Length: 35 Days
2009-2010 Grades: 9,10,11,12
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Begin exploring the wonders of Israel during three weeks of touring, hiking, and adventure. Then continue on to discover the natural beauty of Costa Rica on Eco-Quest. Spend a full five weeks of summer travel with BBYO Passport.

PART 1 / Trek Israel

Join teens from around the world for a once-in-a-lifetime summer in Israel. Trek Israel is a three-week cross-country experience – from the Golan Heights in the north to the tropical Red Sea in the far south…and everything in between. Along the way, we walk in the footsteps of Jewish history, experience the vibrancy of modern Israeli culture, and connect with Israel’s colorful society.

The program includes visits to all of Israel’s most important sites – ancient Jerusalem, contemporary Tel Aviv, the Galilee, the Negev Desert and the heights of Masada. We also make time to experience Israel’s off-the-beaten-path charm -- enjoying a bonfire on the beach, taking part in an active archeological dig, sampling unique Middle Eastern cuisine, and participating in the re-birth of Israel by planting a tree in a new forest.

We do not simply travel throughout Israel. We hike it, rappel it, raft it, and swim it. Take part in the 4-day "Sea-to-Sea" hike as we cross from the Mediterranean Ocean to the Sea of Galilee on foot. Learn how to navigate and survive in the desert like our ancestor did. Explore Israel’s most scenic terrain, and you will connect to the beauty of the Land of Israel in a way that few ever do.

The Trek Israel experience is more than just a tour. It is also about debating the meaning of contemporary Zionism, exploring our Jewish identity from an Israeli point of view, delving into the intricacies of Middle Eastern politics, and connecting to our Jewish soul through a series of meaningful community service and spiritual experiences. Join us on the trails of Israel!

PART 2 / Eco-Quest Central America

Upon your return from Israel to the US, you will head for the cloud forests of Costa Rica to explore a country rich in bio-diversity, culture and plenty of adventure.

Eco-Quest Central America 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 hotsprings, 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.

Itinerary Snapshot

• WEEK #1 / Jerusalem & Mediterranean Coast
  Land at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and begin the ascent to Jerusalem where we will spend the first part of the week walking the Old City and exploring the history of our ancestors. From Jerusalem we head up the Mediterranean Coast to the Western Galilee where we spend our first Shabbat on the beach.

• WEEK #2 / Galilee, Golan Heights & Tel Aviv
  Begin the Sea-to-Sea Hike trekking from the shores of the Mediterranean and concluding on the beaches of the Sea of Galilee. Along the way, we cross through canyons, scale mountains, and learn intimately about the history, people, and natural beauty of the Galilee -- Israel's greenest region. We close out week two with a visit to Tel Aviv, Israel's cultural capital and one of the world's most trendy cities. The middle Shabbat is a "Host Family Weekend" where participants can either stay with local friends/family or participate in a supervised alternative program (see note below).
  
  
• WEEK #3 / Eilat, Negev Desert & Jerusalem
  Head due south to Eilat, Israel's southernmost tip where we snorkel in the tropical Red Sea, learn about Israel's unique desert ecology, and experience what it means to wander in the desert as part of a desert orieentering activity. Continue on for a sunrise hike to Masada followed by an unforgettable float in the Dead Sea. The trip concludes by returning to where we started in Jerusalem with a somber visit to Yad Vashem followed by a moving Shabbat experience at the Western Wall.
  
  

• 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 Paquare 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.
  
  

Learn More

• Sample Itinerary
• Trip FAQs (Coming Soon)
• Program-Wide FAQs
• Why Israel
• Why Now
• Safety & Security
• Scholarship Info
• Register Now

Host Family Weekend

The Israel Journey itinerary includes a Host Family Weekend during the second Shabbat of the program in Israel. This is a perfect opportunity for participants to connect with family and friends in Israel. Participants without Host Family Weekend plans are encouraged to pair up with a friend on the trip. A supervised alternative program is also offered based in central Israel near the Mediterranean coast. The supplemental cost for the optional supervised weekend program is $275.

How the Connection Works

As a connected experience, participating in this program actually means combining two separate experiences. Participants connecting Trek Israel with Eco-Quest Central America should book their departure flights to Costa Rica from JFK Airport in New York, where they will arrive along with BBYO Passport staff when they return from Israel. They will be supervised overnight at a hotel nearby and escorted back to the airport the next day for departure to Costa Rica. Participants who wish to take advantage of the Eco-Quest optional group flight from Atlanta to San Jose should arrange their own travel from JFK to Atlanta. The overnight in NYC gives teens a break between travel experiences.

