Waterfall & Cloud Forest Hikes - Arenal Volcano - Hot Springs -
Canopy Tour - Beach activities and more!

We are now booking our Scheduled "Best of Costa Rica"
tours on the following departure dates:

July 10-July 17, 2011
New Years Trip - Dec 27, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012

Sample Itinerary

Day 1
We arrive in San Jose and board an air-conditioned tour bus for our three hour drive to Turrialba. The drive will give us the first glimpse of Costa Rican life as we wind through rolling farmland and vast fields of sugar cane. Along the way we will make a stop at the Basilica de Los Angeles and learn the fascinating story behind this important church which was built in 1639. We will descend into Turrialba, a small cozy town that will be our home for a couple of nights. At the hotel, our rooms open out to interior gardens and a wide tiled courtyard. We will spend a leisurely evening getting to know each other over your first Costa Rican dinner.

Day 2 — Biking at Irazu Volcano
After a leisurely ’tico breakfast’ at the hotel, it is time to start our full-day biking adventure! We will make our way in the comfort of our tour bus to the Irazu Volcano, the third highest peak in the country at 11,365 feet. On a clear day you can see both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, as well as look down into the crater of this inactive volcano. At the top of Irazu we will mount our bikes for a very scenic all downhill ride, ending at the local watering hole. Yippee!

Day 3  
Today is whitewater rafting is on the awesomely beautiful Pacuare River. The Rió Pacuare is truly one of the premier jungle river runs in the world. This river has it all -- big open rapids, waterfalls that tumble from hundreds of feet above the river, and spectacular scenery and wildlife. Watch for your first monkey sighting! After the day-long river trip we will relax with snacks on the tour bus as we make our way to the Sarapiqui region-- the perfect place for an amazing seafood dinner.

Day 4  
We will be in the central mountains, near the Poas Volcano. This place has the largest Butterfly Observatory in the world. Spanning the length of a football field and reaching heights of 50 feet, this enclosed structure allows butterflies to soar freely while we walk among them. We will also tour the hummingbird garden, which attracts more species than any other in Costa Rica.

Approximately 57 different species of hummingbirds have been recorded in Costa Rica and it is possible to see over 40% of them here this incredible place.
After lunch we are off to see a real active volcano! Arenal Volcano is known for its continuous eruptions and we will be able to view the spectacular events - from a distance! At La Fortuna we will enjoy the rain forest from the top…on the canopy tour which is a series of zip lines extending from tree top to tree top through the forest. 
It’s such a beautiful way to view the layers of the rainforest and the inhabitants within.  Guests often see toucans, monkeys, and orchids along the way.  Once at our hotel it’s time to relax at the hotel’s hot springs or enjoy a nice cool drink at the wet bar… all with a view overlooking the volcano.

Day 5 
One of the best ways to get into the wild areas of Costa Rica is by water, and today the destination will be the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge near the border of Nicaragua.  A boat ride on the Río Frio will take us through the refuge. The reserve includes a great variety of resident and migratory birds (including the broadest display of waterfowl in the country) along with three species of monkeys, iguanas, turtles, sloth’s, caimans and many other species. Afterwards a stop at the small town of La Fortuna will give you time to sample the shopping and local ice cream stands!   Back at our hotel in the evening we may be fortunate to see an amazing night time fireworks display – lava boulders spewing from Arenal Volcano and cascading down the side of the mountain.

 Day 6—Heading to the beach!  

It is the day to see the Pacific coast, a road trip of about 4 hours that will allow us to see along the way how the forest changes from rain forest to dry forest. The trees in the dry forest are much smaller and the birds are very different. We will stop in some small towns to enjoy the culture of Guanacaste residents. The people from this west side of Costa Rica are equivalent to American cowboys!  Known for herding and agricultural work, they spend much of their free time working toward rodeo competitions. We will have a fun afternoon on the beach, soaking up the sun on the Pacific Coast, enjoying the clear blue sea and white sand.

Day 7 
Ahhh, another day in paradise! Beach adventures in Tamarindo are great for surfing lessons or snorkeling, and then later in the evening, you may sign up for a tour to the protected nesting preserve for the giant Leatherback Turtle. You may choose your activities once we settle in at Tamarindo.

 Day 8  
We will load up for our last road trip, returning to San José for your flight home. There will be some sight-seeing stops along the way, and if time permits we will stop in the town of Sarchi to pick up authentic Costa Rican souvenirs. 

Viva la Pura Vida!