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Costa Rican Adventure
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Join Ellie Leinaweaver
As Focus Travel Club Presents:
“The Costa Rican Adventure”
13 Day Custom Tour to Costa Rica
Designed exclusively for Focus Travel Club
$3999.00 PP based on double occupancy
April 12th – 25th, 2017
San José – Tortuguero – Arenal – Carara
Tortuguero National Park , Green Turtle Research Station, Arenal Volcano National Park ,
Poás Volcano National Park, Carara Biological Reserve, Villa Lapas Sky Way, La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Included Features:
A Personal Invitation from Focus Travel Club and Tumlare Destination Management
Eleanor Leinaweaver Kelsey MacCauley
Focus Travel Club Tumlare Destination Management
12551 West Alameda Drive 271 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 209
Lakewood, CO 80228 Waltham, MA 02452
T: 303-985-1435 T: 1-800-954-6713 x13
Fax: 978-579-0883
e.leinaweaver@comcast.net
COST OF TOUR FROM DENVER $3999.00 pp
RESERVATION DEPOSIT $250.00 pp
2nd DEPOSIT DUE October 1st 2016 $1000.00
FINAL PAYMENT DUE January 15 2017 $2749.00 pp
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT** $899.00
**Payment for single room does not guarantee a superior room, only ensures privacy.
NO SPACE CAN BE CONFIRMED UNTIL TOUR REGISTRATION DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED BY TUMLARE. EARLY REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED. Tour cost is based on a minimum of 20 participants. There will be a per person surcharge should these numbers not be reached.
Deluxe Travel Insurance is offered at $399 per person. Please see the registration page for more information.
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES: Touring and services on an exclusive basis by private deluxe motor coach. Roundtrip airfare from Denver (economy class). Porterage for one piece of luggage at airports. Welcome assistance upon arrival. All airport transfers. Accommodations in centrally located First Class Hotels and boutique style hotels. All rooms with private facilities. Daily enhanced continental breakfast. Meals specified in itinerary. Touring and sightseeing as specified in itinerary. Professional English-speaking Tour Manager/Director as specified.
YOUR TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: Passport and visa fees. No visas required for U.S. citizens on this tour. Items of a purely personal nature such as: extra beverages with meals, room service, telephone calls, personal expenses, etc. Meals not specified in itinerary. Possible baggage fees as charged by the airline. Gratuities to the tour escort. Gratuities to local step on guides and drivers are at your discretion.
Travel Insurance – including trip cancellation and interruption – Highly Recommended.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance through Travel Insured is provided for all participants on an OPT OUT basis. The cost of the travel insurance $399.00 per person. For the coverage to begin, payment must first be received. Please enclose an additional $399.00 per person for coverage to begin upon receipt of application. Please also check the “YES” box on the registration page to indicate that you would like to add the insurance. Please note travel insurance is non refundable.
METHOD OF PAYMENT: By personal check to: Tumlare, 271 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 209, Waltham, MA 02452 Attn: Erika Franko. Credit card payments accepted for 1st deposit only.
REGISTRATION FORM: A separate Registration form and Terms and Conditions accompany this itinerary. Please read carefully, sign the Terms and Conditions and fill out the Registration form and mail with your deposit to Tumlare at the above address. Please make a copy of the Terms and Conditions for your files. Please send along with you registration form a copy of the information page of your passport for our records.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart Denver & San José, Costa Rica (WD)
Arrive at San José, Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through Immigration you will be met by our representative who will give you a sticker that will facilitate you clearing customs. He or she will take you to hotel to check-in. Tonight, we will gather for an included Welcome Dinner.
Welcome dinner at the hotel
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 2: San José (B, L, D)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart with your private guide and driver on a city tour in San José. You will visit the National Theater and the Gold Museum this morning. The magnificent National Theater, built in 1897, is a historical landmark and one of the country’s architectural jewels. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum boasts a collection of gold objects that reflect the world view, social structure and gold working techniques of the Pre-Columbian people of Costa Rica. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of gold work that date from 500 to 1500 AD. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant in San Jose.
