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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
14 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • Exploring the canals of Tortuguero
  • Soaking in Baldi Hotsprings
  • Monteverde Cloud forest walk
  • Hummingbirds, sloths & butterflies!
  • Colonial Granada, Nicaragua
  • Boiling mud pots, fumaroles and thermal streams
  • Manuel Antonio's spectacular beaches
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Historical Sites, Urban Exploration, Walking Tour
Other: cloud forest, Swimming, Volcanoes, Wildlife, sightseeing, hot spring, national parks, museums, boating, churches, Local Culture
$2690USD
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Costa Rica 14 Day Tour

Discover how Costa Rica earns its reputation as a natural wonderland on this two-week adventure through one of the most exciting and striking countries in Central America, and indeed, the world.
Discover how Costa Rica earns its reputation as a natural wonderland on this two-week adventure through one of the most exciting and striking countries in Central America, and indeed, the world. Literally translated as the 'rich coast', Costa Rica is a land of varied topography and broad spectrum of ecosystem; between its borders, Costa Rica encompasses white-sand Caribbean beaches, volcanic mountainscapes, lush, velveteen jungle, low-lying plains and swampland, all of which combine to house enormous populations of diverse wildlife. From sauntering the trails of Braulio Carillo National Park, the country's biggest national park, we head to Tortuguero Park, where we take to the waters to glide along canals that are lined with virgin wilderness on both shores. The mist-encircled trees in Monteverde Cloud Forest provide a setting that seems as though it was taken straight out of a fairytale and Rincon de la Vieja National Park yields hidden lakes, hotsprings and beautiful volcanic landscapes. A short foray into Nicaragua gives us the opportunity to see historic churches, cathedrals and stone-carved statues, as well as enjoy some first-rate animal sightseeing and birdwatching, and it's back to Costa Rica for yet more wildlife adventures in Manuel Antonio National Park and to enjoy leisure-time sightseeing in San Jose.
Day 1: Arrival in San Jose
Today we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica. Overnight in San Jose. Meal plan: Dinner, if required.
Day 2: San Jose - Tortuguero
This morning we travel by bus from San Jose through Braulio Carillo National Park, one of Costa Rica's largest. Later we visit a working banana plantation and pass through a region known for its cocoa production. We then board our riverboat and spend the afternoon journeying through myriad interconnecting rivers and canals that take us finally to the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero Park.

The park is a water thoroughfare which is a 160 km (100 mile) stretch of natural rivers, lagoons and estuaries, and connecting man-made waterways that run almost to the Nicaraguan border. The canal is the main "highway" of the northern coastal region, complete with directional signs and branches from the main trunk route.

As we go along the canal, keep a keen lookout for views of pastel-coloured toucans and monkeys of various type; if we're lucky, a lazy sloth hanging from a branch, and maybe a coati or two roaming the forest. Stands of mangroves and water hyacinth appear here and there. Scattered along the way are people, too -- fishers and farmers whose dugouts serve all the purposes of pickup trucks elsewhere. Mostly the banks remain wild, and the calls of monkeys and whistles of birds predominate over the noises of humans.

Overnight in Tortuguero. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3: Tortuguero: Forest Walk & Village
Tortuguero Park is a fascinating place to explore. An early morning boat ride offers an opportunity to observe an awakening coastal rain forest full of lush vegetation and unique bird life.

After lunch we visit the village of Tortuguero accessible only by river boat; you may choose to walk on the Caribbean beach where several turtle species lay their eggs each year. We will visit the Tortuguero Museum with its excellent displays pertaining to the ecology of the area and an informative video presentation specific to turtle conservation in Tortuguero and the entire Caribbean region.

Note: The exact order of our activities in Tortuguero may vary depending on weather and other variables.

Overnight in Tortuguero. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4: Tortuguero - Baldi Hotsprings - Arenal Volcano
After an early breakfast we travel by boat 1-hour from Tortuguero to the Cano Blanco dock. From there we continue by road (+/- 5 hours) to the La Fortuna / Arenal area.

We travel through rolling hills covered with sugar cane fields to overnight near Arenal Volcano. The volcano's regular eruptions and lava flow can be heard and seen in the night sky from afar on a clear night. We make a stop at the Baldi Hotsprings (located near Arenal and outside the Risk Zones established by the National Prevention of Risks and Emergency Commission). Here a geothermally-heated river flows through beautifully landscaped grounds featuring many plant and tree species and great birdlife. We will have time to relax in or around the various pools (bring a towel). The springs feature ten hot pools with different temperatures fed by individual springs and two swim-up bars.

This evening (weather permitting) we can view the volcanic activity which may include explosions and lava flows.

Overnight at Arenal / La Fortuna. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 5: Arenal - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Today we travel through a rustic rural countryside to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve area (+/- 4 hours).

Covered in a mantle of moss, ferns and orchids, this private reserve is home to over 400 species of birds and a great number of animals. The forest is created by the winds, particular temperature and moisture conditions, and mountainous topography which combine during the dry season to hold a steady cloud cover along the continental divide. The rains and the moisture in the air nourish trees and plants rooted in the ground, as well as many plants that live at the upper levels of the forest, and take their nutrients directly from the mist and dust that pass through the air. The result is an enchanted fairy-tale environment where trees are laden with orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns that obscure their branches, where the moisture and mild temperatures and sunlight filtered by the forest canopy encourage the exuberance of begonias, heliconias, philodendron and many other tropical plants in every available space on the ground.

This afternoon we have a guided tour of the "Butterfly Garden" where butterflies and other endemic insects are raised and protected in a controlled environment allowing scientists to study them -- their place in the food chain and their response to things like increased pollution and climate change.

