The following is a condensed version of the itinerary for the 2011 ISLS Extreme Adventure & Spanish Camp in the Turrialba Valley and surrounding region of Costa Rica. Please contact us for a more detailed and descriptive version.
Sunday, 7/24
WELCOME! Students are met upon arrival in San Jose and are taken to our student guesthouse near the airport. Flights must arrive no later than 3pm Sunday. There will be food and internet access at the guesthouse. Students will be able to call home to let parents know that they have arrived safely.
As soon as all students have arrived, they will be taken by bus from San Jose to the town of Turrialba they will meet up with their host families. There will be time to get settled in, get to know the new families and have dinner.
At 7:30pm we will all meet for ice cream and to go over the coming week’s schedule of activities as well as the rules of the camp.
Saturday, 7/30
Weekend Tour, Day 1 – Two day rafting tour of Rio Pacuare – Students will have breakfast and then will be picked up and transported to the put in site on the upper Pacuare River. There they will be broken up into boat groups, five or six to a raft. There will be a safety meeting with the guides as well as lessons on basic rafting. After all the guides are satisfied that the students understand all safety instructions and rafting techniques all boats will put into the river.
The Pacuare River is the most famous rafting river in all of Central America and is considered one of the top 5 rivers in the world to raft. It combines an awe-inspiring natural setting of virgin rainforest and mountains with exciting and technically demanding rapids. Students will be challenged by class III and IV rapids as they descend down through the Atlantic Slope of Costa Rica. There will be stops for side hikes to different waterfalls and swimming holes. Lunch will be picnic style along the river bank.
After lunch and more rafting we will come to our camp site. After students have been given their lodging assignments there will be a hike to a remote indigenous village. This village is rarely visited by outsiders and is a window into a life and culture that has all but vanished. Students will be shown local arts and crafts as well as come to understand the history of the tribe. Dinner will be a BBQ at the camp site.
Sunday, 7/31
Weekend Tours, Day 2 – Students will wake up early and have breakfast before breaking camp. They will continue to raft down the river with more stops for side hikes. After noon students will arrive at the town of Siquirres where they will disembark the river. They will then have lunch and a chance to shower and change into dry clothing. They will then be transported by shuttle back to the Student Guesthouse near the San Jose airport. There will be a farewell dinner at a typical Costa Rican restaurant.
Monday, 8/1
Students will be transported to the airport as their flight times dictate. A staff member will drive with them to the airport and see that they get checked into their flight and through to the correct gate. As students will be flying out at different times throughout day, there will also be a staff member remaining at the student guesthouse. If students fly out in the afternoon or evening, they will receive lunch.
Additional Information
Upon arrival in San Jose, students will be met at the airport by the program’s counselors and transported to our nearby student guesthouse. Here students will have the ability to relax and touch bases with their parents before being taken to Turrialba by public bus. There will be food & drink available along with access to restrooms & internet.
Students will be required to bring all of their belongings by waterproof backpack. No suitcases or other types of bags will be allowed. No computers or any electronic devises that might be ruined by prolonged exposure to rain or water are recommended. Hiking boots, rain ponchos, flashlights, mosquito netting, swimsuits, towels, pants, shirts, bug repellent, sun screen and tivas are required. All clothing should be water resistant or quick drying. A Saturday pick up option available for an additional fee of $120
Spanish classes are held at our Spanish Institute on the grounds of the CATIE tropical research center in the botanical gardens. Classes are on Monday and Tuesday starting at 8am and going until 12:30pm with two 15 minute breaks. All students are given an oral and written evaluation to determine their level and then split up into classes that best fit their abilities. All materials are included in the class.
All activities are scheduled for the dates and times listed, but are subject to change due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control. In case of a tour or activity being changed, we will do our best to reschedule. If a tour/activity must be cancelled and cannot be made up, there is no refund.
Useful Web Links
ISLS Student Guesthouse – www.isls.com/costarica/travelcenter/studentguesthouse.cfm
Turrialba – www.costarica.com/turrialba
CATIE – www.catie.ac.cr/magazin_ENG.asp?CodIdioma=ENG
ISLS Spanish Institute – www.isls.com/costarica/schools/turrialba.cfm
Canyoning Tour – www.explornatura.com/detailTour.aspx?id_tipo=3&id_producto=15
La Marta Nature Preserve – www.lamarta.umca.net
Rio Pejibaye Rafting Tour – www.azultravelcr.com/oneday.html
Piedra de Cachi Rock Climbing Tour - www.rockclimbing.com/routes/South_and_Central_America/Costa_Rica/Cartago/Piedra_de_Cachi
Orosi Valley – www.orosivalleycostarica.com
Turrialtico Mountain Lodge – www.turrialtico.com
Two Day Pacuare Rafting Tour – www.explornatura.com/detailtour.aspx?id_producto=25&id_tipo=3
