Tours of Compassion
San Jose, Costa Rica

Sample itinerary for a special vacation with a reward
in Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose

Costa Rica offers you one of the world’s greatest collections of rain forests, wild rivers, unspoiled beaches, wildlife, mountains and volcanoes. With its unique combination of beauty and spirituality, it’s the ultimate refreshment for your body, mind and soul.

We are privileged to partner with Costa Rican Humantarian Foundation to create a combination of traditional touring and participating in CRHF’s renowned “A Bed for Every Child” program and Dream Pillow program that assists children and their families who live in poverty in Costa Rica.

Costa Rican Humantarian Foundation is an organization serving children and their families living in severe poverty. The renowned service program you will be participating in is called “A Bed for Every Child.” The children, typically sleeping on the floors of tiny dwellings made of tin and concrete blocks, are susceptible to all sorts of parasites and illness. CRHF treats them with medicines to purge the parasites and then gives them a bed of their own so they will not be re-infected. CRHF has a standard, simple design for the sturdy bunk beds that often have to be broken down and then reassembled on-site inside the tiny homes. The children and their families participate with us in these projects, and the joy touches the hearts of all involved. The bed is typically the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns.

Time will also be spend time with the Gracias Costa Rica program where we will participate in various local volunteer activities.

Your Journey Includes:

• Round-trip international flights
• Round-trip transfers between airport and hotel
• Accommodations in the 1st Class BW Irazu Hotel in San Jose
• U.S. airline and hotel taxes
• Service charges at hotels
• Breakfast every day
• Additional meals included as per itinerary
•  Local bilingual guides for sightseeing
• Sightseeing tours, as per itinerary, including entrance fees
• Pre-Paid Gratuities

Added Features:

• Special Tirimbina Rain Forest Tour
• “Zip-Ride” over the forest canopy
• Sarapiqui River Cruise
• Costa Rican Humantarian Foundation service programs
• The “Dream Pillow” program
• Community Volunteer Project coordinated by the Fundacion Humanitaria
• Community Volunteer Program with Gracias Costa Rica

Volunteer Projects in Costa Rica include

• The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation is an organization serving children and their families living in severe poverty. The renowned service program you will be participating in is called “A Bed for Every Child.” The children, typically sleeping on the floors of tiny dwellings made of tin and concrete blocks, are susceptible to all sorts of parasites and illness. CRHF treats them with medicines to purge the parasites and then gives them a bed of their own so they will not be infected again. CRHF has a standard, simple design for the sturdy bunk beds that often have to be broken down and then reassembled on-site inside the tiny homes. The children and their families participate with us in these projects and the joy touches the hearts of all involved. The bed is typically the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns.

• The “Dream Project” pairs you with a local student and together discuss the student’s dreams for this art project. We have found it to be a valuable opportunity in teaching children the value of dreaming: how important it is to have dreams, to wish for things, to have goals in life…..and how visualizing ones dreams in this way and keeping them near you while you sleep helps your dreams come true.

• Work with the Gracias Costa Rica program where you will participate in various volunteer activities such as renovating and refurbishing school equipment, painting a classroom/tables and/or chairs in the local school. Help rebuild and clean up areas that have been left impoverished.
• There will be Gift-Giving to children of poverty. They have very little and are genuinely appreciative of even the smallest presents: pens, pencils, crayons, markers, storybooks or educational toys, etc. that are great motivators for the kids.

TOUR ITINERARY
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1. Monday: US/San Jose (D)
Depart on our international flight to San Jose. Arrive same day. Clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs. Meet our local tour representative. Transfer to our home base for this week at the BW Irazu Hotel. Free time. There will be an afternoon meeting with Costa Rica’s Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation staff to discuss the service projects that we will be participating in tomorrow Welcome to San Jose Group Dinner. Overnight San Jose.

Day 2. Tuesday: In San Jose. CRHF Bed Making Program (B/L/D)
Breakfast will be the CRHF Program. Transfer to La Carpio, where the bed-building program will take place. The building features beds that are a standard, simple design for building sturdy bunk beds that after constructing will be personally delivered to the children and their families. Experience the joy that touches the hearts of all involved. The bed is typically the best piece of furniture the proud family now owns. Lunch will be provided for everyone. Return to the hotel for free time and dinner. Overnight San Jose.

Day 3. Wednesday: In San Jose. CRHF Bed Making Program & Dream Pillow (B/L/D)
This morning after last minute completion of the bed deliveries you will return to CRHF at La Carpio for lunch. After lunch, participate in CRHF renowned Magic Dream Pillow Workshop. Here you will be paired with a student and together discuss the student’s dreams for this art project. We have found it to be a valuable opportunity to teach the children the value of dreaming: how important is to have dreams, to wish for things, to have goals in life…..and how visualizing ones dreams in this way and keeping them near you while they sleep helps your dreams come true. Using fabric, non-toxic paints and markers (travelers will bring them), the children create designs and affirmations, as well as put their names on their pillowcases. Sayings such things as Sweet Dreams, Dreams Come True, etc. Each child will leave with a Dream Pillow. We have found that this program gives these children an experience that can affect them very positively for years to come.. Dinner at our hotel. Overnight San Jose.

Day 4. Thursday: In San Jose. “Gracias Costa Rica “ Community Volunteer Project (B/L)
This morning we will work with the Gracias Costa Rica program where we will participate in various volunteer activities such as renovating and refurbishing school equipment, painting a classroom/tables and/or chairs in the local school. Help rebuild and clean up areas that have been left impoverished. Return to the hotel for some well-deserved R & R. Dinner on our own at nearby San Jose to try some of the wonderful local restaurants. Overnight San Jose.

Day 5. Friday: In San Jose. Tirimbina Rain Forest Tour and Sarapiqui River Cruise (B/L/D
After breakfast, we depart for the Trimbina Rain Forest where a trained naturalist will help uncover and interpret the secrets of the tropical Rainforest. Discover wildlife hideouts and learn of the rainforest’s natural history in two-life zones that show how the forest has two vastly different uses. Highlight will be a “zip-ride” over the canopied rain forest. Safe and an experience never to be forgotten. Continue. Once to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquíi, where we’ll board a river boat and be on the way to discover the richness of Costa Rica’s nature along the waterway. During this two-hour boat ride, we’ll have the opportunity to witness the magnificent rain forest and its inhabitants, such as toucans, monkeys, sloth, crocodiles and many other exotic species. At a private farm, we’ll be served a delicious home cooked lunch and also experience their wonderful Butterfly Garden. One more opportunity to hike on one of the nature trails before returning to our hotel for a special farewell dinner. Overnight San Jose.

Day 6. Saturday: San Jose/USA (B)
Transfer to the airport for our flight back home. Arrive it day.

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary for group tour leaders.

It is one of our “Tours of Compassion” itineraries for teachers, religious leaders, organization heads, authors, speakers and other leaders who are thinking about putting together a spiritual travel package and offering it to their group.

For more information about how to form a group and travel free, please visit: https://bodymindspiritjourneys.com/form-a-group-and-travel-free