Costa Rica 2021 Nurse Exchange

Welcome to Costa Rica! Your journey begins with a flight into San Jose, the Capitol City. There you will be met and assisted upon arrival and transferred to your hotel for a relaxing night.

The city of San José is the national capital and economic center of Costa Rica. It is currently undergoing a renaissance with pedestrian streets and modern high rise buildings, yet it still retains much of its past multicultural heritage in restored elegant old buildings, historic statues, and parks.

Dinner(*) on your own, and overnight at Villas San Ignacio or similar in San Jose.

If your flight arrives early enough, you can also have a welcoming cultural encounter at the house of a local artisan of Cimarron and Mascarada which is a local Costa Rican tradition with a home made dinner prepared in a wood-fire kitchen. (we will price this seperately)

Today we visit San Jose University for cross-cultural nursing exchange.

For family members not participating in nursing exchange, we recommend the following kid-friendly activities:

• Kids Museum - http://museo.museocr.org/
• Parque de Diversiones which is Costa Rica's amusement park - https://www.parquediversiones.com/contenido/
• Zoo Ave rescue Center - https://www.rescateanimalzooave.org/home.html
• Corso Lecheria which is a milk and strawberry farm -   http://corsolecheria.com/
• Britt Coffee Tour because its like a play - https://www.coffeetour.com/classic-coffee-tour

Dinner at look out restaurant with typical Costa Rican dance presentation.

Overnight at Villas San Ignacio or similar in San Jose.  (B, D)

After breakfast, depart for with guide to Sarapiqui. 

Upon arrival to Sarapiqui we will conduct a tree planting activity to compensate for the carbon dioxide produced on the flight. Lunch and then Guided visit of  La Selva Research Station where you get a glimpse of the leading edge research conducted in Costa Rica’s Rainforests. You will learn  about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica and by visiting this natural preserves, you are supporting the conservation and protection of species in the country.

Overnight at  La Quinta Sarapiqui Lodge, or similar (B, L, D)
 

After breakfast, we will head to the  Tirimbina Rainforest Center, morning volunteering (possible nurse exchange in local community), lunch and Chocolate tour. 

After lunch, you will enjoy a Chocolate tour and learn about chocolate from its initial indigenous cultivation of the tangy-sweet cacao fruits and visit a plantation in the rainforest. The guided tour begins by walking on a suspension bridge above the Sarapiqui River into the forest where you may see a variety of wildlife en route to the plantation.  There you will see the artisanal process of making chocolate and even taste different types of locally-made chocolate.

In the evening, enjoy the evening bat program at Tirimbina.  

Overnight at  La Quinta, or similar (B, L)

Once we’ve all finished our breakfast, we will depart for the Arenal Volcano (approx.1.5 hour drive) which steams continuously above a verdant landscape of gently rolling farmlands, small town centers and vast forests in the park and adjacent mountains. This picturesque region offers natural beauty, amazing wildlife and plenty of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy such as hiking the trails near its base and over lava flows, or taking in the wildlife that is now reclaiming their former territory.

Along the way, we will stop at Juanilama agro ecological community, which integrates the rural life style of Juanilama with several cultural, agricultural and nature related aspects.

On this sustainable farm, you will learn everything about agriculture, farm to table, cooking lesson and lunch. You will milk the cow and learn the art of cheese making, then after an afternoon coffee we will head to Arenal area.

Upon arrival at Arenal, enjoy an evening at the healing hot springs with dinner.

Overnight accomodations at Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar   (B,L,D)

Enjoy a day around Arenal Volcano with our friends at Rainforset Explorers, starting with a safari float, waterfalls visit,  then Costa Rican cooking lessons, lunch and dance lessons with a local family and discussions with local nurses.

On the Safari Float, your guide will take you down the river spotting flora and fauna to show you, a great chance to see monkeys, lizards, birds, sloths, and a beautiful calm scenery while navigating on flat water.

Later, you will hike down to La Fortuna Waterfall. Located in a small canyon surrounded by lush forest, the 200 foot-tall waterfall is accessible via a short, steep trail where we will take in the majestic sight of its pristine waters pouring down. In doing so, not only are guests treated to a beautiful sight, but their admission fees will benefit the local community who uses the money for important public projects.

Complete the day with lunch, and a  Salsa class back in Fortuna and then some much-deserved downtime.

Overnight accomodations at at Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar   (B,L,D)

Private guided transfer from Arenal to Guanacaste. On the way we will stop at Las Pumas Rescue Center. The rescue consists on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wildlife species that are received as a result of seizures by personnel of various Conservation Areas-SINAC in the country, mainly from the province of Guanacaste, or deliveries of individuals who find them injured , orphans, or had as pets. The animals are evaluated by qualified personnel (veterinarian and biologist) to determine if they can be rehabilitated and released or if they should remain at the Center. Those who can not be returned to their natural habitat receive the necessary care during their lifetime and under humanitarian conditions, in the Sanctuary area. The whole program gets financed by the visit of tourists in the sanctuary.

Lunch at Hacienda La Pacifica and then continue to the beach.

Overnight accomodations at Tamarindo Diria or similar.  (B)

Today you will get to spend the day your way, play soccer, take a surf lessons or  simply relax along this vast beach and enjoy the extraordinary sunsets of Playa Hermosa or explore the surrounding villages and meet the people that live there.

Overnight accomodations at Bosque del Mar in Playa Hermosa, or similar.  (B, L)

Say farwell to Costa Rica for now and take a morning transfer to the Liberia International Airport to board your homeward flight. (B)

Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs.  In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.  

Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.    
 
Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels trip!  Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels 

At Global Family Travels we believe that the most powerful way to learn is through first-hand experience. We let the country and its people be your teachers and supplement your experiences with reading lists, informal discussions, and a pre-trip orientation which includes information on the culture and history of your host country, helpful words and phrases, and cultural “do’s and don’ts”.

Learning themes unique to this tour include:

• Costa Rican culture and history
• Ecotourism and conversation in Costa Rica’s National Parks
• Flora and fauna of the rainforest       
• Sustainable tourism and its impact on the local economy

The service project will take place in the community of El Roble in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.  We have a couple of options for a community service partner during which we will work alongside the locals to make a positive impact on the community . 

Community Service Opportunities include working with the following:

• Sarapiqui Learning Center:  The SCLC focuses its efforts in four areas — environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism — in order to help form future environmental leaders, raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and connect tourists to the local community. Their programs, which are run by international volunteers and community members, serve hundreds of local people and thousands of ecotourists each year. These programs include environmental education, rural tourism activities, English classes, community outreach, women’s groups, and scholarship funds for high school students.

• Tirimbina Reserve:  Tirimbna is a non-profit, biological reserve operated as an education, research, and eco-tourism center working to protect the area’s exceptional biodiversity. Currently the reserve protects 345 hectares of tropical forest, only a third of which is used for ecotourism and environmental education, keeping most of the reserve intact. However, the 9 km trails enable visitors to journey through the diverse surroundings and experience the forest up close.

This tour emphasizes authentic cultural experience to give you a true taste of Costa Rica. Guests will stay with Costa Rican families in the community of El Roble in the town of Sarapiqui, building powerful bonds through shared experiences. 

Spend two nights with a host family, living as they do, helping to prepare meals and participating in the daily routine of the house. You might be asked to help feed the animals, or gather plantains from their backyard. Together you will learn how to cook a proper Costa Rican meal and interact directly with the members of the family, learning names, games and sharing traditions from your world and theirs.