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Costa Rica – Pura Vida – F23

Join Be World Ready this fall and experience the beauty, excitement, and Pura Vida of Costa Rica!  Pura Vida, it is not just a saying, it is a way of life directly translating to “Pure Life”, this tiny, but mighty country surely lives up to its motto. From its vast biodiversity, dedication to the environment, amazing scenery, to the enchanting and happy people that occupy it, the Pura Vida way of life will leave you forever wanting more!

Arrive in San Jose and prepare for the inspiring week ahead! This week you will visit some of the most iconic areas of Costa Rica, such as San Jose, Poas Volcano National Park, and Punta Leona Forest, while becoming educated about Costa Rica’s dedication to our planet by way of the use and development of sustainable initiatives. Allow yourself to become captivated by the beauty of Costa Rica and feel empowered by their ability to evoke environmental change, and your ability to contribute towards positive change that will create a greener future for all to enjoy!

They say that seeing is believing and what better way to learn the way of Pura Vida other than to sign up today and put travel and enhanced education on your calendar this Fall.  Costa Rica is waiting for you.

My Advisor
Elisabeth Vint
Study + Work Abroad Advisor
Phone: 905-735-2211 x 3669
Location: Daniel J. Patterson Campus

DAY 1: Saturday, October 21, 2023

Ready, set, go! Join your Niagara College peers at Toronto Pearson International Airport to board your Air Canada flight to San Jose and prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime! This week, you will learn all about the Pura Vida way of life and the steps that we can all take to live a greener life and protect the Earth’s environmental future.

Upon arrival in San Jose, board your private transportation to be taken to your hotel and rest up for the exciting week ahead!

Meals Included: Dinner

DAY 2: Sunday, October 22, 2023

Wake up feeling rested and ready to seize the day! We get an early start as we travel to the area of Sarapiqui, located in the northwestern region of Costa Rica. We arrive to Tirimbina, a local community that works with a conservation model that consists of three hubs that compliment each other well: scientific research, environmental education, and ecotourism. Their research contributes to conservation strategies, coupled with educating and raising awareness that involves the community in forest protection, with ecotourism generating the funds needed to support the projects.

This afternoon, we learn the ins and outs of one of mankind’s favourite foods, chocolate. Our exploration of chocolate includes a hike explaining the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree, and demonstrations of the artisanal process involved with turning the cacao fruit into chocolate. Fun fact, the cultivation of the cacao plant is one of the friendliest to the environment. A fascinating and delicious afternoon!

  • Visit Tirimbina
  • Learn about the artisanal process of chocolate

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Monday, October 23, 2023

This morning we get a glimpse of the leading-edge research conducted at the La Selva Research Station. La Selva’s influence on tropical ecology is immeasurable and of great cultural significance, having served as a key training and research site for numerous professional scientists. Enjoy a half day tour of the forest lead by incredible naturalists..

After a delicious lunch at Tirimbina, we tour a 33 hectare organic pineapple plantation to discover (and taste!), a way of life that has been built around an authentic, organic philosophy and life-long commitment to protecting the sanctity of the land.

Following our visit at the pineapple plantation, we transfer to the incredible Rancho Margot. A leader in sustainability, Rancho Margot is off the grid and are said to be building a regenerative wonderland right in the heart of Costa Rica’s mountain rainforest.

  • Visit La Selva Research Station
  • Visit an organic pineapple farm
  •  Transfer to Rancho Margot

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

We will spend the day here enjoying all the incredible amenities that Rancho Margot has to offer! We will have our choice of several activities to participate in today, including horseback riding, kayaking, night walks, and a soap workshop. With Rancho Margot’s natural pools built with river rocks that are filled with pure untreated crystalline water from natural springs, beautiful gardens, and authentic home-grown food, it is surely to be a delightful day.

  • Enjoy a day of activities at Rancho Margo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Wednesday, October 25, 2023

We check out of our accommodations this morning travel to our next destination, Monteverde, by boat cruise!  Travel to the Arenal Lake Dam dock and board a covered 22 passenger boat and cruise across Lake Arenal to reach Rio Chiquito dock. Enjoy the magnificent views of Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde mountain range from the water. What a cool way to travel!

This afternoon, we check in at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve’s Tropical Science Centre where we will stay for two nights. Our daily adventure doesn’t end here – we’re going ziplining! Fly like a bird as we take to the skies and explore the best zip lines and adventures that Costa Rica has to offer.

  • Travel by boat to Monteverde
  • Experience ziplining!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Thursday, October 26, 2023

After breakfast, we check out of the lodge and head back toward the city to get our day started.

