Spend three weeks traveling the American West - including Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. See a totally new side of America, including the breathtaking national parks of Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon National Parks. Then head to Costa Rica for two more weeks of travel to the cloud forests and tropical beaches of a country rich in bio-diversity, culture, and innovative sustainability approaches.

PART 1: Trek West USA

Join us for an an authentic adventure in the great American West. Trek West USA is a three-week teen travel experience in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. See a totally new side of America – from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Vegas to the breathtaking national parks of Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

This is not your parents’ road trip! Trek West USA is more than a tour. It is a well-balanced combination of must-see touring, active outdoor adventures, meaningful Jewish experiences, and a unique opportunity to forge friendships as part of a close-knit group. No need to fly half-way around the world to experience an awesome summer on Trek West USA.

• The Must-See's and the Hidden Gems. Trek West USA covers all of the must see highlights of the American West – Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Hollywood, Malibu Beach, fabulous Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam. We also make time for more off-the-beaten path experiences like walking through a redwood forest, exploring Silicon Valley, digging for gold in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, kayaking on Lake Tahoe, learning how to surf in Los Angeles, and staying at a dude-ranch in Utah.
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Outdoor Adventures. The American West is about wide open spaces and stunning national park land. Live the great outdoors hiking to the base of Half Dome in Yosemite, rafting down the Salt River in Arizona, descending deep into the Grand Canyon, climbing to Angels Landing in Zion and swimming in the desert waters of Lake Powell. See a side of nature that you have only dreamed about, and challenge yourself along the way.
• Living Jewish Values. As a BBYO Passport experience, Trek West USA is also an opportunity to explore your Jewish identity in a new context. Delve into the meaning of being "eco-kosher", fulfill the Jewish value of Tikun Olam (fixing the planet), and celebrate Shabbat in new and different ways with local Jewish communities.

A Taste of University Life

Interested in what living on a college campus is like? Many of the places we stay at on the road are college campus dorms. Trek West USA opens a window on university life by experiencing schools as diverse as the University of California - Berkeley, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

PART 2: Eco-Quest Costa Rica

Join teens from around the world and head for the cloud forests of Costa Rica to explore a country rich in bio-diversity, culture and plenty of adventure.

Eco-Quest Costa Rica is a two-week teen travel experience that combines outdoor touring, a Costa Rican approach to sustainable living, and opportunities for peer-to-peer connections with local teens.

• Looking for adventure? Hike on an active volcano, zip-line over a rainforest, snorkel on a tropical beach, raft down a raging river, swim under a waterfall, relax in thermal hot-springs, and go on a night safari. Costa Rica is a stunningly beautiful country that is lush with colorful plants, rare animals, and endless opportunities for outdoors exploration.
• Living in harmony with nature. Although Costa Rica is a very small country, it contains more biodiversity than America or Europe! On Eco-Quest, we will learn about Costa Rica's unique approach to sustainable living. Spend the weekend on a "Costa Rican-style kibbutz", explore an organic coffee plantation, and eat deliciously fresh food at every stop along the way.
• Building cross-cultural connections. Costa Rica is a very friendly country. So friendly, it is one of the only countries in the world with no army at all. Spend an afternoon getting to know fellow teens from a local high school, celebrate Shabbat with the Jewish community of San Jose, and leave your mark through a series of service projects.

As a BBYO Passport experience, Eco-Quest is also an opportunity to explore your Jewish identity through the lens of life in Costa Rica. Delve into the meaning of being "eco-kosher", fulfill the Jewish value of Tikun Olam (fixing the planet), and celebrate two very memorable Shabbats.

• Spend Shabbat at the base of Yosemite's Half Dome
• Pan for gold in the hills of the Sierra-Nevada
• Hike to the top of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park
• Experience life on a western dude ranch
• Cruise to Catalina Island on California's coast
• Feel the energy & excitement of Las Vegas
• View the majesty of the Grand Canyon
• Participate in meaningful community service projects
• Visit to traditional Native American communities
• Take a dip in the desert waters of Lake Mead
• Tour Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley
• Explore Monteverde's cloud forests & swim under waterfalls
• Hike to an active volcano & take a dip in a thermal pool
• Search for jungle wildlife on a night time safari
• Celebrate Shabbat together with San Jose's Jewish community
• Learn salsa dancing & experience local Costa Rican culture
• Learn how to surf in the Pacific ocean & relax on the beach
• Take part in meaningful community service projects
• Stay at an ecologically sustainable farm
• Raft down the Pacuare River

WEEK #1 / Sedona, Grand Canyon & Bryce
After landing and getting oriented in Phoenix, the adventure begins as we head north to the red rocks of Sedona and a rafting trip down the Salt River. Then it's on to the truly Grand Canyon where we spend a memorable night along the canyon rim. From the Grand Canyon we continue north into Utah for a challenging (and rewarding) hike up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park followed by a unique Shabbat at the Ponderosa Ranch.

