2021 Fuglestad Panama and Costa Rica Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: |
March 13, 2021 -
March 22, 2021
Dates are tentative
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$2,399 USD
- or -
$2,299 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $800 |
| Deadline(s): | Deadline is forthcoming |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $2,399
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$2,299.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$52.75
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Costa Rica Cultural Journey
From white sand beaches to misty cloud forests, towering volcanoes to beautiful rivers that carve through tropical canyons, and friendly communities, Costa Rica has it all! Our cultural journey aims to expose travelers to best the country has to offer and provide opportunities to speak Spanish and gain insight into one of the most hospitable destinations on earth. Adventure awaits!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Learn about the history of chocolate while you make your own!
Visit the Panama Canal and watch giant ships transit through the world-famous locks
Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers
Hike to a summit in the tropical rainforest
Learn about tropical wildlife firsthand
Explore Indigenous artisan and fish markets
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Alajuela | Today the group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, and flights usually arrive in the evening. After arrival, the group will settle into their hotel for the evening and have an orientation meeting where the group will discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Casa Cielo Grande |
| 2 | Alajuela - Pacuare | After an early wake up call, we will drive to a nearby rafting company and get oars in the water as soon as possible. We will spend the bulk of the day rafting on the Pacuare River, eat dinner and stay at the Pacuare Lodge, making sure to rest up for another day of river exploration! | Pacuare Lodge |
| 3 | Pacuare - Cahuita | Wake up call, and our first relaxed Costa Rican breakfast experience will be followed by more rafting down the Pacuare River. After tiring ourselves out, we will have lunch at the lodge and hit the road again, this time towards the beach: Cahuita. After watching the sun set behind the Caribbean coastline, we will have dinner and get ready for a full day. | Cahuita Lodge |
| 4 | Cahuita | Today we will get our fingers sticky exploring each stage of the chocolate production process at a local farm, then have ample opportunity to wash them off in the Caribbean sea during free time at the beach throughout the afternoon. | Cahuita Lodge |
| 5 | Cahuita - Bocas del Toro | After breakfast, we will begin the brief drive to the border with Panama, and shortly after crossing we will board a boat and ride to the Bocas del Toro islands. Once there, we will go on a dolphin-viewing tour, eat dinner, and stay on the island. | Bocas Lodge |
| 6 | Bocas del Toro | Today we will give back to our environment for a portion of the day, taking part in a beach clean-up, but then follow the hard work with play: a snorkeling tour and a free afternoon on the picturesque island chain. | Bocas Lodge |
| 7 | Bocas del Toro - Boquete | After eating breakfast and saying goodbye to the islands, we will get to know the diversity of the Panamanian landscape by traveling over a mainland route to Boquete, a mountainous town in the Chiriquí province. On the way, we will stop to interact with the Ngobe tribe in an indigenous school. Upon arriving in Boquete, we will further enjoy the scenery by going on hikes before dinner. | Boquete Lodge |
| 8 | Boquete - Panama | Today's itnerary involves a long drive to Panama City, broken up by several stops with tasty local food. Upon arrival in the city, we will tour Panama Viejo, visit the causeway, and begin to explore the city. | PTY Hotel |
| 9 | Panama City | On our second day we will visit the main attraction: the canal. Afterwards, we will continue exploring the rich sights and sounds of the Panamian metropolis, culminating in a farewell dinner to commemorate our time well-spent in this beautiful slice of Central America. | PTY Hotel |
| 10 | Panama - USA | After breakfast, we will head to the airport for a morning departure back to the USA. | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
Pacuare River Lodge
Along a hillside overlooking the Pacuare River, this one-of-a-kind lodge sits amid exotic primary rainforest, indigenous reserves and isolated valleys, and is only accessible by raft, 4X4, or horseback. A collection of rustic yet cozy cabins, each allowing to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding pristine jungles and experience the wilderness. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability. Most river lodges have no electricity, wifi and cellphone reception is very limited as it is the case for Pacuare River Lodge. The rafting companies communicate by radio in case of needing any land departure from the lodge or any emergency.
Villas Aracari
Villas Aracari is a beautiful property ideally located just twenty minutes from the airport. Close to the city center yet perched high in the mountains, the views of the Central Valley are breathtaking and the new pool is a delightful respite after a hot day. Spotless rooms and friendly staff will make you feel at home the moment you drop your bags.
Hotel Punta Franca
Hotel Punta Franca is a 3-star beachside hotel overlooking the ocean. Each room can comfortably sleep 1-4 students with ensuite bathrooms.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
This was our daughter’s 2nd trip with Walking Tree. In 2016, she took her school’s first trip with Walking Tree to Ecuador, and absolutely loved it. Once again, the Walking Tree representative was excellent. My daughter said Ben really made the trip, and worked hard to keep the group happy. Other positives: communication before the trip, website outline, daily blogs and trip photos. Very professional organization. We feel very secure sending our student out into the world with Walking Tree.
Andrea
Parent of Olivia, traveler on California Cultural Journey
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.