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A Jewish destination for the nature lover, Costa Rica is a beautiful island paradise with spectacular nature, great hiking, and the opportunity to get up and close to nature and wildlife.
There is a vibrant Jewish community in Costa Rica, mostly concentrated in San Jose. They have a Jewish community center, a synagogue, and schools.
Jews have had a presence in Costa Rica since the 19th century, when Sephardim arrived from Curacao, Jamaica, Panama, and the Caribbean. Later, they were joined by Turkish and Eastern European immigrants, and German refugees starting in 1933.
Today, the Jewish community consists of 2,500 Jews. In 2006, two members of the community were voted into the country’s legislative Assembly.
As you learn about the Jewish world of Costa Rica, visit volcanoes, waterfalls, and coffee plantations. Learn about the stages of coffee production, or about the different plant and animal life of Costa Rica. Discover hummingbirds and colorful butterflies, and enjoy a dive into the forests of this magnificent country.
Gil Travel provides excellent family Jewish tours to Costa Rica, with Kosher dining seamlessly integrated into your rainforest adventure. This destination is perfect for a Bar Mitzvah trip or senior Jewish travel, offering a “Pura Vida” lifestyle through a Jewish lens. Our difference is our local expertise in San José, where we coordinate Shabbat experiences and visits to vibrant community centers.
The trip was amazing! Logistically – there really wasn’t a single hiccup. Drivers arrived when they were supposed to and all hotel arrangements were as we discussed. We also LOVED the restaurant you recommended and made a reservation for us… Our guide was amazing! He truly made the trip special. He is blessed with incredible knowledge of Israel and has a story for just about everything.
This Volunteers for Israel PLUS was one of the most rewarding experiences of my lifetime. I had the opportunity to work as a volunteer on a military base to help support the IDF soldiers and to have a fabulous tour with other volunteers in the land of Israel was a time to cherish.
Our trip to Israel was absolutely great! Tal was a terrific guide and perfect for our group. His knowledge, ability to communicate, guide “instincts” and sense of humor all combined for a wonderful 4 days with him. The itinerary worked well, with some “on the fly” adjustments which we suggested, and which Tal also suggested.
We enjoyed our Israel trip immensely. The hotels were wonderful…we really enjoyed Meir, our tour guide. He was so knowledgeable. His experience as a soldier and commander in the ‘67 war and the Yom Kippur War made us feel like we were seeing the country through the eyes of a person that was instrumental in its formation and growth. A true Sabra!
Dear Iris, on behalf of our extended family, we want to thank you and your entire team at Gil Travel, both at home in Philadelphia and abroad in Israel for your invaluable assistance during this critical time. Gil Travel has been and what an important asset you are to our greater Philadelphia community. Please stay safe all of you and know how much you are in our prayers.
We had an amazing time with Gil Travel in Japan for Pesach! Every detail was thought out and feedback was encouraged making this program in this unique location one of the best we’ve been on! The food, the touring, the activities from cultural shows and hands on experiences. Interesting speakers and kids club. We can’t say enough about our time with Gil and Japan!
Quality of accommodations, expertly planned itinerary, friendly and knowledgeable guides, unique cultural experiences, seamless logistics and transfers, excellent customer service, and special moments or surprises made this trip unforgettable. Evening entertainment and excellent interesting speakers added to the experience. I had an excellent experience.
An expertly planned itinerary, quality of accommodations, and friendly and knowledgeable guides made this trip unforgettable. The unique cultural experiences and excellent customer service truly stood out. One of the most memorable moments was the Passover Seder night experience—connecting with friends from the four corners of the world. Yes, absolutely – I had an excellent experience.
Our trip to Israel with Gil Travel Group was exceptional from start to finish. The friendly and knowledgeable guides, unique cultural experiences, and seamless logistics made everything effortless. Their excellent customer service truly stood out and made the journey memorable.
Our group was small but perfectly matched — 26 strangers who quickly became a perfect fit. The knowledgeable guides and special moments along the way made the trip truly memorable.
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