In the afternoon, we visit the National Museum, located atop a hill that dominates the city of San Jose, in the country’s former army headquarters, vacated in 1949 after Costa Rica abolished its standing army. Here you can witness for yourself the pre-Columbian tools, pottery, burial sites and social past. Return to your hotel late in the afternoon in time for your welcome dinner with your private guide.
Dinner at local restaurant in San José area
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 3: San José - Tortuguero (B, L, D)
Clients will be transferred to the Caño Blanco Dock where you will board your boat to Tortuguero. The boat ride of approximately two hours takes you through lush rainforests toward the Caribbean Sea before arriving in Tortuguero National Park, a beacon of biodiversity. Nestled within an archipelago of volcanic islands, Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to 11 distinct habitats including mangroves, rain forests, lagoons and beaches. This protected tropical reserve offers visitors the chance to see an incredible array of native Costa Rican plants and wildlife. Enjoy a leisurely cruise through the protected wetlands, where you may spot many tropical birds in the surrounding flora.
After lunch, head back out onto the water to explore the fascinating Green Turtle Research Station (Volunteer Fee is Not Included). Visit the black sand beaches that provide an important breeding and nesting ground for Costa Rica’s endangered green sea turtles, and learn how the park’s conservation efforts have helped bring this species back from the brink of extinction.
Dinner at local restaurant in Tortuguero area
Overnight at The Laguna Lodge or similar
Day 4: Tortuguero (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast at Lodge before a morning tour. Cruise the canals and streams of the park today as howler monkeys watch from the treetops, toucans and egrets fly through the air and crocodiles ply the cool waters. Explore these lush waterways while learning about the park’s history and diverse ecosystems. Keep an eye out for aquatic life like river otters, spectacled caiman and the occasional endangered West Indian manatee, plus surrounding jungle creatures like sloths, capuchin and howler monkeys, and a variety of reptiles.
Dinner at local restaurant in Tortuguero area
Overnight at the Laguna Lodge
Day 5: Tortuguero - Arenal (B, L, D)
Breakfast at Lodge and boat transfer from the Hotel to the Caño Blanco dock. Following by a private guided transfer to the Arenal area. These areas are very popular for the scenic view of the mountain and the major sources of revenue in the areas are agriculture, so you will have the opportunity according with the season to observe along the way from the vehicle, pineapple and sugar cane.
A mid-afternoon arrival at Volcano Lodge is anticipated. The grounds of the lodge are lush and beautiful with many birds and flowers. Thermal springs, a spa and pool provide guests with relaxation and the view of the volcano is amazing. Have time to enjoy the springs or take a ten minute walk to see the view from the bridge at Lake Arenal.
Dinner at local restaurant in Arenal area
Overnight at the Volcano Lodge or similar
Day 6: Arenal (B, L, D)
In the morning, accompanied by your naturalist guide, you will visit the Arenal Volcano National Park. After arriving at Arenal Volcano National Park, take in breathtaking views of the nearby volcano. One of the most active volcanoes in the Western Hemisphere, it emits a near-constant stream of smoke, ash and lava from a crater that rises an impressive 5,436 feet (1,657 meters) above sea level. The last major eruption was in 1968, and park officials carefully monitor volcanic activity to ensure visitor safety. Learn about this fascinating area’s history and geology from your guide as you admire the sight of the volcano rising out of lush surrounding vegetation. Lunch included at a local restaurant
In the evening, visit the Hidalgo Family Farm and Hot Springs. The Hidalgo's are a Costa Rican family from the San Carlos area who made their fortune raising cattle for beef. Several years ago, they discovered a hot spring at one of their ranches on the skirts of the Arenal Volcano and built a swimming pool using water from the spring. They have now built nice pools where you enjoy a natural massage from the small cascade of hot spring water and spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano (weather-permitting) in the tradition of local hospitality. Dinner will be specially prepared by your hostess, Doña Mireya.