Overnight at Monteverde. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 6: Monteverde Cloud Forest
We have a full morning exploring the cloud forest reserve with the help of a local naturalist guide. There is more to the forest than the trees and lesser plants. Of over 320 bird species, the most notable is the quetzal with its long arc of tail feathers. Assorted trogons in addition to the quetzal inhabit the reserve, along with more than 50 varieties of hummingbird. About 500 kinds of butterfly are found at Monteverde. Among the more than 100 mammalian species are howler, white-faced and spider monkeys, coatis and their cousins, raccoons; as well as the rarely observed pumas, ocelots, jaguars, tapirs, and kinkajous.

This afternoon you may choose to go on an optional "Canopy Walk" excursion, located within the cloud forest. Suspension foot-bridges are strung across deep gorges allowing one to get a bird's eye view of the forest from a totally different perspective than we experienced this morning. At a leisurely pace, one can complete this easy and fascinating walk in about 90 minutes. Your Tour Leader can help you plan this activity (optional cost approx $25-40, subject to change).

Remember: This can be a wet and windy place by definition. You should be prepared for varied conditions.

Overnight at Monteverde. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 7: Monteverde, Costa Rica - Granada, Nicaragua
Today we travel northward (+/- 5 hours), via the Pan American Highway and Liberia, to Granada, Nicaragua (have your passports handy!).

Granada is set by Lake Nicaragua with views of volcanoes on Island Ometepe and is one of the most beautiful cities in Central America. Countless historical buildings share the city's cobblestone streets with elegant homes and tranquil parks, an urban elegance complemented by nearby natural attractions.

Overnight in Granada. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8: Granada: Walking Tour & Boat Trip
We will visit the most interesting sites in this city, including the Fort La Polvora, the Xalteva Church, the Xaltera walls, and the church La Merced. We walk through the Main Square Colon and visit the Cathedral, the Casa de los Leones, and the old Convent of San Francisco where you can admire the impressive stone-carved statues with animal and human form.

There are 350 small emerald-green islands near Granada, all created when the Volcan Mombacho erupted and lava flew into the lake forming small islands. The area is now a haven for birdwatchers, with herons, ducks and cormorants. On our boat tour of the islands we include a visit to El Castillo San Pablo, a fortress built in 1784 to protect Granada from the British.

Overnight in Granada. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9: Granada, Nicaragua - Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica
Today we return to Costa Rica and travel to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

The Rincon de La Vieja National Park is located in the mountain range of Guanacaste, province of Guanacaste and Alajuela. The active volcano's slopes are covered with both wet and dry forests that contain hidden lakes, rivers and waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife -- the resplendent quetzal, three-wattle bellbirds, morpho butterflies, tapir, coatimundis and three kinds of monkeys.

Overnight near Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10: Rincon de la Vieja National Park
Known for its stunning diversity of flora and fauna, this national park is home to two volcanoes, the Rincon de la Vieja and the Santa Maria, as well as six different volcanic peaks and thirty two rivers and streams. The park has small geysers, bubbling mud pots and mineral hot springs that have earned it the name, "Costa Rica's Yellowstone". One more thing that is unique from Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is the Vrizea Vulcanicola bromeliad, endemic to this park and Costa Rica.

We will have a full morning with a somewhat challenging walk (undulating, uneven terrain - talk to you Tour Leader re your suitability) along Las Pailas Trail to view the best volcanic activity you can see in the country. The trail takes us through cloud forest, open grassy slopes and near a wide array of volcanic features including impressive boiling mud pots, fumaroles and thermal streams.

This afternoon you can continue your on-foot exploration on your own or take part in a number of optional activities, including river tubing, horseback riding and / or hot springs soaking. Or you can simply relax and enjoy the birdsong and magnificent views.

Overnight near Rincon de la Vieja. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11: Rincon de la Vieja - Quepos
This morning we continue southward to the town of Quepos, gateway for the Manuel Antonio National Park, an unspoiled haven of natural beauty on the shores of the Pacific.

Overnight in Quepos. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12: Manuel Antonio National Park
This morning we enjoy a leisurely walk through part of Manuel Antonio Park. While strolling the forest trails and the white sand beaches, we'll likely encounter monkeys, iguanas, sea creatures and bird life of amazing variety. After our morning walk, you may like to continue to explore the park and return to the hotel by taxi on your own.

Manuel Antonio National Park is an area of sand curving around a bay strewn with islands of rock, and shaded by green bordering forests. All are backdropped by dramatic cliffs. Manuel Antonio beach is one of the few places in Costa Rica where unspoiled primary forest grows right to the high-tide mark, allowing visitors to bathe at times in the shade.

South Espadilla is the northernmost of the park's beaches, followed by calmer Manuel Antonio beach, offshore of which are some coral spots. Third Beach has tidal pools where brightly coloured fish and eels are temporarily stranded. Last is Puerto Escondido, access to which is made difficult by the bordering rocky promontory.

Overnight in Quepos. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13: Quepos - San Jose
Today we return to San Jose, arriving mid-late afternoon. A visit to the Gold Museum, located under the Plaza de Cultura in the centre of the city, is a highly recommended way to spend some of your free time in the city.

Overnight San Jose. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
Day 14: Departure
Departure from San Jose.

Buen Viaje! Meal plan: Breakfast.
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Breakfast and dinner daily (hotels and local restaurants).
  • All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary.
  • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available).
  • Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving / late departing land & air customers who book their extra hotel nights through us.
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Tour Leader gratuity, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, and international air taxes (if applicable).
  • Airport transfers for Land Only customers.
  • Optional trip cancellation insurance.
  • Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and locally paid departure taxes.
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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