COSTA RICA VARIETY TOUR
January 19-25, 2009

Combine this tour with our Panama with Canal Transit Tour
 on January 15-19, 2009

Contact Us for a Private Tour on Dates of Your choice

      HIGHLIGHTS:

• Small group size makes possible the best nature experience 
• Full-time Costa Rican Naturalist Guide and U.S. Tour Escort
• Tour Doka Coffee Estate
• Tour La Paz Waterfall Gardens: Rainforest walk to five waterfalls, Butterfly Observatory and Aviary
• Guided nature walk at Arenal Hanging Bridges
• Tabacon Hot Springs & Spa in Arenal
• Optional activities in Arenal: canopy/zipline & spa treatments
• Las Pumas Refuge in Guanacaste           
• Two nights at a first-class resort in Tamarindo on the Pacific coast
• Guided mangrove tour by boat through Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge
• Craft shopping at Guaytil pottery village and Sarchi, Costa Rica's "crafts capital"

Day 1: You arrive in the San Jose airport and are transferred to your hotel, a short drive away.  Settle into your room and join the group for a welcome cocktail, orientation session, and dinner.

Day 2:  In the morning we transfer to the Heredia Highlands where you tour the Doka Coffee Estate  At La Paz Waterfall Gardens your naturalist will lead a walk to five waterfalls, and through the Butterfly Observatory (the largest in the world) and aviary. You will end your day in Arenal.

Day 3: You may choose to begin your day with an optional Canopy / zipline line tour at 8am. You will transverse the canopy of the rainforest by zipline from platform to platform. You have reservations from 10am-2:30pm to enjoy the thermal waters and lunch at Tabacon Hot Springs. This is an excellent time to have optional spa treatments and to take photos of this tropical "Garden of Eden" since there will be fewer guests at this time. Afterwards, you join your naturalist guide on a rainforest hike at Arenal Hanging Bridges. You will cross the rainforest on trails and suspension bridges. In the evening your guide and driver will take you to the nearby town of La Fortuna where you can have dinner on your own and stroll the streets of the town. Afterwards, they will take you to a location where you may be able to catch the sight of the lava coming down from Arenal Volcano.

Day 4: Today you will transfer to your beach resort on the Pacific Ocean. On the way we stop at Las Pumas Refuge where they care for injured jaguars, pumas, ocelots, monkeys and birds. 

Day 5:  In the morning we will have a guided nature tour by boat through the Tamarindo Wildlife Refuge. You will see a variety of waterfowl, birds, crocodiles and perhaps howler monkeys. The rest of the day you can relax at your ocean resort, or enjoy optional activities: fishing, surfing lessons, or golf at the nearby championship 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones, II. If Las Baulas National Park is open, you can take an optional turtle nesting tour in the evening.

Day 6: On your return to San Jose, you will stop in Guaytil, where the artisans will demonstrate how they make their distinctive pottery, just like their Chorotega ancestors made 1,000 years ago. You will also visit Sarchi, the crafts capital of Costa Rica where you can buy painted ox carts (the national symbol of CR) in all sizes and leather rocking chairs.  They can be packed to take on the plane with you! On our last evening we will enjoy a gourmet meal as our farewell dinner at our beautiful art lodge outside San Jose .

Day 7: You are transferred to the San Jose airport for your departure and return home. 

Cost for Land Tour: $1895 per person in double occupancy (+$425 for single occupancy). Includes 6 nights in best-quality hotels in each location, 12 meals, two airport transfers and airport baggage handling, ground transportation by air-conditioned motor coach, all activities in the itinerary, a full-time Costa Rican naturalist guide, driver, and U.S. Tour Escort.  

The Costa Variety Variety Tour can be arranged as a private tour throughout the year on your preferred dates.  Also see our Northern Pacific Triangle Tour, a 7D/6N tour which includes Monteverde instead of the Heredia Highlands.

COMMENTS FROM OUR COSTA RICA VARIETY TOUR PASSENGERS

"We had a wonderful time on your Costa Rica tour. The itinerary was full and enjoyable. The staff and guides were fantastic. From the Rainforests to the craft shops they shared with us the beauty and wonder of that magnificent country. Still, I think one of our favorite activities was relaxing at the end of the day in a steamy mountain spa or in one of the gorgeous hotels by a volcano or beach.  Thanks for a fantastic week."  John and Marcy Q, government manager/airline supervisor (NC)

"Our visit to Costa Rica was filled with the beauty of nature and the enjoyment of education, as well as a sense of adventure, and some special creature comforts. Costa Rica Tours, Ltd. did a great job of creating it all from the guides to the fellow guests. It was a great trip to a great place. Thanks again for the wonderful experience." Tom and Marnie F, insurance executives (NC)

"Even though I had lived there for seven years, I learned much about the country, its history, its efforts in environmental preservation and economic growth. Every day was a memorable experience." Dorothy D, former Peace Corps staff spouse (VA)

"This was one of the best trips I have ever experienced." Mary Jane G, meeting planner (VA)

Costa Rica Tours, Ltd.
info@costaricatoursltd.com
704.541.8680