Where does my trip start?
Costa Rica Venture begins in San Jose, Costa Rica. You will meet your group and your leaders in the San Jose airport.
How will we get around Costa Rica?
Your group will travel in a private bus for the entire 20 days.
Do I need to be fluent in Spanish?
Though knowledge of Spanish may be useful during homestays and while traveling, it is certainly not required. Your leaders will be fluent in Spanish in order to coordinate travel and logistics at the airport and with outfitters. You may find yourself practicing phrases with the sons and daughters of families, or exchanging greetings in the local markets.
What happens in a typical day?
There is no typical day on a Moondance adventure! You can expect to surf, hike through a rain forest, rappel down a waterfall, ride a zip line, whitewater raft, and help local school children with art projects. Each day will be filled with a new adventurous activity. Every night on a Moondance adventure concludes with a “Moonup” during which you and your group will laugh about the days’ adventures, think about tomorrow’s opportunities, and get to know one another a bit more!
What exactly is a homestay?
Homestays are an excellent way to become completely immersed in Costa Rican culture. During the first week of your adventure, you will be trekking through lush rainforests to stay with a host family for a few nights. During your time there, you’ll learn how to create wonderful traditional meals, you’ll learn medicinal healing properties of local plants, and you’ll even be able to climb and rappel a breathtaking waterfall.
What will we eat?
You’ll help cook your meals during the homestay section of your adventure but most of your meals will be catered by private cooks who you’ll help for each meal preparation! You’ll enjoy fresh local cuisine and delicious juices everywhere you go and you’ll always have snacks in hand. On Moondance, “food is fuel!”
What are the accommodations?
During your Costa Rica Venture you will mainly be staying in hotels, homestays, cabins, and camping only during our surfing section.
How difficult is it to learn to surf? Where will we be surfing?
As with any new sport, surfing will feel a bit unfamiliar the first time you hop on a board. However, with perseverance, patience, and a little hard work, you’ll find yourself balancing on a wave in no time. We use professional outfitters for activities such as surfing so you’ll have the hand of a professional helping you to grasp the wave! You’ll be surfing in Uvita which is a mecca for exotica birds, monkeys, and private beaches.
Is it rainy in the rainforest?
Costa Rica does receive a substantial amount of rainfall, especially during the wet season in September and October. You’ll find that the rain is generally a consistent light mist, with only the occasional rain shower in the afternoon.
What do I need to bring with me?
Moondance will send you lots of information to make the trip preparation as smooth as possible! We’ll send you a down to the detail “what to pack” information sheet. It’ll be a breeze to gather it together; you’ll quickly learn less is more. What you’ll need most is a bathing suit, a couple of clean t-shirts, a pair of trail shoes, and a small backpack – but we’ll get all that information to you as soon as we get you on board!
What kind of community service projects will I do?
During the Costa Rica Venture, you’ll participate in two community service projects. (Don’t forget you’ll also participate in a homestay). You will work with the school children and community of San Ramon and El Peje. During your time at San Ramon, you’ll interact with students in families particularly at the two local orphanages and volunteer at the local hospital. In El Peje, you will spend time in the rural village remodeling their local school and be a part of Moondance’s on-going effort to help improve the lives of under-privileged children.
What kind of wildlife could we see?
You will be sharing the country with over 200 types of mammals that are only found in Costa Rica! Keep watch for monkeys playing in the trees above or even anteaters and armadillos making tracks right in front of you! Colorful and extraordinary displays of life within the rainforest are awaiting your discovery – be sure to bring a waterproof camera!
What will I learn by the end of my trip?
By the end of your Moondance experience, you may learn how to cook a great meal, how to find your way using topographical maps and a compass, or how to “ferry” to the shoreline in your kayak. Most of all, you’ll learn that life’s lessons are often camouflaged as a brilliant rainbow that follows a storm, a challenging mountain and a heavy pack, or strangers that become family at the end of 21 days. The self-confidence that one gains by exploring the unknown provides a constant foundation for life’s adventures down the road.
