Costa Rica Merri-Mac Reunion
Looking for a camp reunion in December? Join your Merri-Mac friends in Costa Rica for an adventure filled with fun, camp friends and the Merri-Mac spirit. The group will travel through the Costa Rican rain forest, experience and serve the homes of local families, raft world class white water and learn to surf in the famous beginner friendly waves off the coast. Most importantly, this will all be done in a community of Merri-Mac girls, allowing them to continue growing through friends and adventures beyond the gates of camp!
December 28, 2024 – January 3, 2025 $3,380
Itinerary:
Day 1: December 27
Girls will fly with our Black Mountain Expedition guides into the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) before 2:00 pm CST (local time). From there, they will drive to San Isidro del General to stay at basecamp, meet their local guides (who will partner with our BME guides), pack, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Day 2: December 28
The group will depart from San Isidro del General and drive to the town of Brujo. They will see beautiful views of the rainforest and Pacific Ocean on their way! Upon arrival at the pueblo of Brujo they will cross the Rio Savegre in a cable car before beginning their hike into the rainforest.
The group will arrive at Piedras Blancas where a delicious Costa Rican meal will be served by Doña Flor (mother of 18!)
They will end the day relaxing and enjoying the surrounding rainforest, getting to know their host family, and exploring the river that passes through the village. Dinner will be another home cooked meal at the Lopez family home before they get a great night of sleep in the rainforest.
Day 3: December 29
The girls will wake up bright and early for a gallo pico (traditional Costa Rican) breakfast and to collect sugarcane to make some homemade sugar. They will begin the process of sugar production from sugarcane using a traditional “trapiche” overseen by Don Hormidas. After they start the process they will take a brief hike into the surrounding jungle, they will rappel down a beautiful waterfall.
After rappelling, the group will make their way back to Piedras Blancas for lunch with the Lopez family. After lunch (and perhaps a quick nap!) they will return to the sugar cane process and have the chance to taste our own homemade sugar. The rest of the afternoon will be set aside for students to enjoy the local surrounding area, play futbol (soccer), and interact with the local families.
Day 4: December 30
After a delicious breakfast, the group will assist with the building and addition of new community buildings. This will involve some construction and organization of materials. The group will have instruction from their host family and community members as they partner to help with their existing projects. This will take up most of our day, with a few breaks built in for delicious meals and a swim in the local river.
After a final meal at Piedras Blancas, the group will say their goodbyes and hike to their next homestay. There they will get to hear the history of the local community, tour the family farm, and make cheese and bread for their afternoon snack.
Day 5: December 31
The girls will wake up for their last meal int he rainforest and hike to Bruno to begin their rafting excursion on the Rio Savegre. This river features class II and III rapids and beautiful views of the rainforest and waterfalls. They will eat on the riverside as they make our way down 12 miles of river.
After finishing their rafting adventure they will drive to Uvita Beach and get settled into their new lodging alongside the Pacific Ocean. The girls will have the opportunity to decide together what they would like to cook and serve as their next meals, and go to the supermarket (with their guides) as a group to shop for their planned food. They’ll finish the day by watching an amazing sunset and preparing for a big day surfing.
Day 6: January1
The group will wake up early and prepare a delicious breakfast together before walking to the Marino Ballina Park at Uvita Beach to get surfboards and a surf lesson before jumping into the waves. After surfing, they will head home for lunch and a little rest before enjoying Uvita Beach for the afternoon.
They will catch a final sunset in Costa Rica before enjoying their final dinner together and celebrating their trip!
Day 7: January 2
This will be an early morning as the girls depart for the airport, but they will make a stop to see a famous bridge of the Tarcoles River (and maybe see a croc or two!) on their way to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
All flights must depart between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm CST (local time). Don’t worry, camp staff will be sure everyone makes it on their flights with time to spare!
FAQs:
No, airfare is not included in the registration cost.
All flights should be booked through our travel partner, Sequel Travel. Julia Buie at Sequel Travel will reach out to you directly to book flights.
The bulk of this trip is oriented around traveling between host families (BME has long standing relationships with these host families) in the rain forest. Trip participants will stay largely in bunkhouses and bunkbeds just like at camp! Our host families have designated places for us, as well as private bathrooms.
Merri-Mac, Timberlake and BME are owned and operated by the Troxler family and this trip is exclusively for camp girls.
You can reach us at the Black Mountain Expedition basecamp office at (828) 669-8766. Please ask to speak to Patrick Emery, our Black Mountain Expeditions director.