8 Days / 7 Nights
7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Day 1 Arrival – San Jose
You will be greeted outside of the San Jose airport by our bilingual representative for the comfortable and short drive to your hotel. There we will give you all the necessary documents for your trip. Then you will have a chance to unpack, unwind and settle in for your first night in our tropical paradise. Meals are on your own.
Overnight at San Jose: Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose’s main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city. Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Hallways lined with period photographs and original art meander through the building and present lush tropical flower arrangements and luxurious plants at every turn. The restaurant at the Grano de Oro is one of San José’s finest, serving continental cuisine in a warm and intimate atmosphere. Service is paramount and the perpetually smiling staff of the Grano de Oro welcomes guests home time and again.
Day 2 San Jose – Pacure River White Water Rafting & Pacuare Lodge
Very early in the morning you will be picked up, and then you will enjoy the remarkable views of Braulio Carrillo National Park and Irazú Volcano. You will be taken to the put in of the river, your friendly and professional guides will load your gear into dry bags, prepare the equipment and give you complete safety and paddle instruction. The first day’s Class III rapids welcome you to the Pacuare gorge’s charm as you raft deep in the heart of primary rainforest. The Pacuare River is one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids. This tropical river is a trip of pure magic, unsurpassed beauty, wildlife and exhilarating rapids. While your guides prepare you a hearty picnic lunch on the riverbank, you’ll be led through the jungle to an enchanting waterfall and pool to swim.
Overnight at Pacuare Lodge: where you can spend the afternoon relaxing, hiking or soaking in their waterfall and pools. Nestled in the jungle on their 1,000-acre private reserve, the lodge offers you all the comforts you need in “Cabecar Indian” style bungalows. Private single and double rooms are spacious with clean linen, and there are modern bathrooms and showers. Electricity is generated by a self-sufficient hydro-plant, followed by a luscious candlelight dinner with wine served by your guides.
Day 3 Pacuare Lodge – Arenal
After a hearty breakfast and loading the rafts, you’ll prepare to paddle down the Pacuare gorge past gushing waterfalls, serene pools and pounding rapids. A snack stop by the riverside lets you explore more waterfalls and natural waterslides. An adrenaline-packed afternoon running rapids like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montañas and many more, will have you cheering ecstatically. Then you will go back to the Operations Center. Showers, changing rooms, cold and hot drinks and snacks are also available. There, you will be picked up by a private transportation and will be driven to the North Plains and the Arenal Volcano area where you will be delighted with the magnificent view.
Overnight at Arenal: Arenal Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens provides a uniquely natural experience. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, each one of its 40 spacious casitas provides an exclusive retreat in which guests can relax amidst the breathtaking view of the volcano. The hotel’s deluxe tropical architecture mirrors the beauty of Costa Rica’s natural wonders and gives the opportunity to enjoy the best of the authentic Costa Rica hospitality.
Day 4 Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoneering – Tabacon Hot Springs
Breakfast and then your trip will begin with a 30 minute 4×4 drives, into a tropical Rainforest outside the town of La Fortuna. You will see many different indigenous plants and animals along the way. You then trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, a place very few people get to experience. Along the way you will have the chance to see monkeys, toucans; sloth’s, parrots and discover the secrets that lie hidden deep in the canyon. Lost Canyon Adventure is an experience of a lifetime – go where very few have had the privilege to roam! Imagine yourself in the midst of thick rainforest at the top of a magical canyon full of tropical waterfalls with surprises each step of the way. When you arrive at the waterfall, you will rappel from the top down into the beautiful pristine canyon below. After trekking through the canyon you will rappel down more waterfalls, and then you will enjoy a delicious typical meal! At the end, you will be dropped at your hotel. Then, you will be taken to Tabacon Resort and Hot Springs where you will experience one of the world’s most amazing offerings: hot springs that are fed by an underground river heated naturally by the Arenal Volcano to the perfect temperature of 101 degrees. After a great buffet dinner, you will be driven back to your hotel for a wonderful night of rest.
