 
Weekend Getaways
Exploring
Costa Rica during your free time
Costa Rica is a beautiful country and we encourage you to take advantage
of your free time to get to know the countryside. ILISA has its
very own in-house travel desk through which we have excellent relationships
with a select group of quality tour operators and hotels. These
companies provide first class service and offer an excellent value
for all of our students.
If you don't want to participate
in an organized tour, the travel desk will also be able to provide
information and help with your travel plans. ILISA has listings
of bus schedules, hotels and destinations of interest. For those
of you who would like to rent a car, ILISA works with an agency
that offers a special rate for students that includes insurance.
The company will even drop the car off at the school, and when you
are done, pick it up!
Below a few of our students' favorite destinations:
White-water
rafting
Experience an exciting day of action on one of the beautiful rivers
of Costa Rica. Tours include guides, equipment, transportation,
breakfast, and lunch.
The ILISA-student price range
is $50-60 (about half the normal price). Check with the office staff
or details.
Tortuguero
Canals & National Park
Leave San José on Saturday morning to travel to Tortuguero
by air and returnSunday by bus and boat. On Saturday and Sunday
morning you will be able to see the canals of Tortuguero and, between
July and September, you can take an optional "turtle walk"
on the beach to look for nesting turtles. The two day-one night
tour costs $150 per person and includes transportation, excursions,
all meals, and lodging. The turtle walk is $15 extra.
Arenal
Volcano & Hot Springs
Head to the Arenal volcano with a small group of students. The tour
leaves on Friday afternoon after classes and returns on Sunday afternoon.
The drive to Arenal through the
central highlands takes you past beautiful Costa Rican villages,
descends into the San Carlos Plains, and finally climbs up to one
of Costa Rica's active volcanoes.
At night you will have the opportunity
to see red-hot lava near the volcano's peak and to hear the frequent
eruptions. During the day, you can visit hot springs in the area
and take a walk through a nature reserve to see a spectacular waterfall.
The three day-two night tour costs $120 and includes transportation,
guide, entrance the nature reserve and lodging.
You can also rent a car (around
$60 daily including insurance and free mileage) and go there yourself
or even better, invite some fellow students to share the car rental
expenses. A double hotel room will cost you between $30-100 per
night, depending on your requirements. You can pick up your car
early Friday afternoon and will arrive at Arenal in the late afternoon
or early evening. Return your car Monday after classes. You might
drive around Lake Arenal on the way back and enjoy the additional
spectacular scenery. Or, you can also take the public bus. Price
varies depending on transportation and accommodations you select.
 Top
Coffee
tour - Half-day
Costa Rican coffee is well known around the world for its strong
flavor and tantalizing aroma. Cafe Britt, widely known for its gourmet
coffee, offers visitors a trip through a coffee farm near Barba.
You will enjoy a multimedia presentation about the history of coffee,
a visit through the factory, and then a delicious trip to the tasting
room. Cost of the tour: $20.
Irazu
Volcano
This active volcano is located 55 km from San José. The trip,
easily done by public bus, includes a stop in Cartago to visit the
Basílica de Los Angeles, Patron Saint of Costa Rica. As you
climb the slopes to the volcano you'll pass through the most important
potato producing area of the country. The view at the volcano is
spectacular. On a very clear day it is possible to see both the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Take a tour and combine a visit
to Irazu volcano, Cartago and a visit to the beautiful Lankaster
Gardens for just $53. You can also travel to the volcano by public
bus on Saturdays and Sundays.
Butterfly
Farm
This farm features thousands of live butterflies in all stages of
the life cycle(eggs, larvae, chrysalides, and adults) in an enclosed
tropical garden. All visitors will receive an hour-long guided tour
and learn about the natural history of the butterfly and the farm's
operations. You can either take tour transportation or arrive by
car or public bus. Cost: $25.
Braulio
Carrillo National Park
This park covers area in both the provinces of San José and
Limon. It is composed of a very dense, complex, evergreen forest,
tall mountains and numerous rivers that carve deep canyons. It is
a paradise for bird watchers and people who love nature. Take a
public bus to the park, bring a sack lunch and enjoy a day in the
woods.
Poas
Volcano and National Park
See the biggest geyser volcano in the world only 90 minutes from
San José. The park offers spectacular views and nice trails
and is easily reached by public bus. A public bus leaves from in
from of Parque de La Merced daily at 8:00 and costs $5 round trip.
Alternatively, combine a visit to Poas in the mornings with a trip
to the La Paz waterfalls in the afternoons, all for $35.
Monteverde
Cloud Forest - 2 days, 1 night
You will travel 4 hours through mountain ranges and coffee plantations
and on into the community of Monteverde. In the private Monteverde
Reserve, you will see the richest and most abundant displays of
epiphytes in the world: ferns, orchids, and bromeliads (where the
famous Resplendent Quetzal bird finds protection). There is also
a lot of wildlife: monkeys, toucans, bellbirds, etc. and a special
"Hummingbird Gallery" where numerous hummingbirds come
to feed. In addition to the private reserves in the area, you can
visit a cheese and ice cream factory, butterfly farm and snake museum,
and go horseback riding. Take the public bus or rent a car. Cost,
depending on transportation and accommodations, is between $100-200.
Manuel
Antonio National Park and other beaches -- 3 days, 2 nights
Rent a car or take the public bus to enjoy visiting one of the most
beautiful beaches and national parks of Costa Rica. There are many
hotels in the area in all price ranges.
In addition, Costa Rica offers
more beautiful beaches including Tamarindo, Nosara, and Montezuma,
all on the Pacific coast. Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, and Playa Chiquita
on the Atlantic, can be visited by making similar arrangements.
The hotel accommodations on the Atlantic coast tend to be less expensive.
Remember that finding accommodation at any beach during December
through March, especially around Easter, can be difficult. ILISA
can make reservations prior to your arrival only if you give them
your credit card information. Costs range from $30 to $200.
Rain Forest Aerial Tram
The Rain Forest Aerial Tram is located in a private reserve an hour
away from San José and offers visitors a bird's eye view
of the rainforest. The tour includes a 1-1/2 hour guided tour on
a modified ski-lift through primary and secondary forest, a guided
nature hike and a film about the rainforest and the construction
of the tram itself. Cost with ILISA ID: approximately $55 including
tour, transportation and lunch.
Much
of the information on our site as it relates to Costa Rica is:
 Courtesy
of Christopher P. Baker and Avalon Travel Publishing.
© 2004 Christopher P. Baker. All Rights Reserved.
A2Z Languages highly
recommends Christopher P. Baker's book: Moon
Handbooks Costa Rica. Click on the image to visit
his website where you can purchase this book or find out more about
the author.
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