We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you an idea of what this travel experience is all about. The actual itinerary may vary slightly. A formal itinerary, including a list of confirmed accommodations will be sent to you 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the program. DAY #1 Tuesday Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica Arrive to San Jose Costa Rica on supervised flight or other flight Evening: Group welcome, snacks, and ice breakers at hotel Overnight: Hampton Inn - San Jose, Costa Rica DAY #2 Wednesday Into the Costa Rican Highlands Enjoy a guided tour of Alajuela Central Market, an enourmous farmers market with delicious fruits, vegetables, cheeses, desserts, breads, drinks and more! Travel northwards through the lush green forests and banana plantations into the highlands to Sarapiqui Costa Rican Adventure Race and reforestation project that includes rafting down a river Put your dancing shoes on as you learn how to dance the Salsa! Overnight: Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve Chilamate, Costa Rica DAY #3 Thursday Cross- Cultural Exchange Discover the Rainforest at Tirimbina, explore the trails and understand the rainforest habitat Find out the secrets of chocolate! See the process from cocoa plant to chocolate bar Search for rainforest wildlife in the darkness of night Overnight: Selva Verde Lodge & Rainforest Reserve Chilamate, Costa Rica DAY #4 Friday Adventures in Baldi Relax at the Baldi Hot Springs Resort, the most expansive hot spring facility in the region Depart to Rancho Margot, learn about the history of the eco- lodge Ranch and everything it has to offer! Afternoon activity your choice of horseback riding or kayaking Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner at Rancho Margot Overnight: Rancho Margot Lake Arenal, Costa Rica DAY #5 Saturday Shabbat at the Ranch Begin Shabbat morning with a relaxing yoga class at the Ranch and then reflective Shabbat services Tour Rancho Margot and its beautiful nature trails Spend Shabbat afternoon at the Ranch with yoga, soccer, pool and relaxation time Evening: Havdallah service followed by cultural activity Overnight: Rancho Margot Lake Arenal, Costa Rica
DAY #6 Sunday Costa Rican Approach to Sustainability Explore Arenal National Park Hike to the base of an active volcano for a stunning view! Descend to the base of La Fortuna waterfalls and cool- off in the river Travel to the misty cloud forest community of Monteverde Nighttime walking safari in the Monteverde Biological Reserve Overnight: Hotel Montana Monteverde, Costa Rica DAY #7 Monday Monteverde Cloud Forest Hike through the cloud- covered Santa Elena reserve and plant trees Enjoy lunch and free time for shopping in downtown Monteverde Fly high above the cloud forest canopy on a zip- lining and hanging bridge course Walk through a colorful Butterfly garden Overnight: Hotel Montana Monteverde, Costa Rica DAY #8 Tuesday Along the Pacific Coast Descend from the mountains and travel south along the Pacific Coast Volunteer activity at the Senior Citizens Home in Quebrada Ganado Get up- close with crocodiles, iguanas, lizards and more on a boat tour on the Tarcoles River Help keep the Tarcoles community beautiful with a beach clean up project Lecture from turtle hatchery expert end your day with a short night walk on the beach Overnight: Hotel Doce Lunas Jaco, Costa Rica DAY #9 Wednesday Manuel Antonio Explore the expansive beaches and evergreen forest of the Manuel Antonio National Park Enjoy a picnic lunch in the beautiful nature of the park Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun and cooling off in the ocean at the beach Evening: Relax after a long day with a delicious Kosher BBQ dinner back at the hotel Overnight: Hotel Doce Lunas Jaco, Costa Rica DAY #10 Thursday Ocean Kayaking and Beach Day! Kayak and canoe on the Pacific Ocean then catch your breath and eat lunch on Jaco beach Descend the mossy, stone steps of the Bijagual Rainforest to hear the roar of the Waterfall Enjoy the beautiful view while dining at Mirador del Cacique Evening: Return to San Jose Overnight: Costa Rica Hotel & Tennis Club - San Jose, Costa Rica DAY #11 Friday San Jose Capital of Costa Rica Ascend to the top of the Poaz Volcano National Park, overlooking San Jose Shopping in Alajuela, one of the largest cities in Costa Rica Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat in Costa Rica s capital city of San Jose
