Costa Rica 10 Night Tour from $995pp

Itinerary:

Day 1 San Jose, 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. Relax on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Caravan provides transfers from the San Jose airport to your San Jose hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m. Dine at your hotel, then join us for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D

Day 2 Poas Volcano, San Jose City Tour Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

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 mile wide crater from an overlook. Enjoy lunch. Next, see San Jose's Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park and the National Theatre. Visit the National Museum (on Mondays, visit the Gold Museum instead). Enjoy dinner. BLD

Day 3 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. Next, with a naturalist guide, enjoy a short rainforest hike on level terrain. Enjoy lunch. Visit a butterfly garden. Then, cruise through rivers and canals to the 47,000 acre Tortuguero National Park. Tortuguero is home to more than 300 species of birds. Look for toucans, parrots, kingfishers and the rare green macaw. Enjoy a two night stay at your lodge. After dinner in Tortuguero, a naturalist talks about the rainforest. BLD

Day 4 Tortuguero Park, Canal 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. 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. Next, to Tortuguero village. Meet Costa Rican school children on your visit to a local school (when in session). Return to your lodge for lunch. Free time to enjoy your lodge's swimming pool and tropical flower gardens. See colorful butterflies. Enjoy an afternoon boat excursion into Tortuguero Park. Look for otters, turtles and manatees. Dinner. BLD

Day 5 San Carlos Valley, Fortuna

Morning cruise on Tortuguero River. See a banana plantation. 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. Next, through scenic countryside to the San Carlos Valley for a two night stay in Fortuna. Dinner. BLD

Day 6 Cano Negro, Hot Springs, Arenal Volcan Arenal

Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak and orange plantations. 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. 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. Lunch. Return to Fortuna. Free time to explore this charming village. Then, enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. Weather permitting, see nearby Arenal Volcano's softly glowing lava flow. Enjoy dinner. BLD

Day 7 Cloud Forest Hike, Jaco

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. 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. Lunch at a cloud forest restaurant. Then, to the Jaco area on the Pacific Ocean for a two night stay. Dinner is at your resort. BLD

Day 8 Jaco, Manuel Antonio

Visit Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica's most beautiful park, this morning. Time to beach comb or swim at the three pristine beaches, rated among the top ten in the world. Easy hiking trails wind through the jungle, home to one of the last natural habitats of the playful rare squirrel monkey. Lunch. Your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy your resort. Enjoy dinner. BLD

Day 9 Carara Reserve, Coffee Plantation

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. Enjoy lunch. Afternoon visit to Sarchi, see the painted ox carts and colorful handicrafts. Next, see the metallic church of Grecia. 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. Farewell dinner. BLD

Day 10 San Jose

Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your San Jose hotel. We provide transfers throughout the day to the San Jose airport. Hasta la vista! B

Departure Dates:

May 4*, 11*, 18*, 25*

Jun 1*, 3*, 8*, 10*, 15*, 17*, 22*, 24*, 29*

Jul 1*, 6*, 8*, 13*, 15*, 20*, 22*, 27*, 29*

Aug 3*, 10*, 17*, 24*, 31*

Sep 7*, 14*, 21*, 28*

Oct 5*, 12*, 19*, 26*

Nov 2*, 4*, 9*, 11*, 16*, 18*, 23*, 25*, 30*

Dec 2*, 5*, 7*, 9*, 12*, 14*,

Dec 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 add $100

Hotels - listed by day

1, 2	San Jose Barcelo Palacio, Aurola Hotel
3, 4	Tortuguero Park Laguna Lodge, Pachira Lodge
5, 6	Fortuna Las Cabanitas, Lomas del Volcan, Arenal Springs, Arenal Manoa
7, 8	Jaco Amapola Hotel, Terraza del Pacifico
9	San Jose Barcelo Palacio, Aurola Hotel

Hotels

Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds, sometimes with a cot or rollaway.

In Costa Rica, We use more than one hotel or lodge in a given area. Although each property is wonderfully different and may have many unique features. Our goal is to offer a comparable overall selection so that you can experience the same enjoyment regardless of which property combination you find on your actual tour departure. Scheduled sightseeing will be the same from all the hotels.

Days 1, 2, 9 San Jose

Barcelo Palacio, Aurola Hotel

San Jose is located in the central highlands of Costa Rica, midway between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. With an elevation of around 4000 feet, San Jose has a temperate year-round climate. San José is Costa Rica's largest city and is the country's seat of government.

Barcelo Palacio
The Barcelo Palacio hotel is located amidst beautifully landscaped grounds in a quiet residential area, 2km from the center of downtown San Jose. This full service hotel features two restaurants and a coffee shop, two bars, a casino, a large swimming pool, spa with Jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna, tennis and squash courts, massage therapists, hairdresser, jewelry and leather shops. The hotel is fully air-conditioned. Internet access is available in the lobby internet cafe for $5 per half hour.

Aurola Hotel
The Aurola Hotel is located in the heart of downtown San Jose and is only a stroll across the park from museums, nightlife, shopping and Costa Rica's financial and government centers. This San Jose landmark has just completed a multi-million dollar renovation and is updated with all the modern amenities. The Aurola's spacious, tastefully decorated rooms offer views of the city and mountains beyond. The hotel has two restaurants, a casino, lounge, a swimming pool and a small gymnasium. The hotel is fully air-conditioned. Internet access is available 24 hours daily in the hotel lobby for $5 per half hour.

