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Home > Destinations > Central
America > Costa
Rica > Costa Rica Connoisseur
Costa Rica Connoisseur
A Costa Rica adventure tour beginning in the heights of the mystical Monteverde Cloud Forest, continuing on to Costa Rica's active Arenal Volcano and its impressive lava displays, and on to the adventure of lowland jungle canals teeming with tropical wildlife in Tortuguero National Park. Discover Costa Rica's colorful and fascinating flora and fauna and unique ecosystems on this relaxed adventure tour. From late June through October join a night walk tour on the Costa Rica's Caribbean beaches to observe giant green sea turtles nesting in Tortuguero.
DAY 1 : ARRIVE SAN JOSE
Welcome at San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport and transfer to your Central Valley area hotel. Bask in the new sights, sounds, smells and warm air. Relax, let your cares slip away and look forward to the adventure tour which lies ahead. [Meals on own]
DAY 2 : FINCA ECOLOGICA
Savor an early morning cup of Costa Rica's coffee and a hearty breakfast before hopping in the van with your guide for the 4.5 drive to Monteverde. Travel the Pan-American Highway for the first 2.5 hours before turning off onto a winding gravel road for the remainder of the trip. Stop and stretch your legs while enjoying a typical Tico lunch. Take in the views of hillside pastures and the Gulf of Nicoya before reaching Monteverde with its refreshingly cool climate. Walk the trails looking for wildlife at Finca Ecologica, a 75 acre private wildlife preserve. The lush environment hosts abundant bird life, sloth, agoutis and coatimundis. Overnight Monteverde Lodge. [BLD]
DAY 3 : MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST
A guided naturalist hike introduces you to the unique Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilaran Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 feet), encompassing eight different ecological life zones and protecting over 100 species of mammals, 400 of the approximately 850 species of birds in Costa Rica, and 1,500 species of plants. Depending on your luck and patience, from January to July you may observe the Resplendent Quetzal, the Three-wattled Bellbird, the Emerald Toucanet, and White Faced and Howler monkeys in their natural habitats. Return to the lodge around mid-day for lunch before immersing yourself in the colorful world of butterflies. Explore the Butterfly Garden, with butterflies and other insects raised and displayed in shade cloth enclosures within tropical gardens. Monteverde Lodge. [BLD]
DAY 4 : MONTEVERDE TO ARENAL VOLCANO
Leave the cloud forest behind and depart Monteverde mid-morning. The 4 hour drive to the Arenal area passes through picturesque towns and villages, around the north end of Lake Arenal and near the Arenal Volcano. Stop for lunch enroute and a chance to chat with the locals. Weather permitting delight in the stunning views of the volcano which has been active since 1968. With a dark sky watch the fireworks as explosions cause lava to spill over the crater rim. Overnight Arenal Manoa or Volcano Lodge.[BLD]
DAY 5 : ARENAL NATIONAL PARK
Grab your hiking shoes and head out with your naturalist guide to experience the rain forest canopy from the amazing aerial perspective provided by the Arenal Hanging Bridges. This system of bridges sits within a 618 acre reserve while threading its way through rainforest surrounding the volcano. Traverse the 15 bridges ranging from 5-100 meters in lenght looking for White hawks, Great curassows, Rufous motmots, Howler monkeys, Spider monkeys, coatimundis, sloth and White-collared peccary. (The bridges made of aluminum, galvanized steel and concrete ensure maximum safety for visitors.) Soothe tired muscles with an afternoon soak in the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs followed by a typical Costa Rican dinner prepared by host Dona Mireya. Enjoy the true tradition of local hospitality! Overnight Arenal Manoa or Volcano Lodge. [BLD]
DAY 6 : TRAVEL TO TORTUGUERO
Your scenic drive to the Caribbean coast begins early! Notice the many banana plantations. Bananas were Costa Rica's primary crop before the introduction of coffee provided a suitable crop for export. The tour reaches the coast to board a boat and spend several hours winding through the languid tropical rivers and canals of Tortuguero's lowland rain forest. Tortuguero National Park preserves 51,870 hectares of tropical rain forest, one of the last large areas of tropical rain forests in Central America. Overnight Tortuga Lodge [BLD]
