Day 1 – Departure to Costa Rica

Fly to San Jose on direct or indirect  flight in Economy Class ( upgreats areavilable).

Meet & greet at the airport, followed by a private transfer to your hotel in San Jose.
o Your guide will give you a map of Costa Rica plus any vouchers and documentation
needed for your trip, and will be able to answer any questions you might have.
1 night Grano de Oro, Standard Room, Room only (Breakfast forms a part of onward
arrangements – see next page)
Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose’s main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de
Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city. Converted from a Tropical Victorian
mansion, the 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Hallways
lined with period photographs and original art meander through the building, Spanish tile
fountains grace intimate atriums, one is never far from the soothing melody of falling water.
www.hotelgranodeoro.com/index.html

Day 2 – Tortuguero

Early departure for your shared transfer by road then by boat to Tortuguero on Costa Rica’s
Caribbean Coast for a 3-day/2-night stay. Pick up from your hotel around 06:00.
Tortuguero National Park: created to protect the most important nesting site of the green
turtle in the Western Hemisphere, the 190sq km Tortuguero National Park extends along 22km
of shoreline and 30km out to sea. The Canal de Tortuguero runs through the park, connecting a
labyrinth of deltas, canals, and lagoons. With 11 distinct life zones ranging from raffia palm
forest to herbaceous swamps, the park offers one of the most rewarding nature experiences in
the country, best explored by boat.
The route takes the road that crosses the Continental Divide and the lush Braulio Carrillo
National Park. From the bus you can appreciate the lush vegetation of one of the most biodiverse rainforests in Costa Rica. Once reaching the lowlands a delicious breakfast awaits you at
the Rio Danta Restaurant; this is about 1 hour 15 minutes after you have left San Jose.
After breakfast, at approximately 09:00, the trip continues on the main road for a while and
later through rural roads and banana plantations until reaching the little dock La Pavona. From
here you continue by boat through the canals and National Park , arriving at Laguna Lodge
around 12:30 – 13:00. A welcome cocktail and a refreshing wet towel will be waiting for you,
while the tour guides will provide all the information for a relaxing stay at this tropical paradise
lodge.
In the afternoon you visit the colourful Tortuguero town, it is possible to appreciate the
lifestyle of its people and learn a little of their customs and daily life. It was an ancient place
of hunting, fishing, and agriculture of different ethnic groups such as the Miskito, the Miskito Zambo and Afro-Caribbean population. You will be able to learn about the history, the
development of sawing wood during the mid-twentieth century up to the present where tourism
has helped raise awareness about the preservation of nature. During the tour, you will visit the
town school, the National Park facilities, churches, stores, the recycling plant which is one of
the most efficient plants in the country and the community centre that houses the Symphonic
Band project. The tour starts at the Lodge, where you take the boat to the village of
Tortuguero. You will walk along the town accompanied by a guide with a wide knowledge of the
region. (Entrance fees to the Turtle Museum are not included).
3-day/2-night package, staying at the Laguna Eco-Lodge, Standard Room on a Full Board basis
Laguna is a highly-rated-eco-touristic lodge, located in Tortuguero in Costa Rica’s northern
Caribbean. The area has amazing rivers, lakes and wetlands that shelter a lush jungle of
primary forests and exotic plants. The lodge is built on a narrow strip of land, 650 feet wide,
between Tortuguero’ s main lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. Its rooms, reception, restaurant,
bar & swimming pools are distributed amidst six acres of wonderful gardens with amazing
views of the lagoon and direct access to the beach.

Hotel: www.lagunatortuguero.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 3 – Tortuguero

Before breakfast experience the highlight of Tortuguero which is an included early-morning
wildlife boat ride through the narrow canals of the National Park in the search of caimans,
sloths, toucans, turtles, and monkeys. You will be delighted and comfortable while enjoying
nature at its best! The boats are small without a canopy for a better view.
Included is the entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park.

After breakfast your tour guide will show you the main attractions at Laguna Lodge the
botanical garden of Laguna Lodge, a quiet place to learn and experience the complexity and
beauty of the flora of the Caribbean. The garden consists of a network of trails within the
exuberance of an intact forest, which delivers a wonderful experience.

