Day 1 - SAN JOSE
Arrival in San Jose, pick up at airport and transfer to HOTEL GRANO DE ORO.
** Accommodations in Deluxe double room
Day 2 - TORTUGUERO
Early morning pick up at hotel for ground and boat transportation to PACHIRA
LODGE, located in the midst of Tortuguero National Park, a tropical rainforest, and a navigable network of lakes and channels that crosses the area from southeast to the northwest. This allows a great diversity of fauna
and flora of the region to be observed close at hand. Additionally, it is the most important
nesting site in the western half of the Caribbean for the Green Turtle. (B) (L) (D)
Day 3 - TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK -
Early next morning, nearby howler monkeys often provide a natural alarm
clock at first light, and for those interested in birds, this is the time to
see many species of hummingbirds, parrots, toucans, woodpeckers, and finches
that abound around the lodge. After breakfast, board your boat with local
guide for a day of tours on Tortuguero's network of lakes and channels. Overnite at Pachira Lodge (B) (L) (D)
Day 4 - SUEÑO AZUL -
Shortly after breakfast and a tour of the canals, leave Tortuguero for trip
back to San Jose. At a designated point on the highway about an hour from
San Jose your personal driver in a/c 10 pass. van will pick you up for drive
and overnite at Sueño Azul. Adjacent to Braulio Carillo National Park and La Selva Biological Reserve. Located in Horquetas, Sarapiquí, at the edge of the Sarapiqui River, nestled in a spectacular rainforest, Sueño Azul is one of the premier rainforest Hotels in Costa Rica if not the
Americas. The lodge provides ample accommodations with 55 rooms with
private baths and showers with hot water and open into large spacious wooden
balconies. Delicious meals featuring the local cuisine are served in an open
and spacious "El Corral" restaurant. (B) (L)
Day 5 - LA SELVA / ARENAL / LA PAZ
Morning guided hike to La Selva Biological Reserve, owned and managed by the
Organization for Tropical Studies, a consortium of international
universities dedicated to rainforest research. The U.S. Academy of Sciences
has recognized La Selva as one of the four most ideal places in the world
for this kind of research. After lunch, leave La Selva for 2 1/2 hour
journey to the Arenal Volcano with a scheduled stop for tour of the La Paz
Waterfall Gardens. When you think about Costa Rica, you probably imagine lush tropical Rain Forests, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies and flowers. At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you will see all that and more. Overnite at HOTEL KIORO ** Accommodations in Jr. Suite (B)
Day 6 - ARENAL / MONTEVERDE
Early Birds Watching Tour at the Arenal Hanging Bridges. It starts at 6:00
AM with a naturalist - ornithologist guide on their unique trail and
bridges. A great diversity of environments, for a great diversity of
species. Early Birds Watching Tour regularly count between 50 and 60 species
of birds which what makes it one of the most productive bird watching walks
of the region and the country. Besides the 2 hours and 30 minutes walk, this
tour includes 30 minutes to edit the list of the species found in the
morning. Afterwards, leave Arenal to begin scenic 4 1/2 hour drive around Lake Arenal
to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and EL ESTABLO MOUNTAIN HOTEL (B) **
Accommodations in Deluxe Double room
Day 7 - MONTEVERDE
Guided Morning Sky Walk Tour, a system of 6 suspension bridges (with lengths
of even 984 feet), that go above the canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest,
which allows you to appreciate the flora and fauna of Costa Rica from a
different perspective. Sky Walk reunites all the conditions of security and
confidence. It's construction has been adapted even for people with some
disability. Overnite at El Establo (B)
Day 8 - MONTEVERDE /MANUEL ANTONIO
Guided hike to the Monteverde Reserve, then leave Monteverde to begin 5 hour drive down the coast to Manuel Antonio National Park. With one of the most stunning, picture-postcard backdrops in the country, this is one of the lushest
places in Costa Rica, with spectacular white-grey sand beaches fringed by thickly forested green hills. Your driver will drop you off at HOTEL ARENAS DEL MAR BEACH AND NATURE RESORT, paradise found! This tropical resort overlooking the ocean, surrounded by a lush rainforest, has beautiful swimming pools and a luxurious spa. With swimming, walking trails, and bird watching, there is something to enchant every member of your family!
Accommodations in Ocean View Superior room (B)
Day 9 - MANUEL ANTONIO
Days to enjoy Manuel Antonio National Park. There is a huge variety of things to do- walking the Park's easy trails, whitewater rafting, ocean cruising, horseback riding, fishing, sea kayaking, to name but a few. Overnite at Arenas del Mar (B)
Day 10 - CORCOVADO
Transfer to airport for 9:00am flight and boat transportation to CASA CORCOVADO LODGE in Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula to visit Corcovado National Park. Corcovado
National Park is an undeniably beautiful place, considered to be one of the most important
natural preserves in the Americas, this virgin rainforest park invites superlatives from all who
visit. At least thirteen distinct vegetation types in close proximity, including
mangtroves, palm swamps and bloodweed forest make Corcovado a botanist's dream. Jaguars, giant
anteaters, hundreds of white-lipped peccaries, tapers, and a host of rare rainforest animals
inhabit the vast reaches surrounding the crocodile-filled lagoon at the park's center. The captivating visual beauty of its forest and of its coastline, with miles of uninhabited beaches and
roaring cascades, draws visitors from all over the world. Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge is a 170
acre private reserve, adjoining Corcovado National Park, providing the ideal base for
exploring the rainforest, waterfalls, and miles of uninhabited beaches of the Osa Peninsula. The
Lodge supplied with mountain spring water is surrounded by virgin rainforest and fruit trees
which draws birds, monkeys and other wildlife. Enjoy beachcombing on the Lodge's own half
kilometer long sand beach and then refresh yourself under a waterfall or bathe in a shaded
pool. Casa Corcovado offers individual deluxe thatched roof bungalows with private baths, and
delicious home-cooked meals, allowing guests to enjoy the jungle in comfort. Activities
offered include: Scuba diving (both resort courses and regular trips), sea kayaking, horseback riding,
and sportfishing. (B) (L) (D)
*** Note: A trip to Casa Corcovado and Drake Bay is geared towards the
serious minded naturalist, hiker, photographer, birder, and adventurer. Due to the
remote location, tours will involve surf landing and launches and it's recommended that
visitors be in good physical condition.
Days 11, 12 - CORCOVADO / CAÑO ISLAND
Full day guided tours to Corcovado National Park, recognized as one of the most "biological intense" places on earth and Cano Island Biological Reserve to take advantage of the Reserve's clear blue waters and snorkel the coraline reefs. (B) (L) (D)
Day 13 - CORCOVADO / SAN JOSE
After breakfast, boat trip up the Sierpe River, going through
jungle, mangrove swamps and forest areas. Transfer to the airport for
return flight to San Jose. Pick up at airport for Cafe Britt Coffee tour
then transfer to Hotel Grano de Oro (B)
Day 14 - RETURN HOME
Transfer to airport for return flight home and the end to an
unforgettable adventure!!! |