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Las Selvas

de Costa Rica

April 2027

Open to all students enrolled in Spanish from Grades 10-12 in the 2026-2027 school year.

Chaperones:

Sra. D’Annunzio, Sra. Brito, &

Sra. Sánchez

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The Hallmarks of an Amazing Trip

Centrally Located Hotels Near the Sights You Came to See

Full Itineraries Featuring Unique Cultural Connections—�Fewer Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Delicious, Plentiful, Authentic Local Cuisine

Expertly-Trained, Knowledgeable Tour Managers

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Itinerary del viaje: Las Selvas de Costa Rica

April 16 – 23, 2027

_{*Final dates and itinerary are subject to change based on final enrollment numbers.}

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The Adventure Begins!

Board Your Flight, Arrive Overseas and �Meet Your ACIS Tour Manager

Key Talking Points:

Arrive to the smiling face of the Tour Manager and begin the great activities he/she will have planned

Tips for the first day

DAY 1, FRIDAY APRIL 18: SAN JOSE

Depart from the USA.

Met at the airport by the Tour Manager

The magic of the tour manager!

From arrival at the airport to departure back home, your Tour Manager is with you 24/7. They are amazing personalities and are a part of the tour you won’t forget!

Your Tour Manager refers to your full-time bus group leader, who is rigorously trained and specially selected to assist your group while overseas. ACIS Tour Managers are comedian-funny, historian-interesting, and secret-agent-cunning. They’re part commentator, counselor, troubleshooter, advocate and stopwatch! They do it all, from logistics to leading educational activities to knowing where to find the best gelato.

Transition: “Now let’s walk through the itinerary on the printout you’re holding.”

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Explore San José

Highlights

San José

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Doka Estate Coffee Plantation Tour
Sarchí Visit

Santa Elena Cloud Forest
Monteverde Canopy Tour

Monteverde

Highlights

DAY 2, SATURDAY APRIL 19: MONTEVERDE

The day begins with a tour of Doka Estate, a working, sustainable coffee plantation and roastery. Here you’ll learn about the life cycle of growing gourmet coffee beans and participate in a “cupping,” or coffee-tasting, session. Then it’s on to Sarchí, a small artisan town renowned for its brilliantly colored arts and crafts, particularly its ox-carts. Your journey then continues on to Monteverde, where you’ll begin to explore this lush rainforest region, recognized for its diverse flora and fauna. (B,D)

DAY 3, SUNDAY APRIL 20: MONTEVERDE

Today explore the important and fascinating Santa Elena Cloud Forest. Originally settled in the 1950s by a group of Quakers from Alabama, Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to more than 400 species of birds, 100 species of mammals and 2,500 species of plants including the jaguar, ocelot, Baird’s tapir, three-wattled bellbird, bare-necked umbrellabird, and the famously elusive resplendent quetzal. Get ready for a different perspective on the forest, as this afternoon you will swing far above the forest floor on the world famous Monteverde Canopy Tour

. You will have views from a series of platforms and thrilling zip-lines that carry you above and through the canopy. Later perhaps stroll the small town center of Monteverde, chock full of restaurants and shops, or stop to savor a taste of the national dish, gallo pinto, a mix of fried rice and black beans. (B,D)

Transition:

“I love travel, but the true adventure begins when you get home. Great photos, new friendships, and memories to last a lifetime.

I still remember…”

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Local School Visit
Arenal Volcano Hot Springs
Hike in the Arenal Volcano’s Private Reserve

Highlights

San Carlos

DAY 4, MONDAY APRIL 21: SAN CARLOS

THE MORNING STARTS WITH A JOURNEY TO THE SAN CARLOS REGION, GATEWAY TO THE WORLD-FAMOUS, 5,357-FOOT-HIGH ARENAL VOLCANO. AFTER ARRIVING, YOU'LL VISIT WITH STUDENTS AT A LOCAL SCHOOL—A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE YOUR SPANISH SKILLS AS WELL AS COMPARE NOTES ON TYPICAL SCHOOL DAYS, CUSTOMS AND LIFESTYLES. LATER, DON YOUR BATHING SUIT AND TAKE AN INVIGORATING DIP IN ONE OF THE HOT SPRINGS, FOR WHICH THE AREA IS FAMOUS, AT THE BASE OF THE VOLCANO. (B,D)

