ECO-ADVENTURE

Registration Form (English PDF file)
Registration Form (French PDF file)

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Themes: Intentional community/sustainable living/ecology.

Background:
Costa Ricans have much to teach us about co-operative and sustainable living. They’ve developed a variety of vehicles for preserving the great forests and have created unique initiatives that encourage community members to work together to better their lives. There is much in Costa Rica that we can do to help but there’s even more for us to learn.

Trip Details:
Departure Dates: 2008 - August 16
Costs: : $2295 CAD (includes flight from Toronto)
Medium fitness required

This journey is:

• An immersion into the life and work of the dedicated people who live in a self-sustaining eco-community situated high in the cloud forest of the Talamanca mountains. The community grows organic vegetables, raises goats for cheese and yogurt and utilizes solar panels and a small hydro generator for electricity.
  

• A cultural and learning experience, living and working with people who share a strong environmental ethic. The community has created a foundation dedicated to acquiring and protecting a huge expanse of land that will act as a wildlife corridor. Much of what our participants pay goes toward the purchase of this land.
  

• A chance to contribute to the well being of the planet as well as experience the power of community action. We’ll have a chance to share work on a variety of projects, which could include the organic garden, the tree nursery, goat shepherding, experimental organic coffee and banana plantations, or an on-going forest growth study the community has initiated.
  

• An opportunity to experience the breath-taking beauty of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, waterfalls, beaches and rainforests as well as the vibrant culture of its people.
  

Itinerary:

Day one
Arrive in San Jose, settle in and acclimatize to each other and your surroundings.

Day two
Tour spectacular Poas Volcano and the urban culture of San Jose, the Capitol city.

Days three to ten
Travel by coach to a unique community high in the Talamanca Mountains. Meet the community members and settle into cabins. Experience an immersion into the life and work of this wonderful community.

Accommodation:
Live in simple but comfortable cabins while in the community and enjoy delicious organic vegetarian meals.

Activities:
Work, play and explore this extraordinary setting with members of the community.

• Work on projects, some of which are listed above. Typically we work in the mornings and hike in the afternoon.
  
• Go on afternoon hikes to a spectacular waterfall, a primary old growth forest, and a micro hydroelectric project.
  
• One of the highlights of our stay is an overnight expedition to the Continental Divide into untouched, largely inaccessible, Amistad National Park. The Divide is the high point of the mountain spine that goes right through Central America. On one side all water flows into the Atlantic and on the other it flows into the Pacific. On a clear day one can see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. You’ll stay in a small cabin high in the mountains and travel through five different types of rainforest before returning to the community.
  
• Spend evenings with community members playing music, sharing stories, enjoying a campfire and celebrating our stay with a dance and dinner on our final night.
  

Days ten to twelve
Travel to an exquisite nature retreat perched on a ridge overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This site has a strong environmental focus. It’s situated on the edge of Ballena National Park, the only marine park in the country and the breeding ground for Humpback whales.

Accommodation:
The owner, who was largely responsible for the park designation, has created a stunning property. The buildings are handcrafted from materials on site and solar panels and a small hydro unit provides electricity. Much of the food is organically grown on the property.

Activities:

• There is a crescent-shaped private beach surrounded by primary coastal rainforest where you'll be able to do some surfing and boogie boarding. This beach is one of the safest in the area due to its shape and the protective coral reef offshore.
  
• The forest is a coastal rainforest and you can see both white-faced and howler monkeys as well as many different species of birds, reptiles and amphibians.
  
• This is a wonderful place to relax and reflect on the experiences you ’ve had in Costa Rica and share thoughts and feelings.
  

Day twelve
Travel by coach to San Jose and depart for home.

Registration Form (English PDF file)
Registration Form (French PDF file)