Customized Adventures

Costa Rica is a unique country in many ways; it is bordered by the Pacific and Caribbean, has no standing army, and varies from high mountains, to solitary beaches. However, the most unique aspects of this foreign country are the diverse geography and the adventure seeking spirit of the people that live here. Combine these two qualities and what you get is a natural and accessible playground of whitewater rivers, waves for surfing, coastlines for kite boarding, volcanoes to climb; and all with an exotic flair. Sol Encounter, S.A. realizes the many natural, adventure and educational opportunities Costa Rica offers and is experienced at designing custom trips to combine these elements based on your group’s specific goals and needs. Below is an idea of a few trips that can be customized with any combination, timeline or group size to suit your adventure.

Surf
Although there are too many breaks in this small country to name, you may have heard of a few: Witches Rock, Dominical, Pavones, and Salsa Brava. The Pacific side of the country has innumerable beach and point breaks that vary from remote locations to entertaining beach communities with activities and nightlife for all. The Caribbean has fewer breaks, but when they go off in the winter months, the sound of water breaking over reef can be heard from miles away. The rugged coastline has a variety for all, from beginner to long board to short board waves. One other thing, during your stay in Costa Rica, you won’t see any neoprene wetsuits; that’s the advantage of surfing tropical waters. Sol Encounter can customize a surf trip for experienced surfers down to first timers. A surf segment may also be combined with any other activity.

River
Costa Ricans, or “Ticos” are beginning to make a splash on the international river scene. And it’s no wonder why; 12,000-foot peaks, two central mountain ranges and the abundance of rain all combine to form an extensive countrywide system of rivers. The degree of difficulty ranges from Class V creek boating to lazy flat-water sections draining into the oceans. Many rivers such as the Pacuare and Reventazón have gained worldwide recognition, but there are plenty of accessible rivers where you will never see another boater, if that is your preference. Sol Encounter has years of experience on Costa Rican rivers and can customize raft, kayak or combination trips. Gear can be provided or brought into the country for use. A river segment may also be combined with any other activity.

Rainforest Trekking
More than a fifth of Costa Rica is protected land, and much of this is rainforest. A visit to Costa Rica can include hiking through lowland rainforests, exploring remote waterfalls, flying through the trees on a canopy tour of the high alpine cloud forest and drinking crystal clear water straight from the naturally filtered rainforest streams. You may also see white-faced and howler monkeys, tapirs, sloths, kinkajous, or perhaps the print of an ocelot. Sol Encounter, LLP can customize a rainforest trek ranging from day hikes to weeklong trips. A rainforest trekking segment may also be combined with any other activity.

Mountain Climbing
There are many prominent peaks in Costa Rica. Several require two-day ascents, and others might take you to the top of an active volcano to view steam rising out of the ground. Mount Chirripó, the highest peak in Costa Rica, rises above 12,000 feet. Often times, if you wake a few hours before dawn to began the final ascent, you can watch the sun rise over the Caribbean and light up the Pacific Ocean on the other side of the country. Many active and dormant volcanoes may also be climbed and accommodations can vary from fine lodgings to backpack camping. While rock climbing and technical mountaineering does exist in Costa Rica, nearly all of the bigger peaks are accessed via hiking paths. A mountain climbing section may also be combined with any other activity.

Kite boarding
A cross between surfing, wakeboarding and parasailing, kite boarding is an emerging extreme sport that harnesses the power of the wind to traverse the ocean’s waves-- catching air up to 30 feet and more at times. Playa Copal, a northwestern beach just an hour south of the Nicaraguan border, has one of the world’s best conditions to learn or perfect this sport from mid-November to mid-May. Enjoy some of Costa Rica’s less-traveled and remote beaches while learning an adrenaline sport many have never heard of. If you’re an experienced kiter you can bring your own gear, but all gear is available with lessons, as well. A kite boarding section may also be combined with any other activity.

Educational Tours
One of the qualities that Sol Encounter prides itself on is our knowledge of the natural and cultural history of Costa Rica, as well as our experience in teaching in the many settings of Costa Rica. Sol Encounter can customize educational trips for private groups or schools in a number of areas. This may include home stays with Costa Rican families, customized language and culture courses arranged through internationally accredited universities and professors in Costa Rica, and complimentary tours, excursions or lectures to focus on coursework. Specific lectures or classes may include Spanish grammar and conversation, international politics, Latin American trade, Latin American literature, cultural heritage, Costa Rican and Central American history, Tropical Biology, Ecology or Sustainable Development. With sufficient time and detailed planning Sol Encounter can help you plan the perfect Alternative Spring Break Program, summer research project or hands-on workshop to enhance coursework from the US.

Volunteer Tours
As a tropical country with abundant biodiversity and growing eco-tourism, Costa Rica has many opportunities to aid in its conservation, preservation and educational efforts of its forests, rivers, animals and beaches. Additionally, as a developing country there is always a need in some communities to help create, maintain, implement and support public facilities, resources or programs. If you would like to contribute time and energy in the form of volunteer work to support on-going efforts in these or other specific areas, Sol Encounter can help. We’ll find the right community and volunteer effort to meet the needs of those you are helping while providing a priceless memory and eye-opening experience for your group. A community service project or volunteer element may also be combined with any other activity.

Information and Prices
Sol Encounter can customize any trip to fit your desire. Other trip examples include San Jose tours, museum tours, coffee plantation tours, beach-hopping tours, sea kayak tours, wind boarding tours, wake boarding tours, and snorkeling tours. Any of these activities may be combined to create your own itinerary. Please email customized@solencounter.com for more information or questions about custom trips. Custom adventures can vary in group size to your preference and prices are dependant on the amount of people, days, and degree of luxury you prefer.