DAYS 7-8 : TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Two full days to explore the essence and adventure of the Tortuguero area. Glide quietly through the canals in an electric boat with a local Tortuguero guide (2 boat excursions included). Visit the Caribbean Conservation Center to learn more about tracking migrating turtles by satellite, the turtle adoption program and the Atlantic Green sea turtle. In season (July through October), a night beach walking tour allows visitors to witness the sea turtles nesting behavior (not included). During the day wander the deserted beach and enjoy swimming in the lodge pool. Overnight Tortuga Lodge . [BLD]
DAY 9 : TORTUGUERO TO SAN JOSE
Glimpse Tortuguero's twisting canals and rivers and Eastern Costa Rica from the air as your 30 minute plane ride takes you back to San Jose. Visit the Britt Coffee Plantation and discover coffee's vital role in forging Costa Rican democracy and cultivating a national identity around their hard-working, peace-loving, friendly and environmentally conscious people. Packed with tips and tricks, the coffee tour demonstrates how to properly store coffee, brew a perfect cappuccino,and distinguish good coffees from great ones. Ignore your mother's warnings about slurping! If you chose, a white water adventure rafting trip, a city tour, musuem visit or shopping for souvenirs can be arranged (not included) or simply spend the afternoon relaxing in the warm sunshine, swimming in the pool, enjoying the hotel grounds and lingering over one last sunset in Costa Rica. Overnight San Jose area hotel. [BLD]
DAY 10 : TRAVEL HOME
Pack your bags and relish one last cup of Costa Rican coffee before departing for the airport in time to arrive approximately two hours before your scheduled international flight. [Meals on Own]
| - Route Map, Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services - |
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Days: 10 | Grade: I (click for grades definition) | 2008 Price: From $2008 per person. Land cost based on Season | Season | Low | Mid | High | Adult | $2008 | $2108 | $2208 | Child | $1506 | $1580 | $1656 |
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| Child Price: From $1506 | Single Supplement: $379 (click for info) | *Low season, May, June, Aug 29 departure, October.
Mid season: April, Nov.
High season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Jul, Aug 8 and 15 departures. | | | | | 2008 Departure Dates | | | May 23 - Jun 1, 2008
Jun 13 - Jun 22, 2008 (F)
Jun 27 - Jul 6, 2008 (F)
Jul 18 - Jul 27, 2008 (F)
Aug 8 - Aug 17, 2008 (F)
Aug 15 - Aug 24, 2008 (F)
Aug 29 - Sep 7, 2008
Oct 10 - Oct 19, 2008
Nov 14 - Nov 23, 2008
Dec 19 - Dec 28, 2008
Dec 26 - Jan 4, 2009
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(F) = Family departure |
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| | | Included: Services as specified in the itinerary above including accommodations, local land and air transportation, Services as specified in the itinerary above including accommodations, local land and air transportation, guide services and expenses, tours and excursions, park and entrance fees, meals as specified [B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner], airport & hotel transfers, Wildland Adventures travel consultation and pre-departure services.
| | | Not Included: Services unless specified otherwise in the itinerary above such as international air; airport taxes; tips and gratuities; optional or suggested services that are on your own; insurance of any kind; personal expenses; extra beverages and alcoholic drinks; medical costs; and hospitalization and evacuation and any other extra expenses due to unanticipated changes in our itinerary for reasons beyond control. Meals, souvenirs and other local and personal expenses not specified in the above itinerary are also not included. Always carry enough cash for the international ($26) airport departure taxes. | | | Trip Notes: Minimum age 12 and older except on Family departures. Departure might be run on reverse order. December* departures of this adventure tour may stay in alternate lodges in each destination. There are also some changes in the meal and tour schedule for these holiday departures, resulting in a slightly lower per person trip cost ($1,908 per person sharing double occupancy). | |
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