COSTA RICA Youth Programs 2009
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL

RLS SCHOOL
COSTA RICA July 29-August 10, 2010

The package includes:

• Pre-trip presentation with brochures, videos and pertinent information such as what to pack, etc.
• Roundtrip airfare from San Jose to Costa Rica
• Private Transfers to and from the airport
• 5 days of private Spanish School, with language classes (3 hours daily) and cultural classes (2 hours daily) in dance, conversation and cooking. Private classes will be a held with a maximum of 6 students.
• Homestay with Costa Rican families.  Students will each be placed in a private room with a delightful family to ensure maximum opportunity to practice the language. Laundry service is included.
• Breakfast and dinner is included each day with the family.
• A welcome dinner at a lovely restaurant situated above San Jose and offers delicious food with a spectacular view of the city lights followed by a folkloric dance presentation with dancers in brightly colored dress.
• 4 tours: Includes tours of the butterfly farm, the award-winning Café Britt coffee factory, a crafts market & Cartago & Basilica
• One-half day of community service at a local kids center.  
• 2 night, 3 day tour to Arenal Volcano & Tabacon. Includes transportation from San Jose to Fortuna, hotel, entrance fees into park and resort, and all meals. It visits Tabacon Hot Springs, the active Arenal volcano at night for a natural fireworks display and then to Fortuna Falls.
• 2 nights, 3 day tour at Barcelo Playa Tambor, a five-star hotel: with hotel, private transportation, beach activities and all meals.
• Medical Insurance plus trip cancellation insurance of $500.
• $20 spending money and $26 departure tax

ITINERARY

THURSDAY, JULY 29: Depart San Jose, California around 6am. After a layover in Houston, arrive into San Jose, Costa Rica at around 9pm. Transfer to a nearby airport hotel for one night.

FRIDAY, JULY 30: TRIP TO ARENAL VOLCANO, FORTUNA WATERFALL & TABACON:
After breakfast from 8-8:30am, we will leave for our trip to Arenal. Please have a small bag for the weekend and leave your bigger luggage in the lobby. After a 3 ½ hour ride, arrive at the town of La Fortuna for lunch. Check into hotel and head to the beautiful Tabacon Hot Springs. Swim & eat dinner here. Return to the hotel at 8:30pm.

SATURDAY, JULY 31: ARENAL. Breakfast at the hotel restaurant. After a short bus ride, we will hike down to a beautiful rainforest waterfall where we will have time to swim and enjoy the surroundings. Time in town to eat and time to look around. Then we will visit another hot springs water park & nature area. Dinner is pizza.

SUNDAY, AUG 1: ARENAL: Breakfast at the hotel until 9:30am. Then time to sleep, swim at the hotel, etc. We will go to lunch and then head back to San Jose to the families. You will get to know your family at dinner.

MONDAY, AUG 2: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! The families will take students to school today at 10am. We will have an orientation, placement test and time to use the internet, go to the mall, change money, eat lunch, etc. CLASS FROM 1-4PM. SALSA DANCE FROM 4-6PM. Return to the families.  
 

TUESDAY, AUG 3: BUTTERFLY FARM. Pick up at 7am. We will visit a local butterfly farm to see thousands of local butterflies and learn about their lives, as well as the exportation process. We will have lunch before class.  CLASS FROM 1-4PM. SALSA DANCE AT 4PM & CONVERSATION AT 5PM. Return home.

WEDNESDAY, AUG 4: CAFÉ BRITT & WELCOME DINNER: Pick-ups begin at 7:30am. Tour of Café Britt, an award-winning musical tour, explains the importance of coffee. Return to San Jose for lunch.
CLASS FROM 1-4PM. SALSA DANCE & COOKING FROM 4-6PM. Welcome dinner at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the city. All-you-can-eat buffet of typical dishes & folkloric dance show til 10pm.   

THURSDAY, AUG 5: CARTAGO CHURCH & CHILDREN’S SERVICE VISIT: Pick up at 7:30am. We will visit Cartago, a historical city which is the former capital and home to the Patron Saint of Costa Rica. Then visit a school for low-income kids and spend time with the kids in an art activity. Return to the mall for lunch. SCHOOL FROM 1-4PM. CONVERSATION & SALSA DANCE FROM 4-6PM.  Return to the families at 6pm.

FRIDAY, AUG 6: CRAFT MARKET: Pick ups begin at 9am. After our visit to a local craft market for shopping, time to change money and use the internet before lunch and class. CLASS FROM 1-4PM. Graduation ceremony at noon. SALSA DANCE FROM 5-6PM. Return to homes at 6pm.

SATURDAY, AUG 7: BEACH!! We will head for our trip to the Pacific Coast to Playa Tambor by bus and ferry. Check into our 5-star hotel and have free time to participate in the activities and go to the beach and pools.

 
SUNDAY, AUG 8:  ANOTHER DAY AT THE BEACH! Overnight again.
 
MONDAY, AUG 9: Leave the beach hotel around 11am to return to the families in San Jose for the last night.

TUESDAY, AUG 10: Be ready to go to the airport at 7am. The flight leaves at 10:10. Return to US at 8pm.

Click Here: FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SCHOOL