Grassroots Costa Rica

  • 8 Days
  • Explorer Value Trip

We're always ready to personalize
a tour to your unique needs

Grassroots Costa Rica Get Started

Map & Route

Depart

San Jose

1 1 Night

San Carlos

1 1 Night

Sarapiqui

2 2 Nights

Limon

2 2 Nights

San Jose

1 1 Night
Return
map Grassroots Costa Rica

What's Included

Our itineraries reflect 40 years of experience in crafting exceptional educational tours. That means we know exactly how to make the best of your time abroad—incredible destinations, immersive activities, centrally located hotels, and smart, well-traveled tour managers who ensure your educational goals are met. Here are some of the exceptional features of this tour.

ACIS Guarantees

We have high standards, which is why we take care to include these features in every tour.

Round-Trip Flights

Leave the airlines to us.

3-Star Hotels

After a busy day, comfort is key.

Centrally Located Hotels

Save the commuting time, beat the morning crowds and keep right on exploring after dark when your hotel is in the heart of the city.

Daily Breakfast and Dinner (unless otherwise noted)

Delicious, authentic, multi-course dinners at local restaurants with meal times tailored to maximize your experience.

24-Hour Tour Manager

Part guide, part educator, part engineer, part mind-reader, part magician—ACIS Tour Managers are your travel partner.

Start Exploring

Never wait hours at the airport to share a transfer with other later groups.

Service Guarantee

We're so sure you're going to love your tour, we guarantee it!

Global Network

24/7 on the ground support whenever and wherever you need it.

All Local Transportation

Urban transportation is on us, allowing you to explore each destination with ease.

Exceptional Experiences

Our tours are designed to help you and your students be in the moment and experience everything the world has to offer.

Craft Workshop in Sarchí

Craft Workshop in Sarchí

As the most famous crafts center in Costa Rica, Sarchí has more than 200 stores selling intricately decorated artisan creations. Tap into the area's history of creating brightly colored ox-carts and other furniture items during a craft workshop. A local artisan will teach you traditional skills, techniques and designs as you craft your own small souvenir to take home.

Learn More

As the most famous crafts center in Costa Rica, Sarchí has more than 200 stores selling intricately decorated artisan creations. Tap into the area's history of creating brightly colored ox-carts and other furniture items during a craft workshop. A local artisan will teach you traditional skills, techniques and designs as you craft your own small souvenir to take home.

Canopy Tour

Canopy Tour

Gain a bird's-eye perspective on the pristine vegetation of the rainforest as you explore its canopy via zip-lines, swings, and treetop platforms. Keep a sharp lookout for some of the many species of birds, mammals and plants that make up this unique ecosystem. Your guide will teach you about the importance of biodiversity and the immeasurable contributions this type of ecosystem makes to society as a whole.

Learn More

Gain a bird's-eye perspective on the pristine vegetation of the rainforest as you explore its canopy via zip-lines, swings, and treetop platforms. Keep a sharp lookout for some of the many species of birds, mammals and plants that make up this unique ecosystem. Your guide will teach you about the importance of biodiversity and the immeasurable contributions this type of ecosystem makes to society as a whole.

Community and Reforestation Service Project

Community and Reforestation Service Project

Your service project's focus on both community development and ecological issues means your student volunteers will get the most out of their experience—including the chance to form friendships with other students. Begin with community-minded projects such as painting or grounds upkeep at local schools, followed by contributions to the local ecosystem and agriculture during reforestation work on area farms.

Learn More

Your service project's focus on both community development and ecological issues means your student volunteers will get the most out of their experience—including the chance to form friendships with other students. Begin with community-minded projects such as painting or grounds upkeep at local schools, followed by contributions to the local ecosystem and agriculture during reforestation work on area farms.

Hot Springs

Hot Springs

Cahuita National Park

Cahuita National Park

Video

Costa Rica

Featured in this video

Itinerary

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: San Carlos

Journey to Sarchí, Costa Rica's unofficial artisan capital, noted primarily for its intricately decorated ox-carts. Discover your inner artisan during a craft workshop, where you'll learn about the history of these brightly colored pieces and how they're built, then paint a small souvenir to take home. Continue to the San Carlos region in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon, enjoy a thrilling zip-line ride through the rainforest canopy near the volcano, followed by a soothing soak in the area's famous natural hot springs.

Day 3: Sarapiqui

Travel to the lush surroundings of Sarapiquí, known for its rich biodiversity. Arrive at the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center and begin your community development service project. Projects will vary according to the greatest need, but activities may include painting or grounds maintenance at local schools, helping with public improvements or building a bus stop. You’ll have the opportunity to form friendships and share customs as you volunteer alongside residents and interact with local school children.

Day 4: Sarapiqui

In the morning continue your volunteer work by helping with a reforestation service project at an area farm. You’ll learn about local agriculture as you help plant native trees, required to sustain the area’s diverse ecosystem. In the afternoon perhaps explore the small town and sample local culture or relax at the hotel pool.

Day 5: Limon

Depart Sarapiquí and travel to exotic Cahuita, known for its black-sand beach, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Upon your arrival, put on your walking shoes for a pleasant hike through the breathtaking Cahuita National Park, famous for its lovely beaches, lush rainforests and colorful coral reefs.

Day 6: Limon

Enjoy a beach day by the azure waters of this port town, founded in the mid-1800s as a center for exporting bananas and grain. Filled with open-air markets and interesting architecture, Limón’s culture is heavily influenced by Afro-Caribbean customs and heritage.

Day 7: San Jose

After time to explore the beach in the morning, return to San José, the country’s largest city. Founded in the early 1700s, San José is considered Costs Rica’s most cosmopolitan city, home to attractions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design and the popular Mercado Central, a large market. Enjoy dinner in San José to celebrate your final night abroad.

Day 8: Departure

Depart for the USA.



Optional Extensions and Extra Nights:

Further immerse yourself in the culture and wonders of Costa Rica with an extra night in San José, including the services of your ACIS Tour Manager.

Price This Tour

Price This Tour

Optional Extras

Ultimate-Plus Protection Plan

Most Enhanced health coverage, program interruption, baggage delay/loss and travel delay protection while on tour. Plus, enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy

Rate $400

Add to Tour

Ultimate Protection Plan

Enhanced health coverage, program interruption, baggage delay/loss and travel delay protection while on tour. Plus, enhanced medical/job loss cancellation refund policy

Rate $280

Add to Tour

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