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COSTA RICA WONDERS (from/to Liberia) “Nature at its best”

Liberia, Arenal Volcano, Sarapiqui, Tortuguero, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Rincón de la Vieja

Day 1 - Arrival in Liberia. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Garden Inn

Day 2 - (B) After breakfast, you will depart to the Arenal Volcano area, located about 3 hours drive from San José. Arenal Springs

Day 3 - (B) Free day for optional activities such as tour to Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, horseback riding, a visit to Arenal Volcano or a relaxed dip at the Ecotermales Hot Springs. The Arenal Volcano, which has been in constant activity for more than 30 years, is definitively the main attraction in this area. Arenal Springs

Day 4 - (B) Today morning departure to Sarapiqui. Afternoon at your leisure or to enjoy activities such as boat tours, rafting tours, horseback riding and a butterfly and frog farm. Sueño Azul

Day 5 - (B, L, D) Early in the morning, you will travel to the Caribbean lowlands. Once there, you will board the boat and continue along the canals that run parallel to the Caribbean Coast. Tortuguero National Park will be your final destination. During the
afternoon visit to the Turtle Museum and the picturesque Tortuguero village. Laguna Lodge

Laguna Lodge is surrounded by tropical rainforest and a navigable network of lakes and canals, just 200 meters from the beach on a unique strip of land with the ocean on one side and the lagoon on the other. The lodge has 90 rooms, and is divided into 3 buildings. Each room has a private tiled bathroom, ceiling fan, and a small front terrace with chairs. Hotel facilities include a bar, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and restaurant (unusual in that part of it is situated over the canals), hammocks in the rest-huts located in the gardens, a dock on the canals, and laundry service. The new building closest to the Lodge houses the conference room, souvenir shop and reception.

There are no roads leading to the lodge; therefore, access is by boat or by airplane from San José. Some of the optional activities include swimming in a natural pool, hiking, fishing, boat tours, and turtle watching tours (July - late October).

Very convenient location, with direct access to the beach. Suitable for those who prefer remote, uncrowded accommodation in natural surroundings. There is no television in the rooms as it caters to people interested in nature observation and a peaceful atmosphere.

Day 6 - (B, L, D) After breakfast travel along the Tortuguero Canals which are ideal to spot the wildlife of the area. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the private trails of the lodge, ride a boat through the canals (at an additional cost) or just relax by the swimming pool. Laguna Lodge

Day 7 - (B, L) After breakfast, you will return by boat to Caño Blanco, from where you will be transferred by land to San José. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Villa Tournon

Day 8 - (B) Leave San José for the 3½-hour ground transfer to Quepos and Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast. Free day to relax, swim, or sign up for optional tours (at additional cost). Playa Espadilla. Hotel Playa Espadilla is only 250 meters/840 feet away from Espadilla beach and about 600 meters/2000 feet away from the main entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Both Manuel Antonio and Quepos have a lively night atmosphere, with plenty of small restaurants, bars and shops.

The hotel offers 16 rooms (10 Standards, 4 Efficiency, 1 Junior Suite, and 1 suite equipped for guests with disabilities) with air conditioning, hot water, safety deposit box (no additional cost), beds with orthopedic mattresses, and some have an equipped kitchen and refrigerator. Other services include: swimming pool with hydro massage, tropical bar by the pool, laundry and fax services, local and international phone service, internet at the reception, souvenir shop, parking lot and a private reserve with trails. The tours available include white water rafting, horseback riding, boat rides, sea kayaking, and sports fishing.

Well located, near the National Park’s main entrance. Very suitable option for groups or individual clients with a medium budget, looking for easy access (walking distance) to the main restaurants and beach. Also recommended for families or those requiring self-catering accommodations.

Day 9 - (B) Day at leisure at the Manuel Antonio National Park area. Optional tours such as rafting trips and guided walks are suggested. Playa Espadilla

Day 10 - (B) After breakfast, check out from your Manuel Antonio hotel and transfer towards the Monteverde area (about 4 hours). Balance of day at leisure in Monteverde. The hotel offers a total of 47 comfortable rooms, 12 of which are standard rooms and 35 Superior rooms. All the rooms have a private bathroom with hot water. Standard rooms have either one single and one double bed, or one double and two single beds. Superior rooms feature, in addition to the above-mentioned facilities a King size bed, a private balcony, cable TV, mini bar hair dryer and bathtub. Other hotel services include a common Jacuzzi and sauna, conference room (accommodating up to 50 people), bar, restaurant, reading area, laundry service, safety deposit box at the reception, trails and a small pond along the lodge’s 15 hectare/ 37 acre private reserve.