Notes:
• The order of the activities may change according to weather conditions.
• Alcoholic beverages, sodas or bottled water are not included.
• Although Laguna Lodge has a privileged location between the beach and the Tortuguero
River, swimming is not permitted or recommended.
• We recommend you take: torch, mosquito repellent, swimsuit, sunscreen and sun block,
clothing for warm weather, alarm clock and binoculars

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 4 – La Fortuna

After breakfast, there is a scenic boat transfer back to La Pavona dock and onward by bus. The
Tortuguero package ends with included Lunch in the Rio Danta Restaurant at Guapiles.

Note: on occasion, for operational reasons, an alternative dock may be used not La
Pavona. If so, a box lunch will be provided instead of lunch in the Rio Danta Restaurant.
After lunch onward private transfer to the rainforest area of La Fortuna, home to Arenal
Volcano.
3 nights at the highly-rated good-value Lomas Del Volcan, staying in a Standard Bungalow on a
B&B basis with great volcano views.
Lomas del Volcán Hotel is a warm mountain hotel that maintains its authentic style with wood
cabin style rooms, each one with two private viewing patio decks that invites you to enjoy
Nature, one with a view towards Arenal Volcano and the other with a view of the tropical
forest. The hotel has Wi-Fi internet in all areas of the hotel. It offers a swimming pool,
jacuzzi, room massage service, local tour sales, a natural trail of 1.5 kms. There is also a
restaurant in which local and international dishes are offered.

Hotel: www.lomasdelvolcan.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 5 – Arenal Volcano Region – Hot Springs

After breakfast morning at leisure. Optional activities that can be booked locally for a
supplement (or through us in advance on request) include:

o Peñas Blancas Wildlife Safari Float
o Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge – boat trip (full day)
o Ultimate Waterfall Rappelling, or Waterfall Hike and Swimming
o Kayaking, or Fishing on Arenal Lake – a sparkling fresh-water 33-mile lake
o Venado Caves

Then after lunch at own expense, hotel pick-up for optional group guided walk at the base of
Arenal Volcano before moving on to the iconic geo-thermic Volcanic Natural Tabacon Hot
Springs & Spa with included Dinner.
The tour starts from your hotel around 14:00 and heads towards the west side of the Arenal
Volcano. Although currently in a resting phase, Arenal remains Costa Rica’s most active volcano
for the past 43 years.
Its history is charged with eruptions – both major and minor – that have intimately affected the
region and the people who live here. This tour will allow you to enjoy the most extraordinary
views of Arenal Volcano, on a hike along the lower slopes of the colossus. The walk begins in
one of the trails close to the volcano and continues through the forest over recent lava flows,
until reaching the area destroyed in its first eruption, back in 1968. The walk takes around 1.5 –
2 hours and is moderately challenging.

After your walk, enjoy a well-deserved soak in some of the world’s best natural hot springs,
followed by included Dinner. The Tabacon Hot Springs enjoy the perfect combination of
volume, temperature and mineral content (low sulphur content to prevent strong odours).
The four elements of nature are present here – the heat of the volcano, the flowing waters of
the hot springs, the pure air of the rainforest and the fertile earth of the of the Fortuna de San
Carlos Region.

Many hot springs resorts in the Arenal Volcano Region and around the world drill for
underground wells and depend on pumps and mechanical systems to fill their pools. Others recirculate the water and re-heat with gas or other energy means. Tabacon is completely natural
– water flows by gravity throughout the property, forming in-river pools, waterfalls, and
cascades and filling in the pools throughout the resort. An eco-friendly and carbon neutral
resort, Tabacon places a big emphasis on turning the guest experience into a close encounter
with nature.

Included: transportation, guide, entrance fee & Dinner at Tabacon. Recommended to take with
you – shampoo & toiletries. See www.tabacon.com/day-pass/#optimizer_front_text-130 for
regulations & recommendations from the resort about your time at the Hot Springs. You will
need to put down a refundable deposit of $50 per locker and $20 per towel, per person, either
in cash or on a credit card.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 6 – Day at leisure

