Classic Costa Rica Trip
Feburary 17-25, 2011
$1390 per person based on double occupancy* (Single supplement $415)
Book land, air, and insurance with Schilling Travel, Minneapolis, MN
(Land arrangements will be handled by Travel in Paradise CR, San Jose, Costa Rica)
Information updated 2/6/2010
Click here for informative links!
Contact Jim Goodnow (262-3241) for additional information and application form.
Thursday, February 17. Arrival day Fly to San Jose from DFW. Dinner will be served on plane. Arrive in San Jose. Meet and greet at the airport. Welcome to Costa Rica. Transfer to hotel in San Jose, briefing and general information about trip. Welcome cocktail. Holiday Inn Aurola, San Jose
Friday, February 18. To Coffee Plantation, Poas, Sarchi and Arenal area (B, L, D)
Tour this morning with your guide through some of the main points of San Jose as the bus takes you out of the city to go to Poas Volcano National Park. Also, along the way coffee plantations will give you a nice overview of almost two hundred years of history. Stop at coffee plantation with coffee sampling. Continue to Poas Volcano, which with a diameter of 1.5Km, the active crater of Poas is reportedly the widest of any in the world. Another feature of interest here is the cloud forest environment with highland birds not seen in other regions off the country. Enjoy a nice lunch in the town of Sarchi (cradle of arts and crafts – especially brightly painted oxcarts) and then continue to Arenal area, along the way marvelous landscapes. Stay overnight in very comfortable accommodations in front of Arenal Volcano (which has been generating lava for the past 30 years). Hotel Montana de Fuego
Saturday, February 19. To Caño Negro wildlife refuge and hot springs (B, L, D)
After breakfast head north, passing sugar cane, teak and orange plantations for a safari tour to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. Your tour bus will take you to the Rio Frio where you will go by boat in this expedition. Along this waterway you glide beneath overhanging bromeliads, listen for the cry of howler monkeys, the occasional splashes of caimans slithering into the river. Your guide will bring you to the main features of the tropical rainforest enhanced by the chances of seeing wildlife (rare butterflies, birds, river turtles and otters, sloths, howler and spider monkeys, and web-footed, water-walking lizards) from the comfort of a panga covered boat). Lunch included here before returning to your hotel by mid afternoon. A wonderful evening outing to the hot springs (with dinner included) will top your stay in Arenal. If the weather permits, we’ll see the nearby Arenal Volcano’s softly glowing lava flow.
Hotel Montana de Fuego
Sunday, February 20. To Monteverde, butterfly garden and hummingbird gallery (B, D)
Travel this morning from Arenal to Monteverde, wonderful landscapes along the way. Options for lunch in Santa Elena town on own. For the afternoon your guide will bring you to the main features of Monteverde and the town of Santa Elena: the cheese factory, the art galleries, the Coop. Included for you here are visits to the famous butterfly garden of Monteverde and the hummingbird gallery of the reserve. El Establo Hotel
Monday, February 21. Sky Walkways and Sky tram in Monteverde (B, D)
We’ll have a guided walk in the cloud forest reserve here including the hanging bridges or sky walkways. Also, the sky tram will give you a wonderful view of the forest from above. The sky tram is like a ski-lift going through and above the forest. It is really beautiful to see the forest (where trees grow to the height of 100 feet) from above. Have lunch on your own (or select an option to have lunch with a local family. The afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy the several tours or activities on site: perhaps spa services at the hotel, the canopy tour, a horse back riding tour or other opportunities to see incredible fauna (perhaps the endangered quetzal, celebrated for its gorgeous jewel-toned plumage) and flora. El Establo Hotel
Tuesday, February 22. To the beach, Palo Verde River boat ride (B, L, D)
After the experience in the rainforest and the cloud forest, it is time to go to the beach. Enroute through the Guanacaste province, go for a crocodile safari river boat tour along the Palo Verde protected area with opportunities to see interesting wildlife. You will be at the beach in the afternoon to enjoy a wonderful sunset. Flamingo Beach Hotel and Spa
*$1490 for deposits received April 16-June 30, 2010; $1590 if deposit is received July1, 2010 or later
Wednesday, February 23. At the beach, cultural show (B, D)
Lodging here is just footsteps from the white sand beach in Flamingo. Enjoy a leisure morning at the beach. In the afternoon go for a cultural show with typical dances, horse show and all the fun fair activities of the Guanacaste region. Flamingo Beach Hotel and Spa
Thursday, February 24. At the beach, sunset cruise (B, D)
Today you have plenty of time to enjoy the beach, the pool, the tennis court. In the afternoon go for a sunset boat tour with snacks followed by cocktails and farewell dinner
Flamingo Beach Hotel and Spa
Friday, February 25. Departure day (B)
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the nearby Guanacaste Liberia Airport for your afternoon return flight to DFW with a change of planes in Miami.
INCLUDES:
Transport to/from international airports, all ground transport as described in itinerary.
Lodging (based on double occupancy)
- 1 night in San Jose, 2 nights in Arenal area, 2 nights in Monteverde,
- 3 nights in Flamingo Beach
Activities: Coffee plantation visit, Poas Volcano National Park, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, hot Springs, guided walk in Monteverde cloud forest, sky tram in Monteverde, butterfly garden and hummingbird gallery in Monteverde, guided Palo Verde boat trip, cultural show with dinner, sunset cruise, services of naturalist bilingual guide and local guides
Not included: International airfare and related taxes, costs of obtaining passports, excess baggage fees, airport departure tax US$26/per person, sightseeing or meals not specified in the itinerary, personal equipment, hotel extras (laundry, phone calls, room service, alcoholic beverages), gratuities to guides, driver and hotel personnel, personal insurance coverage (recommended).
Optional post tour 1: five day, four night extension to Tortuguero (Feb. 25-March 1) - $569 per person based on double occupancy. (Add $195 for a single.) See unique wildlife (unique tropical birds, monkeys, and turtles) in a lowland rainforest Amazon type setting close to the Caribbean Sea. Two overnights at Pachira Lodge and two overnights at Casa Conde Suites in San Jose. Daily breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners included.
Optional post tour 2: four day, three night extension to Manuel Antonio (Feb. 25-28)
$430 per person based on double occupancy. (Add $195 for single.) Spend two nights at five stars La Mansion Inn in a room with a stunning view overlooking the Pacific and close to Manuel Antonio National Park. Stay one night at Casa Conde Suites San Jose. Extension includes accommodations, transportation and daily breakfast.
Optional post tour 3: seven day, six night extension combining both of above (Feb. 25-March 3)
Experience the best of both coasts. $869 per person (Add $340 for single supplement) Package includes two nights at La Mansion in Manuel Antonio, two nights at Casa Conde Suites in San Jose, two nights at Pachira Lodge in Tortuguero, daily breakfast, three lunches, two dinners, transportation, boat trips and hike in Tortuguero.
Deposit of $400 is due at time of booking (plus $120 if you book post tour optional extension 1 or 2 or $175 if you book post tour optional extension 3). Balance is due November 15, 2010. VISA or Mastercard accepted (3 percent surcharge). Group Travel and Medical Insurance is $115 (plus $55 to cancel for any reason). Best air connections: Daily American, Delta or Continental Airlines flights to San Jose (SJO) from DFW and afternoon return flight from Liberia (LIR). Optional extension tours will return to DFW from San Jose (SJO) rather than Liberia. Airfare expected in the range of $570 to $640 roundtrip from DFW. Alternatively, you may use your frequent flier miles to pay for your roundtrip air ticket.