BePeace Costa Rica 2010 Itinerary

July 30: Depart U.S. destinations (if overnight flight) to San Jose, Costa Rica.

July 31: Arrive at airport in San Jose, Costa Rica not later than 5:30a.m. Rasur Foundation International (www.rasurinternational.org) staff will be there to greet us and a shuttle will take us to the El Maranon Lodge. We will be joined by a group from Unity in Madison. After breakfast and a short rest, we will take a delightful ride to the La Paz waterfall Gardens in time for lunch, where you can enjoy the spray of a 120-foot waterfall, the tickle of a butterfly as it takes its first flight and have a hummingbird eat out of your hand. This place of peace is unforgettable. Dinner out at Rosti Pollo and head back to the hotel.

August 1, 2, 3: Service project days in Costa Rica (one day at the Rasur Foundation and two days at a local elementary school). Each night we will eat dinner together at Quizur and experience BePeace mini-workshops led by Rev. Rita Marie Johnson, founder of the Rasur Foundation and BePeace.

August 4: We will travel to the UN University for Peace for a tour of the campus. Then we head out of town, stopping at Zarcero, a Costa Rican village with a whimsical topiary and quaint Catholic Church. Next we head to the volcano Arenal and arrive at El Tucano for lunch, where you can rejuvenate in hot springs, take advantage of a full-service spa, or take a hike or swim in the mineral pool water while enjoying the view of the volcano.

August 5: Participants will have the choice to experience a zip-line ride to the ground at Sky Tram, or take a natural history walking tour on hanging bridges. We will eat a delicious meal at Chozo de Laureles and then return to El Tucano that afternoon for more relaxation.

August 6: Leave El Tucano after breakfast and head down to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. Along the way, we'll stop to have lunch in Playa Hermosa. Spend the rest of your day enjoying the beaches and beautiful scenery and meet up for dinner. Evening workshop or group meditation.

August 7: We leave the hotel and get an early start to the day. Participants have the choice to either go into the Manuel Antonio National Park or participate in an optional tour. The 3000 acres of the Manuel Antonio National Park is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the country. Dense greenery cascades into the white sands and clear waters of the park and there are optimal chances to see animals first hand—monkeys, toucans and more! Dinner and overnight in Manuel Antonio.

August 8: After a half day of leisure in Manuel Antonio we will travel to Quepos for lunch. Later we will travel back to the hotel near Quizur. Relax and eat dinner where you please that evening (options provided).

August 9: We will go on a Café Britt Coffee Tour where visitors are immersed in the fascinating world of gourmet coffee—Costa Rica’s most important and prestigious crop. We will then return to the hotel to freshen up and pack and join together one last time for a celebration dinner at Quizur.

August 10: Your shuttle will arrive bright and early at the hotel to take everyone to the airport to fly home. We know you will go home with more peace and a heart that is filled with Pura Vida!