Don’t miss this opportunity to travel, learn and relax with other farmers. It will be a blast!
The Costa Rica Agritourism and Cultural Study Tour is hosted by Laura McDermott, and organized by Explorations by Thor, a well-respected international travel company that specializes in agricultural tours will embark December 3 – 11, 2022.
This one-of-a-kind guided excursion is an educational and entertaining way to visit another country while networking with fellow berry production and Agri-tourism professionals. The tour allows attendees the convenience of a completed itinerary including hotels, most meals and in-country transportation. Guests will visit a wide variety of Costa Rican agriculture and while still having time for cultural highlights.
This excursion is designed specifically for members of the berry and Agri-tourism industry. It is an opportunity to meet fellow growers, share ideas, update your understanding of what’s happening in our industry, and travel with trained professionals. You are encouraged to invite friends and family from around the country to join you on this trip. While the tour was designed with farmers in mind, anyone with an interest in agriculture is welcome.
Attendees will plan to arrive at the San Jose Airport on Saturday, December 3rd, and will stay at the San Jose Hilton. On the second day the group will visit a coffee plantation and a chocolate factory near San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica and enjoy some down time in the city. The third day will require an early start to travel to Irazu Volcano. This volcano is the highest active volcano in the country. If the weather is clear, you will see the Caribbean Sea from the craters rim. While in the highlands we’ll visit a berry farm that is growing blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and Aztec gooseberries or goldenberries. After enjoying lunch we’ll visit a berry producers marketing Coop, and then continue to visit the Center for Tropical Agronomy Research & Education (CATIE). While there we will tour the botanical garden and enjoy a presentation about agritourism enhancement at CATIE. Ecological and agritourism are huge contributors to Costa Rica’s economy. To culminate this jam-packed day, we’ll end at the Hotel Suerre in Guapiles which is in the heart of the banana growing region of Costa Rica.
On the fourth day the group will visit Costa Rica’s “green dam” the largest hydroelectric dam in Central America and the 2nd largest infrastructure project after the Panama Canal in Central America. Costa Rica has nearly 100% of its electricity coming from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. Meet with representatives and discuss how the dam is connected to the agriculture community. Following that dam we will visit a local farmer who has developed a side business of taking foreigners on farm tours. We will also stop at a papaya farm and meet with a former Dole agritourism director.
On day five, enjoy a pineapple tour in the morning and after lunch travel to and take a guided walk through La Paz Waterfall Gardens, one of the best eco-parks in Costa Rica. The group will travel to the Alajuela area and visit a strawberry farm dedicated to agritourism in Fraijanes and dine at a local’s home that evening. We will stay at the Hotel Martino in Alajuela that night.
On the 6th day we’ll depart for Guanacaste and the best beaches in Costa Rica! En route, we’ll visit a large scale farm of palm oil, sugarcane, dragon fruit, rice and quarter horses and then enjoy a BBQ lunch before touring a commercial rice mill on the way to the Bosque del Mar hotel on the Pacific Ocean.
On day 7 the group will visit Hacienda El Viejo and take a guided wildlife tour boat ride in the wetlands. The free evening is followed by day 8 which is free time to relax by the beach or take in any optional activities in the area, which include catamaran snorkel and sail, sportfishing, zipline, etc. Or visit Flamingo beach via your guide and driver to do some shopping and enjoy lunch on the town. A farewell dinner in Hermosa Beach will round out the entire tour.
Participants need to arrange their own transportation into San Jose, Costa Rica Airport on December 3rd and out of Liberia, Costa Rica Airport on December 11th. Hotel rooms, most meals, transportation, bilingual Guide(s), tours/technical visits, gratuities for driver and guide are all included. Estimated pricing is based on double occupancy, per person – $2,450.
Reservation/payment deadlines: August 1, 2022 – $250 non-refundable deposit. October 15, 2022 – remaining balance. The single supplement is $575. Minimum capacity of 20 people must be met; technical visits are subject to change, but replacements of equal value will be arranged. Full COVID vaccination and a valid passport is required of participants.
Space is limited! Register soon to reserve your spot. An invoice for the deposit, due on August 1st will be sent as soon two weeks before the August first date when the trip meets the 20 traveler minimum.
For more information, please contact Laura McDermott, lgm4@cornell.edu. For specific tour information and help with air travel, contact Explorations by Thor, info@explorationsbythor.com, Phone: 859.459.0500.