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COSTA RICA HIGHLIGHTS
Self-drive
16 days
Day 01: Arrival at San Jose, Costa Rica. Transfer to hotel in San
Jose.
Welcome to Costa Rica. Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport.
After passing through immigration you will be met by one of our
representatives. He will take you to your hotel and give you your
welcome kit. Overnight in San Jose City at Hotel Sleep Inn.
Day 02: Free day in San José
Day 03: Transfer to Tortuguero National Park.
Early in the morning a bilingual guide will meet you in Fleur de
Lys Hotel. Transfer to Mawamba Lodge in luxury minibus.
Mawamba Lodge is a beachfront lodge in Tortuguero National Park
at the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, a navigable network of lakes
and canals that cross the National Park. Activities include day
excursions to Tortuguero National Park, visit to the town. Beautiful
gardens and rustic accommodation with two family style restaurants.
The lodge includes swimming pool, relaxing ranchos with hammocks,
nature trails, beach access by foot, comfortable rooms. Specialized
naturalist bilingual guides. Apart from the boat tours along the
canals of the national park (or even beyond), you can walk along
the pristine beach, or visit the simple Tortuguero village and the
Caribbean Conservation Corporation's visitor centre and turtle museum.
If energetic, you can also climb the only hill in the area, the
short but steep 150m high Cerro Tortuguero, for a great scenic view
of the canals and ocean.
Day 04: Tortuguero NP. Mawamba Lodge.
Opportunity to explore the Tortuguero National Park area. Hiking
and boat trips are included.
During the turtle nesting season (July to October), there is an
optional tour at night available upon request at the hotel (not
included).
Day 05: Self-drive to Sarapiquí.
Boatride to Siquirres. Pick up rental car. Sarapiquí is a
well-known place that is popular because of the big populations
of Trogons. These are beautiful birds which also includes the quetzal.
Mountains, plains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, forests, fruit farms,
and cattle ranches form a colourful diverse mosaic in this region
of Costa Rica.
Other interesting tour options are a boat ride on the Sarapiquí
River, rafting, or a visit to La Selva Biological Reserve.
Overnight at Selva Verde Lodge.
Day 06: Self-drive to Arenal Volcano.
Breakfast at the hotel. Boatride to Siquirres. Pick up rental car.
Arenal volcano is the most active volcano in Costa Rica and with
some luck you will observe the red lava.
These best spots to enjoy these wonders are Tabacon or Baldi Hot
Springs (not included), a veritable thermal wonderland, where a
hot volcanic stream is channeled in five pools of varying temperature.
Accommodation is at Arenal Springs Hotel. The bungalows are wood
and stone, with private bathroom, and air conditioning, surrounded
by some of the most astonishing flora and fauna of Costa Rica that
you will be able to enjoy from your own porch with a perfect view
to the volcano.
Day 07: Arenal Volcano.
Optional tours: Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Tour To the Arenal
Volcano and Tabacón Resort Hot Springs, Sport Fishing in
the Arenal Lake, Arenal Volcano Hike Tour, Mountain Biking, Venado
Caves Tour, horseback Riding to Arenal Volcano, Peñas Blancas
Safari Float.
Day 08: Self-drive to Rincon de la Vieja.
The climate in this national park is so diverse that areas with
a severe dry season lasting 4 or 5 months are immediately followed
by others, near the summit or on the Caribbean side, where there
is constant rainfall, which gives rise to a forest mass rich in
epiphytes. The differences in altitude and climate play an important
role in the distribution of the flora and fauna. Resident species
include the resplendent quetzal, three-wattles bellbirds, morpho
butterflies, tapir, coatimundis and three kinds of monkeys.
Day 09: Free day in Rincón de la Vieja
Accommodation at Hacienda Guachipelín (Superior room)a typical
hacienda located near beautiful waterfalls that can be discovered
by horse or hiking. Swimming pool. All of the rooms have private
bathrooms with hot water. Hacienda Guachipelín is a cattle
farm dedicated to raising beef cattle and work horses. It is also
dedicated to the conservation of the dry tropical forest and to
commercial reforestation. In the last years it has participated
in activities such as eco-tourism, adventure tourism.
