Like a number of isolated rural areas in Costa Rica, infrastructure in the community where the Pacuare River put in and the Pacuare Lodge are located is scarce and poorly maintained by the government. Consistent with our belief that responsible tourism should benefit and respect local communities, Aventuras Naturales works directly with people and institutions in the area in a variety of ways.

Primary school assistance
There are three primary schools located along the Pacuare River between Tres Equis and Siquirres. These schools, in Bajo de Tigre, Los Angeles, and Guyacán, are where local children receive their first years of instruction. With a lot of enthusiasm but very few resources, they are run by one teacher each who teaches all grades-the classic one-room schoolhouse. Located in very poor communities and with extremely limited resources, and no electricity, it is a struggle to provide even pencil and paper for each child.

Aventuras Naturales has an ongoing commitment to assist these three primary schools economically, and a percentage of each reservation made via Internet is donated directly to these schools. Your contribution is also welcome!

If you wish to make a donation directly to this school assistance program, you can do so in our offices when you pay for any of our tours. If you wish to make a donation without taking a tour, just e-mail us for instructions on how to do so. Donations are transfered in their entirety-no administrative or other fees are deducted-directly to the school boards, who in turn utilize the funds to purchase much-needed school materials and services.

Please remember that even a very small donation of US$5 can do a great deal for these poor schools. For each donation, we provide you with a certificate of thanks signed by a representative of one of the school boards and one of the owners of Aventuras Naturales. If you are going on one of our overnight Pacuare trips, and making an additional donation of US$100 or more, we would be delighted to arrange a personal visit on horseback to the Bajo de Tigre School. Here you can personally deliver your contribution and meet the teacher and some of the local school children. We will also take and provide a photograph of the occasion to commemorate the event.

As you can see from the following photographs, our most recent donor was able to assist us in providing the Bajo Tigre School with a much-needed computer system, including software donated by Microsoft. The shy smiles on the faces of the school children speak a thousand words and touch the soul more deeply than just a simple "Gracias". This computer will aide these children for years to come as they learn the vital computer skills that will aide them as they make the transition into a fast-paced, ever-changing workforce.

Additional projects
In the community where the Pacuare River put in is located, we have improved and maintained roads, which were previously almost abandoned, as well as the cable car local residents use to cross the river. We have placed our cellular telephone at the service of the community for emergencies-previously there was no easy communication available. Finally, one of our most enthusiastically received efforts has been the sponsoring of a local soccer team.

We would like to share some of the comments we have received from our clients.

We can assist you in planning your Costa Rica vacation! Please contact Tour Costa Rica´s travel division for help customizing a vacation that meets your budget and exceeds your expectations.