RMC Travel & Adelphi University present …
COSTA RICA
Alternative Spring Break
March 13 – 18, 2011
Community Service Project Costa Rica
Experience the natural beauty and spirituality of this natural wonderland!
Costa Rica
offers you one of the world’s greatest collections of rain forests,
wild rivers, unspoiled beaches, wildlife, mountains and
volcanoes. With its unique combination of beauty and spirituality,
it’s the ultimate refreshment for your body, mind and
soul.
Enjoy this unique “Vacation with a Reward”!
Most of us look forward to our vacations and take a traditional holiday.
But how much better would it be if you could combine great destinations, sightseeing, local cuisine and atmosphere with an opportunity to
"give back"?
We are privileged to partner with Fundacion Humanitaria to create a combination of traditional touring with participating in Fundacion Humanitaria’s renowned “A Bed for Every Child” program that assists children and their families who live in poverty in Costa Rica.
Fundacion Humanitaria is an organization serving children and their families living in severe poverty. The renowned service program you will be participating in is called "A Bed for Every Child." The children, typically sleeping on the floors of tiny dwellings made of tin and concrete blocks, are susceptible to all sorts of parasites and illness. Fundacion Humanitaria treats them with medicines to purge the parasites and then gives them a bed of their own so they will not be infected again. Fundacion Humanitaria has a standard, simple design for the sturdy bunk beds that often have to be broken down and then reassembled on-site inside the tiny homes. The children and their families participate with us in these projects and the joy touches the hearts of all involved. The bed is typically the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns.
Tour Includes:
•Round-trip international flights
•Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel
•Accommodations in the 1st Class BW Irazu in San Jose
•U.S. airline and hotel taxes
•Service charges at hotels
•All meals included as per itinerary
•Local bilingual guides for sightseeing
•Sightseeing tours, as per itinerary, including entrance fees
Added Features:
•Special Sarapiqui Rain Forest Tour and Sarapiqui River Cruise
•Fundacion Humanitaria service programs
• “Dream Pillow” program
•Community Projects coordinated by the Fundacion Humanitaria
Your Tour Itinerary:
(B=Breakfast, L=Linch, D=Dinner)
Day 1, Sunday, March 13: US/San Jose (D)
Depart on your international flight to San Jose. Arrive same day. Clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs. Meet your local tour representative. Transfer to your home base for this week at the BW Irazu Hotel. Meet with Gail Nystrom, Director of the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation to discuss the upcoming three-day program with the CRHF. Free time before your group dinner. Overnight San Jose.
Day 2, Monday, March 14: In San Jose. Fundacion Humanitaria/ Bed Program/Dream Pillow Program (B/L/D)
Breakfast will be followed by the start of the Fundacion Humanitaria’s Program features beds that are a standard, simple design for building sturdy bunk beds that after constructing will be personally delivered to the children and their families. Experience the joy that touches the hearts of all involved. The bed is typically the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns. Boxed lunch. Also today, start of the “Dream Pillow” project, which will be an opportunity to teach the children the value of dreaming: how important it is to have dreams, to wish for things, to have goals in our lives, and how to visualize their dreams. Using fabric paints and markers, the children can create designs and affirmations, as well as put their names on cloth (in Spanish of course). Each child will leave with two pillows and a decoration that they can hang in their homes. So, bring your loving and creative self and let’s give these children an experience that can affect them very positively for years to come. Return to the hotel for free time and dinner. Overnight San Jose.
Day 3, Tuesday, March 15: In San Jose. Fundacion Humanitaria Bed Program (B/L/D)
Continuation of the Fundacion Humanitaria Bed Program and Dream Pillow program. After completion of the beds, they will be delivered to the homes, where they will typically be the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns. Lunch provided again today. After completion of the bed deliveries you will return to the hotel for free time. Dinner at your hotel. Overnight San Jose.
Day 4, Wednesday, March 16: In San Jose. Community Project (B/L/D)
After breakfast, back to La Carpio, where everyone will participate in a local Community Service project, which today will be participating in the painting of a local mural, with a theme of beds and sleep; Or help put in another section of road at the Humanitarian Center. Then gather for lunch at the Education Center including a round-table discussion with the various participants in the recently attended programs. There also will be time to purchase Costa Rican handicrafts made by the local women, which is a huge economic help to these women. After lunch, the group will be dropped off in San Jose for some independent exploration and shopping before returning to the hotel for some R & R at the pool.
Day 5, Thursday, March 17: In San Jose. Sarapiqui Rain Forest Tour and Sarapiqui River Cruise (B/L/D
A day of Education AND FUN as you learn about the region’s environment. The journey affords an excellent opportunity to view Costa Rica’s ever-changing panorama. Arrival at the Hacienda Pozo Azul, to start your tour of the Sarapiqui rain forest. The tour will feature 12 cables (that you are hooked into) and 17 platforms that are built from 60 to 90 feet above ground as you “fly” through a canyon and over the Sarapiqui River. Continue on your full day excursion on your Rover boat and navigate through the Sarapiqui River, with its beautiful scenery and surrounded by lowlands of tropical rain forests and quiet farmland. As the boat passes through green waters and lush vegetation, you will also see a variety of Costa Rican plants, animals and birds. Lunch will be served during the cruise. Afternoon return to the hotel, where you will have some time to relax. Meet in the lobby for dinner at the La Gallera Restaurant at the hotel.
Day 6, Friday, March 18: San Jose/USA (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Arrive same day.
Note: Itinerary subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
Your Hotel
In San Jose: Best Western Irazu
The 325 room Best Western Irazu is located only 10 minutes from Downtown San Jose. "The prestige of a great name and the experience of a hotel... to those who deserve nothing less than the very best" is the promise of quality, friendly service and value in lodging accommodations to all its visitors. All air-conditioned rooms offer 25" color TV, in-room ironing board, hair dryer and full-length mirror.
Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee served 24-hours a day in the lobby. Happy Hour from 5pm to 6pm at the "La Cantina Bar," free local calls and Internet access.
The hotels facilities include: Denny's Restaurant, La Cantina Bar, Pizza Hut, and Burger King "touch button" for delivery service, lit tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, laundry service, room service, exercise room, landscaped gardens. A shopping center is located next door to the hotel with souvenir shops, bank, grocery store, pharmacy and much more.
All this and more from the most comfortable atmosphere of the happiest and entertaining hotel in San Jose.
TOUR PRICING:
Price per person, including international airfare from New York, all taxes & prepaid gratuities: $1,475
Price per Person in Triple: (three beds in the room): $1, 397
Single Room Supplement: $395
Note:
> The above rate does not include a local airport departure tax of approximately $26per person which must be paid on departure
> Also, Continental Airlines, our carrier to Costa Rica, has stated in their Agreement that they reserve the right to impose a fuel surcharge up to 30 days prior to departure and time of ticketing. So to be on the safe side, put away about $125/$150 “just in case”
For more information and/or to register, contact:
Della Hudson-Tomlin, Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Tel: 516-877-3661 · e-mail: hudson@adelphi.edu