DAY 5, TUESDAY APRIL 22: SARAPIQUI

LACE UP YOUR SNEAKERS THIS MORNING FOR A FASCINATING HIKE THROUGH THE ARENAL VOLCANO’S CLOSEST PRIVATE RESERVE, WHICH FEATURES A GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE LANDSCAPE THAT VEERS FROM LAVA FIELDS TO THICK FORESTS. THEN SAY ADIOS TO SAN CARLOS AND HEAD FOR SARAPIQUÍ, A BEAUTIFUL REGION THAT'S GAINING A REPUTATION FOR TOP-NOTCH ADVENTURE TOURISM. (B,D)

Transition:

“I love travel, but the true adventure begins when you get home. Great photos, new friendships, and memories to last a lifetime.

I still remember…”

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Reforestation Service Project
Costa Rican Cooking Lesson
Braulio Carrillo National Park & Aerial Tram Ride

Sarapiqui

Highlights

DAY 6, WEDNESDAY APRIL 23: SARAPIQUI

COME TOGETHER THIS MORNING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY DURING A REFORESTATION SERVICE PROJECT ON A NEARBY FARM. LEARN ABOUT LOCAL AGRICULTURE AS YOU PLANT INDIGENOUS TREES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THE REGION'S ECOSYSTEM. IN THE AFTERNOON, BURNISH YOUR ETHNIC-CULINARY CREDENTIALS WITH A COSTA RICAN COOKING LESSON, WHERE YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO MAKE A REGIONAL DISH USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES AND LOCALLY GROWN INGREDIENTS. BONUS: YOU ALSO GET TO SNACK ON THE RESULTS! (B,D)

DAY 7, THURSDAY APRIL 24: SAN JOSE

DEPART FOR THE CLOUD FOREST IN BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK, A NATURE LOVER’S PARADISE NAMED FOR THE COUNTRY’S THIRD PRESIDENT, DR. BRAULIO CARILLO. KEEP YOUR CAMERA HANDY AS YOU SIT BACK AND RELAX DURING A BREATHTAKING RIDE ON THE PARK’S AERIAL TRAM. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR TOUCANS, QUETZALS AND HUMMINGBIRDS, NOT TO MENTION THE WHITE-FACED CAPUCHIN MONKEYS AND OTHER WILDLIFE. CONTINUE BACK TO SAN JOSÉ FOR THE EVENING. (B,D)

Transition:

“I love travel, but the true adventure begins when you get home. Great photos, new friendships, and memories to last a lifetime.

I still remember…”

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Return Home…

…with stories to last a lifetime!

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It’s Included!

Program Fee $3,744

The school will work with families who would have trouble affording the trip.

ACIS Tour Manager & All Tipping

Three- and four-star hotels located near what you came to see

Excursions, tours and cultural activities

Round-trip flights, airport transfers and surface transport

Daily breakfasts & dinners showcasing authentic cuisine

Basic Protection Plan coverage

Personal headsets throughout your tour

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Making Travel Possible

Enhanced Safety and Flexibility Policies
24/7 Emergency Support Network
On-the-Ground Support by Local Offices
Included Basic Protection Plan
Financial Security
No Mixed-Group Rooming
Enhanced Hygiene Protocol in line with USTOA’s TourCare program
Visit a local travel doctor or your primary care physician with your itinerary to get the best personalized medical advice on any vaccinations or special medication needed for the program

Your Safety and Security is our #1 Priority

_{Plus, Register Risk Free!}

Key Talking Points:

We have you covered

We want to reassure you that your safety and peace of mind have always been our top priority. We are constantly monitoring the evolving global situation and have policies in place to ensure that you can just look forward to this trip without worry.
You can always visit www.acis.com/our-response for the latest updates.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you’d like to go more in-depth on anything specific!