Group Dinner with Doña Mireya
Overnight at the Volcano Lodge or similar
Day 7: Arenal - Carara (B, L, D)
After breakfast, departure to the area of Pacific coast of Costa Rica. On the way visit EcoJungle Cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch. The Guacalillo Estuary and the Tárcoles River offer the chance to observe one the largest colonies of crocodiles in the world, the richest mangrove forest in the Mid-Pacific coast and the most important area in the country for the conservation of the scarlet macaw. Their brilliant colors (bright orange-red plumage with touches of blue and yellow), long pointed tail and wings, make the scarlet macaw easy to recognize as they fly over your boat or make noises from the mangrove canopy along the estuary. Your boat will head along the mangrove, an awesome ecosystem that features four different species of mangrove trees. They provide an important nesting site for birds, including the beautiful scarlet macaw, and a shelter and nutrient spot for many fish and invertebrates.
As the boat approaches the riverbanks, you will be able to seize the great opportunity of a close-up look at wild crocodiles, each up to fifteen feet long. The crocodile was very common in mangrove swamps and coastal rivers but, in the past decades, its population was severely decimated by skin hunters. Nowadays, thanks to conservation programs, the latest survey of the Tárcoles River, and the area of the Carara National Park, recorded between 80 and 240 individuals per mile of river. There are over 250 different kinds of birds that can be found in the area, including kingfishers, roseate spoonbills, great herons, anhingas, night herons and much more.
Arrive to your all-inclusive hotel in time for check in, relax, swim, and enjoy dinner.
Dinner and overnight at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort or similar
Day 8: Carara (B, L, D)
Enjoy a morning guided visit to the Carara Biological Reserve. This small reserve of 4,700 hectares (11,614 acres) is home to an amazing array of native plant and animal species. With a relatively dry climate, Carara’s growth is not as thick as other parts of the country, offering more open spaces in which to spot wildlife. The forests on the slopes are composed of species such as the Espavel, Wild Fig, Silk Cotton, Quamwood and Purple Heart. The forest mass on the lowland has little diversity although palm trees are abundant. Their frequently seen stilt roots are signs of occasional floods. The gallery forests that grow along the riverbank are thick and tall, with few species, mainly the Espavel, but their appearance likens them more to a rainforest type of growth. Follow your guide along beautiful forest trails, and be on the lookout for mammals like white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths and kinkajous (also known as ‘honey bears’). Scan the treetops and the sky overhead for vibrant birdlife including scarlet macaws, parrots, motmots, hummingbirds and parakeets. In marshlands fed by the Tárcoles River, you may see kingfishers, egrets and herons, plus the occasional American crocodile. The marshes are covered with Water Hyacinths, a plant that typically grows in shallow waters rich in nutrients or in polluted lakes.
Return to the hotel for lunch and free afternoon to relax by the pool.
Dinner at local restaurant in Carara area
Overnight at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Ressort or similar
Day 9: Carara (B, L, D)
Today, you will visit the Aerial tram Pacific located in Jaco. Experience the best Costa Rica rainforest tours and excursion at Rainforest Adventures in the Pacific side near the tropical beach forests of Jaco, one of the coolest destinations in Central America. The Aerial Tram is one of the most unique Costa Rica excursions at Rainforest Adventures, featuring 18 gondolas that give rides to a maximum for 9 passengers each including one bilingual (English/Spanish) naturalist guide and take the passengers a tour to the canopy and the rich ecosystem of Costa Rican tropical forests, one of the many beautiful destinations in Central America.
Dinner at local restaurant in Carara area
Overnight at the Arena Hotel or similar
Day 10: Carara to San José (B, L)
After breakfast, depart to San José – approximate driving distance is 2 hours.
Before checking in at your hotel, you will visit Plaza Esmeralda. Both a working jewelry factory and a shopping center, you can purchase replicas of pre-Columbian jewelry here, along with many other souvenirs.
Lunch will be included at a local restaurant, and the rest of the afternoon will be free at leisure.
Dinner on own
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 11: San José (B, L)
Embark on a full-day adventure with your guide and drive to see Admire the magnificent (and active!) Poás Volcano and the enchanting La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Your first stop is Poás Volcano National Park, home to the still-active Poás Volcano that reaches an impressive 8,884 feet (2,708 meters) above sea level. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can almost touch the rim of an active volcano, but at Poas Volcano National Park you can get up close to the smoking crater. Take a short hike to the edge of the volcanic crater for breathtaking views into the smoking cauldron below, filled with an amazing aquamarine lagoon, blanketed in ferns and ringed with hiking trails leading to panoramic lookouts and picnic areas.