Sample Itinerary

We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you an idea of what this travel experience is all about. Keep in mind that the actual itinerary may vary from the schedule below. That said, this sample itinerary is meant to give you a taste of the overall program. A formal itinerary, including a list of accommodations and phone numbers, will be sent to you 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the program.

DAY #1 / Monday / Departure!
• Icebreakers and orientation at JFK Airport
• Depart for Israel and spend night in the sky en route to Israel

DAY #2 / Tuesday / Introduction to Jerusalem
• Arrive to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport in early afternoon
• Meet Israeli guide and begin ascent to Jerusalem
• Jerusalem introduction and shecheyanu prayer at the Haas Promenade
• Explore King David’s Jerusalem at the “City of David” complex
• Walk through Hezekiah’s ancient water tunnel under Jerusalem
• Overnight: Neve Ilan Guest House, Jerusalem Hills

DAY #3 / Wednesday / Jerusalem’s Old City
• Enter the Old City from the Jaffa Gate
• Walk along the top of the Rampart Walls to the Zion Gate
• Explore the Jewish Quarter’s alleyways, tunnels & rooftops
• Tour of the Southern Wall excavations & Davidson Center
• Reflections at the Kotel – The Western Wall
• Experience layers of Jewish history on the Kotel Tunnel Tour
• Dinner at Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall
• Overnight: Neve Ilan Guest House, Jerusalem Hills

DAY #4 / Thursday / The Exile
• Tzurim Valley – Take part in an active archeological excavation
• Crawl through the caves of the Bar Kochba Rebellion
• Begin traveling northwards along the coast
• Catacombs of Beit Shearim – Jewish life in Israel during the Exile
• Check-in to hotel in Nahariya on the Mediterranean
• Evening: BBQ party on the beach
• Overnight: Beit Kaye Guest House, Mediterranean Coast

DAY #5 / Friday / The Western Galilee
• Explore the ocean caves at Rosh Hanikrah
• Hike to the Montfort Castle in Nahal Kziv
• Tour of old Acco seaport and Crusader-era castle
• Return to Nahariya to prepare for Shabbat
• Kabbalat Shabbat service at local Reform synagogue in Nahariya
• Overnight: Beit Kaye Guest House, Nahariya

DAY #5 / Friday / The Western Galilee & Sea-to-Sea Hike - Day #1
• Explore the ocean caves at Rosh Hanikrah
• Tour of old Acco seaport and Crusader-era castle
• Ceremonial 1st leg of “Sea-to-Sea” hike starting on the Mediterranean coast
• Hike up to Montfort Castle via the lower Nahal Kziv canyon
• Return to Nahariya to prepare for Shabbat
• Kabbalat Shabbat service at local Reform synagogue in Nahariya
• Overnight: Beit Kaye Guest House, Mediterranean Coast

DAY #6 / Saturday / Shabbat on the Beach
• Shabbat program at hotel
• Relaxed afternoon at the beach
• Evening: Israel movie night – “Ushpizin”
• Overnight: Beit Kaye Guest House, Mediterranean Coast

DAY #7 / Sunday / Sea-to-Sea Hike – Day #2
• Hike the upper Nahal Kziv Canyon to Mount Zevul
• Rest at Tamir Springs en route
• Hike from Mount Zevul to Hirbet Humema and break for the day
• Overnight: Camping under the stars at Hirbet Humema

DAY #8 / Monday / Sea-to-Sea Hike – Day #3
• Hike from Hirbet Humema to Mt. Meiron
• Explore the Druze Village of Peki’in en route
• Visit to the cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Peki’in
• Ascend to the top of Mount Meiron via the Pisga Trail
• Overnight: Camping under at Ein Tina

DAY #9 / Tuesday / Sea-to-Sea Hike – Day #4
• Begin descent to the Sea of Galilee via Nahal Amud Canyon
• Celebrate the crossing of Israel with a swim in the Kinneret – The Sea of Galilee
• Kinneret Cemetery – The poets & pioneers of the Galilee
• Relax in the natural hotsprings of Hamat Gader
• Overnight: Karei Desha Guest House, Sea of Galilee