2023 VACCINE POLICY: Many destinations are now either denying entry to unvaccinated visitors or have introduced vaccination requirements in order to move freely within the country. Even in locations without such official regulations, delivering a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all becomes difficult to achieve in the close quarters of an educational group tour when some travelers are vaccinated while others are not. Given these restrictions, in order to travel in 2022, all ACIS Group Leaders and travelers will need to be fully vaccinated. Just like a passport, vaccination cards are going to be an essential travel item for the foreseeable future. For 2022 travel, requiring vaccinations is the responsible and logical policy. If it becomes clear that vaccines will continue to be necessary for 2023 travel, you can expect the policy to remain in place. We hope this policy brings all our travelers peace of mind.

Register for a 2023 Tour with Zero Down Through 6/1/22

(Deposits for Participants departing before Dec 31, 2022 are also risk-free until Jun 1, 2022)

Deposits for Participants departing after Jan 1, 2023 are risk-free until Sep 1, 2022.

Details on next slide

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Protection Plans Provide Peace of Mind

Basic Protection is automatically included, at no extra charge. For complete peace of mind, we recommend upgrading to one of our paid plans, like more than half of our travelers do each year.

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Ask Your Community for the Gift of Travel:

Payment Plans Make it Possible!

Choose the payment plan option that’s best for you: Automatic Payment or Manual Payment

Advantages of Automatic Payments:

FREE enrollment, avoid late fees and have more time to budget (last payment as late as 45 days before departure).

PLUS, pay with cash (by e-check or Automatic Payments) and get rewarded with a one-time $50 discount!

Select My Fundraising within My Account online to set up your page, then request contributions by sharing your unique URL.

Personal Fundraising

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Our Group TripSite

Key Talking Points:

The ACIS website is a great online travel resource

Get started at your group’s customized TripSite

Register and/or stay connected with your Teacher and group

Stay in touch with your group through TripSite, accessible from www.acis.com home page where it says “Looking for YOUR GROUP’S specific tour?”

Remind people: GL ID and Last Name are printed on the PDF handout they received.

Via a classroom computer or their smartphones, encourage everyone to visit TripSite right now and click the Tell Me More button.

Initial minimum payment is due at sign-up: [$XXX]

TripSite and your online account allow you to access automatic payments or manual payments, protection plan information, packing lists and trip information like your itinerary and updates from your group leader.

Once registered, log in to My Account to access great resources for pre-trip preparation, what to expect on tour, fundraising suggestions, contests, scholarships and more!

Make sure everyone has the ACIS and Group Leader contact information.

**Distribute the “Top 5 Reasons To Send Your Child on an Educational Tour” handout**

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BHS in Costa Rica

2025

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Adventures in nature!

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Reforestation Project

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Cooking Lesson

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Explore the town!

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Cacao plantation and chocolate making demo

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Local School Visit

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Nature Walk

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“I learned a lot about the culture, ecosystems and history of Costa Rica. I really liked seeing all of the plants.”
“I think it was life changing for me!”
“I would tell *them that everyone on the trip loved the experience of traveling through multiple different areas of Costa Rica and that our tour guides were amazing people.” *School Committee
“We talked in spanish for most of the time, and got to have cool experiences we wouldn't have otherwise done and might never do again.”

Quotes from students…

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Email of presentation

¿Preguntas?

Reach out to Sra. D’Annunzio, Sra. Brito, Sra. Sánchez or Ms. Penner-Hahn

Another quote:

“I learned so much and it really opened my eyes to how different life could be if everyone adopted the mindset of living sustainably and doing their part to preserve the environment. Though many people in Costa Rica may live more simply than we do, the wildlife and nature and abundance surrounding them is more valuable than any material goods, and it's clear how much everyone works together to help keep that a reality.”