Kabbalat Shabbat services at San Jose s Shaare Zion Congregation Shabbat dinner at the Jewish Community Center Walk back to accommodations Overnight: Costa Rica Hotel & Tennis Club - San Jose, Costa Rica DAY #12 Saturday Community Shabbat Enjoy a leisurely Shabbat morning at hotel facilities along with Shabbat programming Enjoy lunch at the Jewish Community Center with the community Rabbi Afternoon relaxation at the hotel hang out with your friends, play sports, and more Overnight: Costa Rica Hotel & Tennis Club - San Jose, Costa Rica DAY #13 Sunday Rafting on Pacuare River Wake up early and travel through Turialba en route to the Pacuare River Begin a full- day of white water rafting on the rushing rapids of the Pacuare River Evening: Farewell pizza party and bowling! Overnight: Best Western Irazu - San Jose, Costa Rica DAY #13 Monday Arrival in Phoenix Travel to Phoenix airport on supervised flight or other flight Pick- up at Phoenix airport & transfer to accommodations in Scottsdale Program orientation and icebreakers Evening: enjoy pizza dinner and swimming in the pool Overnight: Homewood Suites Scottsdale, Arizona DAY #14 Tuesday Backcountry Arizona & Sedona Cool off with tubing down Arizona s Salt River Travel to Slide Rock State Park Explore downtown Sedona Continue northwards to Flagstaff Overnight: Days Hotel Flagstaff, Arizona DAY #15 Wednesday Grand Canyon Depart for the Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center & IMAX Movie Rim hike along the edge of the Grand Canyon Bright Angel Trail Overnight: Days Hotel Flagstaff, Arizona DAY #16 Thursday Bryce Canyon National Park Begin early morning travel northwards Utah Bryce National Park Hike along the rim of the canyon
Check- in to Ponderosa Ranch and prepare for Shabbat Evening: Kabbalat Shabbat overlooking Zion National Park Overnight: Ponderosa Ranch Orderville, Utah DAY #17 Friday Shabbat on the Ranch Shabbat morning programming and lunch Pool time, sports, and relaxed afternoon at the Ranch Havdallah Ceremony Followed by Rodeo & Barn Dance Overnight: Ponderosa Ranch Orderville, Utah DAY #18 Saturday Zion National Park Early morning hike to the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park Cool- off tubing down Virgin River in Zion Nature walk to Emerald Pools in Zion National Park Evening: Western Film or Stargazing in the desert sky Overnight: Ponderosa Ranch Orderville, Utah DAY #19 Sunday Las Vegas Head to Las Vegas Photo stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign CSI: The Experience Evening: Ice Cream Sundae Party Overnight: Red Roof Inn Las Vegas, Nevada DAY #20 Monday Las Vegas Walk The Strip in fabulous Las Vegas see the Bellagio Fountains, Streetmosphere at Venetian, Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo etc. Stray Boots scavenger hunt on Old Fremont Street Evening: Las Vegas Show Blue Man Group Overnight: Red Roof Inn Las Vegas, Nevada DAY #21 Tuesday Crossing the Desert Begin travel westwards to California Travel through the Mojave Desert National Preserve Visit to the Museum of Tolerance of Los Angeles Sunset at Venice Beach and enjoying the outdoor market DAY #22 Wednesday Hollywood Volunteer project working on a Kosher food truck Walk down Hollywood Boulevard and visit to Grauman s Chinese Theatre Evening: Comedy Club Show in Los Angeles
DAY #23 Thursday Malibu Service project at the Los Angeles Food Bank View of Los Angeles from the Griffith Observatory Relaxed beach time in Malibu Return to campus and prepare for Kabbalat Shabbat in the Los Angeles hills DAY #24 Friday Shabbat in Los Angeles Shabbat programming, lunch, and free time for sports and relaxation Evening: Group night out at Santa Monica Pier DAY #25 Saturday Northwards through the Central Valley Tour of Air Force One at the Reagan Library with new Walt Disney Exhibit Travel northwards to Yosemite National Park via California s central valley Stop for dinner with Chabad in Fresno Arrive to Curry Village in Yosemite National Park Overnight: Curry Village (Fixed Tents) Yosemite National Park, California DAY #26 Sunday Yosemite National Park Giant Sequoias Ranger program at Mariposa Day hike up the Mist Trail to the backside of Half Dome Sunset nature walk to the base of Half Dome in Yosemite Valley Evening: Evening program in the Yosemite Lodge Overnight: Curry Village (Fixed Tents) Yosemite National Park, California DAY #27 Monday High Sierra Continue traveling through the Sierra Nevada Mountains north to Tahoe Stop en route at Mono Lake Tufa Tour Overnight: Quality Inn South Lake Tahoe, California DAY #28 Tuesday Lake Tahoe Paddle surfing and kayaking on Lake Tahoe Tour of the Squaw Valley Winter Olympic sites Take cable cars up to Squaw Valley s Swimming Lagoon at 8,200 feet Overnight: Quality Inn South Lake Tahoe, California DAY #29 Wednesday California s Central Valley Begin traveling down from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Bay Area Visit the Nimbus salmon hatchery on the American River Lunch on own in Old Town Sacramento Jelly Belly factory tour
Evening: Group night out exploring San Francisco DAY #30 Thursday Marin County Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County Explore the Red Wood trees of Muir Woods Picnic- style lunch at Stinson Beach Nature walk to summit of Mt. Tamalpais for view across the Bay Area Return to campus to prepare for final Shabbat Attend Kabbalat Shabbat service at local synagogue in Berkeley DAY #31 Friday Shabbat in Berkeley Shabbat morning program and lunch Guided tour of the University of California, Berkeley campus Relaxed afternoon and closing session Group evening out on Berkeley s Telegraph Street DAY #32 Saturday San Francisco Tour of historic Alcatraz prison Afternoon tea at Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate National Park Ride San Francisco s famous cable cars Evening: Closing dinner and ice cream at Fenton s Ice Cream DAY #33 Sunday Farewell! Depart from San Francisco Airport