The Natural Jewels of Costa Rica

The Natural Jewels of Costa Rica 9 Days

From $3595 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

2 reviews

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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 9 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 80.0%
Trip ID: 44419
Start Location: san-jose-costa-rica
End Location: san-jose-costa-rica

Guaranteed:
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Primary Activities: Hiking
Other Activities: Rainforest, Wildlife, national parks
Activity Level: Basic

Costa Rica may be a small country wedged between two continents, but few locales in the world are bigger on nature and adventure. Flanked by miles of beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean, Costa Rica’s interior is a lush tangle of rainforest, mist-veiled mountains, active volcanoes and habitat for some of the greatest biodiversity on earth. Within the layers of green upon green, thousands of species thrive: gigantic ferns, magenta orchids, neon-bright parrots, three-toed sloths, monkeys, peccaries, crocodiles, iguanas and frogs, just for starters. In the humid color of the tropical jungle, our senses are never so engaged.

Costa Rica is one of the earth’s greatest natural treasures. On this adventure we seek to focus on the “jewels” within this beautiful country. Our Expedition Leader and driver will accompany our small groups to these remote areas that reveal the splendors of the rainforests and cloud forests. Fairly long drives are a necessity on this trip.

*Green Season departures: $300 discount
Oct 6, 2012
Oct 5, 2013

**These departures can be booked in conjunction with an Expedition Costa Rica trip.
Nov 19, 2011
Dec 24, 2011
Jan 21, 2012
Feb18, 2012
Mar17, 2012
Nov17, 2012

Itinerary

Day 1: San José, Costa Rica

Arrive in San José and transfer to our hotel. This evening, gather for dinner with our Expedition Leader.

Lodging: San Jose Marriott
Description: The San Jose Marriott features the splendor of a 30-acre coffee plantation setting, decorated with antiques from all over Central America for an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. Its first-class restaurants and lounges offer lovely views of the mountain ranges nearby. During our time here, you may wish to swim in the two outdoor pools or take advantage of the spa and wellness facility at the hotel.

Days 2-3: Tortuguero National Park

Travel through some of the richest rainforest on earth at Braulio Carillo National Park on our way to Limón, where we board our boat for Tortuguero, considered by many the best place to view wildlife in Costa Rica. Our private boat cruises along canals that wind through the dense jungle and may reveal spider, howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, tree sloths, caimans and a spectrum of colorful birds. Here in the tropics, steady sunlight, constant rain and warm temperatures create an intense incubator for a profusion of species.

Lodging: Evergreen Lodge
Description: Evergreen Lodge is nestled deep in the rainforest, only five minutes from the extraordinary Tortuguero National Park. The rustic lodge boasts a beautiful main dining area with a soaring peaked roof and a restaurant and bar. Each of its individual cabanas offers guests a panoramic window view of the surrounding forest and its resident wildlife. From the lodge, we explore the winding, scenic canals for which Tortuguero is known by boat, looking for the abundant wildlife for which this park is renowned. Activities: We board a boat for trips through the serpentine canals of Tortuguero National Park, looking for abundant wildlife. We may also explore the forest surrounding the lodge on foot. Special Attraction: It is often said that Tortuguero offers the best wildlife viewing in all of Costa Rica.

Days 4-5: Monteverde

We fly back to San José, and drive to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve in the cool high country. Monteverde means “green mountain,” though moisture comes not so much in the form of rain but in the constant mists that swath the mountaintops. More than 400 species of birds flourish here, including the rare resplendent quetzal. A hundred mammal species live in the cloud forest, as well as an estimated 2,500 species of plants, including 300 different orchids. We spot wild relatives of many familiar houseplants, such as philodendrons, bromeliads, ficus trees and ferns. A walk over a network of suspension bridges and platforms lifts us into the lacy forest canopy. A tour of nearby Santuario Ecológico offers excellent wildlife viewing. We return in the evening to the Hotel Fonda Vela, where the picture windows in our rooms look out onto elegant gardens and wild forest.

Lodging: Hotel Fonda Vela
Description: The gorgeous Hotel Fonda Vela is embraced by the surrounding cloudforest, often shrouded in mist. Its seven buildings, scattered across the meticulously landscaped property, are all designed with natural lighting, privacy, and warmth in mind. Every room offers excellent views of the surrounding forest reserve through huge windows. Each has a private bath and two queen-sized beds. In this tranquil setting, you may see flocks of parrots come to feed in the fruit trees while horses graze peacefully below.

