Costa Rica Tours, Ltd.

Specialists in Costa Rica & Panama


Arenal Volcano
Arenal

Arenal Hanging Bridge
Arenal Hanging Bridge

Monkees

Frog on Hand

Bird Watching
Bird Watching
(Maquenque Lodge)

 Nature Tour in Costa Rica

February 14-20, 2011

Costa Rica is the #1 destination worldwide for nature travel. Our 2011 Nature Tour will travel to the San Carlos and Heredia Lowlands of northern Costa Rica.  The tour is escorted by our Associate, Dr. Frank Rutowski, a veterinarian specializing in tropical birds, and guided by a full-time Costa Rican naturalist.  We limit the tour to 15 passengers to provide the best possible nature experience.


Tour Highlights: 

  • Rainforest walk on Arenal Hanging Bridges
  • Tabacon Thermal Springs and viewing of lava flow of Arenal Volcano
  • Botanical, Frog, and Reptile Gardens, and Trails at Maquenque Eco-Lodge
  • Optional rafting, canopy/zipline or horseback riding tour
  • Bat or night tour at Tirimbina Reserve in La Virgen de Sarapiqui.
  • Tour of La Selva, the Organization of Tropical Studies' premier research facility worldwide.
  • Tour Heliconia Island in Las Horquetas
Daily Itinerary:

Day 1: Upon arrival in San Jose you are transferred to Arenal.  You will stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge where your rooms will have a view of the lava flow of the Arenal Volcano.  Enjoy a welcome cocktail and orientation session, and relax in the pool after your travel day.

Day 2: In the morning your naturalist guide will lead a hike through the rainforest at Arenal Hanging Bridges. Walk along sturdy bridges where you will see the extremely rich biodiversity of this unique rainforest environment.  You are likely to see many types of birds, orchids and other exotic plans and perhaps a sloth or monkey. 

Next, you will enjoy Tabacon Thermal Springs and Spa.  There will be time to take an optional spa treatment at their spa, enjoy the multiple natural thermal pools formed from water coming down from Arenal Volcano.  Explore their trails with lush vegetation before your extensive buffet dinner. 

Day 3:  Today we transfer further north toward the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border to Maquenque Eco-Lodge, adjacent to the newly created Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge.  It has become famous for being a unique region for ecology, wildife observation, and for birding and adventure tours off the beaten tourist path. The rest of the afternoon is free to tour the Botanical Garden, the Frog Garden, Reptile Garden and the surrounding trails.

Day 4:  Full-day to explore the nature trails and botanical, frog, and reptile gardens at Maquenque Eco-Lodge.

Day 5: We get up early this morning for a birding tour at our lodge.  Afterwards, we will transfer to the town of La Virgen de Sarapiqui (Heredia Province). After lunch, you can take an optional sport tour:  white water rafting on the Sarapiqui River; canopy /zipline tour; horseback riding tour; repelling tour or visit their dairy farm. You also can choose to have a free afternoon to enjoy the pool at your hotel.  After dinner, we will have a Bat Tour or a Night Tour at Tirimbina Reserve.

Day 6:  In the morning you will visit La Selva Biological Station, owned and operated by The Organization of Tropical Studies, and recognized internationally as one of the premier facilities for rain forest research. Over 240 scientific papers are published yearly from research conducted at La Selva.  You will meet with working scientists who will explain their projects.

Afterwards, you continue on to Las Horquetas to visit Heliconia Island.  This botanical garden features over 70 different species and varieties of heliconias which are flowering throughout the year.  The garden also features a large number of botanical relatives of the heliconias, among those are the ginger, calateas, costus, cannas, prayer plants and bananas.  Surrounding the cultivated areas of the garden are fruit trees, bamboo groves ferns, bromeliads, philodendrons, orchids and other plants.  In the late afternoon, you will travel to your hotel near the San Jose Airport for dinner and overnight. 

Day 7: Transfer to the airport for your departure to the United States.  Or, you may wish to continue on an Extension Tour to the Savegre-Dominical Region in Southern Costa Rica.

Comments of Past Nature Tour Passengers:

"Costa Rica was always a place that I wanted to travel to. It was really more than I had expected, and I still marvel at the beauty of CR and think about it everyday."  Mike B. (Canada)

"I fell in love with Costa Rica!  It was heavenly, so many more things than I could have imagined. The group was great. Laughing all the time. It was worth every penny I spent." Barbara (CO)

"We have been home a week and hardly an hour goes by without some reference to our wonderful and fulfilling trip to Costa Rica.  It seems to filter into just about every conversation we have had together and with others.  Thank you for your diligence in putting together a travel experience that will linger in our minds for always." Jerry G. (CA)

Cost for Land Tour (7D/6N): $1895 per person, double occupancy (add $300 for single occupancy). Includes all 16 meals, (6B,4L,6D), hotel / lodge accommodations, tours and transfers by air-conditioned motor coach; full-time Costa Rican naturalist guide, and U.S. Tour Escort. International airfare, guide tips, and airport exit tax (currently $26) are not included.