Costa Rica Natural Paradise 9 Days 

Itinerary:

 

Day 1:   Arrival San José, Costa Rica
Welcome to the “rich coast,” friendly land of democracy and rare natural beauty. With naturalist guides, see exotic birds and wildlife, hike in jungle rainforests, view volcanoes, soak in hot springs and cruise through biological reserves. We provide transfers from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica to your hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are available for check in after 4:00 p.m. Join us for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. Dinner is served until 9:30 p.m. at your hotel. D

Day 2:   Poás Volcano, Cloud Forest
This morning, visit Costa Rica's most popular park, Poás Volcano. Weather permitting, you can see inside the active crater from an overlook. Next, hike the Escalonia Cloud Forest Trail, home to epiphytes, orchids, ferns and tropical hummingbirds. Cloud forests are like rainforests, but with less rain and more humidity. Next, drive through Costa Rica's famous coffee growing region. Lunch.  Enjoy a guided tour at a coffee plantation. Sample fresh Costa Rican coffee. Dinner. BLD

Day 3:   Rainforest Aerial Tram, Butterflies, Hot Springs
This morning drive by San Jose’s Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park and the National Theatre. Next, pass through the lush vegetation of Braulio Carrillo Park. Then, a thrilling adventure. Glide through the jungle canopy on a rainforest aerial tram, with spectacular views of a primary rain-forest. Then, visit a butterfly garden. Look for blue morpho butterflies. Next, watch for brilliantly colored hummingbirds at a hummingbird garden. Lunch. Then, pass by ornamental plant and heart of palm plantations en route to the San Carlos Valley. Arrive at Fortuna for a two night stay. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. Dinner. BLD

Day 4:   Rio Frio Cruise, Hanging Bridges
Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak, pineapple, and orange plantations. Then, cruise on the Rio Frio which runs through the world famous Caño Negro wildlife refuge, home to many migratory birds found nowhere else in Costa Rica. Look for black turtles, whistling ducks, roseate spoonbills, cormorants, anhingas, blue heron, and northern jacanas. Watch for caimans, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, green iguanas, and water-walking lizards. Lunch. Return to Fortuna. Visit the Hanging Bridges. With a naturalist guide, hike the suspension bridges. Weather permitting, enjoy views of majestic Arenal Volcano. Dinner. BLD

Day 5:   Leatherback Turtle Park, Pacific Coast Beaches
This morning enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Arenal. Next, enter the Guanacaste province. Lunch. Then, to Costa Rica’s beautiful Pacific Coast. This afternoon, on your visit to the Leath-erback Turtles National Park, learn about Costa Rica's impressive efforts to protect this endan-gered giant. The leatherback is the largest marine reptile in the world, weighing over 1,500 pounds. Walk along the nesting beaches. Continue to the J.W. Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa for a relaxing two night stay. Dinner. BLD

Day 6:  Guanacaste Beach Resort
Free time today to enjoy your magnificent world class beach resort. Visit the elegant spa or swim in your hotel’s infinity pool, the largest in Central America. Lunch. Time to beachcomb while strolling your resort’s pristine beach. Dinner. BLD

Day 7 :  Bird Watching Cruise, Manuel Antonio
This morning drive though the cattle ranches of Guanacaste. Stop at the Monteverde Coopera-tive. Sample delicious cheeses. Lunch. Next, enjoy bird watching and crocodile spotting on your Tarcoles River cruise, adjacent to the Carara Biological Reserve. Cruise through a mangrove forest. Look for white and snowy egrets and the amazing nests of the montezuma oropendola. This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary is a nesting site for the scarlet macaw. Continue to your hotel, located directly at the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Listen to joyful jungle sounds. Dinner. BLD

Day 8:   Manuel Antonio, Aerial Tram
This morning visit the world famous Manuel  Antonio National Park, a natural habitat for the white face monkey, the rare squirrel monkey and the three-toed sloth. Hike through the rainfor-est and along the spectacular beach coves, ranking among the most beautiful in the world. Look for toucans and parrots. Lunch. This afternoon enjoy a tram ride through and above a dry topical transitional forest with views of waterfalls and the Pacific Ocean. Return to San José. Farewell dinner. BLD

Day 9:  Depart San José, Costa Rica
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your hotel. Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m.  We provide transfers to the Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica arriving at the airport at 5:00 a.m, 7:00 a.m, 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.  B    

***End of Tour***

Hotels - listed by day

Inclusions:

• All hotel
• All transfers
• All activities
•  
  All Meals  (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• A professional Tour Director

Excludes:

• Airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica
• Travel Insurance
• Tips to driver & guide

 Zika Virus - Passengers are recommended to visit www.cdc.gov/zika/ for current information. CDC advises pregnant women to avoid travel to the countries visited in this itinerary.   

Tour code:  tig-crvn
 

 ***PICTURES COURTESY OF THE COSTA RICA  TOURISM BOARD***

 Tour Code:  tig-crvn