DAY #10 / Wednesday / Mystics of the Galilee
• Walking tour of mystical Tzfat – Birthplace of the Kabbalah movement
• Meet with Kabbalistic artist, Avraham Lowenthal
• Volunteer at an absorption center for recent Ethiopian immigrants
• Relaxed rafting down the upper Jordan River
• Evening: Cruise on the Sea of Galilee with Israeli dancing
• Overnight: Karei Desha Guest House, Sea of Galilee

DAY #11 / Thursday / Perspectives from the Golan Heights
• Ascend the Golan Heights
• Water hike down Nahal Jilaboun canyon
• View across Israel and her neighbors from atop Mount Ben-Tal
• Meet with resident of the Golan at Kibbutz Merom Golan
• Begin travel back to central Israel

Option A: Drop-off for Host Family Weekend in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Option B: Supervised alternative weekend (central Israel)

DAY #12 / Friday / Host Family Weekend
Option A: Host Family Weekend
Option B: Supervised alternative weekend (central Israel)
• Neot Kedumim Biblical Park
• Adam & Eve Ecological Village
• Latrun Armored Corp Museum

DAY #13 / Saturday / Host Family Weekend
Option A: Host Family Weekend
Option B: Supervised alternative weekend (central Israel)

DAY #14 / Sunday / The Negev Desert
• Rejoin as a full group and begin heading south to the Negev Desert
• Table-to-Table: Service project harvesting crops for the hungry
• Visit to the Weitzman Institute – Israel’s cutting edge technology academy
• Sde Boker – Ben Gurion’s grave and contemporary Zionism
• Desert survival and orienteering experience
• Overnight: Camping in the Negev Desert

DAY #15 / Monday / Eilat and the Red Sea
• Rappelling into Ramon Crater en route
• Travel southwards to Eilat
• Beach time and snorkeling in the tropical Red Sea
• Hike the Red Canyon trail near Eilat
• Dinner at Yotvata dairy farm restaurant
• Evening: Shopping at Eilat’s sea-side flea market
• Overnight: Eilat Guest House, Eilat

DAY #16 / Tuesday / The Desert Blooms
• Hike to Mount Zefachot for view of sunrise over the Red Sea
• Bus tour along Israel’s border with Egypt
• Desert ecology seminar at Kibbutz Ketura
• Travel northwards along the Arava Valley
• Trek on camelback thru the Negev Desert
• “Hafla style” dinner feast at Chan HaShayarot Bedouin Tent
• Evening: Bonfire party under the stars
• Overnight: Kfar HaNokdim Bedouin Tent, Negev Desert

DAY #17 / Wednesday / Masada and the Dead Sea
• Sunrise climb to Masada via the Roman Ramp
• Tour of the Masada desert fortress complex
• Descend Masada via the famous Snake Path
• Floating & beach time at the Dead Sea
• Swim under the desert waterfalls at Ein Gedi Nature Reserve
• Return to Jerusalem in the late afternoon
• Evening: Speaker – Geo-politics of Israel with Neil Lazarus
• Overnight: Agron Guest House, Jerusalem

DAY #18 / Thursday / Remembrance and Redemption
• Visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Mt. Herzl
• Visit to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament – Meaning of a Jewish State
• Hazon Yeshaya – Service project at a Jerusalem soup kitchen
• Shop for dinner at Mahane Yehuda marketplace
• Group picnic style dinner in a Jerusalem park
• Evening: Pre-Shabbat activity with Rabbi Ian Pear
• Overnight: Agron Guest House, Jerusalem

DAY #19 / Friday / Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv
• Travel to Tel Aviv – Israel’s cultural & financial capital
• Celebrate the founding of modern Israel at Independence Hall
• Shopping at Nahalat Binyamin street festival
• Walking tour of Jaffa seaport and artist colony
• Group beach time in Tel Aviv
• Return to Jerusalem in late afternoon to prepare for Shabbat
• Re-enter the Old City for Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel
• Overnight: Agron Guest House, Jerusalem

DAY #20 / Saturday / Shabbat in Jerusalem
• Option to attend Shabbat services at local synagogues
• Walking tour of Jerusalem neighborhoods
• Relaxed picnic-style afternoon at Jerusalem’s Independence Park
• Program wrap-up and final dinner party
• Return to airport for late night flight to New York

DAY #21 / Sunday / Shalom!
• Arrive back to New York in the early morning
• Bus tour in New York
• Overnight: Holiday Inn, JFK Airport

