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By admin, September 11, 2009 9:08 am

No Artificial Ingredients – Costa Rica

For a perfect blend of science, adventure, and hands-on learning, Costa Rica is an excellent destination for student group travelers. A republic in Central America, Costa Rica (literally “Rich Coast”) is bordered by Nicaragua, Panama, the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea. The destination is divided into 20 natural parks, eight biological reserves, and a series of protected areas that will expand the regular science curriculum far beyond the walls of the classroom.

Outdoor activities include horseback riding, hiking, and guided bird-watching tours. While Costa Rica is has only about 0.1% of the world’s landmass, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with nearly a quarter of the country composed of protected forests and reserves.

The internationally-known Corcovado National Park is famous among ecologists for its biodiversity and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Students experience the park with horseback riding, expeditions to the Guayami Indigenous Reserve, and bird watching. Boat tours provide views of marine birds and dolphins. Corcovado is the last remaining large tract of lowland rain forest o the Pacific coast of Central America. Howler and spider monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, crocodiles, bull sharks, and exotic birds are just a few of the park’s inhabitants, along with a huge variety of tropical plant life.

Home to 320 species of birds, Tortuguero National Park is mostly recognized for its annual nesting of endangered green turtles and is considered the most important nesting site for this species. The park is also home to spider, howler, and white-throated Capuchin monkeys, the three-toed sloth, and the endangered manatee. The best way to see most of the park is from a boat. Evening guided tours enable students to visit the beachfront and see the Green Sea turtles nesting under the moon. During the tours, students can watch as the turtles struggle up the beach, dig their nests, and lay their eggs.

A walk through a Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve reveals a lush green garden of mosses, ferns, and flowers growing thickly on every tree. Clouds drift and settle among the slopes, providing moisture for the amazing plant growth. Wildlife includes the jaguar, three-wattled bellbird, and the famous and elusive Resplendent Quetzal. Of the 1,400 types of Costa Rica Orchids, 500 of them are found at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Students may enjoy a canopy tour of a cloud forest’s protected area, or explore the area by suspension bridges. Aerial tram tours travel through the treetops, where an incredible diversity of plants and animals can be seen. For a more rustic mode of travel, students may strap on mountain climbing harnesses and pull themselves along suspended cables to a series of wooden platforms built in the trees.

Highlights at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve include butterfly gardens, reptile and amphibian exhibitions, hummingbird gardens, and a visit to an orchid garden. Night tours feature beautiful sunsets and a naturalist guide who explains the many unique elements of the forest and its inhabitants.

In addition to rain forests, Costa Rica is a land of volcanoes, waterfalls, and rivers. One of the most popular ways to explore its waterways is snorkeling. Here, students get in touch with the colorful underwater world where eels, lobsters, schools of fish, and the spectacular whale shark make their home. This is also a great time to try out the new sport of “Canyoning,” the exciting adventure of repelling down waterfalls. If that’s too adventurous, students can take a relaxing dip in volcano-heated waters after a hike on the active Arenal Volcano.

The capital city of San Jose is an open gateway to the country’s many interesting destinations. Costa Rica’s National Museum, located in the ancient Bellavista Fort, is the guardian of the country’s precious treasures and cultural heritage. The Jade Museum presents a number of important archaeological pieces, in addition to jade pieces and pottery. Presenting the rich culture of Costa Rica, Central Market is the city’s colorful marketplace. Within the cozy warren of alleyways, students discover flowers, baskets, spices, fresh goods, and souvenirs. At the nearby Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, visitors view more than 2,000 glittering pre-Colombian gold artifacts.

About the Author

travel adventures
Travel Adventures is a student tour provider staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. It has served over one half million students since 1987 and its mission is to “empower teachers to create change by expanding the classroom to the world.”