As for natural attractions, there are rivers, waterfalls, natural
pools, thermal waters, volcanic mud, tropical forests, birds, mammals,
reptiles, insects and more. In the National Park exist countless
attractions, more rivers, waterfalls, boiling mud pools, vapour
vents, thermal waters, sulphur springs, a volcanic crater and a
lake on the mountain summit. For further information please visit:
http://www.guachipelin.com
Day 10: Self-drive to Monteverde.
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Monteverde. Check-in in your hotel.
This is probably the most recognized ecotourism destination in Costa
Rica. If you start early, you will arrive in Monteverde around noon.
Hotel: Accommodation at Cloud Forest Lodge, which offers you the
opportunity to enjoy a quite and comforting time in the rooms. All
rooms offer private bath, amenities, hot water and a patio where
you can appreciate the tranquil beauty of the surrounding gardens
and forest. Within minutes of the Cloud Forest Lodge are a variety
of natural attractions.
Optional tours: Sky Walk or Sky Trek, Canopy Tour, Selvatura, etc.
Day 11: Monteverde.
You may want to get up early to visit the cloud forest. The forest
is quite different from the lowland rainforests. The name comes
from the observation that the forests are nearly always shrouded
in clouds. These forests are situated at high altitude along the
continental divide down the spine of Costa Rica. A tour through
the misty wood is a magical experience. The huge forest is overgrown
with bromeliads, orchids, ferns, deer horns as well as moss and
the beautiful red-green feathered quetzal breeds here.
Day 12: Self-drive to Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio, on the Pacific Coast with an estuary, mangroves,
a lagoon, beautiful beaches and winding paths, all this on 638 hectares
of land and 55 hectares of protected marine environment. Take a
walk through the tropical forest and find mosses, ferns, flowers
and epiphytes growing thickly on every tree. Throughout the park,
you will find the famous wildlife Costa Rica is known for, monkeys,
sloths and lots of birds among others. A splendid combination of
nature experience and beach fun!
The area of Manuel Antonio offers restaurants, lodging and souvenir
shops. Aside from the park, there are several activities that you
can enjoy in the area. Horseback riding, volley-ball and sea kayaking
are just a few.
Overnight at Villas Lirio, Villa Garden room.
Days 13 & 14 - Manuel Antonio NP.
Day 15: Self-drive to San Jose. Drop Off Car.
Overnight at Hotel el Rodeo, Deluxe room.
Day 16: Transfer to International Airport
Additional fees apply in bookings for Christmas, New Year and Easter
UPGRADE: Any of these hotels can be upgraded upon request.
Included:
* 15 nights lodging at hotels indicated at the preceding proposal.
Breakfast and local taxes.
* Tortuguero Package: ground and boat transportation in International
company - (SIB), Full American plan (Breakfast, Lunch, Diner), natural
drinks, bilingual guided tours.
* 11 days rental car, free mileage.
* Personalized information, maps, brochures, vouchers.
* Airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
* Local Travel Program Support, 24 hours emergency service
Not included:
* Other meals
* Basic car insurance US $ 18,00 daily
* Other excursions tours and activities indicated as optional or
not included.
* Airport taxes (US $ 26,00 per person not included).
* International Flights.
* Personal expenses.
* Extras at hotels
* GPS Service
Return
to main Costa Rica page
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The best season to visit Costa Rica is
from November to March.
1. Local Taxes
2. Personalized information, maps, brochures, vouchers etc.
3. Accommodation at hotels described with breakfast, double
room.
4. Airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
6. Rental car Rav 4 (or similar) 4x4, free mileage. (Basic
Insurance - US $ 18.00 per day- NOT Included)
1. Meals, alcoholic drinks, park entrance fees, airport taxes,
and international flights, personal expenses, and tips.
2. Basic insurance (US $ 18.00 per day) and fuel.
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