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U of SC Capstone Scholars Spring Break

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About The Adventure
View Host Bio
Date:

March 2-10, 2024

Location:

Costa Rica

Regular Cost:

$2,395

What's Included:

  • Airport group pickup and drop-off 
  • Ground transportation to and from activities 
  • 8-night hotel accommodations with roommates.
  • 8 group breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 7 group dinners. Alcohol is not included. 
  • Organic Ranch Tour 
  • Guided Waterfall Hike
  • Zip-line Adventure
  • Finca Educativa don Juan 
  • Visit Brave Earth for cacao and temazcal ceremony
  • Whitewater Rafting Activity
  • Coffee Plantation Tour and Tasting
  • Manuel Antonio National Park 
  • El Cocal Cooking Experience
  • Under30Experiences Trip Leader
  • Payment Processing and Customer Service
  • Under30Experiences Waiver

Not included:

  • Salsa lesson
  • Quepo Canyoning Tour 
  • Surf lessons

Itinerary

*schedule subject to change due to weather and other local factors

Arrival in Costa Rica
Afternoon
  • Arrive at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and be ready to start your adventure at 3:00 p.m.
  • Your Trip Leader will pick you up from the airport, and you’ll head to the rainforest! (~3.5-hour drive). 
  • If you are prone to motion sickness, we suggest taking medication before the drive. It’s a winding road through the mountains.
  • Stop for souvenirs and snacks in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest as you marvel at the green and lush mountains around you.
Evening
  • Settle into your amazing rooms surrounded by nature and get ready to meet your new friends as you enjoy your first delicious dinner at the eco-lodge.
Eco-Lodge Tour & Adventure
Morning
  • Enjoy your first amazing breakfast at the world-renowned eco-lodge! Fresh coffee, organic vegetables, and homemade bread await you.
  • After breakfast, get your heart pounding by zipling through the Costa Rican canopy forest. Whizz along cables slung between canyons, admire incredible views and fly over and in between trees to feel an adrenaline rush like no other.
Afternoon
  • Enjoy lunch and explore the grounds on a tour of the eco-lodge. Learn about the organic farm and the use of sustainable energy sources and sound ecological practices while taking in the views of the mountains.
Evening
  • Enjoy a wonderful dinner at the eco-lodge while listening to the sounds of nature at night.
  • Take the evening to get to know your new friends while enjoying a tropical drink under the stars.

La Fortuna
Morning
  • Enjoy a delightful breakfast at the eco-lodge, and get a feel for the authentic Costa Rican morning flavors with fresh coffee and a plate of tropical fruits.
  • Depart for La Fortuna to enjoy more outdoor activities. "La Fortuna" is Spanish for "The Fortune" and was named after the town's fertile lands.
  • Visit a waterfall in the middle of the rainforest, a local spot, where you can swim in a natural pool.
Afternoon
  • Visit Finca Educativa don Juan, learn about medicinal plants and sugar cane processing, and make tortillas while waiting for your meal. 
Evening
  • Tonight, enjoy dinner at the eco-lodge, where you can share your favorite moments of the trip so far.

Whitewater Rafting
Morning
  • Enjoy a delightful breakfast at the eco-lodge Then drive to the Sarapiqui River, where you will begin your rafting adventure! (~2 hour drive)
  • Enjoy a full-day adventure in the Sarapiqui River.
Afternoon
  • Return to Rancho Margot.
Evening
  • Tonight, enjoy another delicious farm-to-table dinner at the eco-lodge, where you will share your best moments from the adventure.
Brave Earth
Morning
  • Another beautiful day in Costa Rica!
  • Visit Brave Earth (Tierra Valiente) and learn all about chocolate. After seeing how they use regenerative practices to grow cacao trees, learn how chocolate is made, both by ancient practices and by modern techniques. We’ll take you on a thousand-year chocolate journey, and you’ll make the traditional “Drink of the Gods” and contemporary chocolate confections.
Afternoon
  • Enjoy lunch and continue with activities.
  • Take part in a ceremonial sweat lodge, or temazcal, with two facilitators who trained with the Indigenous peoples of Mexico to learn this tradition.
Evening
  • Enjoy a meal with your friends at Brave Earth and then return to Rancho Margot.
  • Enjoy your last night to swim in the warm pools!
Depart to Manuel Antonio
Morning
  • One more amazing breakfast before you head towards Costa Rica's world-famous beaches.
  • Begin your drive to Manuel Antonio, where you'll find some of the best beaches that Costa Rica has to offer. (~5-hour drive)
Afternoon
  • Go on a coffee tour in the mountains of Costa Rica, where you’ll get to taste coffee straight from the source and enjoy another delicious lunch.
  • Make a quick stop at Rio Tarcoles, where you can see groups of Costa Rican Crocodiles. 
Evening
  • Make your way to your boutique hotel located in Manuel Antonio.
  • After getting settled in, it's up to you whether you want to relax or hit the town for dinner.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Morning
  • Enjoy a delicious Costa Rican breakfast.
  • For those craving a morning adventure, you can spend your morning hiking to the epic Cathedral Point trail in the Manuel Antonio National Park. This trail is a great opportunity to see white-faced monkeys in their natural habitat. The trail also has several great viewpoints along the way. If you have a sharp eye, you may be able to find a sloth.
Afternoon
  • Enjoy lunch and the afternoon free for some beach time.
  • Visit the local community of El Cocal where you will learn how to make tortillas, practice your Spanish, and make friendship bracelets.
  • Return to your hotel and relax.
Evening
  • Enjoy dinner in town, with an optional night out on the town.
Adventure + Beach
Morning
  • Enjoy an authentic Costa Rican breakfast right at your hotel.
  • Optional: canyoning adventure, rappelling waterfalls, crossing hanging bridges, and climbing trees.
Afternoon
  • Relax at the beach with your group and soak in the tropical views of Costa Rica.
  • Sip on a coconut straight from the tree as you enjoy these special moments in paradise.
Evening
  • Enjoy the last dinner out at Manuel Antonio.
  • Optional night out or star gazing.
Depart Costa Rica
Morning
  • Enjoy one final breakfast in paradise with your friends before departing for the airport.
  • Be sure your flight departs after 1:30 pm. Transportation is provided back to Juan Santamaria San José International Airport (SJO).

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