Tortuguero and Tropical Forests

Exploring Costa Rica's Treasures

Explore the Tortuguero Canals, located on the North-East Caribbean coast, for great wildlife viewing. Tour by small boat through the multitude of canals and lagoons. From July to September the green sea turtles come up on the beaches to lay their eggs. Then Visit the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest area—two “must sees” of Costa Rica--with a naturalist guide in a small group setting.

2007 Departures: Daily with a minimum of 2 passengers

2007 Prices:

• $1315 per person/based on double occupancy
• $272 additional for single supplement
• $986 per child 3-10 years sharing with adult

(prices 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 –Tortuguero. Morning pick up for your drive through Braulio Carillo National Park to the canals lining the Atlantic Coast where you board a boat for the trip to the Tortuguero Canals through 50 km of tropical rain forest. Late afternoon arrival at Tortuguero. Dinner and overnight. (BLD)

Day 3 – Tortuguero. Enjoy touring Tortuguero National Park with a local boatman and your Sun Tours guide to observe the flora and fauna. There are 2 three-hour boating trips through the canals included in this package, as well as optional hikes. Expect to see beautiful shorebirds, monkeys and sloth. On your own you may wish to hire a boat for additional exploration, or just hike along the beach or visit the village of Tortuguero accompanied by your own guide. During turtle nesting season night-time tours can be arranged at an additional cost to observe the sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. (BLD)

Day 4 – Arenal Volcano/La Paz Waterfall Gardens. After breakfast transfer to the Tortuguero airstrip for a 30-minute flight back to San Jose. (Please note that all flights with-in Costa Rica have a 25-pound weight limit for checked baggage. You may leave excess luggage with your transfer driver on Day 2, and it will be stored in our San Jose office until your return today). 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 5 - 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 6 - 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.

Return to the hotel for lunch, and in the early afternoon travel to the Monteverde Reserve with your guide for a guided tour through this famous cloud forest. Look for birds, observe the flora & fauna along the many trails. Late afternoon return to the hotel. (B, D)

Day 7—Return to San Jose. Morning free, after lunch (on your own) depart for San Jose (or continue to beach hotel for optional tours). Overnight at Hotel Don Carlos or similar. (B)

Day 8– Departure. Transfer to airport for return flights. (B)

Trip Notes:

• Latin American Escapes, Inc. offers special contract airline rates to Costa Rica, and all of Latin America, from most cities in the US.  Please ask for a quote based on your trip itinerary.
• We can arrange to transfer you to one of the Pacific Beach areas after this trip, such as Manuel Antonio/Quepos or Tamarindo, and add hotel and tour arrangements as needed. You can then either fly back to San Jose, or go by overland transfer.
• 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

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.