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	Customized Adventures Costa Rica is a unique country in many ways; it is bordered by the Pacific and Caribbean, has no standing army, and varies from high mountains, to solitary beaches. However, the most unique aspects of this foreign country are the diverse geography and the adventure seeking spirit of the people that live here. Combine these two qualities and what you get is a natural and accessible playground of whitewater rivers, waves for surfing, coastlines for kite boarding, volcanoes to climb; and all with an exotic flair. Sol Encounter, S.A. realizes the many natural, adventure and educational opportunities Costa Rica offers and is experienced at designing custom trips to combine these elements based on your group’s specific goals and needs. Below is an idea of a few trips that can be customized with any combination, timeline or group size to suit your adventure. Surf Although there are too many breaks in this small country to name, you may have heard of a few: Witches Rock, Dominical, Pavones, and Salsa Brava. The Pacific side of the country has innumerable beach and point breaks that vary from remote locations to entertaining beach communities with activities and nightlife for all. The Caribbean has fewer breaks, but when they go off in the winter months, the sound of water breaking over reef can be heard from miles away. The rugged coastline has a variety for all, from beginner to long board to short board waves. One other thing, during your stay in Costa Rica, you won’t see any neoprene wetsuits; that’s the advantage of surfing tropical waters. Sol Encounter can customize a surf trip for experienced surfers down to first timers. A surf segment may also be combined with any other activity. River Costa Ricans, or “Ticos” are beginning to make a splash on the international river scene. And it’s no wonder why; 12,000-foot peaks, two central mountain ranges and the abundance of rain all combine to form an extensive countrywide system of rivers. The degree of difficulty ranges from Class V creek boating to lazy flat-water sections draining into the oceans. Many rivers such as the Pacuare and Reventazón have gained worldwide recognition, but there are plenty of accessible rivers where you will never see another boater, if that is your preference. Sol Encounter has years of experience on Costa Rican rivers and can customize raft, kayak or combination trips. Gear can be provided or brought into the country for use. A river segment may also be combined with any other activity. Rainforest Trekking More than a fifth of Costa Rica is protected land, and much of this is rainforest. A visit to Costa Rica can include hiking through lowland rainforests, exploring remote waterfalls, flying through the trees on a canopy tour of the high alpine cloud forest and drinking crystal clear water straight from the naturally filtered rainforest streams. You may also see white-faced and howler monkeys, tapirs, sloths, kinkajous, or perhaps the print of an ocelot. Sol Encounter, LLP can customize a rainforest trek ranging from day hikes to weeklong trips. A rainforest trekking segment may also be combined with any other activity. Mountain Climbing There are many prominent peaks in Costa Rica. Several require two-day ascents, and others might take you to the top of an active volcano to view steam rising out of the ground. Mount Chirripó, the highest peak in Costa Rica, rises above 12,000 feet. Often times, if you wake a few hours before dawn to began the final ascent, you can watch the sun rise over the Caribbean and light up the Pacific Ocean on the other side of the country. Many active and dormant volcanoes may also be climbed and accommodations can vary from fine lodgings to backpack camping. While rock climbing and technical mountaineering does exist in Costa Rica, nearly all of the bigger peaks are accessed via hiking paths. A mountain climbing section may also be combined with any other activity. Kite boarding A cross between surfing, wakeboarding and parasailing, kite boarding is an emerging extreme sport that harnesses the power of the wind to traverse the ocean’s waves-- catching air up to 30 feet and more at times. Playa Copal, a northwestern beach just an hour south of the Nicaraguan border, has one of the world’s best conditions to learn or perfect this sport from mid-November to mid-May. Enjoy some of Costa Rica’s less-traveled and remote beaches while learning an adrenaline sport many have never heard of. If you’re an experienced kiter you can bring your own gear, but all gear is available with lessons, as well. A kite boarding section may also be combined with any other activity. Educational Tours One of the qualities that Sol Encounter prides itself on is our knowledge of the natural and cultural history of Costa Rica, as well as our experience in teaching in the many settings of Costa Rica. Sol Encounter can customize educational trips for private groups or schools in a number of areas. This may include home stays with Costa Rican families, customized language and culture courses arranged through internationally accredited universities and professors in Costa Rica, and complimentary tours, excursions or lectures to focus on coursework. Specific lectures or classes may include Spanish grammar and conversation, international politics, Latin American trade, Latin American literature, cultural heritage, Costa Rican and Central American history, Tropical Biology, Ecology or Sustainable Development. With sufficient time and detailed planning Sol Encounter can help you plan the perfect Alternative Spring Break Program, summer research project or hands-on workshop to enhance coursework from the US. Volunteer Tours As a tropical country with abundant biodiversity and growing eco-tourism, Costa Rica has many opportunities to aid in its conservation, preservation and educational efforts of its forests, rivers, animals and beaches. Additionally, as a developing country there is always a need in some communities to help create, maintain, implement and support public facilities, resources or programs. If you would like to contribute time and energy in the form of volunteer work to support on-going efforts in these or other specific areas, Sol Encounter can help. We’ll find the right community and volunteer effort to meet the needs of those you are helping while providing a priceless memory and eye-opening experience for your group. A community service project or volunteer element may also be combined with any other activity. Information and Prices Sol Encounter can customize any trip to fit your desire. Other trip examples include San Jose tours, museum tours, coffee plantation tours, beach-hopping tours, sea kayak tours, wind boarding tours, wake boarding tours, and snorkeling tours. Any of these activities may be combined to create your own itinerary. Please email customized@solencounter.com for more information or questions about custom trips. Custom adventures can vary in group size to your preference and prices are dependant on the amount of people, days, and degree of luxury you prefer.		Back to monthly trip listings Photo Gallery: Take a Peek Book My Trip: Registration and Payment Process Refund Policy