After descending from the volcanoes, head to the lovely La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a private nature reserve that boasts miles of scenic hiking trails and more than 100 species of native wildlife housed in various habitats. Meet some of Costa Rica’s tiniest winged creatures at the Hummingbird Garden and Butterfly Observatory, and get an up-close encounter with reptilian residents at the frog exhibit and serpentarium. Soak up the lush tropical scenery with a riverside hike, stopping to admire one of the many cascading waterfalls along the way.
Lunch is served buffet style at a local restaurant which offers a view of the Poas Volcano Mountain Range and the La Paz River Valley. Late afternoon return to your hotel for overnight
Dinner on own
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 12: San José (B,L,D)
Today, you will visit the artisan town of Sarchí, best known as the home of brightly painted carretas — wooden oxcarts that were once used to transport coffee beans across Costa Rica’s mountains. Today, Sarchí’s local artisan community continues this tradition with more than 200 shops and small factories that turn out a wide range of handmade wooden goods. Spend time at the Sarchi Oxcart Factory to watch craftspeople at work as they meticulously paint embellishments on carts, wheels, and other pieces of art. You’ll have the chance to purchase a unique souvenir before briefly visiting the postcard perfect town of Zarcero. Popular resting spot among travelers passing through this area is the town’s trademark—topiary garden in front of the towns church. Wavy arches carved from conifer cypress make quite an impression, as it is such an unexpected site in Costa Rica countryside. The Topiary gardens are is also an interesting place to visit. There are nearly 120 three-sculptures with figures such as an octopus, an elephant, a giraffe, chickens, a dinosaur, human figures, vehicles and even the national coat of arms; all created by the local artist Evangelista Blanco.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 13: San José – Departure Home (B)
This day you will be transferred to Juan Santa International Airport to take your flight back home.
As Focus Travel Club Presents:
“The Costa Rican Adventure”
13 Day Custom Tour to Costa Rica
Designed exclusively for Focus Travel Club
$3999.00 PP based on double occupancy
April 12th – 25th, 2017
San José – Tortuguero – Arenal – Carara
Tortuguero National Park , Green Turtle Research Station, Arenal Volcano National Park ,
Poás Volcano National Park, Carara Biological Reserve, Villa Lapas Sky Way, La Paz Waterfall Gardens
Included Features:
- Round trip airfare from Denver
- Extensive included sightseeing focusing on culture and nature all led by a licensed naturalist guide.
- Small group size
- 12 nights in comfortable handpicked accommodations
- Wonderful meals (12 Breakfasts, 10 dinners, and 11 lunches) sights and experiences in the usual FTC style
A Personal Invitation from Focus Travel Club and Tumlare Destination Management
Eleanor Leinaweaver Kelsey MacCauley
Focus Travel Club Tumlare Destination Management
12551 West Alameda Drive 271 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 209
Lakewood, CO 80228 Waltham, MA 02452
T: 303-985-1435 T: 1-800-954-6713 x13
Fax: 978-579-0883
e.leinaweaver@comcast.net
COST OF TOUR FROM DENVER $3999.00 pp
RESERVATION DEPOSIT $250.00 pp
2nd DEPOSIT DUE October 1st 2016 $1000.00
FINAL PAYMENT DUE January 15 2017 $2749.00 pp
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT** $899.00
**Payment for single room does not guarantee a superior room, only ensures privacy.
NO SPACE CAN BE CONFIRMED UNTIL TOUR REGISTRATION DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED BY TUMLARE. EARLY REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED. Tour cost is based on a minimum of 20 participants. There will be a per person surcharge should these numbers not be reached.
Deluxe Travel Insurance is offered at $399 per person. Please see the registration page for more information.
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES: Touring and services on an exclusive basis by private deluxe motor coach. Roundtrip airfare from Denver (economy class). Porterage for one piece of luggage at airports. Welcome assistance upon arrival. All airport transfers. Accommodations in centrally located First Class Hotels and boutique style hotels. All rooms with private facilities. Daily enhanced continental breakfast. Meals specified in itinerary. Touring and sightseeing as specified in itinerary. Professional English-speaking Tour Manager/Director as specified.