Further activities offered include horseback riding tours, hikes to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Santa Elena Rainforest Reserve, Canopy Tour, Sky Walk and Sky Trek, a Butterfly Garden, and an Orchid Garden, among others. Due to its geographical conditions, temperatures can drop to 12º C/53.6 ºF, therefore, we recommend you bring at least a jacket, and a raincoat (after all, it is the rainforest!).

Convenient location, near the town’s main hotel and restaurant area. Good option for those seeking comfort, and a centrally situated mountain lodge. Ideal for nature lovers and bird watchers.

Day 11 - (B) Free day for optional activities such as guided hikes to Monteverde Reserve, the Sky Trek and the Sky Walk, canopy tour and the butterfly garden. Montaña Monteverde

Day 12 - (B) Today you will continue to the area of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano area. Hacienda Guachipelín Lodge is located at the foot of the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, near the town of Curubande, in the province of Guanacaste. The Hacienda borders the popular Rincón de la Vieja National Park, comprising 1600 hectares, which are used for both the conservation of the tropical dry forest, and as land for pasture and the reforestation of endangered species. The lodge has 18 Superior rooms and 32 Standard rooms, all with a private bathroom and hot running water, with two double beds, one double and one single bed, or three single beds, and a ceiling fan. The dining room and reception area are housed in a building that is over a century old, and is part of the original Hacienda, surrounded by lush gardens with wonderful views of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. Among the facilities offered are: a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, snacks and soft drinks store, laundry service, parking area, telephone and fax service at the reception. Some of the optional activities available include: natural hot springs and volcanic mud pots, walks to beautiful waterfalls ranging from easy 25 minute walks to 3 hour walks, horseback rides, canopy tours, tubing adventure, canyoning and guided hikes to the Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Very convenient location for visiting the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, great for active travelers looking for a nice, comfortable and reasonably priced place to stay. Hacienda Guachipelin continues its tradition of cattle breeding and raising horses, so visitors will certainly be immersed in the real hacienda lifestyle.

Day 13 - (B) Day at leisure at the Rincón de la Vieja volcano area. Optional tours such as guided walks, zipline tours and rafting tours are suggested. Hacienda Guachipelín

Day 14 - (B) Private transfer to the Liberia International Airport.

Rates per person based on double occupancy in US$ dollars:

The program includes:
• Meet & greet upon arrival
• Accommodation at hotels described above
• Ground transfers or Rental Car
• Guided excursions in Tortuguero including boat transportation
• Entrance fee to Tortuguero National Park
• Meals as specified each day: B, L or D
• Map and information kit
• All taxes

Does not include optional activities

* Private Transfers Alternative: A private driver will pick up the clients directly at the hotel and will take them to the next destination. The schedules can be flexible (unless they have to connect with other transfers or be in a certain place at a specific moment) and they do not have to wait for other clients, since this is a private service.

**Shared Transportation Alternative: This service works on routes and pre-established schedules. A driver picks up the clients in different hotels and goes directly (without stopping) to the destination. Once there, the driver goes to the different hotels to leave the passengers. This is called door-to-door Ground operation. An individual client usually travels with other tourists that he/she does not know.

***Rental Car Alternative: Renting a car is a convenient way to move around the country as it gives you the freedom to explore at will. Our preferred car rental companies offer a complete list of services, including a modern fleet of vehicles and pick-up and drop-off services in San José as well as in the main tourist destinations. We would recommend a 4WD whenever possible and depending on the places you wish to visit, as they are more robust vehicles and a more reliable option for difficult roads. The rate provided does not include the Mandatory Insurance (USD 18.00 per day of rent). Clients will pick up the vehicle (Daihatsu Bego 4x4) on Day 02 and return it on Day 14.