Day 5 Arenal – Manuel Antonio Beach
After breakfast, you will start a wonderful trip through the countryside. The scenic drive will take you to the Central Pacific Coast where you will be driving the coastal highway to reach Quepos and Manuel Antonio area. You’ll check into your beach front hotel and enjoy marvelous views of the sunset and breathtaking scenery and wildlife.
Overnight at Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort: All guestrooms offer spectacular views of the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Pacific Ocean and the tropical rainforest. The great advantage of the guestrooms at Arenas Del Mar is that they are located on a secluded beach. The rooms are designed to offer maximum comfort while taking into consideration the surrounding environment. The buildings housing the guestrooms were altered to fit around existing trees, water is heated with solar panels and grey water is reused for irrigation.
Day 6 Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Walk
Enjoy another great, healthy breakfast and then it’s off to meet your certified naturalist guide for a walk through one of the most fascinating national parks in Costa Rica. You will see Sloth, White Face Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, Iguanas, numerous birds and more exotic plant life than you can imagine. Your guide will have a complete and interesting story about everything you see. Following this walking tour you will take a short drive back to the resort. In the afternoon, relax or take an additional tour, to add more adrenaline to your trip with activities like a Sailing Tour, Snorkeling, ATV or visiting the Botanical Garden (not included). At night you will have time to explore the surroundings for a great and romantic place to eat.
Day 7 Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour
Today, after breakfast, you will be picked up to experience a Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling tours. You will kayak for approximately 2 ½ hours (roundtrip). During your journey you will paddle past islands and inlets where you can observe and admire numerous marine aviary species and their nesting grounds. Partway through your route you will stop at a beautiful hidden bay to rest and enjoy a refreshing snack. Then, you can take advantage of the 30 minute pit stop to snorkel on this secluded coastline that goes by the name of Bisanz beach. You are most likely to spot parrotfish, starfish, angelfish and if you are lucky a sea turtle or two in the waters around Manuel Antonio! This challenging Manuel Antonio tours will allow you to discover the stunning examples of nature both above and below the ocean’s surface; from pelicans to flying fish, you can see it all! Then, you enjoy a delicious homemade meal. At the end, you will be taken back to your resort. Enjoy your last night in paradise.
Day 8 Departure
We will drive you back to the airport at the appropriate time to catch your flight back home. It’s time to say goodbye to the new friends you have made in Costa Rica.
Pricing
High Season 2011: US $ 2,290 per person based on double occupancy.
Valid from November, 2010 thru April, 2011 and from July, 2011 thru August, 2011
Green Season 2011: US $ 1,950 per person based on double occupancy.
Valid from May, 2011 thru June, 2011 and from September, 2011 thru October, 2011
Note
Price does not apply to New Year’s or Easter week and it is subject to availability of hotels and tours.
Package includes
- 1 night of lodging at Hotel Grano de Oro (4 stars) in a Standard room.
- 1 night of lodging at Pacuare Lodge (3 stars) in a Honeymoon Suite room.
- 2 nights of lodging at Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens (4 stars) in a Casita Deluxe room.
- 3 nights of lodging at Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort (4 stars) in an Ocean Breeze Superior room.
- Pacuare River White Water Rafting Overnight trip including transportation, meals, equipment & specialist guides.
- Private transportation from the Pacuare Operations center to Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens in an A/C van with a bilingual driver/guide.
- Lost Canyon Tour, including transportation, equipment, lunch and specialist guides.
- Tabacon Hot Springs including transportation, entrance fee, and dinner. (Shift from 1 pm thru 10 pm)
- Private transportation from Arenal Nayara Hotel to Arenas Del Mar Beach Resort in an A/C van with a semi bilingual driver.
- Manuel Antonio National Park Tour including transportation, entrance fee and guide.
- Manuel Antonio See Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour including transportation, equipment, lunch and guide.
- Private transportation from Arenas Del Mar Beach Resort to Juan Santamaria International Airport in an A/C van with a bilingual driver/guide.
- Meals as described above (7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners).
- Meet and greet at San Jose airport with VIP service inside the terminal.
- All airport transfers.
- 24 hour travel assistance.
Not included
- Airfare and Airport tax at your departure US $ 26 per person (cash only).
- Meals and other services not mentioned above.
- Gratuities for guides and providers based on quality of service.