Day at leisure. See above for 28 January details of optional activities available in the area,
which can be pre-booked or booked when you’re there.
Evening Arenal wildlife jungle night hike (shared excursion)
As night falls, we will enter into the rainforest for one of the most spectacular experiences
available in the area of the Arenal Volcano, full of fauna and nocturnal wildlife. We will explore
the depths of nature at the most outstanding time, the night. This specialised activity will put
you right in the reptiles’, amphibians’, and insects’ home, as you walk along with only the
natural light of dusk, and a flashlight. The mysteries of the tropical rainforest will be solved
together with our experienced naturalist guide. Discover the magic of Arenal Natura, starting at
sunset and during the transition period as many animals tuck in for the night, and many others
awake and begin their active period. You will see and hear animals that sleep during the day, as
they travel through the trails, ponds, and lakes. Red-Eyed tree frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) and
Stick bugs (Ctenomorpha chronus) will be right before your eyes, and if you are lucky you may
also spot sloths (Bradypus tridactylus), armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and nocturnal birds.
An unforgettable experience that you will not want to miss.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 7 –  Monteverde

Morning shared transfer by boat and by road to Monteverde (approx 3 – 4 hours). Pick up from
your hotel around 07:45.
This service, half tour half transfer, is a picturesque and time-efficient way to go from Arenal /
La Fortuna to Monteverde. The first part of the journey is by minibus to the docking area on the
Lake. Take care as you go down the slip-way as it’s quite steep and can be slippery after rain –
appropriate footwear is advised. The boat crossing of Lake Arenal takes around 35 minutes,
disembarking at Río Chiquita, a little town on the opposite side of the Lake to Arenal Volcano.
Here a bus takes you the remaining distance to Monteverde (approx 1.5 hours, a stop is made en
route where you can use the toilets and get a drink). Some parts of this road are unmade so be
prepared for a bumpy ride!
Arenal Lake is the largest and the most important artificial lake in Costa Rica. It was man-made
in 1974 to provide hydroelectric energy for the country. It is also a place where you can find
different kinds of resident and migratory birds; and occasionally mammals such as monkeys and
sloths can also be seen. In addition, on a clear day, there are great views of the Arenal Volcano.

2 nights Ficus Lodge Monteverde Hotel, Deluxe Room, B&B
The hotel is located about 2.5 miles from the Monteverde Biological Reserve and features a sun
terrace, a business centre and a Tour Desk. There is an on-site restaurant, offering dinner. Set
into the hillside, the lodge offers views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the surrounding cloud forest.
The property offers a comfortable and spacious deluxe room with terrace view of the cloud
forest or Gulf of Nicoya. Each room is complete with 2 queen sized beds, bathroom with hot
water, cable TV, phone, mini-fridge, hair dryer, and coffee maker.
Hotel: www.ficuslodge.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 8 – Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

After breakfast hotel pick up for: Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk
Sky Tram is a high-technology cableway that includes a ride of 1600 m (each way) with an
altitude of between 1400 and 1600 m above sea level.
The Sky Tram will lead you up to the Continental Divide and to one of the highest mountains of
Monteverde. This is a guided tour, with short stops along the way, giving you the opportunity of
observing cloud forest biodiversity, the Arenal, Tenorio, Miravalles and Orosi volcanoes, the
Nicoya gulf, and the Guanacaste Plain if the weather allows it.

At the top, you’ll be dropped off at an observation area for fantastic views of the gulf and the
cloud forest that surrounds you. From this area you start your trip riding down on a zip line (Sky
Trek) stretching across canyons and between treetops, taking you on an exhilarating adventure
of zip lining down the mountainside until ultimately returning you to the starting point at the
main building. This is the one of the most thrilling zip lines in Costa Rica, where you whizz
along 1.7 miles of cables slung between towering trees.

Sky Walk is a guided tour combining trails and five iconic hanging suspension bridges with
lengths of up to 984 feet, high above the canopy of Monteverde Cloud Forest. The tour provides
an opportunity to enjoy the flora and fauna of the area under the guidance of a specialist
guide. The tour lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours over a series of trails which extend for slightly
over a mile and a half (2.5 km), making this tour extremely feasible for anyone in moderate
shape. The climb is not strenuous or muddy, as the trails are well maintained and generally very
flat.

Note: it is mandatory to wear long trousers and be wearing closed shoes in order to
participate. If you have long hair, please tie it up in a pony-tail.

