Costa Rica Explorer and Connoisseur

A 10 day / 9 night tour including the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Butterfly Garden, Arenal Volcano, boat trips through the rain forest and light charter flights into the remote Tortuguero National Park.  This is a comprehensive adventure and eco-tourism tour of the best of Costa Rica. Most meals and bilingual guides and naturalists services are included.

From $1,598 per person, double occupancy.

Itinerary -

Letter Codes: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner;          SG=Service Guide; TG=Transfer Guide; LG=Local Guide

Day 01: Arrive San José - Arrive at San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you will be met by our representative at the ramp, helped through immigration and customs, and transferred to your hotel in San José. Overnight at your San José area hotel. (No meals) (TG)

Day 02: San José / Poás / Monteverde - After a welcome orientation breakfast, drive to Poás Volcano National Park (cold climate). Poás is one of the deepest active volcanoes in the world and emits steam from vents deep within its main crater. A second crater, with a rain-fed lake surrounded by highland rain forest, is located a half mile away, via a trail through a dwarf cloud forest. Among the 80 species of birds reported, several are unique to this habitat.

Following lunch, begin the descent to the Pacific lowlands (hot climate for about 4 hours) on the Pan-American Highway. At the turnoff to Monteverde, begin the ascent back up into the mountains, driving along a gravel road with views of hillside pastures and beyond to the Gulf of Nicoya. Dinner and overnight at Monteverde your hotel.   Click here to find out the hotel being used for the date you want. (cool climate). (B,L,D) (SG) (Lodging may occasionally be upgraded to Monteverde Lodge at no extra cost.) 

Day 03: Monteverde - After breakfast, guided excursion in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilarán Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 ft.), encompassing six different ecological life zones and protecting more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. From January to July, depending upon your luck and patience, you may observe in its natural habitat the Resplendent quetzal (occasionally a dozen or more individuals at once). Other species include the Three-wattled bellbird, the Emerald toucanet, and White-faced and Howler monkeys.

Return to the hotel midday for lunch and a siesta. Afternoon visit the Butterfly Garden where butterflies and other insects are raised and displayed in shade cloth enclosures with tropical gardens. Overnight at your Monteverde Hotel.   (B,L,D) (SG). 

Day 04: Monteverde / Arenal - Midmorning, drive with your guide approximately 4 hours from Monteverde to your hotel in the Arenal area, passing around the north end of Lake Arenal and near the Arenal Volcano, which has been active since 1968.

Arrive at your hotel in time for an afternoon rest. In the evening, weather permitting, view the volcanic activity which may include explosions and lava flows. Overnight at your Arenal Hotel. (B) (SG)

Day 05: Arenal - Day activities include options of a guided walk in Arenal National Park to the lava flows (transportation is provided). Optional tours at extra cost include the Peñas Blancas Float Trip on the nearby Peñas Blancas River, where you will board a float boat (no motor) for a two-hour ride down the river for wildlife viewing in the tropical rain forest. The silence of the boat can present extraordinary scenes. If you wish, relax at your hotel. Afternoon visit to 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. Overnight at your Arenal Hotel. (No meals.) (SG)

Day 06: Arenal / Tortuguero - After an early morning breakfast on your own, drive 4 hours to the Caño Blanco dock, where you will meet the boat for the 2-4 hour ride to Tortuguero. Upon arrival you will be transported to Mawamba Lodge.. Rest of the afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at your Tortuguero Hotel.   (L,D) (SG as far as the Caño Blanco dock) (LG for boat trips only).

Days 07 & 08: Tortuguero - Two full days to explore the Tortuguero area including two boat excursions with local Tortuguero guide, and a visit to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) Museum to learn about the Atlantic Green sea turtle.

Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green sea turtle, Tortuguero National Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rain forests in Central America. Additional boat trips are available at extra cost.

There will also be time to wander on the deserted beach (swimming is discouraged for safety reasons) where thousands of green sea turtles come to nest from June through October (there are special night excursions available in this season). Overnight at your Tortuguero Hotel. (B,L,D) (LG included for boat trips and visit to the CCC only).

Day 09: Tortuguero/San José -Morning departure from Mawamba Lodge for a 30-minute flight to San José. Upon arrival shopping tour in San José. Optional tours available at extra cost. Lunch today is on your own. After lunch, land transfer to your hotel in San José, rest of the day free. Farewell dinner tonight. Overnight at your San José area hotel.  (B,D) (SG)

Day 10: Depart San José - Transfer to the international airport approximately two hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. (No meals) (TG)

Costa Rica Explorer

Double occupancy, per person package prices: 

Peak Season $ 1,898     Mid Season $ 1,798     Family Departure $ 1,598

Costa Rica Explorer

Year 2005 Guaranteed Departure Dates

Peak Season -  Dec 23, Dec 30.

Mid Season - Feb 4, Feb 18, Mar 11, Mar 18, Mar 21.

Family Departure - Jun 17.

Costa Rica Connoisseur

Double occupancy, per person package prices: 

High Season $ 2,198     Mid Season $ 2,098     Family Departure $ 1,598   Low Season $ 2,198

Costa Rica Connoisseur

Year 2005 Guaranteed Departure Dates

High Season - Jan 14, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 28, Mar 7, Mar 25, Nov 11.

Mid Season - Apr 15.

Family Departure - Jul 8, Aug 12.

Low Season - May 20, Sep 16, Oct 7.

PRICES
The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy and includes all taxes in effect at the time of booking.

Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 participants.
  
Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested or forced.

For regular departures we are happy to accept children 12 and older.

For younger children see special family departure rates below. 

Single Supplement Year Round:
Costa Rica Explorer: $379.00
Costa Rica Connoisseur: $479.00
Discount for triple room: $63.00
Child rates (available for Family departures only)
Costa Rica Explorer Family Departure
Children 6 - 16 (when sharing with parents) $1,148
Children 0 - 5 (when sharing with parents) $648

Costa Rica Connoisseur Family departure
Children 6 - 16 (when sharing room with parents) $1,548
Children 0 - 5 (when sharing room with parents) $1,048
 

Important Note:
When a single parent is traveling alone with one child he or she must pay the adult rate plus the single supplement. The child will pay the regular children’s rate. The reason that this is done this way is because lodging is not figured into the children’s rate.

INCLUDED:
9 nights lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Costa Rica, all airport/hotel transfers when arriving and departing on the stated arrival and departure dates of the group, meals as specified in the itinerary, hotel taxes, entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest in effect at the time of booking are included unless otherwise specified, guides' services as specified in the itinerary, guides' expenses.

NOT INCLUDED:
International airfare, airport departure taxes ($26.00 per person as of May 2004), tax increases or new taxes charged for services that were not taxed at the time the booking was made, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities.

Note regarding arrival and departure transfers: Transfers are available by previous  arrangement for participants not arriving or departing on  the stated arrival / departure dates of the tour. The cost, per person, per transfer is: 1  person=$44, 2 people=$22, 3 people=$14, 4 people=$11 and  5 or more=$9.