Costa Rica is one of the most renown destinations in the world when it comes to coffee This morning, we receive an introduction to the history of coffee and its role in local community development. We will enjoy a guided tour that will highlight the different stages of coffee farming and strategies for sustainable farming. A tour of a coffee farm of course would not be complete without tasting 5 kinds of coffee!

This afternoon, we visit the University for Peace and listen to a lecture on Humanos Rights.

  • Transfer to San Jose
  • Coffee tour
  • Lecture on Humanos Rights at the University of Peace

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Friday, October 27, 2023

Set your sights towards the Central Pacific! This morning we drive to one of the most exclusive resorts in all of Costa Rica to enjoy its beautiful white sand beaches and learn about the Ara Macaw Project! This incredible project is responsible for repopulating hundreds of Ara Macaws and getting these beautiful birds back in the Costa Rican skies. We will also have a day pass to enjoy the beautiful beach this resort has to offer.

  • Learn about the Ara Macaw project
  • Enjoy some beach time

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 8: Saturday, October 28, 2023

Our final day in the incredible Costa Rica begins with a lecture about the Blue Zone of Nicoya. Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, located just south of the Nicaraguan border, is one of only 5 Blue Zones in the world. A Blue Zone is an area where residents enjoy an extraordinarily long and healthy lifespan. The Blue Zones mission focuses on the rescue of traditional Nicoya products, aiming to recover the food tradition of the oldest population in the region and expand it to the eating habits of new generations.

The rest of your day is at your leisure. Take this time to gather some last-minute souvenirs or rest and relax.

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 9: Sunday, October 29, 2023

What an incredible week it has been, but it is time to say our farewells to Costa Rica and all the wonderful people we have met. Take a Little free time to make one last visit to the beautiful white Sands before heading back to San Jose to fly to Toronto. Hasta la próxima, Costa Rica.

Disclaimers: Be World Ready does their best to execute the itinerary as outlined above, however all elements are subject to change based on availability or requirement to adapt due to circumstances outside of our control. Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to research the entry requirements to the destination countries visited per their nationality and vaccination status.

* Price per student is in Canadian Dollars and reflects the Be World Ready (BWR) grant which has been applied to the total trip cost to heavily subsidize the rate per person for our Fall 2023 International Field Studies (IFS). Our future IFS BWR grants will not remain this high. To qualify for the full value of the BWR grant applied to this IFS, mandatory training and tasks are required to be completed, training and task expectations will be clearly communicated by BWR staff upon registration. Failure to complete the requirements as outlined by BWR staff will result in the value of the grant being billed back to the applicable student account, up to a maximum of $2500. Securing your seat on this trip will occur on a first come, first serve basis based on registration date, and meeting payment timelines.

INCLUDED:

  • Round-trip direct flights, including 1 checked bag (maximum weight is 23kg/50lb and maximum size is 158cm/62 linear inches)
  • Accommodations (tourist class in San Jose, dormitory style rustic lodge in Monteverde)*
  • Breakfast daily
  • Meals as outlined in the itinerary
  • In country transportation
  • Admissions and tours as mentioned in itinerary
  • Travel Insurance
  • Rate per student is inclusive of taxes and fees

NOT INCLUDED:

    • Visa Fees (if necessary)
    • Passport (or any associated costs)
    • Transportation to/from Toronto
    • Meals not outlined in the itinerary
    • Souvenirs
    • Items of a personal nature
    • Departure taxes (otherwise known as an Exit Tax) or additional fees for items not noted as included, if applicable. Example of additional fees could be overweight baggage.

*Standard accommodations are twin share (double occupancy) where possible. Dormitory style accommodations may be shared with multiple students (up to 8) of the same gender. Single occupancy may be requested and a single supplement charge will be applicable. Requests cannot be guaranteed. Please email [email protected] for more details.

PAYMENT TERMS

Deposit
Second Payment
Final Payment

PAYMENT AMOUNT

$300
$500
$600

PAYMENT AMOUNT

04/17/2023
05/16/2023
06/30/2023

*Price may increase or decrease depending on exchange rates, final vendor quotes and number of participants.

APPROXIMATE. PRICE
$1400 (BWR Grant Applied)

TRIP DATE 10/21/2023

TO

10/29/2023

TRIP DESTINATION
San Jose, Costa Rica

PROGRAM

This opportunity is available to all full-time and part-time Niagara College students currently enrolled in any program.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE
04/17/2023

Payment Options

Other Important Information

*Note: if we will be flying through the United States of America, you must have permission to enter and leave the United States. If you require a U.S travel visa it is your responsibility to obtain this document and email [email protected] a copy/photo.

Be World Ready at Niagara College

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Welland, Ontario
L3C 7L3, Canada

[email protected]

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