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why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
What’s new?
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
Suitable for Family, Group
OVERVIEW
This five-day family Jewish tour of Costa Rica offers a refreshing blend of breathtaking biodiversity and a vibrant, tight-knit Jewish culture hidden in the heart of Central America. Primarily designed for heritage travelers and those planning a Bar Mitzvah trip to Costa Rica, this journey invites you to discover the “Pura Vida” lifestyle through a Jewish lens. Costa Rica is home to one of the most organized and active Jewish communities in the region, a community that has thrived in an atmosphere of peace and democratic stability for over a century. From the volcanic peaks of the Central Valley to the bustling community centers of San José, this journey highlights the beautiful continuity of a diaspora that found safety and success in a tropical paradise.
The destination matters because it represents a unique intersection of Jewish history in Costa Rica and modern environmental stewardship. You will explore the roots of the Polish “Polacos” who arrived in the early 20th century, creating a legacy of entrepreneurship and resilience that remains the backbone of the community today. This trip is particularly well-suited for senior Jewish travel to Costa Rica and multi-generational groups looking for a destination that offers high-level comfort alongside meaningful spiritual connections. By visiting local institutions and natural wonders, you aren’t just a tourist; you are a guest of a community that prides itself on being a bridge between Israel and Latin America, set against a backdrop of lush rainforests and misty cloud forests.
Navigating kosher needs and observance is remarkably seamless in San José, making this a stress-free tropical escape. The city boasts a centralized Jewish hub featuring the magnificent B’nei Israel and Shaarei Zion synagogues, alongside a state of the art community center that offers a glatt kosher deli and bakery. Your Shabbat experience in Costa Rica will be the heart of the trip, characterized by a warm, welcoming atmosphere where locals and visitors dine together, sharing traditional melodies with a Latin flair. Whether you are praying in an architecturally stunning sanctuary or enjoying a kosher meal with a view of the mountains, you will find that Costa Rican Jewish life is as lush and inviting as the landscape itself.
Highlights*
*Some experiences are subject to minimum group size
Arrive in San José and transfer to the Jewish-friendly Escazú district. Visit the Centro Israelita Sionista, the focal point of local Jewish life. Tour the Museum of the Jewish Community to see artifacts from the first settlers. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the community’s glatt kosher deli.
Embark on a walking tour of historic San José focusing on early Jewish settlements. Head to the Poás Volcano National Park to see one of the world’s largest active craters. Visit the Doka Estate to learn about the Jewish families involved in the coffee industry. Return for a private meeting with local community youth leaders.
Take a full-day private excursion to the Arenal Volcano region. Walk across the famous hanging bridges for a bird’s-eye view of the tropical canopy. Relax in thermal hot springs with a custom-packed kosher picnic lunch. Experience a sunset drive back to the city through the rolling hills of Zarcero.
Visit the local kosher bakery to see the preparation of traditional challah with a local twist. Spend the afternoon at the Gold Museum or the lush National Museum gardens. Join the community at the Shaarei Zion Synagogue for a lively Kabbalat Shabbat. Share a festive, multi-course Shabbat dinner with a local host family.
Attend Shabbat morning services followed by a communal Kiddush and “Almuerzo” lunch. Take a leisurely afternoon walk through the La Sabana Metropolitan Park. Participate in a soulful Havdalah ceremony at a scenic overlook as the sun sets. Transfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport for your departure home.
Accommodation
Experience a seamless blend of high-tech and high-touch service at Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen. After landing at Juan Santamaría International Airport, your stay at the Belen, Costa Rica hotel begins almost immediately.
In Monteverde, at the end of the year 2000, circumstances lead a Costa Rican man to make one of the most important decisions of his life. While the construction of his own house was on, the idea to convert it into a small luxury hotel in the Cloud Forest of Monteverde came out, and after a lot of careful planning and hard work, the result was a beautiful and cozy hotel in the mountains of Costa Rica.
Discover Costa Rica´s largest network of naturally flowing thermal mineral springs in Arenal’s largest and most beautiful private, rainforest reserve. An essential part of exploring the wondrous world of the Tabacon Hot Springs is soaking in the cascading thermal waterfalls.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
This experience is fully customizable. We will create your personal dream experience!
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