Tripology

An Exciting Interview with Arthur Frommer

Costa Rica Natural Paradise

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Detailed Trip Description

Join this Costa Rica Natural Paradise Escorted tour. Don't forget to bring your camera as you enjoy sightseeing and many activities in San Jose, Fortuna, Tortuguero Park and Central Pacific Coast.

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - San Jose

 
Airport Transfer

We will provide transfers from the San Jose airport to your San Jose hotel.

San Jose Airport Transfer picture
Hotel

Enjoy two night stay at San Jose hotel. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m.

Food and Dining

Dine at your hotel, then join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D


Day 2 - San Jose

 
Poas Volcano, San Jose City Tour.
Sightseeing

After breakfast, see the statue of the drummer boy, Costa Rica's hero. Next, weather permitting, visit Poas Volcano, dormant since 1991. You can safely view this dramatic milewide crater from an overlook.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Sightseeing

Next, see San Jose's Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park and the National Theatre.

Museums

Visit the National Museum (on Mondays, visit the Gold Museum instead).

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 3 - Costa Rica

 
Tortuguero National Park.
Sightseeing

Rainforest Aerial Tram : Scenic morning drive through Braulio Carrillo Park. Look for cascading waterfalls. Then, a thrilling adventure into the heart of the rainforest. Glide through the jungle canopy on the world famous rainforest aerial tram, rated one of Costa Rica's top tourist attractions.

Hiking

Next, with a naturalist guide, enjoy a short rainforest hike on level terrain.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Sightseeing

Visit a butterfly garden.

River, Barge or Yacht Cruise

Then, cruise through rivers and canals to the 47,000 acre Tortuguero National Park.

Sightseeing

Tortuguero is home to more than 300 species of birds. Look for toucans, parrots, kingfishers and the rare green macaw.

Hotel

Enjoy a two night stay at your lodge.

Gambling

After dinner in Tortuguero, a naturalist talks about the rainforest. BLD


Day 4 - Costa Rica

 
Tortuguero National Park.
River, Barge or Yacht Cruise

Cruise this morning with naturalist guides along canals lined by raffia palm, habitat of howler and white-faced monkeys, green iguanas and tropical birds. Look for white and snowy egrets and the amazing nests of the montezuma oropendola.

Safari

Then, enter the mysterious reflecting waters of Cano Palma wildlife reserve. Next, visit the Green Turtle Research Station. Learn about efforts to protect the turtle's nesting habitat, eggs and young hatchlings. Walk along the Atlantic turtle nesting beaches with a naturalist guide.

Private Tour

Next, to Tortuguero village. Meet Costa Rican school children on your visit to a local school (when in session).

Food and Dining

Return to your lodge for lunch.

Sightseeing

Free time to enjoy your lodge's swimming pool and tropical flower gardens. See colorful butterflies.

Sightseeing

Enjoy an afternoon boat excursion into Tortuguero Park. Look for otters, turtles and manatees.

Food and Dining

Dinner. BLD


Day 5 - Fortuna

 
San Carlos Valley, Fortuna.
River, Barge or Yacht Cruise

Morning cruise on Tortuguero River. See a banana plantation.

Sightseeing

Lunch, then a brief stop at Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve. Here you can walk the nearly 300 foot long suspension bridge over a jungle river.

Bus

Next, through scenic countryside to the San Carlos Valley for a two night stay in Fortuna.

Food and Dining

Dinner. BLD


Day 6 - Fortuna

 
Bus

Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak and orange plantations.

River, Barge or Yacht Cruise

Then, cruise on the Rio Frio through the world famous Cano Negro wildlife refuge, home to many migratory birds found nowhere else in Costa Rica.

Sightseeing

Look for whistling ducks, roseate spoonbills, cormorants, anhingas, blue heron, and northern jacanas. Watch for caimans, crocodiles, spider monkeys and web-footed water-walking lizards.

Food and Dining

Lunch.

Sightseeing

Return to Fortuna. Free time to explore this charming village.

Spa/Wellness

Then, enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs.

Sightseeing

Weather permitting, see nearby Arenal Volcano's softly glowing lava flow.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 7 - Costa Rica

 
Cloud Forest Hike, Central Pacific Coast.
Sightseeing

This morning, drive by the Children's Eternal Rainforest, part of the Monteverde cloud forest region. The Children's Rainforest was purchased with donations from school children around the world to be preserved forever.

Hiking

Next, enter a cloud forest reserve, home to epiphytes, orchids, ferns and tropical birds, for a guided walk. Cloud forests are like rainforests, but with less rain and more humidity. Look for many species of hummingbirds in the feeding gallery.

Food and Dining

Lunch at a cloud forest restaurant.

Bus

Then, to Costa Rica's central Pacific Coast area for a two night stay.

Food and Dining

Dinner is at your resort. BLD


Day 8 - Costa Rica

 
Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio.
Sightseeing

Visit Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica's most beautiful park, this morning.

Beach

Time to beachcomb or swim at the three pristine beaches, rated among the top ten in the world.

Hiking

Easy hiking trails wind through the jungle, home to one of the last natural habitats of the playful rare squirrel monkey.

Food and Dining

Lunch.

Relaxation

Return to your resort to enjoy leisure time.

Food and Dining

Enjoy dinner. BLD


Day 9 - San Jose

 
Carara Reserve, Coffee Plantation.
Sightseeing

This morning drive by the Carara Biological Reserve. Carara is an Indian word meaning "river of crocodiles." This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary is one of the world's few nesting places for the scarlet macaw.

Food and Dining

Enjoy lunch.

Sightseeing

Afternoon visit to Sarchi, see the painted ox carts and colorful handicrafts.

Sightseeing

Next, see the metallic church of Grecia.

Sightseeing

Then, visit a coffee plantation. Pick a few beans when in season. Sample fresh Costa Rican coffee and learn about the history of the coffee bean. Return to San Jose.

Food and Dining

Farewell dinner. BLD


Day 10 - San Jose

 
Hotel

Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your San Jose hotel.

Airport Transfer

We will provide transfers throughout the day to the San Jose airport. Thanks for vacationing with us. Hasta la vista! B


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