Largest beetle in the world found on a Costa Rican Resource Tour

InterContinental Real Costa Rica $163.17 InterContinental Real Costa Rica > SJO > Prospero Fernandez Hwy > San Jose > > 1000>Location. This Escazu hotel is situated in the business district. Multiplaza, Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, and Museum of Costa Rican Art are area attractions. Features. InterContinental Real Costa Rica has an outdoor pool, a spa tub, a sauna, and a fitness facility. InterContinental Real Costa Rica features a full service spa. Business amenities at this 4.5 star property include a 24 hour business center, wireless Internet access, business services, and secretarial services. InterContinental Real Costa Rica has a restaurant and a bar/lounge. 24 hour room service is available. Business amenities at this 4.5 star property consist of conference rooms and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange currency exchange and cell phone/mobile rentals. Additional amenities include a concierge desk, laundry facilities, and multilingual staff. Guestrooms. InterContinental Real Costa Rica has 372 guestrooms. Televisions are equipped with premium cable television channels and pay movies. Guestrooms provide CD players, in room safes, and multi line phones with voice mail. Guestrooms feature coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms offer hair dryers. Additional amenities include air conditioning, desks, and irons/ironing boards. In addition, amenities available on request include wake up calls and a turndown service is available nightly. >The preferred airport for InterContinental Real Costa Rica is San Jose (SJO Juan Santamaria Intl.) 8 km / 5 mi. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.

Gran Hotel Costa Rica $81.25 Gran Hotel Costa Rica > SJO > Calle 3 And Avenida Central Y Segunda > San Jose > > 1000>Location. This casino resort is located in San Jose, close to Gold Museum, Plaza de la Cultura, and National Theater. Also nearby are Jade Museum and National Center of Art and Culture. Features. Gran Hotel Costa Rica has a fitness facility. This 3.0 star San Jose property features massage and treatment rooms. Business amenities at this 3.0 star property include a business center, wireless Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and business services. Gran Hotel Costa Rica has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café. Guests are served a complimentary breakfast each morning. Room service is available during limited hours. This property provides an airport shuttle (surcharge). Business amenities at this 3.0 star property consist of conference rooms and banquet facilities. The staff can arrange concierge services, dry cleaning/laundry services, currency exchange, and computer rentals. Additional amenities include a casino, valet parking, and laundry facilities. This is a smoke free property. Guestrooms. Gran Hotel Costa Rica has 90 guestrooms. Televisions are equipped with premium cable television channels and HBO. Guestrooms provide in room safes. Guestrooms feature refrigerators and coffee/tea makers. Bathrooms offer separate bathtubs and showers, handheld showers, and complimentary toiletries. Additional amenities include sofa beds, separate sitting areas, and minibars. Balconies are featured in guestrooms. In addition, amenities available on request include hair dryers and wake up calls. Housekeeping is offered. Cribs (infant beds) are available. All guestrooms at Gran Hotel Costa Rica are non smoking. >The preferred airport for Gran Hotel Costa Rica is San Jose (SJO Juan Santamaria Intl.) 15.7 km / 9.7 mi. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.

Costa Rica Pass – Route 5 Adventure Bus $929 Travel from coast to coast, from the Caribbean-flavoured beaches of Costa Rica’s Atlantic to the Latin rhythms of Guanacaste, known for its miles of beaches, killer surf and consistently sunny weather. In between, make a stop on the country’s volcanic backbone at active Arenal Volcano, a wonderland of rafting, hiking, waterfalls and hot springs.

InterContinental REAL COSTA RICA $114 Real InterContinental Costa Rica is surrounded by the swirl of activity in growing Escazu

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose $173.06 Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose > SJO > 700 Metros Oeste De La Firestone > San Antonio de Belen > > >Location. Located in San Antonio de Belen, this spa property is conveniently close to the airport. Ojo de Agua Park, Spirogyra Butterfly Garden, and Museum of Costa Rican Art are area attractions. Features. Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose has tennis courts, a health club, an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a sauna. This 4.0 star San Antonio de Belen property features massage and treatment rooms, a hair salon, and spa services. Business amenities include a business center, wireless Internet access, meeting rooms for small groups, and business services. Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, and a coffee shop/café. 24 hour room service is available. Event facilities consist of a ballroom, exhibit space, conference rooms, and banquet facilities. Guestrooms. Amenities featured in guestrooms include air conditioning, coffee/tea makers, and minibars. In addition, amenities available on request include wake up calls. Guestrooms have cable television with premium TV channels and HBO. Business friendly amenities include desks, direct dial phones, and voice mail. Bathrooms feature bathrobes, designer toiletries, and hair dryers. Guestroom services include a turndown service and housekeeping. Rollaway beds are available on request. >The preferred airport for Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose is San Jose (SJO Juan Santamaria Intl.) 3.6 km / 2.3 mi. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.