Tropical Forests and Manuel Antonio National Park

Visit the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest area—two “must sees” of Costa Rica--with a naturalist guide in a small group setting. Continue to the beaches of Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park, where you enjoy the independent side of this itinerary as you tour Manuel Antonio park, and have free time to pursue optional adventures in the area, or simply relax at your hotel or on the beach.

2007 Departure dates: Daily with a minimum of 2 passengers

2007 Prices

• $1375 per person/sharing double room
• $509 single supplement
• $1030 for children ages 3-10 sharing with 2 adults

Option to add additional night in Arenal with tours:

• Add $120 per person/sharing double room
• Add $50 single supplement
• Add $90 for children ages 3-10 sharing with 2 adults

(valid until Nov 30, 2007)

Itinerary

Day 1 - San José . On arrival you’ll be met by a representative from CANATUR, who will direct your through immigration & customs, and take you outside to meet our local representative. If by chance you miss the CANATUR representative at the plane, please check in with their booth in the baggage claim area, and they will direct you outside to our driver. Transfer to your San Jose hotel. (Don Carlos or similar)

Day 2 – La Paz Waterfall Gardens/Arenal Volcano 
Depart this morning for a scenic drive with your driver/guide to Arenal Volcano, stopping en route at La Paz Waterfall Gardens for an up close view at a system of 5 different waterfalls and also for lunch. You’ll be able to visit their centers for butterflies, orchids and also the hummingbird garden. After lunch continue to Arenal. Dinner and overnight at the Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar, in volcano view rooms. From the Observatory, which is situated only 1.6 miles south of the volcano, visitors have an impressive view of this "giant which rumbles" and erupts with spectacular displays of vapor and lava. The Observatory is the only lodge situated within the Arenal Volcano National Park, which encompasses thousands of acres of pristine rainforest and teems with tropical birds and wildlife. After dinner, take a drive to view the volcano activity from a nearby vantage point. (L, D)

Day 3 - Arenal Volcano -National Park-Monteverde. Depart your hotel about 8:00 AM for a morning hike in the National Park and a close-up exploration of a lava flow. (About 2 hours) You’ll need to wear tennis shoes with good traction or hiking boots for this trip. You’ll also be crossing a shallow stream, which generally requires taking off your shoes (you may want to carry a bandana or small towel to dry off after this). The first part of the walk is through the rainforest, where you’ll observe the birds, insects & flora as they present themselves. Hike up a rocky hill to the middle of an old lava flow, where your guide will explain to you the history and geology of Arenal. . Mid-morning departure, driving around Lake Arenal to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the richest and most diverse tropical cloud forests in the New World. It is best known as home to the Resplendent Quetzal but also protects hundreds of other birds, mammals and plant species. Overnight in Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela or similar—2 night stay. (BD)

Note: Option exists to pay extra and take lake crossing at 11:30 am while driver/guide drives around and meets up with clients that evening in Monteverde.

Day 4 - Monteverde Treetop Walkways & Reserve Visit. After breakfast transfer to Selvatura's Treetop Walkways for a walking experience in the forest canopy. The Treetop Walkways is a 1.9 mile (approximately 3 kilometer ) trail that crosses through the cloud forest, in which our visitors will walk through eight different bridges from various lengths ranging between 150 feet ( 50 meters ) up to 510 feet ( 170 meters ) and altitudes ranging between 36 feet ( 12 meters ) up to 180 feet ( 60 meters ). Each of the bridges feature a five foot width, the widest ones in the country, and also a capacity of up to 80 people per bridge making them both the longest and strongest bridge system in Costa Rica. The treetop walkways are suitable for people of all ages and physical condition. The duration of the tour is usually between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Option exists to pay extra and add on a canopy tour zip-line tour.

Day 5-Manuel Antonio/Quepos Morning ( 9-10 am) or afternoon ( 1-2 pm) semi-private transfer from Monteverde to the town of Quepos, located adjacent to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio is one of the country’s most popular parks because of its unique mix of beaches and forest trails. Overnight in Manuel Antonio at the Hotel Costa Verde or similar. (B)

Day 6 & 7-Manuel Antonio. Morning tour to Manuel Antonio National Park (except for Mondays when the park is closed) including roundtrip transportation from your hotel, local guide, park entrance fee and lunch. Balance of the time at leisure to enjoy Manuel Antonio with its beautiful beaches and wonderful nature trails. Overnight in Manuel Antonio at Hotel Costa Verde or similar.

Day 9 - Return to USA
Airport transfer for return flight. (B)

B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner

Trip Notes:

• Latin American Escapes, Inc. offers special contract airline rates to Latin America from most cities in the US, as well as special airpass rates for tickets with-in Latin America. Please ask for a quote based on your trip itinerary.
• Additional nights at the beach and optional accommodation upgrades are available on request.
• This itinerary involves flights with-in Costa Rica, which are operated by small (8-20 passenger) aircraft. They impose a strictly enforced 25 lb weight limit for all checked + carry-on luggage. Please plan to leave any unnecessary items in luggage storage at your San Jose hotel, or make arrangements to store it at our local San Jose office
• Option to add an additional day & night in Arenal to visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges and Ecotermales Hot springs. Accommodation, transportation, guided tours, Breakfast & Dinner included. Doubles your chances for observing an erupting volcano!

To confirm reservations:

A deposit of $300 per person is required to confirm reservations. In addition, the following payment procedures apply:

Payment for airline tickets is due at the time tickets are issued, but no later than time of final payment.

Last Minute Bookings: Last minute reservations (less than 30 days before departure) will be accepted, subject to availability, if payment has been received, and documents can be delivered. Any special communication costs and delivery charges will be at the client's expense.

Revision Fee: Revision fees will apply once the initial deposit has been received. Charges will vary based on itinerary, and extent of changes, with a minimum charge of $50. Changes requested after documents have been issued (generally with-in 30 days) will incur a minimum $100 change fee, plus additional services requested.

International bookings: We gladly accept bookings from passengers outside the US. However, an additional surcharge of $50 per booking is applied to cover additional shipping charges.

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS--At the time we receive written notification that you must cancel your trip, money will be returned less the following cancellation fees:

Trip Documents: Trip documents will be forwarded approximately 3 weeks prior to travel, and once all payments and completed application forms have been received.

Risk and Responsibility

In arranging these trips, Latin American Escapes, Inc. acts only as the agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers actually providing tour services for these trips with whom Latin American Escapes, Inc. has no legal connection or joint ownership. These local tour operators attempt to conduct these trips as described in the preceding itineraries. However, it is possible that due to transportation schedule changes, weather, delays and unforeseeable acts of God, humans or nature, itineraries may vary from what is described. Participants are responsible for extra costs due to travel delay or itinerary changes for reasons beyond our control and assume all risks, whether identified in advance or unforeseen, as described under Limitation of Liability, and Trip Member Responsibility, located in our Terms and Conditions, which all travelers agree to sign. Traveler's insurance is not included, but is offered, and is strongly recommended. CST # 2023695-40.