4 Countries in 4 Weeks!
You’ll see incredibly beautiful scenery, unbelievable wildlife, all the while engaging in a multitude of exotic, tropical adventures. As always, included in the cost of our trips are our bilingual guides, hotels, transportation within Costa Rica, tours and entrance fees, and some meals. It does not include airfare, alcoholic beverages, shopping, airport tax or the optional gratuity for your primary guide.
Sun 7 July - Miami to Panama
Welcome to Panama! Tour introduction. Evaluations and testing for Spanish program. Level assignments and class outline. Dinner at a local kosher restaurant
Mon 8 July - Panama Canal & Old City
Start your day at the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Learn about the history and significance of the Panama Canal. Witness the Panama Canal in action as ships pass through the locks. Tour Casco Viejo, in the historic district of Panama City and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tue 9 July - Embera Indian Community
Learn about the Emberá people who are an indigenous to Panama. They are known for their rich cultural traditions and unique way of life. Explore their riverside villages and learn about their culture, dress, art and handicrafts.
Wed 10 July - Monkey Island, Hike Gamboa & Museum of Biodiversity
Boat ride to Monkey Island and hike the Gamboa rain forest trail. Visit the Museum of Biodiversity.
Thu 11 July - Panama to Costa Rica
Arrival in San José. Our bilingual guide will be meeting you upon arrival and taking you to your hotel
after a short city tour, shul visit and dinner. Overnight at Rincon del Valle Hotel.
Fri 12 July - Coffee Tour
Learn the ancient techniques used by the experts to produce some of the best coffee in Costa Rica and around the world. See where the coffee is grown, processed and produced. Prepare for Shabbat. Overnight at Rincon del Valle Hotel.
Sat 13 July - Shabbat with community in San Jose
Shabbat with local community. Overnight at Rincon del Valle Hotel.
Sun 14 July - Waterfall Gardens & Arenal Volcano
After breakfast departure to Arenal Volcano Area. On the way we will visit the Waterfall Garden Park, where you will enjoy learning about the Costa Rican nature and wildlife. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Mon 15 July - Zip Line Adventures & Malekus Village
Get to ride in a tractor to the starting point of your exploration, then zip through the treetops of the rainforest on 12 Canopy cables. Visit the indigenous Village of the Malekus and learn about their traditions. Enjoy a horseback ride back to the entrance of Arenal Mundo Aventura. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Tue 16 July - Visit local school & games with students
Morning visit for a school community project. Afternoon hiking mountain trails, soccer and ice cream. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Wed 17 July - River Tubing & Rock-Climbing Wall
Prepare yourself for a thrilling ride down Class I and II rapids on the incredibly scenic Arenal River, where you will encounter shoulder high rapids and tranquil blue pools. You will finish the mile ride on a small beach surrounded by hot springs. In the afternoon the group will enjoy the private hot springs. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Thu 18 July - Volcano Hike
This series of hiking trails brings you through forested areas and across some of the historic lava fields that buried much of the surrounding jungle during the dramatic eruptions of 1968. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Fri 19 July - Hot Springs & Local Shopping
Spend Friday relaxing at hot springs then testing out your Spanish with some local shopping. Prepare for Shabbat. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Sat 20 July - Shabbat in Arenal area & Night Tour
After shabbat enjoy the Arenal guided night tour. Get a different perspective of Costa Rica’s popular Arenal area by exploring the eco-park at night. Follow trails through a lush, incredibly bio-diverse forest to see wildlife that is most active after night falls. Learn all about sloths, alligators, frogs, birds, cicadas and other creatures you see. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Sun 21 July - Hanging Bridges
The 16 hanging bridges that line the paths of Costa Rica’s Arenal Hanging Bridges Park stretch a total of 1.6 miles across the steep landscape. See birds, monkeys, sloths, snakes, and frogs that call the forest canopy home by ascending these spans, suspended above gorges and stretched across jungle floors. Overnight at Casi Cielo Camp.
Mon 22 July - Rafting Tour & return to San José
After breakfast enjoy a rafting tour. Paddle down the river on 6 miles of whitewater almost non-stop, most rafting companies do not do this route in the upper area of the Raft, so you will probably not see any other rafts as you traverse the rainforest canyon. Tour departure to San José. Overnight at Rincon del Valle Hotel.
Tue 23 July - Hacienda La Chimba Hike Tour
After breakfast, our tourist guide will take you to Hacienda La Chimba where group will enjoy the hiking trails among the coffee plantations. Photo opportunity at the amazing wood hand at the end of the trail. Overnight at Rincon del Valle Hotel.
Wed 24 July - Travel to Guatemala
Transfer to the international airport 3 hours prior your flight ́s departure time. Overnight at Barcelo Hotel.
Thu 25 July - City Tour & Orientation, Guatemala Zoo
Visit synagogue, have orientation for this portion of the trip. Then off to Aurora Zoo - home to about 2,500 animals from 287 different species. They hail from America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The zoo also has an area for snakes, fish & birds as well as beautiful plants and trees, recreational areas, event areas, and a food court round out the complex. Dinner and overnight at Barcelo Hotel.
Fri 26 July - Quaint Theme Park & City Market Tour
Today enjoy Esquilandia, a quaint old style theme park. And then a little souvenir shopping at the underground Mercado Central in downtown. Get ready to haggle in Spanish! Prepare for Shabbat. Overnight at Barcelo Hotel.
Sat 27 July - Shabbat in Guatemala city
We will spend Shabbat with the local Jewish community & practice our Spanish Skills in a Shul setting! Overnight at Barcelo Hotel.
Sun 28 July - Tour Antigua
Walk the picturesque cobblestone streets and see Guatemala’s vibrant cultural street scene. The city was founded in the 16th century by the Spanish conquistadors and was the capital of Guatemala until the late 18th century. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination. We will practice our Spanish skills in a shopping market, then ride bikes in the town outskirts. We will stay overnight in Antigua.
Mon 29 July - Pacaya Volcano Tour
Pacaya Volcano is a complex volcano, consisting of an older strata volcano, domes & flows. Pacaya has erupted at least 23 times since 1565. We will take a 3-mile hike in the volcano area & enjoy its other worldly scenery. Overnight at Barcelo Hotel.
Tue 30 July - Travel to Honduras
Traveling to Honduras. Upon arrival, we will enjoy dinner with members of the Jewish community & learn about being Jewish in Honduras. Overnight in San Pedro Sula.
Wed 31 July - Copan Ruins Tour, Spanish Language Banquet
All day hiking tour of the Copan Ruins. Wild parrots, local guides & amazing architecture and ancient stories will keep you amazed. Copan was the ‘Paris of the Mayas’ and the ruins are fascinating to explore. After our tour we will do a chessed project for the local community, as we end our adventure - banquet & graduation in Spanish to celebrate the new language you acquired! Overnight in San Pedro Sula.
Thu 1 August - Flight back to Miami
Departure for Miami.