| JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY Costa Rica Natural Paradise to Nourish your Soul! |
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Next Costa Rica tour March 2010
watch for new dates in my travel newsletter!
Costa Rica
Nature and Natural Wonders!
Day 1 – 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. Relax on both
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Transfers provided from the San José airport to your hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are
available for check in after 3:00 p.m. Dine at your hotel, then join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D
Day 2 – Poás Volcano, Cloud Forest Hike
After breakfast, see the statue of the drummer boy, Costa Rica’s hero. Next, weather permitting, visit Poás Volcano. You can
safely view this dramatic mile-wide 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. Enjoy lunch.
Then, see San José’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. See a banana plantation.
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 Caño 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.
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. Enjoy lunch. Visit a pineapple plantation. Next, through scenic countryside to the San
Carlos Valley for a two night stay in Fortuna. Dinner. BLD
Day 6 – Caño Negro, Hot Springs, Arenal
Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak 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 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 – Hanging Bridges, Guanacaste
This morning enjoy an unforgettable adventure at the Hanging Bridges. Here you can hike on six
suspension bridges, through lush tropical rainforest canopy. Enjoy views of a waterfall and look for
tropical birds. Later, a spectacular drive around Lake Arenal. Enjoy lunch. Next, enter the Guanacaste
province. Drive through the only tropical dry forest in Costa Rica. Then, to Costa Rica’s Central Pacific
Coast for a two night stay. Dinner is at your resort. BLD
Day 8 – Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio
This morning drive by the Carara Biological Reserve. This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary
is one of the world’s few nesting places for the scarlet macaw. Then, visit
Manuel Antonio National Park, home to the playful rare squirrel monkey.
Time to beachcomb or swim at the pristine beaches (on Mondays, visit
Manuel Antonio’s beautiful public beaches instead). Lunch.
Return to your
resort to enjoy leisure time. Dinner. BLD
Day 9 – Handicrafts, Coffee Plantation
Morning drive to the Central Valley. Time to shop
for colorful handicrafts, including painted oxcarts.
Enjoy lunch. 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 José. Farewell dinner. BLD
Day 10 – San José
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your hotel. Caravan provides transfers throughout the day to the San José
airport. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Hasta la vista! B