Days 6-7: Arenal Volcano

Journeying by road and crossing Lake Arenal by boat, we reach Costa Rica’s most dramatic landmark, Arenal Volcano. Costa Rica lies on the edge of two tectonic plates, one of the most dynamic such junctures on earth. When the volcano is active, molten rock, created by the friction of the plates, is forced up through fissures, emerging as fiery magma. Enjoy excellent views of the volcano from Arenal Observatory Lodge, where seismologists monitor its activity.

On Day 7 we’ll explore the rainforest on a morning walk over trails and hanging bridges with the volcano looming in the background. After lunch, visit Danaus Eco Center for a close-up look at Costa Rica’s famed red poison dart frogs and other wildlife as we walk among the conservation project’s 300 species of tropical plants. Where there is volcanic activity, there is usually geothermal activity, too, which we embrace with a soak in natural hot springs this afternoon.

Lodging: Arenal Observatory Lodge
Description: Arenal Observatory Lodge is located across a deep river valley from one of the world’s most active volcanoes, about one mile from the crater. This location was carefully chosen by scientists from the Smithsonian Institute, who needed a close but safe vantage point from which to study the volcano. The lodge has thirty spacious rooms, most offering spectacular volcano views through huge windows. It sits on 870 acres of land adjacent to the Arenal Volcano National Park, which contains 270 acres of primary rainforest with wellmarked trails, 400 acres of reforestation projects, and 200 acres of working farm lands.

Day 8: Arenal / San José

After breakfast in the shadow of the volcano, we return to San José, stopping en route for a farewell lunch. Our final destination, Xandari Plantation Resort & Spa is situated on a coffee plantation overlooking the broad Central Valley. Xandari offers spa treatments, swimming pools, tropical fruit orchards and trails leading to waterfalls, which you will have time to enjoy at your leisure.

Lodging: Xandari Plantation
Description: Xandari Plantation consists of 16 spacious villas on a 40-acre coffee and fruit plantation overlooking Costa Rica’s Central Valley. Its architects envisioned a paradise reflecting the natural beauty of Costa Rica, and achieved it in strides. The villas, private terraces, furniture and gardens are designed with great attention to detail, and each villa is adorned with original works of art. Each has a private terrace, a walled in sun area, a bar, kitchen, and either a king bed or two full beds. The property has over two miles of scenic trails winding through coffee and fruit orchards into a lush tropical setting with a year-round river and five beautiful waterfalls. Fruits, vegetables and herbs from the plantation’s gardens complement Xandari’s health-conscious specialty dishes.

Day 9: San José / Home

We transfer to the airport this morning for flights home.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Internal flight from Tortuguero to San José
accommodations
meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day
bottled water
services of NHA Expedition Leader
local guides and lodge staff
most gratuities
airport transfers on Day 1 and the final day
permits & entrance fees
all taxes

Trip Excludes

Travel to and from start and end point of trip
alcoholic beverages
some gratuities
passport and visa fees
optional activities
items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.)
airport and departure taxes
optional travel insurance

Trip ID#: 44419

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Reviews (2)

K. Williams

“This is, by far, the best trip I have ever taken, and a large part of this is due to the guides and drivers that we had. I cannot say enough wonderful things about how they enhanced our adventure.”
- Overall Rating
  90%
- Guide Rating
  90%
- Value Rating
  100%
- Itinerary Rating
  100%
- Accomodation Rating
  80%
R. Hagen

“Nancy was wonderful!! Her knowledge of every aspect of the trip was fantastic. A great personallity, caring attitude, and a 'WHOLE' lot of fun describes Nancy. Nancy was a wealth of information about the wildlife and plants of Costa Rica. She was also a very pleasant person to travel with and always trying to be helpful (I'm not used to having so much done for me - it's great though). She has a very good relationship with the hotel managers and staff, which is always nice to see. I truly enjoyed the trip more because of her professionalism and care.”
- Overall Rating
  90%
- Guide Rating
  80%
- Value Rating
  100%
- Itinerary Rating
  100%
- Accomodation Rating
  90%

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