Costa
Rica ~ Naturally
Walking and Hiking Adventure
in
Casual Comfort
May
1 - 8, 2009
Guest Itinerary
(Subject
To Change)
Wednesday, February
25 - Arrival at San Jose International Airport. We'll
transfer you to our conveniently located hotel – “San
Jose's best hotel location", close to the international
airport, shopping, business center, museums, theaters and across
the street from San Jose's ¨Central Park¨ La
Sabana. No guided activities are planned for this day
so that you can arrive at your convenience. (TG)
Thursday, February
26 – This morning we will travel to La
Fortuna home of Arenal Volcano. After
a visit in town we will enjoy a short walk to a 229’ waterfall
a perfect destiny for nature lovers with a refreshing view.
Our next two nights we’ll relax at our volcano lodge -
perched high on a ridge with amazing views of this active volcano.
(B)(NG)
Friday, February
27 - After breakfast we will walk the Arenal
Hanging Bridges a newer attraction in La Fortuna de
San Carlos. The visit consists of traversing 15 bridges from
5 to 100 meters long that cross the rain forest. It will be
a chance to appreciate the contrast of the highly diverse flora
and fauna along with the imposing vista of Arenal Volcano. We'll
visit Ecotermales Fortuna, owned by the Hidalgo
family. The family has built a hot spring swimming pool like
you have never seen before. The water enters the pool on one
end and out the other end and on down the river. Filled with
clean hot spring mineral water you'll receive a natural massage
from the small cascade of hot spring water. (B,D) (NG)
Saturday, February
28 - Enjoy breakfast, then a short drive to Arenal
Lake where we will board a boat that will take us on
a 30-minute ride across the lake until reaching Rio Chiquito.
Here, 4X4 vehicles will be waiting for us for a mornings drive
through gravel roads to the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Reserve.
Check in to your lovely room with one wall floor to ceiling
windows that overlooks the tops of the trees of the thick cloud
forest. Enjoy the view - White Faced Monkeys have been
known to be scampering through these trees.
This is a peaceful community
made up of farmers, naturalists and tourism service providers
who have joined together to create a model for sustainable development
and protection of the environment that is becoming known throughout
the world. In the early evening we will walk to the Ecological
Farm, accessible by a short trail across a ravine from Monteverde
Lodge. This small private reserve provides the chance
to see flora, birds and mammals by evening light and darkness
of night. (B,D) (NG)
Sunday, March 1
- After an early breakfast, depart for a full morning's
visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Originally just 4,000
acres, the Monteverde Reserve now protects an area of approximately
25,000 acres, comprising six different life zones. We'll spend
the entire morning walking and hiking. Free time in the afternoon
to explore the local town of Santa Elena with
art galleries, frog museum, horse back ride, tour a cheese factory,
walk some more or just relax in the hot tub or beautiful gardens
of our lodge. (B,D) (NG)
Monday, March 2
- After an early morning breakfast, depart from Monteverde to
Carara area and the Pacific coast. Carara is
a region of mountain ranges, marshes, meanders, forests, swamps,
rivers and ravines full of crocodiles and macaws and of archaeological
sites.
The gallery forests that
grow along the riverbank are thick and tall, with few species,
mainly the espavel, but their appearance likens them more to
a rainforest type of growth. The marshes are covered with water
hyacinths, a plant that typically grows in shallow waters rich
in nutrients. Over 100 pairs of scarlet macaws, perhaps the
most beautiful birds on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, live
and nest in the forests.
Our accommodations for
the next two nights is an all inclusive eco-rainforest resort.
You are free to experience the raw power of the rainforest with
a canopy tour or sky walk right on the lush grounds with the
Tárcoles River along side. The best beaches on the Pacific
are also near by with their bustling beach towns. (B,L,D)
(NG)
Tuesday, March 3
- Morning at Carara National Reserve. We'll
meander one of the trails that also provides shelter for howler
and white-faced capuchin monkeys, white-tailed deer, red brocket
deer and collared peccaries. Hoping to spot a burst of red as
a Scarlet Macaw flys overhead. Enjoy the hotel grounds in the
afternoon. (B,L,D) (NG)
Wednesday, March
4 - After breakfast transfer to the San Jose International
Airport with an approximate noon arrival. (B) (NG)
B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,
D-Dinner, TG-Transfer Guide, NG-Naturalist Guide
# # #
Optional
Stay - You will not want to leave! Would you
like to extend your stay? Whether you would like to stay some
place in San Jose convenient to the airport to catch an early
flight or enjoy a tropical resort, just let us know and we can
make the arrangements.
TRIP
HIGHLIGHTS | GUEST
ITINERARY | TRIP
DETAILS
On-line
Reservations
Print Reservation Form
