US Itinerary - Performance Group Youth

Program Dates: July 2-15, 2021 – 14-Day Program Itinerary

July 2 - Arrival to Costa Rica
• Arrive to San José Airport (SJO)
• Transfer to nearby hotel with CRE’s professional guides in private bus: 25 minutes
• Flight Information:
• United Airlines Flight #1565 Arriving San Jose (SJO) at 8:49 pm from Houston, TX (IAH)
• Easy dinner at the hotel to be ready upon arrival
• Night at hotel near airport

July 3 – Rio Tárcoles Adventure Transfer, Fireside in Liberia & Night at Buena
Vista Lodge
• Breakfast at hotel in Alajuela
• Group Orientation Meeting
o Non-negotiable rules & First impressions of Costa Rica
• Morning Adventure Transfer to Buena Vista: 6 hours
o Transfer to Rio Tárcoles to see crocodiles
o Lunch in route to Buena Vista Lodge
• Fireside in Liberia at 6:00 pm - coordinated by PGY
• Arrive to Buena Vista Lodge & check in
• Dinner & Night at hotel

July 4 – Jungle Adventure Activity Day & Afternoon/Evening Presentation

• Group breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant is included this morning
• Morning “church-time” for group to celebrate Sunday
• The full day of activities will include a combination of adventure & relaxing activities
o Zip-line & Canopy Tour
o Hanging Bridges Hike
o Horseback Riding
o Natural, Geo-thermal Hot Springs and mud bath
o Waterslide through the rainforest
• Group lunch at the Lodge
• Afternoon/Evening: Full Group presentation at Event Center on site at Buena Vista Lodge
• Night & dinner at Lodge
July 5 – Morning Tours, Transfer to Arenal for Time at Hot Springs & Pools
• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning cultural tours with lunch at lodge
o Visit to Trapiche
o Hike thru private Nature Reserve
o Traditional Ceramic Art Project
• Transfer to Arenal after lunch: 4 hours
• Arrive to hotel in Arenal - Check into rooms & unpack
• Evening to explore on site pools & hot springs – swimming (based on timing)
• Dinner & Night at hotel

July 6 – Guided Waterfall Hike, Trip to Town, Market & National Park Visit
• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning Activity: Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall to swim
• Transfer to town of La Fortuna to explore town with lunch at restaurant & souvenir shopping
• Late Afternoon Activity: Guided Hike of Arenal Volcano National Park to see lava flows &
wildlife
• Optional: Afternoon rehearsal of Group Performance at hotel / local park
• Geothermal Hot Springs & Pools in evening
• Dinner & Night at hotel

July 7 – Guayabo Adventure Transfer to Turrialba & Afternoon Performance

• Morning Meeting & Breakfast at hotel in Arenal
• Adventure Transfer from Arenal to Turrialba – 7 hours
o Lunch upon arrival to small town of Guayabo
o Guided Hike and tour of Guayabo National Indigenous Monument
• Afternoon/Evening Activity: Evening Performance in town of Turrialba
• Check in to hotel
• Dinner & Night at hotel

July 8 – Service Project Day, Local Markets & Afternoon Performance

• Breakfast at hotel in Turrialba
• Morning & half-day of Community Service Project in Turrialba at Hogarcito Infantil
o Students to perform 30-minute show for children
• Afternoon Visit to Town of Turrialba
o Farmers Market & Souvenir Shopping
• Afternoon/Evening Activity: Evening Performance in town of Turrialba
• Swimming, Meetings, Dinner & Night at Hotel
July 9 – Local Farm Tour Day: Canyoning, Cooking & Local Dance Lessons
• Breakfast at hotel in Turrialba
• Local Farm Tour & Canyoning Excursion
• Guided tour, hike & introduction to a local farm
• Harvesting of crops: yucca, plantains, bananas to use later
• Learn about traditional sugar cane & coffee processing
• Hike to river & swimming in river
• Canyoning Excursion & Waterfall Rappelling Tour
• Lunch at family’s farm
• Afternoon: Costa Rican Cooking Classes for “Cafecito” (snack break)
• Evening Activity: Local Dance Lessons with a professional instructor at hotel’s event space
• Dinner & Night at hotel

July 10 – Overnight Rafting on the Pacuare River – Day #1

• Breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Pacuare River put-in location: 1 hour
• White-water Rafting on Pacuare River to rainforest jungle lodge
• Lunch at eco-lodge
• Guided hike to waterfalls near lodge
• Dinner at eco-lodge
• Night at Jungle eco-lodge

July 11 – Rafting on the Lower Pacuare River - Day #2 and Transfer to Cahuita
• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning “church-time” for the group
• Morning Hike at jungle eco-lodge
• Rafting lower Pacuare River to take out: 3-4 hours
• Late lunch at take-out location
• *Two participants to depart to hotel by airport after river – CRE to coordinate
private transfer
• Transfer to Cahuita on Caribbean: 3 hours
• Dinner & Swimming at hotel in the evening & night

July 12 – Cahuita National Park, Animal Rescue Center

• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning Wildlife hike in National Park & time at beach
• Lunch by the beach
• Afternoon Private Visit to Animal Rescue Center in neighboring local town
• Shopping in Puerto Viejo
• BBQ Dinner on the beach & Swimming at hotel in the evening & night
July 13 – Morning Surf Lesson & Afternoon/Evening Performance
• Breakfast at hotel
• Morning Activity: Surf Lessons & Time to Surf
• Organized Tico beach soccer games with locals – teach them to play a game
• Lunch in town of Cahuita
• Afternoon / Evening Activity: Performance in Town of Cahuita
• Final Dinner at Community Center this evening
• Swimming & Night at hotel

July 14 – Morning at Beach, Fireside in Alajuela & Night at Hotel Buena Vista
• Breakfast at hotel
• Back to hotel to pack/shower
• Early morning departure from Cahuita
• Transfer to hotel in Alajuela: 5-6 hours
• Lunch in route back to Alajuela
• Fireside this evening in Alajuela at 6:00 pm - coordinated by PGY
• Dinner in town & Night at hotel

July 15 – Departure Day

• Breakfast at hotel
• Time to be allocated for PCR / Covid test for return to US
• Transfer to SJO Airport: 25 minutes
• Group to arrive at SJO airport 3+ hours before schedule departure time – lunch to be on own
at airport
• Flight Information:
• United Airlines Flight #1553 departing San Jose (SJO) at 3:55 pm to Los Angeles, CA (LAX)