DAY #22 / Monday / Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica
Option #1: Fly to Atlanta for supervised flight
Option #2: Arrange your own flight from NY – We will meet you at San Jose Airport in Costa Rica
• Evening: Group welcome, snacks & ice breakers at hotel
• Overnight: Hampton Inn Hotel, San Jose

DAY #23 / Tuesday / Above the Cloud Forests
• Meet with high school students at local San Jose-area school
• Travel northwards to the misty cloud forests of Monteverde
• Fly high above the cloud forest canopy at SkyTrek zip-lining course
• Night safari walk in the cloud forest – look out for sloths, monkeys & tarantulas!
• Overnight: Hotel Poco a Poco, Monteverde

DAY #24 / Wednesday / Monteverde Village
• Learn how to make jewelry at a women’s cooperative workshop
• Walk though a colorful butterfly garden
• Hike the Monteverde Biological Reserve and look for exotic toucans & quetzal birds
• Learn about the unique history of Monteverde, founded by Quakers from the U.S.
• Group night out at “Moon Shiva”
• Overnight: Hotel Poco a Poco, Monteverde

DAY #25 / Thursday / Arenal Volcano
• Travel through the central highlands to Lake Arenal
• Lunch at Toad Hall on Lake Arenal
• Hike into Arenal National Park for a stunning view of an active volcano
• Evening: Relax in the hot springs pools at Arenal
• Enjoy a fresh local dinner at the hot springs
• Overnight: La Catarata Eco-Lodge, La Fortuna

DAY #26 / Friday / La Fortuna
• Tour of Don Juan's organic farm
• Hike to the base of the La Fortuna waterfalls and cool-off in the river
• Shopping for local hand crafted goods at Sarcho & Naranjo
• Travel to Rancho Margot near the shores of Lake Arenal
• Take part in a unique Kabbalat Shabbat service overlooking Lake Arenal
• Shabbat dinner at the Ranch
• Overnight: Rancho Margot, Lake Arenal

DAY #27 / Saturday / Rancho Margot
• Shabbat programming & discussion: Being Eco-Kosher
• Learn about Rancho Margot’s unique approach to sustainable living
• Relaxed afternoon at hotel pool
• Overnight: Rancho Margot, Lake Arenal

DAY #28 / Sunday / Ranch Adventures
• Morning yoga class at the Ranch
• Horseback riding in the ranch’s backcountry jungle
• Kayaking on Lake Arenal
• BBQ dinner by the lake
• Overnight: Rancho Margot, Lake Arenal

DAY #29 / Monday / The Pacific Coast
• Travel south and west to the Manuel Antonio region
• Arrive to the Pacific Ocean in the early evening
• Sunset on the beaches of Manuel Antonio
• Hotel Rancho Casa Grande, Manuel Antonio

DAY #30 / Tuesday / Beach Day!
• Snorkeling and ocean kayaking
• Learn how to surf on Costa Rica’s famous waves
• Afternoon nature-walk in local reserve
• Hotel Rancho Casa Grande, Manuel Antonio

DAY #31 / Wednesday / San Jose
• Begin travel back to San Jose
• Tour of San Jose – Costa Rica’s capital city
• Ascend to the top of the Poaz Volcano overlooking San Jose
• Evening: Group dinner at a Kosher Burger King in San Jose!
• Overnight: Hotel El Sesteo, San Jose

DAY #32 / Thursday / Pacuare River
• Travel through Turiallba en route to the Pacuare River
• Begin full day white water rafting experience on the Pacuare River
• Return to San Jose in the evening
• Overnight: Hotel El Sesteo, San Jose

DAY #33 / Friday / Service Project
• Take part in a half-day service project with Habitat-for-Humanity
• Meet with local Jewish teens in San Jose
• Kabbalat Shabbat services at San Jose’s Shaare Zion Congregation
• Eat a festive Shabbat dinner with local Jewish teens from Costa Rica
• Overnight: Hotel El Sesteo, San Jose

DAY #34: Saturday / Shabbat in San Jose
• Shabbat programming at Shaare Zion Congregation
• Shabbat lunch at hotel
• Relaxed afternoon at hotel pool
• Evening: Farewell dinner party in San Jose
• Overnight: Hotel El Sesteo, San Jose

DAY #35 / Sunday / Return Flight
• Travel to San Jose Airport for return flights
Option #1: Take supervised flight back to North America
Option #2: If arranging own return flight, we will escort you back to the airport for check-in

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