YOUR TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: Passport and visa fees. No visas required for U.S. citizens on this tour. Items of a purely personal nature such as: extra beverages with meals, room service, telephone calls, personal expenses, etc. Meals not specified in itinerary. Possible baggage fees as charged by the airline. Gratuities to the tour escort. Gratuities to local step on guides and drivers are at your discretion.
Travel Insurance – including trip cancellation and interruption – Highly Recommended.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance through Travel Insured is provided for all participants on an OPT OUT basis. The cost of the travel insurance $399.00 per person. For the coverage to begin, payment must first be received. Please enclose an additional $399.00 per person for coverage to begin upon receipt of application. Please also check the “YES” box on the registration page to indicate that you would like to add the insurance. Please note travel insurance is non refundable.
METHOD OF PAYMENT: By personal check to: Tumlare, 271 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 209, Waltham, MA 02452 Attn: Erika Franko. Credit card payments accepted for 1st deposit only.
REGISTRATION FORM: A separate Registration form and Terms and Conditions accompany this itinerary. Please read carefully, sign the Terms and Conditions and fill out the Registration form and mail with your deposit to Tumlare at the above address. Please make a copy of the Terms and Conditions for your files. Please send along with you registration form a copy of the information page of your passport for our records.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Depart Denver & San José, Costa Rica (WD)
Arrive at San José, Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport. After passing through Immigration you will be met by our representative who will give you a sticker that will facilitate you clearing customs. He or she will take you to hotel to check-in. Tonight, we will gather for an included Welcome Dinner.
Welcome dinner at the hotel
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 2: San José (B, L, D)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart with your private guide and driver on a city tour in San José. You will visit the National Theater and the Gold Museum this morning. The magnificent National Theater, built in 1897, is a historical landmark and one of the country’s architectural jewels. The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum boasts a collection of gold objects that reflect the world view, social structure and gold working techniques of the Pre-Columbian people of Costa Rica. The collection consists of 1,600 pieces of gold work that date from 500 to 1500 AD. Lunch will be included at a local restaurant in San Jose.
In the afternoon, we visit the National Museum, located atop a hill that dominates the city of San Jose, in the country’s former army headquarters, vacated in 1949 after Costa Rica abolished its standing army. Here you can witness for yourself the pre-Columbian tools, pottery, burial sites and social past. Return to your hotel late in the afternoon in time for your welcome dinner with your private guide.
Dinner at local restaurant in San José area
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 3: San José - Tortuguero (B, L, D)
Clients will be transferred to the Caño Blanco Dock where you will board your boat to Tortuguero. The boat ride of approximately two hours takes you through lush rainforests toward the Caribbean Sea before arriving in Tortuguero National Park, a beacon of biodiversity. Nestled within an archipelago of volcanic islands, Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to 11 distinct habitats including mangroves, rain forests, lagoons and beaches. This protected tropical reserve offers visitors the chance to see an incredible array of native Costa Rican plants and wildlife. Enjoy a leisurely cruise through the protected wetlands, where you may spot many tropical birds in the surrounding flora.
After lunch, head back out onto the water to explore the fascinating Green Turtle Research Station (Volunteer Fee is Not Included). Visit the black sand beaches that provide an important breeding and nesting ground for Costa Rica’s endangered green sea turtles, and learn how the park’s conservation efforts have helped bring this species back from the brink of extinction.
Dinner at local restaurant in Tortuguero area
Overnight at The Laguna Lodge or similar
Day 4: Tortuguero (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast at Lodge before a morning tour. Cruise the canals and streams of the park today as howler monkeys watch from the treetops, toucans and egrets fly through the air and crocodiles ply the cool waters. Explore these lush waterways while learning about the park’s history and diverse ecosystems. Keep an eye out for aquatic life like river otters, spectacled caiman and the occasional endangered West Indian manatee, plus surrounding jungle creatures like sloths, capuchin and howler monkeys, and a variety of reptiles.
Dinner at local restaurant in Tortuguero area
Overnight at the Laguna Lodge
Day 5: Tortuguero - Arenal (B, L, D)
Breakfast at Lodge and boat transfer from the Hotel to the Caño Blanco dock. Following by a private guided transfer to the Arenal area. These areas are very popular for the scenic view of the mountain and the major sources of revenue in the areas are agriculture, so you will have the opportunity according with the season to observe along the way from the vehicle, pineapple and sugar cane.
