Costa Rica for Middle School: Adrenaline

¡Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! We’ll kick off this adventure-packed trip by settling into our cozy hacienda, our home for the next few nights. This ecotourism lodge is surrounded by lush gardens, complete with exotic flowers and colorful birds. There is a large refreshing swimming pool filled with natural mineral spring water that comes from the nearby volcano. A lookout point on the property reveals to us the natural beauty of the surrounding area and provides an incredible 360-degree view of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, the Guanacaste plains and the Pacific coastline. Sunsets here are spectacular!

On day one we will take a hike to Las Pailas in Rincón de la Vieja National Park, where you can see volcanic steam and sulfur pour out of the ground at natural fumaroles. Then, we’ll head out from the hacienda by horseback to the foot of the Victoria Waterfall, where our tubing adventure begins. We will float down the Río Negro on inner tubes, enjoying the refreshing water and fun rapids, spotting plenty of exotic wildlife in the surrounding jungle along the way.

The next morning get back to the action with an exhilarating canyon canopy tour! On this exciting adventure, nature becomes our playground. We will venture through the lush jungle to a steep canyon with a river cutting through it. While here we will spend time amongst the jungle canopy while ziplining, riding “Tarzan swings” and crossing hanging bridges. After exploring everything from high above the trees we will head down into the canyon while rappelling and rock climbing.

After a morning filled with adventure, we will spend our afternoon riding horses through a scenic forest trail to an enormous rock with a beautiful view of a rushing waterfall. There will be time for a swim at the foot of the falls before we return by horseback.

On the last day at the hacienda we will go on a waterfalls canyoning tour. Canyoning through the jungle waterfalls is an experience you’ll never forget! We will climb, slip and slide our way along natural rock formations and rappel down Victoria Falls. Once we reach the pool at the bottom we will do a guided climb back up the wall of the cascade. Canyoning is a must for any true adrenaline junkie!

In the afternoon we will visit the Río Negro hot springs with six pools heated naturally by the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano. This is the perfect opportunity to soothe our sore muscles after so many days filled with fun activities! We will even treat ourselves to a volcanic mud bath and wash it off with a cool river water shower.

The second half of our trip will be spent exploring Tamarindo Beach, one of the most beautiful places along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. On the first day we will explore the town and enjoy its many shops and friendly atmosphere before heading to the stunning Conchal Beach. The sand at Conchal is famous for being made of millions of tiny crushed shells and it is one of the only Pacific Coast beaches with crystal clear water. It’s the perfect scenic spot to spend an afternoon!

Tamarindo is also famous for being one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica, with waves for all levels, from beginners to pro surfers. We will take advantage of this and spend a day taking surf lessons. After a day of lessons with our expert instructors, you’ll be catching waves in no time!

The next day, we’ll visit the famous Bahía de los Piratas–the Pirate Bay! This beautiful, off-the-beaten-path beach is perfect for a day of relaxing, or you can try stand-up paddle, sea kayaking, or snorkeling.

On our final day, we will spend the morning at the beach. We’ll swim, snorkel, play beach games and enjoy one last day in the sun with our new friends. In the afternoon we will finish the day off right with a fantastic sailboat ride. During our sailing trip, we will cruise along the coast, stopping to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs and discover colorful marine life. You’ll also have the opportunity to go sea kayaking. The sailing trip goes until sunset, and we will relax with our friends as we coast back to shore watching the sunset on the horizon.