Costa Rica Spring 2012 Voluntour

COSTA RICA

Alternative Spring Break
Community Service Project

March 11-16, 2012

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 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.

Additionally, we will have a one-day Volunteer program  with “Education Plus, a program that works in the urban shanty towns to prevent school children from dropping out of school and becoming  what are known as “street children”

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
  • Pre-Paid Gratuities

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
  • Community Projects coordinated by the a government sponsored Education Plus

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1. Sunday,  March 11: US/San Jose (D)

Depart on our international flight to San Jose. Arrive same day. Clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs. Meet our 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 12: 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. Box  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 13: 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 our hotel.  Overnight San Jose

Day 4. Wednesday,  March 14: In San Jose. Community Project (B/L/D)

After breakfast, everyone will participate in a local Community Service project, with Education Plus to include a round-table discussion with the various participants in the recently attended programs. 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 15: In San Jose.  Sarapiqui Rain Forest Tour and Sarapiqui River Cruise (B/L/D

A day of Education AND FUN as we 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 area 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 the ground as you “fly” through a canyon and over the Sarapiqui River.

Continue on your full day excursion by boat and navigate through the Sarapiqui River, with its beautiful scenery 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. In the afternoon we will return to the hotel, where we will have some time to relax.  Meet in the lobby for dinner at the La Gallera Restaurant in the hotel.

Day 6. Friday, March 16 San Jose/USA (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Arrive it day.

Note: This itinerary subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.

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.