My daughter Kitty with her new friends from the Costa Rica trip
When my daughter and I showed up for the G Adventures informational meeting on the first evening of our “Trek Hidden Costa Rica” tour, I was sincerely hoping that I would not be the only parent in a large group of 20-somethings taking the same tour. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were parents from Ireland with their two teenage sons along with two Dads from Idaho traveling with their teenage daughters. Our diverse group included a 20 year old graduate student from Australia, four 30 year old young professionals and a 70 year old gentleman who had hiked Machu Picchu last year. Our teenagers (including Sam, the grad student) became fast friends by the end of the first day, after trying to one up one another on the 8-mile trek up into the rainforest.
The kids did everything together, no one was ever left out and the plethora of activities, in which we all participated, captivated the attention of our teens and all of us parents as well:
AT OUR JUNGLE HOMESTAYS:
We cut sugar cane from the fields, worked presses designed to squeeze the juices from the cane and boiled the juices down until they were able to pour the hot liquid into molds to make sugar for the Lopez family.
We milked the family cow and helped the Lopez family make delicious Costa Rican palmito cheese.
The families fed us delicious home-cooked meals and the teens, in particular were queuing up to help with the preparation of the food and the cleaning of the dishes and the kitchen after each meal.
We zip-lined through the jungle canopy, climbed towering banyan trees, participated in a traditional Boruca tribal sauna and went white water rafting for 4 miles down the Savegre River.
WE SLEPT IN A CAVE FOR 2 DAYS AND:
We learned about edible and medicinal plants on a walk through a jungle garden.
We dove off a 7 meter cliff into a deep pool and we rappelled over a 26 meter waterfall.
Teenagers typically don’t want their parents around but on this type of vacation, the kids all seemed to be delighted that we were there and doing everything that they were doing. They cheered us on as we did our best to keep up with them on the hikes, the zip line, the rafting and the rappelling, surfing, etc.
Originally, my daughter was very skeptical of “taking a tour” however, on the plane ride home, I asked her if she wanted to take another vacation next year and she smiled and said “Of course, but only if it’s a G Adventures’ tour.” Claire, September 2014
ADVENTURE TRIPS FOR PARENTS AND TEENS
My daughter Kitty with her new friends from the Costa Rica trip
When my daughter and I showed up for the G Adventures informational meeting on the first evening of our “Trek Hidden Costa Rica” tour, I was sincerely hoping that I would not be the only parent in a large group of 20-somethings taking the same tour. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were parents from Ireland with their two teenage sons along with two Dads from Idaho traveling with their teenage daughters. Our diverse group included a 20 year old graduate student from Australia, four 30 year old young professionals and a 70 year old gentleman who had hiked Machu Picchu last year. Our teenagers (including Sam, the grad student) became fast friends by the end of the first day, after trying to one up one another on the 8-mile trek up into the rainforest.
The kids did everything together, no one was ever left out and the plethora of activities, in which we all participated, captivated the attention of our teens and all of us parents as well:
AT OUR JUNGLE HOMESTAYS:
We cut sugar cane from the fields, worked presses designed to squeeze the juices from the cane and boiled the juices down until they were able to pour the hot liquid into molds to make sugar for the Lopez family.
We milked the family cow and helped the Lopez family make delicious Costa Rican palmito cheese.
The families fed us delicious home-cooked meals and the teens, in particular were queuing up to help with the preparation of the food and the cleaning of the dishes and the kitchen after each meal.
We zip-lined through the jungle canopy, climbed towering banyan trees, participated in a traditional Boruca tribal sauna and went white water rafting for 4 miles down the Savegre River.
WE SLEPT IN A CAVE FOR 2 DAYS AND:
We learned about edible and medicinal plants on a walk through a jungle garden.
We dove off a 7 meter cliff into a deep pool and we rappelled over a 26 meter waterfall.
Teenagers typically don’t want their parents around but on this type of vacation, the kids all seemed to be delighted that we were there and doing everything that they were doing. They cheered us on as we did our best to keep up with them on the hikes, the zip line, the rafting and the rappelling, surfing, etc.
Originally, my daughter was very skeptical of “taking a tour” however, on the plane ride home, I asked her if she wanted to take another vacation next year and she smiled and said “Of course, but only if it’s a G Adventures’ tour.” Claire, September 2014