Costa Rica Fixed Departures

CLASSIC COSTA RICA   8 days / 7 nights

Costa Rica is about nature. Our fixed departures are intended to bring you close to nature and the culture developed in it. Our expert naturalist guides will unveil the marvels of the tropics as well as the cultural and historical background of Costa Rica. At the end of your trip you will have seen Costa Rica through the eyes of Costa Ricans. 

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

ROUTE: San Jose, Poas, Arenal, Caño Negro,Monteverde sky tram, Tarcoles River, Manuel Antonio

Included Services:     
Transportation: to /from airport transfers, all land private transport in comfortable a/c vehicle.
Lodging: 7 night lodging based on double occupancy
Meals:  as indicated B, breakfast; L, lunch; D, dinner
Activities:
--Coffee plantation tour
--Poas Volcano guided hike
--Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge boat tour
--Horse back riding tour in Monteverde
--Monteverde cloud forest hike and sky tram
--Tarcoles River boat tour
--Manuel Antonio guided tour
--Services of Naturalist bilingual guide for the entire trip
--Taxes and entrance fees to all included features

From USD$1325 per person in double occupancy. Min.age 12 years, except for family groups.
Your expert naturalist guide will be a wealth of knowledge as well as taking care of your comfort.   
Not included:   international airfare, airport taxes, services not specified in itinerary, personal equipment, hotel extras (laundry, phone calls, room service, alcoholic beverages), personal insurance coverage (recommended).

DETAILED ITINERARY: Costa Rica Classic

Arrival day, San Jose 1nt
Day 1. Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Meet and greet at Juan Santamaria airport. Welcome to Costa Rica, your guide will give you a brief introduction to your trip while taking you to your hotel in San Jose. Overnight in Parque del Lago.

Arenal Volcano area, 2nts
Day 2. San Jose / Poas Volcano / Arenal area (B, L, D)
Meet with your guide this morning as you also will be introduced to your travel companions. Start out going north through coffee plantations. Your guide will thoroughly explain about this crop. Further on, dairy farms and strawberry fields compete with the beautiful views of Central Valley. Once in the national park, visit the summit of Poas Volcano. Wonderful cloud forest here.   Enjoy a typical lunch and continue to Arenal area. Overnight in Arenal, Hotel Montaña de Fuego or similar.
Day 3. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge / Arenal (B, L, D)
After breakfast ride our comfortable van until Rio Frio.   Enjoy great opportunities for wildlife viewing in this nice boat ride, howler monkeys, caymans, egrets, kingfishers and more. Caño Negro was established as a wildlife refuge for the impressive diverse population of aquatic birds that migrate here and also live year round. The boat trip easily will allow you to see great amount of this variety of bird life plus howler monkeys, iguanas, caymans and lizards. With keen eyes your guide will show you the well-hidden creatures, explaining their natural history.  Be back at your hotel in the late afternoon.  Enjoy a wonderful evening at the soothing hot springs. Overnight in Arenal.

Monteverde area, 2nts
Day 4. Santa Elena town and Monteverde / horse back riding tour (B, D)
Leave Arenal towards Monteverde. Enjoy a nice ride around Lake Arenal and then ascend to the now well-known area of Monteverde; one of Central Americas most attractive inland destinations. Monteverde established by nine quaker families back in the 1950´s seemed in a very remote place having practically no roads. Over the years the area has developed more and conservation rules here. Ecotourism has allowed private reserves to continue their growth and accomplish their goals of a sustainable, enjoyable, wilderness experience.  You will have time to stroll in the quaint town of Santa Elena and enjoy lunch on own. Later this afternoon go for a horseback riding tour filled with marvelous landscapes.   Overnight in Monteverde, Hotel El Establo or similar.
Day 5. Monteverde Cloud forest hike and sky tram. (B, D)
This morning your guide will bring you on a natural history walk in the cloud forest protected area. Learn about nature, animals and vegetation of the Monteverde area. The reserve traverses the Tilaran Mountain Range. It has most appropriately been named Monteverde, ¨Green Mountain¨, for its rich and lush forest. Included for you here the sky tram, ride over the top of the trees in a gondola.  In the afternoon optional activities such as the canopy or zip lines tour. Overnight in Monteverde.

Manuel Antonio area, 2nts
Day 6. Tarcoles boat ride / Manuel Antonio beach (B, L)
Time to go to the beach. Going down the road you will see the beautiful landscapes of this area. On the way not just the mandatory stop at the Tarcoles River bridge but a boat ride, the best way to catch sight of the impressive crocodiles. Tarcoles River is known by its population of crocodiles and along also, you will have opportunities to see coastal, migratory and native birds.  Great chances of seeing scarlet macaws. You will be arriving in your hotel in Manuel Antonio area in the late afternoon.  Relax and enjoy a leisure evening. Overnight in Hotel Espadilla similar.
Day 7. In Manuel Antonio. (B, D)
Find a splendid combination of forest and beach in Manuel Antonio. This national park, of almost 700 hectares, is one of our small national parks. This condition offers close encounters with monkeys, sloths, birds and lizards. Your guide will bring you this morning for a nice walk in Manuel Antonio National Park with plenty leisure time at the beach. Enjoy the remaining part of the day at the beach. Optional tours at extra cost. Farewell dinner.

Day 8. Departure day.
Transfer to the international airport, make sure your departure flight is not earlier than 11:00am.   Extend your stay - optional two and three night packages.

You can customize this trip in several ways: use local guides´ services instead of a private guide, use of shuttle transport services, add extra nights at the end, ask for a pre trip and post trip extensions in your comments as you fill the Request Form.

Fixed Departure Dates & Prices  / CLASSIC COSTA RICA

Info Request Form CLASSIC COSTA RICA