departure
Day 1 - Hola, San José
- Meet your tour director and check into hotel
- Folklore Evening:
Costa Rica’s culture draws on African, Caribbean, and Spanish roots to create a unique and lively blend. Sit back and surround yourself with this colorful culture during an evening of fine food and fiesta. Brightly costumed locals serve up a typical Costa Rican meal of beans, rice, white cheese, fruit, and a main dish of fish, chicken, or beef, and a performance of traditional music follows.
Day 2 - San José–Coastal Puntarenas
- Travel to Coastal Puntarenas
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Visit:
Take a tour of this national park with your Tour Director who is certified as a professional, local guide. Manuel Antonio includes 12 islands and is known for its white sands and array of wildlife. You will share the park and its four beaches with sea turtles, parrots, three-toed sloths, tapirs, howler monkeys and iguanas. A word to the wise—be careful of the sneaky white face monkeys. They know how to unzip backpacks. The park boasts an estuary, mangroves, a lagoon and paths, one which leads to an observation tower for a 360° view.
Day 3 - Coastal Puntarenas
- Canopy Zip Line Tour:
Soar through the treetops for the unmatched close-up of the New World’s best wildlife refuge. Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then step into thin air and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird-eye view from your new aerial perspective.
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Butterfly Farm and Terrarium Visit
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Volunteer Activities
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Free Time at the Beach
Day 4 - Coastal Puntarenas–San José
- Local School Visit:
Take the opportunity to enrich a Costa Rican school with gifts of notebooks, pens, erasers -- all basic supplies that few students here can afford. Learn how rural communities are working to give their children educational opportunities in extremely difficult conditions, often with dozens of students in all different grades taught in a single classroom. We will stop to pick up supplies before visiting, but feel free to bring donations of school supplies like chalk or paper from home, too. (If schools are not in session, you'll be able to give gifts of t-shirts, socks, and other clothing to local children.)
- Freddo Leche Farm Tour:
The tour takes place on a farm of approximately 400 hectares, and offers a rural hike with wonderful views of Poas Volcano and Barva Volcano, primary and secondary forest, visits to strawberries fields, milking stall, artisan cheese factory, delicious tastings and especially an authentic and natural experience.
- Travel to San José
Day 5 - San José
The perfect way to experience Costa Rica at its best. After getting full safety and paddling instructions from your guide, head off into lush rainforest teeming with toucans, herons, and iguanas. Be on the lookout for basilisk lizards—these reptiles can scurry across the water on their hind legs, a feat that earned them the nickname “Jesus Christ lizards.” End your tour of Costa Rica’s most popular river with a traditional lunch prepared by your guide.
Day 6 - Departure
Gallery
Requirements
Students must see the trip leader in person by Friday, May 3rd to have their name placed on the initial list.
Participants will be selected for the trips from that list based on the following criteria:
- Eighth graders will have priority
- Space is limited. No more than 20 students will be on each trip.