A mid-afternoon arrival at Volcano Lodge is anticipated. The grounds of the lodge are lush and beautiful with many birds and flowers. Thermal springs, a spa and pool provide guests with relaxation and the view of the volcano is amazing. Have time to enjoy the springs or take a ten minute walk to see the view from the bridge at Lake Arenal.
Dinner at local restaurant in Arenal area
Overnight at the Volcano Lodge or similar
Day 6: Arenal (B, L, D)
In the morning, accompanied by your naturalist guide, you will visit the Arenal Volcano National Park. After arriving at Arenal Volcano National Park, take in breathtaking views of the nearby volcano. One of the most active volcanoes in the Western Hemisphere, it emits a near-constant stream of smoke, ash and lava from a crater that rises an impressive 5,436 feet (1,657 meters) above sea level. The last major eruption was in 1968, and park officials carefully monitor volcanic activity to ensure visitor safety. Learn about this fascinating area’s history and geology from your guide as you admire the sight of the volcano rising out of lush surrounding vegetation. Lunch included at a local restaurant
In the evening, visit the Hidalgo Family Farm and Hot Springs. The Hidalgo's are a Costa Rican family from the San Carlos area who made their fortune raising cattle for beef. Several years ago, they discovered a hot spring at one of their ranches on the skirts of the Arenal Volcano and built a swimming pool using water from the spring. They have now built nice pools where you enjoy a natural massage from the small cascade of hot spring water and spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano (weather-permitting) in the tradition of local hospitality. Dinner will be specially prepared by your hostess, Doña Mireya.
Group Dinner with Doña Mireya
Overnight at the Volcano Lodge or similar
Day 7: Arenal - Carara (B, L, D)
After breakfast, departure to the area of Pacific coast of Costa Rica. On the way visit EcoJungle Cruise and enjoy a delicious lunch. The Guacalillo Estuary and the Tárcoles River offer the chance to observe one the largest colonies of crocodiles in the world, the richest mangrove forest in the Mid-Pacific coast and the most important area in the country for the conservation of the scarlet macaw. Their brilliant colors (bright orange-red plumage with touches of blue and yellow), long pointed tail and wings, make the scarlet macaw easy to recognize as they fly over your boat or make noises from the mangrove canopy along the estuary. Your boat will head along the mangrove, an awesome ecosystem that features four different species of mangrove trees. They provide an important nesting site for birds, including the beautiful scarlet macaw, and a shelter and nutrient spot for many fish and invertebrates.
As the boat approaches the riverbanks, you will be able to seize the great opportunity of a close-up look at wild crocodiles, each up to fifteen feet long. The crocodile was very common in mangrove swamps and coastal rivers but, in the past decades, its population was severely decimated by skin hunters. Nowadays, thanks to conservation programs, the latest survey of the Tárcoles River, and the area of the Carara National Park, recorded between 80 and 240 individuals per mile of river. There are over 250 different kinds of birds that can be found in the area, including kingfishers, roseate spoonbills, great herons, anhingas, night herons and much more.
Arrive to your all-inclusive hotel in time for check in, relax, swim, and enjoy dinner.
Dinner and overnight at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Resort or similar
Day 8: Carara (B, L, D)
Enjoy a morning guided visit to the Carara Biological Reserve. This small reserve of 4,700 hectares (11,614 acres) is home to an amazing array of native plant and animal species. With a relatively dry climate, Carara’s growth is not as thick as other parts of the country, offering more open spaces in which to spot wildlife. The forests on the slopes are composed of species such as the Espavel, Wild Fig, Silk Cotton, Quamwood and Purple Heart. The forest mass on the lowland has little diversity although palm trees are abundant. Their frequently seen stilt roots are signs of occasional floods. The gallery forests that grow along the riverbank are thick and tall, with few species, mainly the Espavel, but their appearance likens them more to a rainforest type of growth. Follow your guide along beautiful forest trails, and be on the lookout for mammals like white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths and kinkajous (also known as ‘honey bears’). Scan the treetops and the sky overhead for vibrant birdlife including scarlet macaws, parrots, motmots, hummingbirds and parakeets. In marshlands fed by the Tárcoles River, you may see kingfishers, egrets and herons, plus the occasional American crocodile. The marshes are covered with Water Hyacinths, a plant that typically grows in shallow waters rich in nutrients or in polluted lakes.
