Black Heritage Tour in Costa Rica

You may know that Costa Rica is the #1 destination worldwide for nature and adventure travel. Now you can combine a nature tour with a journey into the vibrant culture of the African-Caribbeans who live there.

In the late 1800s workers from African roots first came to Costa Rica from Jamaica and other Caribbean islands to build the railroad and work on the emerging banana plantations. On this one-of-a-kind tour, learn about their history which is among the least known throughout the African Diaspora.

Explore this rich heritage as we savor all the sights, sounds and flavors that are uniquely Black Costa Rican.

Highlights:

• Participate in the annual Black Heritage celebration on the Caribbean coast;

• Attend a special presentation on Black History in Costa Rica and the role of Marcus Garvey, the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association), and the Black Star Line Steamship Company;

• Enjoy two nights at a mountain lodge in Turrialba; you can take a moderate hike in the rainforest to Guayabo National Monument, Costa Rica's most important archaeological ruin dating to 1,000 BC;

• Visit the Golden Bean Coffee Farm and have a tortilla demonstration and lunch at a local restaurant.

• Relax at a beach resort on the Southern Caribbean Coast and visit the world's only sloth refuge;

• Shop for crafts in Puerto Viejo and Moravia.

Day 1: You should arrange to arrive at the San Jose International Airport in the morning or early afternoon. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your mountain lodge in Santa Cruz de Turrialba. On the way, you will stop at the Basilica in Cartago to see the statue of Costa Rica's patron saint, La Negrita, also known as La Virgen de los Angeles. The statue is embedded in a gold-and-jewel encrusted shrine above the main altar where the faithful walk on their knees to ask for miracles to remedy illnesses and misfortunes. The side rooms hold gold and silver charms given by persons whose prayers were answered.

Once at Guayabo Lodge, you can relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the Turrialba Valley and the mountains and have dinner.

Day 2: On your guided hike through the rainforest at Guayabo National Monument, you will feel like Indiana Jones uncovering the mysteries of this little-known and seldom-visited archaeological site built by an ancient civilization dating back over 3000 years.  You will see stone roads, mounds and dwelling foundations, tombs and aqueducts.  There is a side entrance to the ruins for those who do not wish to take the rainforest hike.

For lunch you will go to a local restaurant, Sitos Angosturas where you will also have a hands-on tortilla demonstration. Afterwards, you tour the Golden Bean Coffee Farm where you will be guided through the eight stages that transform the ripe cherries (coffee beans) on a tree to a roasted and brewed cup of coffee.

In the evening, Professor Delroy Barton will give a presentation about African and African-Caribbean history in Costa Rica and the influence of Marcus Garvey and the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association). You will learn how Jamaican workers came to build the railroad during 1890-1900  and how their culture blended into the Costa Rican culture, forming a Costa Rican African-Caribbean identity.  In the evening, local school children will present folk dances of Costa Rica.

Day 3:  On your transfer to the Southern Caribbean coast, you will visit Aviarios Sloth Rescue Center (the only one in the world).  You will learn about the evolution of these slow-moving animals and what is being done by the refuge to protect them. 

You will continue on to Puerto Viejo,  the largest town and the "hot spot" on the Southern Caribbean coast. After check-in at your hotel, you can enjoy the clean beach or the hotel pool.  You will have a free Saturday evening on your own to enjoy the many restaurants, shops and music clubs in Puerto Viejo.