Live Free and Well teams up with the fruition center for holistic ecology to create an exciting adventure in the mountains of costa rica! we will fly into san jose and take a private shuttle to the farm where we will stay for 6 nights. during our stay, we will interact with our food, enjoying the fruits of our labor, in a seed to table lifestyle, while learning various methods in sustainable tropical farming..
The fruition center is developing super food forest systems, supplying diverse and highly nutritious foods to the table all year round. we will learn about the planting and cultivation of medicinal leaves and roots on a tropical farm, resting at 2,400 feet elevation. at this level, we will be surrounded by a vast view of the talamanca mountain range, and biodiversity, including sloths, iguanas, and toucans.
as the fruition center for holistic ecology is surrounded by an abundance of tropical farms, we will visit a neighboring coffee plantation whose family has been on the land for generations, as well as tour a sugar cane farm, who have an off grid commercial sugar cane processing facility, which includes the assistance of bulls. each of these tours will include a traditional costa rican lunch.
three meals are included daily, as well as a bed equipped with a mosquito net. hot or cold solar showers are available during our days that are full of experiential learning, including the use of medicinal plants and application of ecological methods to everyday life in the tropics..
other activities during our week together include chocolate making, a waterfall tour, and a day hike to the nearby river. our final full day will be spent on the beach on the pacific side of costa rica (45 minutes from the farm). a local guide will show us around the coast, where we can then relax and enjoy accommodation in a local cabina for our final sleep in costa rica.
The cost of the Tropical Immersion Spring Break is $1880, which includes flight from Detroit to San Jose, as well as in country transportation and meals. If it's easier for you to fly in from a different airport, please send us a message so we can build a package to accommodate your needs.
If you want to take care of your own transportation, the cost is $1080.
A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. The remainder must be paid in full by February 4, 2017 - one month prior to departure.
*Internships are also available at the Fruition Center for Holistic Ecology. If you're interested in a long-term stay, please let us know*
THIS SPRING BREAK PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. WE WILL TRAVEL TOGETHER FROM DETROIT TO SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA WHERE WE WILL BE PICKED UP BY A PRIVATE SHUTTLE TO MANAZNILLO, COSTA RICA ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST. FROM THERE, YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE A BOAT TO PUNTA MONA, OR TAKE A GUIDED, 8 KILOMETER HIKE TO THE PROPERTY WHERE WE WILL STAY FOR 6 NIGHTS.
DURING THAT TIME, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE ON AN OFF-GRID, PERMACULTURE PROPERTY IN GLAMPING TENTS. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND AND WALK AROUND INSIDE THESE TENTS, HAVE A COMFORTABLE BED TO SLEEP IN WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A MOSQUITO NET AND A NIGHTSTAND. YOU WILL SHARE A TENT WITH ONE OTHER GUEST WHO SLEEPS IN A SEPARATE BED.
WHILE WE ARE ON THE PROPERTY, WE WILL HAVE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH 1-2 PERMACULTURE PROJECTS, AS WELL ENJOY 3 ORGANIC MEALS EACH DAY. DURING OUR FREE TIME, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO MUD BATHE, KAYAK AND OR TAKE A YOGA CLASS. WE WILL ALSO MAKE CHOCOLATE FROM ORGANIC CACAO THAT'S GROWN RIGHT ON THE LAND. TO IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE LOCAL CULTURE, WE WILL VISIT THE KEDOLDI INDIGENOUS RESERVE NEAR PUNTA MONA.
ON THE 17TH, WE WILL JOURNEY OFF THE PROPERTY BY BOAT OR FOOT - YOUR CHOICE. FROM THERE, WE WILL VISIT THE JAGUAR RESCUE CENTER FOUNDATION, WHICH REHABS INJURED JUNGLE ANIMALS, INCLUDING MONKEYS, TUCANS, SLOTHS, AND MORE! AFTER THE ANIMALS ARE REHABBED, THE RESCUE CENTER TRAINS THEM TO SURVIVE IN THE ABUNDANT JUNGLE, AND RELEASES THEM. THIS EVENING, WE WILL SLEEP AT A HOTEL IN PUERTO VIEJO FOR OUR FINAL SLEEP IN COSTA RICA.
THE MORNING OF THE 18TH, WE WILL BE PICKED UP BY A SHUTTLE THAT WILL TRANSPORT US BACK TO THE AIRPORT IN SAN JOSE. ON OUR JOURNEY HOME TO DETROIT, WE WILL BE FULL OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST OUR LIFETIME!
To register for the Nature Infused Spring Break above, a $500 deposit is required to reserve your space. Please send us a message, and we'll give you the steps on how to pay by cash, check or PayPal.
Payments can be made in full at time of registration, or can be paid in increments, with the full amount of $2060 due by February 11th - one month prior to departure.
If you'd like to take care of your own transportation, the cost of the trip is $1260.