Return to the hotel for lunch and free afternoon to relax by the pool.
Dinner at local restaurant in Carara area
Overnight at the Arenas del Mar Beachfront and Rainforest Ressort or similar
Day 9: Carara (B, L, D)
Today, you will visit the Aerial tram Pacific located in Jaco. Experience the best Costa Rica rainforest tours and excursion at Rainforest Adventures in the Pacific side near the tropical beach forests of Jaco, one of the coolest destinations in Central America. The Aerial Tram is one of the most unique Costa Rica excursions at Rainforest Adventures, featuring 18 gondolas that give rides to a maximum for 9 passengers each including one bilingual (English/Spanish) naturalist guide and take the passengers a tour to the canopy and the rich ecosystem of Costa Rican tropical forests, one of the many beautiful destinations in Central America.
Dinner at local restaurant in Carara area
Overnight at the Arena Hotel or similar
Day 10: Carara to San José (B, L)
After breakfast, depart to San José – approximate driving distance is 2 hours.
Before checking in at your hotel, you will visit Plaza Esmeralda. Both a working jewelry factory and a shopping center, you can purchase replicas of pre-Columbian jewelry here, along with many other souvenirs.
Lunch will be included at a local restaurant, and the rest of the afternoon will be free at leisure.
Dinner on own
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 11: San José (B, L)
Embark on a full-day adventure with your guide and drive to see Admire the magnificent (and active!) Poás Volcano and the enchanting La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Your first stop is Poás Volcano National Park, home to the still-active Poás Volcano that reaches an impressive 8,884 feet (2,708 meters) above sea level. There aren’t too many places in the world where you can almost touch the rim of an active volcano, but at Poas Volcano National Park you can get up close to the smoking crater. Take a short hike to the edge of the volcanic crater for breathtaking views into the smoking cauldron below, filled with an amazing aquamarine lagoon, blanketed in ferns and ringed with hiking trails leading to panoramic lookouts and picnic areas.
After descending from the volcanoes, head to the lovely La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a private nature reserve that boasts miles of scenic hiking trails and more than 100 species of native wildlife housed in various habitats. Meet some of Costa Rica’s tiniest winged creatures at the Hummingbird Garden and Butterfly Observatory, and get an up-close encounter with reptilian residents at the frog exhibit and serpentarium. Soak up the lush tropical scenery with a riverside hike, stopping to admire one of the many cascading waterfalls along the way.
Lunch is served buffet style at a local restaurant which offers a view of the Poas Volcano Mountain Range and the La Paz River Valley. Late afternoon return to your hotel for overnight
Dinner on own
Overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 12: San José (B,L,D)
Today, you will visit the artisan town of Sarchí, best known as the home of brightly painted carretas — wooden oxcarts that were once used to transport coffee beans across Costa Rica’s mountains. Today, Sarchí’s local artisan community continues this tradition with more than 200 shops and small factories that turn out a wide range of handmade wooden goods. Spend time at the Sarchi Oxcart Factory to watch craftspeople at work as they meticulously paint embellishments on carts, wheels, and other pieces of art. You’ll have the chance to purchase a unique souvenir before briefly visiting the postcard perfect town of Zarcero. Popular resting spot among travelers passing through this area is the town’s trademark—topiary garden in front of the towns church. Wavy arches carved from conifer cypress make quite an impression, as it is such an unexpected site in Costa Rica countryside. The Topiary gardens are is also an interesting place to visit. There are nearly 120 three-sculptures with figures such as an octopus, an elephant, a giraffe, chickens, a dinosaur, human figures, vehicles and even the national coat of arms; all created by the local artist Evangelista Blanco.
Farewell dinner and overnight at the Studio Hotel or similar
Day 13: San José – Departure Home (B)
This day you will be transferred to Juan Santa International Airport to take your flight back home.
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