RMC Travel & The Montauk School present …
COSTA RICA
April 4-9, 2009
A “Community Service Reward” Tour
Hosted by The Montauk School
Experience the natural beauty and spirituality of this natural wonderland!
Enjoy this unique “Service Reward!” exceptional journey that allows you to visit one of the most breathtaking locations while providing you the opportunity to earn Teacher Credits. RMC is privileged to partner with SOFTLY International (SOFTLY stands for Securing Our Future Today Loving Youth) to create a combination of vacationing by participating in SOFTLY's renowned “A Bed for Every Child” program that assists children and their families who live in poverty in Costa Rica.
The children typically sleep on the floors of tiny dwellings made of tin and concrete blocks and are susceptible to all sorts of parasites and illness. SOFTLY treats them with a bed of their own so they will not be infected again. SOFTLY has a standard, simple design for the sturdy bunk beds that you will help construct and then personally deliver to a needy family.
What better way to spend your Spring Break underlying the concept that we all are one global family, and family love is not just a "hand out" to a sad child in a strange land, but a "helping hand" creating new opportunities and futures?
Additionally, you will participate in a special “Dream Pillow” program where the children express their hopes and wishes as they – and you – create a special pillow-case for their new bed. Also included are a meeting with local teachers, sightseeing tours and more.
Your Hotel
In San Jose: Best Western Irazu
The 325 room Best Western Irazu is located only minutes from Downtown San Jose, and promises quality, friendly service 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, free local calls and Internet access. The hotel features the La Gallera Restaurant, the La Cantina Bar, plus a Pizza Hut and Burger King "touch button" for delivery service. There are lighted tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, laundry service, room service, and an exercise room. A shopping center is located next door to the hotel with souvenir shops, bank, grocery store, pharmacy and much more.
Tour Includes:
•Round-trip transportation from Montauk to Airport
•Round-trip international flight from New York to San Jose
•Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel
•Accommodations in the First Class BW Irazu in San Jose
•U.S. airline and hotel taxes
•Service charges at hotels
•Breakfast every day
•Dinner as per itinerary
•Pre-Paid Gratuities
Added Features:
• SOFTLY International service programs
• Magic Dream Pillow program
• Special Calypso Catamaran Cruise
• Optional Rain Forest tour
• One Hour Cocktail “Happy Hour”
Your Tour Itinerary:
(B=Breakfast, L=Linch, D=Dinner)
Day 1, Saturday, April 4: US/San Jose (D)
Depart on your international flight to San Jose. Arrive same day. Clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs. Transfer to your home base at the BW Irazu Hotel. Free time before your Group Dinner. Overnight San Jose.
Day 2, Sunday, April 5 – In San Jose: Magic Dream Pillow Workshop (B/D)
Breakfast will be followed by participation in a special Magic Dream Pillow Workshop. Local children will join you to work on this art project. You will have an opportunity to teach the children the value of dreaming: how important is to have dreams, to wish for things, to have goals in our life — and how visualizing your dreams in this way and keeping them near you while you sleep helps your dreams come true. Using fabric paints and markers, the children can create designs and affirmations, as well as put their names on their pillowcases. Sayings such as Sweet Dreams, Dreams Come True, etc. — all in Spanish, of course! Each child will leave with a Dream Pillow. 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. Afternoon free before your Group Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 3, Monday, April 6 – In San Jose SOFTLY Bed Program (B/L)
After breakfast you’ll go to the construction area to participate in SOFTLY’s Bed Program service project, along with the children who will receive the beds and their families. The beds are a standard, simple design for building sturdy bunk beds. Afterwards reassemble beds on-site inside the tiny homes where they will typically be the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns. The children and their families participate with you in these projects and the joy touches the hearts of all involved. After completion of the bed deliveries returning to your hotel for free time and dinner on your own in nearby San Jose. Overnight San Jose.
Day 4, Tuesday, April 7 – In San Jose: (B/D)
This morning you will meet with officials and teachers of a local Costa Rica school and partake in educational discussions about various subjects. The afternoon is free for independent activities, shopping in town, relaxing at the pool or taking an Optional Sightseeing tour to the Rain Forest in the lowlands of the Poas Volcano. This special Canopy Tour of 24 platforms located above the major trees of the forest is a two-hour ride over the treetops on fourteen cables suspended high above the forest trails. It’s a thrilling experience that is guided with the help and supervision of a highly qualified and professional staff. This exciting adventure ends when you glide down on an impressive 1980-feet length cable. Return to your hotel for dinner. Overnight San Jose.
Day 5, Wednesday, April 8 – Full Day Excursion - Calypso Day! (B/L/D)
Transfer by bus to the Pacific port of Puntarenas. The journey affords an excellent opportunity to view the coffee, sugar plantations, volcanic mountains and the unique Brahman cattle that form an ever-changing panorama. Board the Calypso Manta Ray for your journey by boat to nearby Tortuga Island for a Costa Rica Celebration. The world famous "Calypso Catamaran Cruise" to Tortuga Island is one of Costa Rica's great experiences, combining blue water, white sand, green mountains, superb cuisine and personal service. It features an underwater viewing window. An air-conditioned main salon combines with an expansive deck area that includes two Jacuzzi pools. You will cruise past the lush mangroves, canneries and stilt houses of Puntarenas on the way to the Gulf of Nicoya. Arrive Tortuga Island, known for its immaculate white sandy beach and turquoise waters, a perfect stop for swimming, snorkeling and Calypso's famous lunch. Today the Island is a reflection of the more than twenty years of hard work by a Costa Rican family in the field of conservation and sustainable development. Over the last two years, the island has seen changes that allow visitors to enjoy its natural beauty to the fullest. Afternoon return to San Jose and your hotel and your farewell dinner tonight.
Day 6, Thursday, April 9: San Jose/JFK (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to New York. Arrive same day.
Note: Itinerary is correct at time of printing and is subject to changes beyond our control.