WEEK #2 / Bryce, Vegas & Los Angeles
Week two begins with Bryce Canyon, yet another national park treasure. From Bryce we start heading due west for Las Vegas, Nevada. Along the way we will visit the Hoover Dam and swim in Lake Mead. In Vegas, there will walk "The Strip" and catch and watch a show. From viva Las Vegas, we head straight for Los Angeles crossing the Mojave Desert along the way. LA is our home for the rest of the week. We will take a tour of Hollywood, relax at Malibu Beach, participate in a local service project, and spend a beautiful Shabbat in the Santa Monica hills at the American Jewish University. 

WEEK #3 / Yosemite, Tahoe & the Bay Area
We begin our final week at Yosemite National Park where we will hike to the base of Half Dome and take in some of the most scenic views in the world. From Yosemite we travel through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Lake Tahoe, where there will be time for kayaking, swimming and even digging for gold. We close out the Trek West USA experience in the San Francisco where we visit all of the highlights of the Bay Area and spend a final Shabbat together on the camps of UC Berkeley.

WEEK #4 / Cloud Forests & Volcanoes!
Land in San Jose and get acclimated to Costa Rican society by visiting with a local high school. We then head up to the highlands of the Monteverde cloud forests where we will search for exotic animals and fly high above the canopy forests on a world-renowned zip-line course. From Monteverde we set off for Arenal, a volcano so active that bright red flowing lave is visible most nights. This region of Costa Rica is especially beautiful, and we will explore it on horseback, on foot, and in the water. Our first week caps off with a visit to Ranch Margot, a small Costa Rican agricultural community that can best be described as a "Costa Rican kibbutz". Here we will celebrate a unique Shabbat with yoga, community-building, and well deserved relaxation time.

WEEK #5 / Pacific Coast, River Rafting & San Jose
Our second week in Costa Rica begins descending from the mountains and heading to the Pacific coast where we snorkel, ocean kayak, and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the open ocean. From the Pacific we head back up into the highlands for a white-water rafting adventure on the raging Pacuare River and a tour of a local organic coffee plantation. The Eco-Quest experience wraps up where it started in San Jose, Costa Rica's capital. Here we will take part in a service project and spend Shabbat with the local Jewish community and learn about their history and special place in Costa Rican society.

Program Package

• Airport pick-up & drop-off in San Jose, Costa Rica. Participants are responsible for arranging own transportation to/from Costa Rica. An optional chaperoned group flight from New York or Miami is available.
• Airport pick-up in Phoenix, AZ and drop-off in San Franciso, CA. Participants are responsible for arranging own transportation to Phoenix and from San Francisco to New York.
• Round-trip flights to Europe from NYC, with an overnight stay in NYC between programs
• Accommodations (hotels, camping, campus dormitories and country lodging)
• All meals (kosher or vegetarian/allowance)
• Activities & entrance fees
• Deluxe motorcoach
• Dynamic staff team
• Medical insurance (excludes pre-existing conditions)

Trip Links

• Trek West Program Itinerary
• Costa Rica Program Itinerary
• Pre-Trip Prep Costa Rica 2011
• Pre-Trip Prep Western USA 2011
• Register Now for Eco-Quest Costa Rica + Trek West USA

As a connected experience, this program combines the following two travel experiences:
Trek West USA #2 + Eco-Quest Costa Rica #3

The program tuition for Trek West USA & Eco-Quest Costa Rica does not include the cost of flights. For travel to Costa Rica, participants can choose to either book a ticket on a staff supervised flight or make their own arrangements on the airline of their choice:

OPTION #1 / Purchase Your Own Ticket on a Supervised Flight
An optional supervised flight is available from New York and Miami. Participants are responsible for booking seats on the supervised flights on their own from their home city 

OPTION #2 / Meet in Costa Rica
Alternatively, for those participants who wish to make their own flight arrangements to San Jose, Costa Rica on a separate airline, they will be met personally upon arrival and escorted back to the airport for their return flight at no additional cost.

For more details, please review the 2012 Pre-Trip Flight Info:
Eco-Quest Costa Rica 3

As a connected experience, participating in this program actually means combining two separate experiences. Participants opting for the connected experience should book their plane tickets from San Francisco at the end of Trek West USA to Costa Rica (San Jose Airport) where they will be met by BBYO Passport staff and supervised overnight at a hotel nearby for a relaxed overnight before the formal Eco-Quest Costa Rica programming starts up the next day.