2025 Old Lyme Costa Rica Cultural Journey

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2025 Old Lyme Costa Rica Cultural Journey! We have created two webpages dedicated to this exciting opportunity: this first page, the Pre-Enrollment page, is meant to share exciting details, highlights and pertinent info that potential travelers will want to know before enrolling. Once enrolled, the Post-Enrollment page, is meant to prepare travelers for participation on the adventure ahead. Please be sure to review the information on the appropriate page thoroughly and we hope you are excited for all Costa Rica has to offer!!
Travel Dates: August 1, 2025 - August 10, 2025
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $3,290 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Estimated Airfare: $600

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan.  Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $3,290

Pay in Full

$3,290.00

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:

$348.75

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

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!

Program Highlights


Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!

Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends

Zip-line above the forest canopy

Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle

Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes

Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors

Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers

Discover the gorgeous beaches and world-class national parks on the Pacific coast

The Itinerary


We do everything possible to abide by  itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
1USA - AlajuelaToday 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 to discuss the upcoming trip in detail.Hotel Alajuela
2Alajuela - SarapiquíAfter breakfast the group will head for Sarapiquí, an area characterized by its lush tropical rainforest and swift rivers. The bus ride is two hours north of the capital city. Then the group will then go whitewater rafting down the Sarapiquí River, renowned worldwide for its scenic beauty and thrilling class 3 rapids.After lunch the group will settle in Sarapiquis hotel. The group will get familiar with the facilities and in the evening we will play with local kids.Tirimbina
3SarapiquiToday, we will learn about bananas, and we will also learn how to make tortillas. After lunch, we will participate in a chocolate tour where we will learn about its important crop and its delicate production process. In the evening, we will have our dancing classes.Tirimbina
4Sarapiqui- FortunaAfter breakfast we will head to La Fortuna, a small city right next to the Volcán Arenal, an impressive volcano that stands out in the middle of the flatlands. Today we will visit Arenal National Park. At night we will relax at the Baldi hot springs, where we will be having a buffet dinner as well.Hotel Fortuna
5FortunaToday, we will hike down to La Fortuna waterfall, where students can relax, swim, and explore in the morning. After lunch, we will experience the forest from a different perspective by going zip-lining. In the evening, we will visit the hanging bridges. Students will have some free time to explore the town center and do some souvenir shopping.Hotel Fortuna
6Fortuna-Manuel AntonioAfter a hearty breakfast and a relaxing morning in Fortuna, we will head to Manuel Antonio to see our first sunset, not without stopping to see the impressive crocodiles and have lunch along the way.Villa Mymosa
7Manuel AntonioAfter breakfast we will visit one of the most stunning national parks in the country. We will have time to enjoy what many call Costa Rica's most beautiful beach, hike through the national park and spend time surrounded by wildlife, including monkeys. After lunch we will have time to explore the town before heading back to the hotel.Villa Mymosa
8Manuel AntonioAfter breakfast we willl head to the beach where students can take surf lessons on a stretch of coastline that has a reputation for being great for beginners. Students can relax and swim on the pool in the afternoon.Villa Mymosa
9Manuel Antonio - AlajuelaAfter breakfast, we will make the drive back to San Jose for a farewell dinner and our final reflection before our international departure the following morning.Hotel Alajuela
10Alajuela - USAAfter 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 group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe.  We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your program, subject to availability. 
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 La Fortuna

Located right in the heart of La Fortuna in San Carlos, Costa Rica. La Fortuna Hotel offers visitors a very convenient location with all the services within walking distance from our facilities. This hotel boasts amazing views of the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Downtown you won’t forget! Guests have access to free Wi-Fi throughout the building in order to stay connected. Students will be grouped according to gender in their rooms.

Villas Mymosa

Hotel Villas Mymosa is a modern 10 room condo hotel located in the peaceful setting of beautiful Manuel Antonio.  These spacious rooms are fully equipped to provide you with all the amenities of your own home.  Each Villas Mymosa villa has a private terrace or balcony or both.  You have the option of peace and quiet at your villa or interacting with other guests around our beautiful large centrally located pool.

La Tirimbina

Tirimbina is an eco-lodge and research station located in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica. Nestled in the heart of the rainforest, the lodge is surrounded by lush vegetation, diverse wildlife, and the beautiful Tirimbina River.

The rooms feature a simple and comfortable décor and include air conditioning, a fan, a safety box, and views of the gardens. Each room also has a private bathroom with a shower.

Safety and Support


EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

During our trip in Costa Rica I loved that our trip leader took the students’ ideas and incorporated side adventures just for them. This small piece made the trip more than we could have ever asked for.

Carri
Alumni Group Organizer to Belize and Costa Rica

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.

 

Resource center

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.

Learn More

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