Days 3, 4 Tortuguero Park

Laguna Lodge, Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero National Park is located on the remote and beautiful northeastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Tortuguero is a top Costa Rica highlight and is considered to be one of the world's great natural treasures. Both of the Tortuguero lodges are surrounded by lush tropical rainforests and offer easy access to the Park's network or lakes, rivers, canals and navigable channels for optimum wildlife viewing.

Laguna Lodge
Laguna Lodge is located on Tortuguero Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Tortuguero Beach is home to the foremost nesting site for the green turtle in the western half of the Caribbean. Laguna offers beautiful grounds, a dock on the canals, a restaurant, two bars, a swimming pool with outdoor Jacuzzi, and an open butterfly garden. All of the guest rooms have fans. Internet access is available for $5 per hour at the Internet cafe in the nearby village of Tortuguero.

Pachira Lodge
Pachira Lodge is located on Tortuguero's main canal. The lodge features a restaurant, bar and swimming pool and other resort style amenities. All of the guest rooms have ceiling fans and are tastefully decorated. Internet access is available for $5 per hour at the Internet cafe in the nearby village of Tortuguero.

Days 5, 6 Fortuna

Las Cabanitas, Lomas del Volcan, Arenal Springs, Arenal Manoa

Fortuna is a small town located at the base of picturesque Arenal Volcano in north central Costa Rica. The hotels and lodges used are located in and around Fortuna. All of the properties are within easy viewing range of Arenal Volcano.

Las Cabanitas

Las Cabanitas Resort and Spa is located on the southern end of Fortuna. Las Cabanitas features comfortable and cozy air-conditioned "chalets", each with its own terrace. Las Cabanitas has a restaurant and two swimming pools. The deluxe spa (opening in early December, 2005) specializes in a variety of treatments including volcanic mud wraps, massages, facials, pedicures and manicures. Internet access is available in the Internet cafes for $2 per hour in the nearby village of Fortuna.

Lomas del Volcan

Lomas del Volcan Lodge is located in the countryside on the outskirts of Fortuna. The lodge sits in the foothills at the base of majestic Arenal Volcano, with excellent nature trails on its 300 acre reserve. Don't be surprised if you are serenaded during your stay by the sounds of birds and monkeys in the adjacent tropical forest. The hotel offers comfortable and spacious air-conditioned "chalets" each with a terrace and a refrigerator. The hotel has a restaurant, beautiful Jacuzzi, and swimming pool, all with volcano views. Internet access is available in the Internet cafes for $2 per hour in the nearby village of Fortuna.

Arenal Springs

Arenal Springs is a new hotel located in the countryside on the outskirts of Fortuna. This well-designed, modern hotel features colonial style "chalets", each with a view of Arenal Volcano. Every room is air-conditioned and has its own terrace, ceiling fan, refrigerator, telephone, security box and other modern amenities. Each room's bathroom shower shares space with a skylight covered indoor mini-garden. The hotel has extensive grounds with lush gardens and a swimming pool. Internet access is available in the Internet cafes for $2 per hour in the nearby village of Fortuna.

Arenal Manoa

The new Arenal Manoa Hotel is located in the countryside on the outskirts of Fortuna. All rooms are air conditioned with satellite television, telphone, refrigerator, and a terrace with a panoramic view of Arenal Volcano. Guests can enjoy the restaurant, wet bar, swimming pool and jacuzzi. The Arenal Manoa has spacious gardens, walking trails and the opportunity to experience the daily operations of a Costa Rican family dairy farm. Internet access is available at internet cafes in the nearby village of Fortuna for $2 per hour.

Days 7, 8 Jaco

Amapola Hotel, Terraza del Pacifico

Jaco is located on Costa Rica's central Pacific Coast. Jaco is known for shopping and nightlife and has one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica.

Amapola Hotel

The Amapola Hotel is located in Jaco within an easy walk of the downtown shops and nightlife. The Amapola has extensive flowering gardens, jacuzzi, a swimming pool, a swim-up bar, casino, and an open-air restaurant. The guest rooms are fully air-conditioned. Just a 10 minute walk to the public beach of Jaco. Internet access is available at the hotel for $1 per half hour.

Terraza del Pacifico

The newly renovated and expanded Terraza del Pacifico Hotel is located on the scenic northern end of Hermosa Beach, three miles south of Jaco. Hermosa Beach is a wildlife refuge that stretches nearly 6 miles along the Pacific Ocean and offers wonderful beach walks and challenging ocean surfing waves. Terraza del Pacifico's air-conditioned guest rooms all have a balcony or terrace. The hotel has an adult swimming pool with a wet bar and a children's pool. The open-air restaurant serves international food cooked Costa Rican style from a location right on the beach so you can eat and watch the surf. Internet access is available in the Internet cafes for $2 per hour in nearby Jaco

Arrival Transfers

Complimentary roundtrip transfers from Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica to your hotel in San Jose are included.

For best rates contact these airlines: Air Canada, Air Madrid, Alitalia, America West, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Aviateca, British Airways, Comair, Continental, Copa, Cubana, Delta, Iberian, KLM, Lacsa, Lanchile, Lauda Air, Lberia, LTU, Lufthansa, Martinair, Northwest, NWA, Spirit Airlines (begins 4/5/07), Taca, United Airlines, US Airways.

Ask about Travel Protection Insurance which is highly recommended .