CHILERO TOUR

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CHILERO TOUR: 6 Days

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 5-day Balboa Tour highlights, plus…
  • Live like a local during our family homestay in rural Costa Rica

DAY 1: SAN JOSÉ / SARAPIQUI

Welcome to Latin America’s “Switzerland.” Meet your tour director as you depart for Sarapiquí. Visit a butterfly and ecological family garden. Learn about many insect and reptile species and maybe catch a glimpse of a caiman. Enjoy a late homemade lunch. For dessert help make and sample homemade chocolate with our local host. Ask for some cacao fruit!

DAY 2: SARAPIQUI/ FORTUNA

Enjoy an adventurous morning of whitewater rafting in the Sarapiquí river. Then drive to the northern plains and visit an organic farm where you will have lunch then try your hand at grinding coffee, making sugar cane juice, and even cooking your own tortilla. Have dinner and spend the night with a local homestay family in Fortuna. (Currently homestays and student exchanges have been put on hold until the pandemic is over.)

DAY 3: FORTUNA/ MONTEVERDE

Visit a local community and/or a school as you interact with students during a service-learning project. Practice your español! Afterward, enjoy a homemade lunch made by the parents. Transfer to mountainous region of Monteverde. Guided evening hike in the mysterious cloud forest. (Currently homestays and student exchanges have been put on hold until the pandemic is over.)

DAY 4: MONTEVERDE/ JACO BEACH

Go on an interactive hike at the Santa Elena reserve and learn more about the cloud forest. Experience the world’s first canopy zipline – Soar over the jungle on an amazing zipline adventure. After lunch, drive west to experience warm Pacific coast weather at Jaco Beach. Short beach town tour.

DAY 5: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK/ SAN JOSÉ

Experience a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Hike the trails and discover close-up encounters with wildlife. Enjoy some beach time at the park but beware of curious monkeys eager to snack on your lunch! Depart to San José for a brief walking and driving tour of historic capital city.

DAY 6: SAN JOSÉ – HOME

Converse with locals as you learn about the nation’s environmental efforts and the country’s importance in Latin America. After a farewell breakfast, enjoy some last-minute cultural/souvenir shopping. Reminisce about all your people to people and nature experiences as you head home.