Rest of the day at leisure. Optional activities available in the area (supplement applies)
include:
o Bat Jungle
o Ranarium
o Serpentarium
o Sunset horse-back ride
o Women’s artisan Co-operative
o ATV Tours
o Wander the shops/bars/cafes/restaurants in the charming cloud forest town of St Elena
o Yoga Classes
o Enjoy the local amazing cloud forest sun sets

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 9 – Manuel Antonio

Shuttle bus transfer to Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
3 nights the Falls Resort, staying in a Deluxe Room on a B&B basis
The Falls Resort at Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica is an amazingly beautiful and tranquil garden
and waterfall setting within walking distance of this famous little town´s best restaurants and
gorgeous beaches. White faced capuchins, sloths, toucans, and the mono titi monkeys frequent
the trees overhead, while blue butterflies and hummingbirds bustle about the garden.
Hotel http://fallsresortcostarica.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Days 10 & 11 – Days at leisure.

Optional activities available in the area (some at a supplement) include:
o Wandering bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, boutiques and stalls of seaside towns of
Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
o Visit Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most visited national parks of Costa
Rica, due to the fact that besides its lush tropical vegetation it also protects two of the
most beautiful white-sand beaches of the Central Pacific Coast. The Park opens its doors
to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day of the week except on Mondays. The
entrance fee to the park is US $ 16.00 per person or the equivalent in colons Rainforest
Canopy tour.
o Boat trip through the Damas Island Estuary
o Sunset sailing Trips
o Fishing Surfing Horse-back riding
o White-water rafting on the Savegre Orange River

Optional Guided nature walk: Manuel Antonio National Park (can book and pay for locally via
the hotel or just go to National Park and pay entrance and self-guide)
Pick up from your hotel at 07:30 for this guided tour of one of Costa Rica’s most well-known
National Parks, and the main highlight of the area.

This is one of the most visited national parks of the country due to the fact that besides its
exuberant tropical vegetation it also protects two of the most beautiful white-sand beaches of
the Central Pacific Coast. In the Park you will find rustic bathrooms, but no place to buy food.
When the tour is finished you can opt to spend the rest of the day on the Park’s two beaches so
please take everything with you in the morning that you will need to spend the day at the
beach (it’s worth it!). Please be careful with the strength of the sun – even on cloudy days –
Costa Rica is close to the Equator and the sun’s rays are stronger than in temperate zones.

Included(shared): Coastal Kayak with Snorkelling & including lunch
The adventure begins near the developing Pez Vela (Sail Fish) Marina in Quepos and winds along
the Manuel Antonio coastline. Indulge yourselves on a rare jewel of a beach – a hidden Manuel
Antonio treasure – at Biezans Bay for a refreshing swim and delicious local snacks.
Feel free to have your bilingual naturalist guide direct you to the best snorkelling spots as you
experience three small but growing, active, and astounding coral reef systems nestled very
close to the shore of Biezans Bay. Or just relax and enjoy the tranquility of a private white-sand
beach.
After an unforgettable experience at Biezans, continue kayaking – if you choose to do so –
towards Manuel Antonio National Park and wonder at the nearby nesting islands where exotic
boobies and frigates call home year round. Ask your naturalist guide to steer you towards your
favorite specie’s nesting spots and most popular locations for local aquatic marine life.

And finally end your adventure with a relaxing yet rewarding hot meal with typical Costa Rican
flavour near the beach at a local Manuel Antonio hot spot before you return to your hotel.
Overall, this kayaking adventure is fun for just about everyone, and it is a terrific way to
experience the exotic Costa Rica coastline in a way that only Manuel Antonio can show.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 12 – Sierpe

Pick up from your hotel for a private transfer down the coast to Sierpe.
There is a luggage restriction on the domestic flight at the end of your holiday (see Notes
section) so when you leave the hotel this morning, take with you only what you’ll need for the
3 nights you’ll be in the Osa Peninsula. Your excess luggage will be picked up from the hotel
and transported to San Jose, where you’ll be reunited with it on your return from the Osa.
About 15 minutes from Sierpe is the fascinating and relatively unknown Museum at Finca 6, one
of the Diquis Archaeological sites and repository of a majority of Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian
stone spheres. The stone spheres are an assortment of over three hundred petrospheres found
in Costa Rica, located on the Diquís Delta and on Isla del Caño. Locally, they are also known as
‘bolas de piedra’ (literally stone balls). The spheres are commonly attributed to the extinct
Diquis culture and are sometimes referred to as the Diquís Spheres. They are the best-known
stone sculptures of the Isthmo-Colombian area. They are thought to have been placed in lines
along the approach to the houses of chiefs, but their exact significance remains uncertain.
In June 2014, the Pre-columbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquis was
added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and in July 2014, a project proposed in 2011
to declare the spheres as a national symbol of the country was approved.

