Costa Rica's Best Zipline

Not only does this zipline go along side one of the most active volcanos on the planet but it is also 700ft high above the rainforest floor. We have taken groups there and sometimes it is not too clear but on this day it was a perfectly clear day and great views of the volcano. This is the perfect zipline for a Family Adventure to Costa Rica. Everyone took on the adventure and zipped the 8 cables one of them being 1km long.

The highest cable is 700ft and you travel at a speed of around 45mph. It is the adventure when you show up and you ask yourself what crazy person invented this? By the end of it you are not calling him crazy but a genius. It is a very safe company and excellent for student travel groups and family vacations. The youngest they will let travel on the zipline is 8 years old so we all qualified.

After the zipline we headed to a nearby rural school where we played a small soccer tournament and they prepared lunch for us as we ran around playing some more soccer. It was a great day for the local kids because they were able to enjoy an afternoon with some visitors since it was their vacation there is not much going on and it was a great way for the kids to get out of the house.

Great Hotel at Arenal Volcano

We made the four hour drive and stopped along the way to see some monkeys and iguanas. Everyone did well during the drive even slept quite a bit. It was an easy drive because their were not a lot of curvy roads. The drive to the village was a rougher drive because it was all through the mountains.

When we arrived to the hotel the volcano was clear from a distance and then the clouds rolled in. Everyone checked into their rooms which all have A/C, hotwater, balcony, and an amazing view of the voclano.

We met at 7:30pm for a delicious dinner and then the kids headed to the pool. After the pool it was bed time. It is now early morning and it looks as if the volcano is a little cloudy but dont worry it will clear. We are going to eat breakfast and then head out to the zipline. This zipline is a ride through the rainforest and another great adventure they will love. Dont forget as you read this blog if your are interested in planning a Costa Rica Vacation we can make it happen.

Costa Rica's Best River

We rafted the Pacuare River and now on our way to one of the ten most active volcanos on the planet. This trip is amazing and everyone is loving it!!! The only sad part was leaving the homestays. I could not believe just after two days the bond the kids made with their homestay families. It was really an amazing experiece for us and the local families. When we plan Costa Rica family vacations we almost always make the Pacuare River part of the itinerary.

Costa Rica Culture Night!!!

This was one of the most intense days ever. We not only did the service project but we then played one of the best soccer games ever. The soccer field was filled with water and it rained for all two hours we were playing. It was by far the most fun game Ive played in the village. Everyone was filled with mud from start to finish. We literally were sliding, falling, and laughing for the whole game. I had some of the village mom's tell me this was the first time they ever played soccer in the mud like this. We actually at first thought about canceling the game and then it got started and nobody wanted to stop.


After the soccer game we went back to our homestays to shower up and I even took a nap because in the evening the village put on an amazing party for us. When we arrived to the venue where they had the party prepared for us they performed local dance for the first part. Then we had a great meal of some more local food. After the meal the dancing began. It was a perfect match of the ages of kids and everyone I mean everyone danced till 10:45pm.

During a Costa Rica vacation we can arrange for family groups to visit the village and experience this culutre event also. I tried and end the party around 10pm telling everyone it was time to go and the locals asked me if we could stay 30 minutes more because the kids were having so much fun. So we put the salsa music back on and made for a record night of partying with the locals. Dont worry I know everyone will be tired today but when the water in the river hits them they will be wide awake. Hope everyone has a good day and stay tuned will post later!

Costa Rican Service Project

Today was a perfect morning. I have to say we built some of the best looking recycle bins Ive seen yet. Our project is now including six different schools and we are happy to say that Park City and NYC finished the project today. The idea we have is that we have built recycle bins in 6 different schools.

This is an activity that almost all student groups enjoy but we can also arrange this on a Costa Rica Family adventure if you want to give back to the local community a bit.

We then educate the local kids on the importance of recycle. Once a month we pass by the rural schools and collect the recycled materials. After collecting all the recycled goods we then weigh which school collected the most and that school wins a prize such as a new chalkboard or a pizza party for the school.
Today we arrived to the school at 8am and we worked till almost noon. The school was on vacation but they met us at the gate with some of the students and teachers. They did a small presentation to the flag and then we began to work. We had the kids painting, nailing, and we finished just before the rain came.

We then made the 5 minute drive back to the homestays and everyone will be having lunch now. We have a local soccer game planned for 3pm so everyone will get some time to rest and practice their Spanish and then we head to the soccer field. I told the kids that we are undefeated but I was sort of kidding. The local kids are really good and usually about 500 little kids show up and they beat us pretty badly so we will have to wait and see. Check ESPN Sportcenter to see highlights!

Costa Rican Food & Amazing People

After lunch we made the drive to the village (just a note if you want to experience Costa Rica Rural Tourism on a family vacation we can arrange a night or two to stay in the village) and I could see in everyones face that they were a little nervous. If I had to pick two places in the USA that were least like this village it is probably Park City and New York City. Not in a bad way but just very different. This village is very green first of all and no paved roads. There is never any snow of course and not much English.



When we arrived we did not waste anytime and we started making tortillas. We had a competition of who could make the the best tortilla. I have to say everyone did well but the prize went to Patrick. Everyone was calm after the first 5 minutes. The people here are so welcoming and amazing company that you dont even realize the language barrier or the simplicity of life. It is a few smiles and laughs and you realize your having a great time.

After the tortillas we introduced everyone to their families for the next two nights. Everyone got matched up with an excellent family. They will feel at home I promise you. We are having time in the homes now for the next 1 1/2 hour and then we are meeting back at the meeting house for salsa and merengue classes.

Costa Rica's Tallest Volcano

Today we got up and it was a sunny day and made our way to the tallest volcano in Costa Rica. The volcano is called Irazu and it started to get cloudy on the way up but we made it their before the clouds rolled in. The picture I took was with the clouds though but they all did see the crater. We are now having lunch and are then going to make our way to the village.

Everyone seems to be doing great. Im excited for the visit to the village I know it will be a geat experience for everybody.

Take a look at the leaf Oscar is hiding behind. This is calle the poor man's unbrella and can be found at the top of the Irazu Volcano which is at an elevation of 11,000ft.

Costa Rica Ecotourism Adventure
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Dinner & Some Rest

After some down time in the hotel we took everyone out for dinner. The meal was a very local Costa Rican cuisine and one of the nicest little places to eat around. It was a nice way to introduce the local cuisine in a small family owned restraunt. This is a place we enjoy taking our Costa Rica family adventure packages to also. We also showed everyone how to make coffee with no electricity which they will get plenty more practice of in the homestays.

It was a great night and everyone filled up and we even tried the tres leches dessert which happens to be one of the favorites around.

Today we are planning to leave the hotel at 7:30am and head to Costa Rica's tallest volcano which is called Irazu. From there we will get some lunch and then make our way to the homestays arriving in the afternoon. I will keep you posted it looks like an amazing day outside. Enjoy your day and please if you want to comment I will relay messages. PURA VIDA!!!

Costa Rica Pool & Food

Just a note as you read through this itin keep in mind that we offer some of the best Costa Rica family adventure packages if your are interested for you next family vacation. We just got done with their first meal and the orientation of the trip. It looks like we have a great group on our hands and everyone will get along well. We gave each person their own water bottle (we try not to use plastic bottles on the trip), a bag made from the village ladies they will be visiting, and their personal journal. The kids seemed very excited along with the parents and we are now having some down time.


The idea with the bottles is to teach the kids that we dont have to buy plastic bottles everytime we are thirsty and that to reuse your bottle and just fill it up with the purified water in the bus we have will save money and lots of plastic bottles. The bags are to cut down on plastic bags during the trip. We really try and make the trip a week long of no plastic bags and no plastic bottles. We work in the eco-tourism industry and just like to do our part to protect our office. The bags are made out of old coffee and rice bags from the ladies in the village we will be visiting later in the week. It is an income to them as we pay them for each bag that is made.

We will be leaving for dinner at 5:45pm and we plan on giving them their first taste of rice and beans in a very Costa Rican restraurant. It will be tough to match lunch as we really spoiled them with an all you can eat buffet. It is our way of saying eat up because we have a lot planned for you during the week.

I also told the group in the meeting that we will be staying in very humble homes after this hotel which I consider the best part of the trip. It is an amazing experience and a chance be with some of the nicest people around.

Airport Pickups

We have picked almost all of them up at the airport. We still have one more trip to make at 11am and then we will be meeting at 1pm for a group lunch and a chance to meet everyone. It looks like a great group and traveling with Oscar is always a trip full of laughs so myself and our team are really glad he is back. I was also happy to see how everyone is trying to speak a little Spanish. This is surely come in handy when we head out of the village in the morning. I will send some more pics after lunch and this is all I got from 5am airport pickup. David told me he had a bigmac at midnight which I thought was an interesting for the blog fact of the day! We have also heard that Sarah has been to Costa Rica before so we expect to have you comment on this blog and be following it. Hope all are well and have a great week and stay tuned! Dont forget we do Costa Rica Eco Adventure Family Trips also.

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This is a blog that will keep everyone back home posted on the adventures of Park City and New York Academy students as they explore Costa Rica. We invite everyone to comment and stay tuned as we plan on posting pictures and a couple times a day!