Costa Rica Conservation and Biodiversity

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: San Jose

Depart from the USA. Arrive in the Costa Rican capital of San José, meet your ACIS Tour Manager, and begin to discover the country's famous Tico hospitality.

Day 2: Sarapiqui

The morning begins with a drive to Sarapiquí, an area known for its amazingly rich tropical biodiversity. Visit an area farm and participate in a reforestation service project, centered on planting native trees that are needed to maintain the sustainability of the area’s ecosystem. Today’s project will help you gain a deeper understanding of the intimate connection residents have with the local ecosphere and see firsthand why sustainability is so essential to maintaining this special environment. You’ll also have a break in the middle of the day to enjoy lunch at the home of a Costa Rican family, a wonderful cultural exchange opportunity where you can hone your Spanish-speaking skills and savor authentic local cuisine.

Day 3: Sarapiqui

In the morning, a leisurely biodiversity kayaking excursion on the Sarapiquí River offers a unique perspective of the tropical rainforest, home to over 9,000 species of vascular plants. Alongside a local botanist, you will discover the area’s stunning flora and fauna as you float downstream, paddling your own tandem kayak on its calm waters. One of the most biodiverse regions in the world, keep an eye out especially for the incredible birdlife that thrives along the river, including keel-billed toucans, great green macaws, Amazon kingfishers, and snowy egrets. This afternoon you’ll visit with students at a local school, a great opportunity to practice your Spanish skills as well as compare notes on typical school days, customs and lifestyles.

Day 4: Aguas Zarcas

Start the day with a fun and educational tour of an organic pineapple farm, where you learn about the difference between conventional and organic farming—and why the latter is so important to the region’s delicate ecology. You’ll get a sense of the fascinating process behind growing and harvesting one of the world’s favorite tropical fruits, as well as discover interesting facts about the fruit’s history, sustainable farming practices, and its significance in Costa Rican culture and economy. Enjoy an included lunch at the farm and taste some fresh-picked piñas—you’ll marvel at the amazing difference between how fruit tastes at its source, compared to store-bought produce at home. Then travel to Aguas Zarcas, a small town known for its mineral springs, Arenal Volcano views and as a center for adventure and eco-tourism. Upon arrival, don your swimsuit for a soak in the revitalizing hot spring waters at your hotel.

Day 5: San Jose

Lace up your sneakers this morning for a fascinating hike through the Arenal Volcano’s closest private reserve. It features a geographically diverse landscape that veers from lava fields to thick forests, all dominated by the volcano’s towering, 5,437-foot-tall cinder cone. In the afternoon, drive to Sarchí, a small town renowned for vividly colored and ornately carved and decorated ox carts that are handcrafted and painted by local artisans. This craft has been handed down for generations and pays homage to the simple ox cart, revered as a national symbol in Costa Rica because it once served as the primary form of transportation used by rural farmers to take goods to market. Don’t miss the world’s largest ox cart, parked in the town’s central square. Then you’ll continue back to San José for your final evening abroad.

Day 6: Departure

Depart for the USA.