You’ll stop here to visit the museum** where there’s a video in English which provides further
background information on current thinking as to the purpose of the spheres, then enjoy a selfguided wander around the outside which is where the spheres are located. The museum and
site are still a ‘work in progress’ but provide a fascinating insight to this little-known side of
Costa Rican history. Your driver will wait for you and there is explanatory signage at the
Museum in English and local museum guides you can reach out to on site.
** Self-guided; entrance fee payable locally

Onward transfer by road to Sierpe where you’ll catch the public boat to Drake Bay to enter the
Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park – a stunning wildlife rich area of natural beauty,
and unspoilt pristine Rainforest many consider as the jewel in Costa Rica’s eco-tourism crown
– as this is a remote location it is offered as a 3-day inclusive package with transfers, all
meals, and included excursions.

3 nights Aguila de Osa Inn, Standard Room on a Full-Board and included excursions basis
o www.aguiladeosa.com
Enjoying a panoramic view of Drake Bay and close to two of Costa Rica’s most precious natural
gems – Corcovado National Park and Caño Island Marine Reserve – is this rainforest and marine
adventure lodge. The rooms are open and spacious, with mesh windows allowing a cool breeze
to flow through the room. All rooms feature large, Italian-tiled bathrooms, cathedral-style
ceilings, handcrafted décor, a minibar, hot water, ceiling fans, 24-hour electricity, and
drinkable filtered well water. Many of the rooms have hammocks and rocking chairs on private
balconies, where you can relax and observe the wildlife in the verdant rainforest surrounding
your room.
For details of activities available at Aguila De Osa:

Water

Land

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 13 –  Caño Island

Included half-day tour (shared): Caño Island
The day begins with a 12-mile boat ride to the beautiful island of Caño Island, one of the best
sites in Costa Rica for snorkelling & diving. During the boat ride, guests often report sightings of
various sea life including dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. Once you reach the island, you sign
into the Reserve then get back on the boat to snorkel in the gleaming ocean. A picnic lunch is
taken on a nearby beach.
Be sure to bring a swimsuit, hat, water bottle, some sunscreen, and hiking shoes.
Please note the only restrooms available on this trip are on the boat.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 14 –  Corcovado National Park

Full-day trip to Corcovado National Park (shared excursion)
This is one of the wildest and least travelled areas in Costa Rica. There are approximately 500
species of trees in the Park such as the Giant Mahogany, reaching over 80 feet high, Strangler
Fig trees, and the unusual Garlie Tree. A great variety of birds are seen – there are over 360
types of birds and the Park protects the largest population of scarlet macaws in the country.
Commonly seen are toucans, green parrots, hawks, kites, and a large variety of hummingbirds.
At various points during the day, hikers can commonly see three of the four kinds on monkeys
living in Costa Rica – Howler Monkeys, White-faced Monkeys, Spider Monkeys (Squirrel Monkeys
are much rarer) – in addition to the many types of small animals found in the Park such as
Quatamundies, Aguoutis, Paca, and Sloths.
Hike from San Pedrillo Ranger Station: early departure for the 20-minute boat ride to San
Pedrillo Ranger Station in the 108,000 acre Corcovado National Park. After checking in at the
Ranger Station, the guide will select an appropriate hiking trail, depending on the group and
their hiking ability. Enjoy a 3-hour hike in the morning, exploring the diversity of the Park
which has eight different habitats.

After a delicious picnic lunch, you have the choice of roaming the wild beach areas on your own
or taking the 30 minute hike to the beautiful San Pedrillo Waterfall. One of the highlights of the
trip is enjoying a cooling swim in the waterfall pool. Then it will be time to return to the resort
for a good cup of hot Costa Rican coffee.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 14 – San Jose – Then Departure – End of Tour

After your breakfast hotel transfer to the dock to take public boat to Sierpe where you’ll meet
with your driver for the onwards private transfer to the small airport at Palmar Sur.
o Short domestic flight to San Jose on Sansa – times to be advised
See Notes section for details of luggage allowance.
Afternoon departure flying overnight on a direct flight from San Jose Costa Rica, SJO to your destination.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast