National-Theatre

Get a firsthand account of contemporary Costa Rican life and an absorbing lesson about our history. The Walking City Tour is an intimate and authentic perspective of our capitol city.  You interact and participate in the daily life of the city; not only seeing but hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling the rhythm of our city. Our knowledgeable and professional guides are enthusiastic about sharing our multicultural heritage with you!

Walking Tour of San José

Points of Interest:

• The Atlantic Train Station.
• The National Park, a beautiful city park that hosts the National Monument.
• Explore our rich history, starting with pre-Columbian culture, at the National Museum.
• The well preserved architecture, sculpture, and art found at the National Theater are well worth a stop.
• The Grand Hotel Costa Rica, where many celebrities and U.S. Presidents have stayed.
• 

  Central market San Jose

  The tranquil silence of the Metropolitan Cathedral is a stark contrast to the busy streets of San José. This Cathedral is the largest in San José.

• Walk along Central Avenue. With no cars allowed the center of San José is a large pedestrian boulevard.
• Visit to the Market. This large market is a fascinating combination of the traditional and the modern aspects of Costa Rican culture.

While walking from one point-of-interest to another there is a lot to see!  The Costa Rican government has invested in beautifying the city. There are murals, historic buildings, markets, schools, universities, government buildings, museums, statues and sculptures.

Although San José center is safe, we do have these recommendations:

1. Leave large amounts of cash and valuables in your hotel’s safe.
2. Have a photocopy of your passport with you, but leave the original in your hotel´s safe.
3. Wear conservative amounts of jewelry.
4. Be aware of pick-pockets; carry money and credit cards in a secure place.
5. Exchange currency in secure, reputable locations like banks and hotels

Liberia-airport

The Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia, the capital of the Guanacaste Province, is only 80 km (50 miles) from the popular Tamarindo, Playa Conchal, Flamingo and Papagayo areas and also provides easy access to Monteverede, Arenal Volcano and other highland destinations. The popularity of this airport as an alternative to San Jose has increased steadily.

The state of the art terminal was opened January 12, 2012. In the past passengers had to wait in long lines under the hot sun and deal with the airport´s cramped waiting area. The new air-conditioned terminal dwarfs the older building in both size and capabilities.

Liberia airport

New services and businesses such as:

• Café Britt and other       Commercial Shopping Spaces
• Duty Free Store
• Art gallery
• Restaurant
• Pay-by-the-minute Wireless Internet
• For a fee, access to a private  lounge

 
Jet Blue has announced new flights to Liberia. Other airlines are expected to begin new services . The new terminal makes the process of arriving and departing the country seamless and expedient for passengers at the country´s second-largest airport.

Ask us how to incorporate arrival or departure from  Liberia into your trips.
Saludos,
Philip Aspinall
Costa Rica Sun Tours

Arenal

Walk right up to the edge of Poás volcano´s massive crater and witness the geothermal activity of its turquoise, bubbling hot lake and steaming fumaroles, then travel into the misty mountains of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Get a unique perspective of the cloud forest as you literally fly through it on a Zip Line Canopy Tour!

• Day 1: Poás Volcano & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 2: Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 3: To San Jose & Departure or Beach Extension

Day 1: POAS VOLCANO & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Poas Volcano

Start your trip with a morning pick-up and scenic drive to Poás Volcano National Park, a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica.  At 8,900 feet above sea level this high elevation park is often chilly, so bring a jacket! The active volcano’s main crater is 320 meters (1,050 feet) deep and 1.6 kilometers (almost a mile) across, making it one of the widest and deepest in the world. The bottom of the crater has a turquoise-green, bubbling hot and highly acidic lake which you can see from a viewing platform at the crater’s rim. Fumaroles, like those in Yellowstone National Park, can be seen emitting steam and gasses high into the air. Bring binoculars for a closer look at the yellow sulphur deposits at the base of steaming fumaroles in the crater walls above the lake. Interestingly the vegetation here is dwarfed by winds and the effects of volcanic acid rain.

If time permits, Botos Lake, an ancient extinct crater lake surrounded by highland forest in the park is worth seeing following a 20 to 30 minute uphill hike on trails within a picturesque “elfin” forest.

Quetzal

In the afternoon, continue on to Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 02: CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE RESERVE

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a “Zip Line” Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Monte verde cloud forest

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 3: TRANSFER TO SAN JOSE OR BEACH EXTENTION

Explore the principal community of the area, Santa Elena, before going back to San Jose or being transferred to the beach or other destination. You may want to take advantage of banks and supermarkets, visit the local cheese factory, women’s cooperative (CASEM) or one of the many art and craft galleries to purchase some souvenirs or gifts for the folks back home such as local coffee, wood sculptures, embroidered clothing, and paintings by resident artists just to name a few.

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Arenal Volcanoe and Monteverde

Get a feeling for Costa Rica´s central Tilaran Mountain Range by visiting two of its great protected areas, Arenal Volcano, and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Visit the unique La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Arenal´s hanging bridges, and zip through the cloud forest on a canopy tour! Costa Rica Sun Tours has over 20 years experience planning and executing ecotourism trips in Costa Rica, we put our considerable experience to work for you, always paying close attention to detail to ensure you receive high quality service and leave with unforgettable memories.

• Day 1: La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 2: Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 3: Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 4: To San Jose & Departure or Beach Extension

Day 1: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS

Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife refuge, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. Enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (1 nts)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, rising majestically out of the vast surrounding rainforests, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. Rainforests are regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now.

Arenal hanging bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 3: ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

canopy zip line

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a Zip Line Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Quetzal

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 4: TRANSFER TO SAN JOSE OR BEACH EXTENSION

Explore the principal community of the area, Santa Elena, before going back to San Jose or being transferred to the beach or other destination. You may want to take advantage of banks and supermarkets, visit the local cheese factory, women’s cooperative (CASEM) or one of the many art and craft galleries to purchase some souvenirs or gifts for the folks back home such as local coffee, wood sculptures, embroidered clothing, and paintings by resident artists just to name a few.

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Arenal Volcanoe and Monteverde

This tour masterfully combines two natural highlights of Costa Rica: Arenal, a steaming volcano whose steep slopes rise above vast rainforests, and Monteverde, a beautiful cool mountain cloud forest. Each a notable destination of its own right! Tours incorporate visits to powerful, majestic waterfalls, a rescued wildlife preserve, a system of hanging bridges, lunch on an organic farm dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican ¨campesino¨ lifestyle, and an exhilarating zip line canopy tour!

• Day 1: La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 2: Lava Flow walk, Organic Farm lunch & La Fortuna Waterfalls
• Day 3: Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 4: Zip Line Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 5: To San Jose & Departure or Beach Extension

Day 1: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL VOLCANO

La paz waterfall gardens

Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. Enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 2: VOLCANO TOUR, ORGANIC FARM LUNCH, & FORTUNA WATERFALLS

Arenal volcano

In the morning, traverse a landscape shaped by old lava flows with your naturalist guide. The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now. Rainforests are now regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. During your visit, you may see parrots, toucans and other forest wildlife.

organic farm and educational

After exploring the lava flows, you will tour an organic farm and educational center managed by a rural family and dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican lifestyle.  Here you will have a lovingly prepared typical Costa Rican lunch.

Walk off your lunch with a short afternoon hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool, clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail leads you down through dense, lush rainforest with the objective of reaching a large pool at the base of the falls. (L)

Day 3: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 4: ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

zip line in monteverde

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a Zip Line Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 5: TRANSFER TO SAN JOSE OR BEACH EXTENSION

Explore the principal community of the area, Santa Elena, before going back to San Jose or being transferred to the beach or other destination. You may want to take advantage of banks and supermarkets, visit the local cheese factory, women’s cooperative (CASEM) or one of the many art and craft galleries to purchase some souvenirs or gifts for the folks back home such as local coffee, wood sculptures, embroidered clothing, and paintings by resident artists just to name a few.

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Arenal

Arenal is an iconic Costa Rican volcano whose steep slopes rise out of the surrounding rainforest. The region around Arenal has a lot to offer. The timing and activities of this tour have been fine tuned to make sure you get the absolute most out of your time in the area. You will be able to visit  majestic waterfalls, a rescued wildlife reserve, hike through a landscape shaped by lava flows, have lunch at an organic farm dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican way of life and explore the rainforest on a system of hanging bridges.

• Day 1: La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 2: Lava Flow walk. Organic Farm lunch & La Fortuna Waterfalls
• Day 3: Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to San Jose or Beach Extension

Day 1: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & ARRIVAL AT ARENAL VOLCANO

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

our journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. Enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 2: VOLCANO TOUR, ORGANIC FARM LUNCH, & FORTUNA WATERFALLS

Arenal Volcano

In the morning, traverse a landscape shaped by old lava flows with your naturalist guide. The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now. Rainforests are now regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. During your visit, you may see parrots, toucans and other forest wildlife.

La Fortuna Waterfall

After exploring the lava flows, you will tour an organic farm and educational center managed by a rural family and dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican lifestyle.  Here you will have a lovingly prepared typical Costa Rican lunch.

Walk off your lunch with a short afternoon hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool, clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail leads you down through dense, lush rainforest with the objective of reaching a large pool at the base of the falls. (L)

Day 3: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO SAN JOSE (OR OTHER DESTINATION)

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then just ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After your walk, you will have a transfer back to San Jose. If your vacation travels continue on to a beach or another destination, if possible, we recommend you transfer directly to your next destination without returning to San Jose.

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons.

Costa Rica A & P

A terrific opportunity presented by the geography of Costa Rica is the chance to quickly travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Start by voyaging through the banana and pineapple plantations of the warm Atlantic lowlands, then board a boat and journey to Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica’s “little Amazon”. Fly back to the central valley and visit Poás Volcano, then on to the cloud forest of Monteverde. Next, drive through savannas to the dry Guanacaste region to relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches, warm tropical waters and Pacific sunsets of Tamarindo.

• Day 1:      Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica
• Day 2,3:   Tortuguero National Park
• Day 4:      Poás Volcano & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 5:      Zip Line Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 6:      Transfer to Guanacaste & Tamarindo Beach
• Day 7:      El Viejo Wetland & Traditional Casona
• Day 8:      Free Day at the Beach & Optional Activities
• Day 9:      To Liberia & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2, 3: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Tortuguero

Head to the Caribbean coast, and the land of the turtles, Tortuguero. This remote area is accessible only by plane or by boat; nevertheless your lodging will still be first class. Wildlife-rich Tortuguero National Park will allow you the chance to see a large diversity of bird species, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, iguanas, and basilisk lizards as you tour the navigable rainforest canals by boat. The tropical beaches around Tortuguero are key nesting sites for endangered but recovering sea turtles. At night, during July to September, green sea turtles come ashore to nest on the beach.

Hotel: Evergreen Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B, 2L, 2D

Day 4: POAS VOLCANO & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Poas Volcano

Fly back to San Jose, and then travel to Poás Volcano National Park, a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica.  At 8,900 feet above sea level this high elevation park is often chilly, so bring a jacket! The active volcano’s main crater is 320 meters (1,050 feet) deep and 1.6 kilometers (almost a mile) across, making it one of the widest and deepest in the world. The bottom of the crater has a turquoise-green, bubbling hot and highly acidic lake which you can see from a viewing platform at the crater’s rim. Fumaroles, like those in Yellowstone National Park, can be seen emitting steam and gasses high into the air. Bring binoculars for a closer look at the yellow sulphur deposits at the base of steaming fumaroles in the crater walls above the lake. Interestingly the vegetation here is dwarfed by winds and the effects of volcanic acid rain.

If time permits, Botos Lake, an ancient extinct crater lake surrounded by highland forest in the park is worth seeing following a 20 to 30 minute uphill hike on trails within a picturesque “elfin” forest.

In the afternoon, continue on to Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 5: ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a Zip Line Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Monte verde cloud forest

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 6: GUANACASTE & TAMARINDO BEACH

Following a midmorning departure from the misty Monteverde mountains you travel into the drier lowlands of the northwest Guanacaste province. The rivers that tumble out of the steep mountains flow down to rolling flatlands, draining via the Rio Tempisque into the Gulf of Nicoya. This is cattle country and you may see Costa Rican cowboys, known as ¨sabaneros¨, riding behind herds of massive long-eared Brahma cattle as you pass through large savannas on your way to the coastal beach community of Tamarindo on the northern Pacific coast. The consistently sunny climate and friendly local culture produce an iconic Costa Rican beach experience.

Hotel: Capitan Suizo or similar (3 nts)
Meals Incl: 3B

Day 7: EL VIEJO WETLAND AND TRADITIONAL CASONA

El-viejo-wetland

Today, a morning visit to El Viejo Wetlands. A Costa Rican family that owns El Viejo Mill, one of the biggest sugar production operations in the country, which permanently employs 400 employees and sponsors scholarship programs in the local communities, has shown its strong commitment to the environment by setting aside 5,000 acres for conservation and instituting a wetland restoration program. Bordering the Palo Verde National Park, this magnificent private wildlife refuge is recognized internationally for its exuberant wetland and dry forest flora and fauna. This is critical habitat for many migratory and resident bird species and provides excellent birding; you might see the rose spoon-billed or the mythical Jabirú stork. The Jabirú can stand 5 feet tall, the tallest flying bird in Central and South America, and has a wingspan of 7.5-9 feet, the second largest wingspan, after the Andean Condor.

You will also visit the on-site “Casona de Guanacaste”.  La Casona is a cultural, folkloric attraction that is symbolic of the haciendas of the past and the hard working spirit of those who lived and died here in the 1800s during a faraway era of colonial Costa Rica. In the afternoon your guide goes back to San José.

Day 8: FREE DAY AT THE BEACH. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Savor a free day to explore or relax on the beach. There are many ecological friendly activities in the area, including watching sea turtles at night during the nesting season, diving, snorkeling, body surfing, zip-lining, estuary trips, horseback riding and fishing.

Day 9: DEPARTURE

Transfer to Liberia International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Tropical Rainforest and Guanacaste Beach

This itinerary is the delightful union of the volcanoes and cloud forests of the central Tilaran Mountain Range and the consistently sunny north-western beaches of the Guanacaste Province. Seamlessly blending eco-adventure, wildlife viewing, and cultural experiences with the chance to relax and unwind, we carefully designed this itinerary to ensure an unforgettable experience. We work closely with suppliers at each step of the trip to ensure you always receive the highest quality service.

• Day 1:      Arrival in San Jose
• Day 2:      La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 3:      Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 4:      Zip Line Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 5:      Transfer to Guanacaste & Tamarindo Beach
• Day 6:      El Viejo Wetland &Traditional Casona
• Day 7:      Free Day at the Beach & Optional Activities
• Day 8:      To Liberia & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. Enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (1 nts)
Meals Incl: 1 B

Day 3: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, rising majestically out of the vast surrounding rainforests, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. Rainforests are regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now.

Arenal hanging bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 4: ¨ZIP LINE¨ CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE RESERVE

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a “Zip Line” Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. This ecosystem is extremely lush due to the abundant moisture, cool temperatures and the fact that the mist actually fertilizes the foliage. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 5: TRANSFER TO GUANACASTE & TAMARINDO BEACH

Tamarindo Beach

Following a midmorning departure from the misty Monteverde mountains you travel into the drier lowlands of the northwest Guanacaste province. The rivers that tumble out of the steep mountains flow down to rolling flatlands, draining via the Rio Tempisque into the Gulf of Nicoya. This is cattle country and you may see Costa Rican cowboys, known as ¨sabaneros¨, riding behind herds of massive long-eared Brahma cattle as you pass through large savannas on your way to the coastal beach community of Tamarindo on the northern Pacific coast. The consistently sunny climate and friendly local culture produce an iconic Costa Rican beach experience.

Hotel: Capitan Suizo or similar (3 nts)
Meals Incl: 3B

Day 6: EL VIEJO WETLAND & TRADITIONAL CASONA

wetland

Today, a morning visit to El Viejo Wetlands. A Costa Rican family that owns El Viejo Mill, one of the biggest sugar production operations in the country, which permanently employs 400 employees and sponsors scholarship programs in the local communities, has shown its strong commitment to the environment by setting aside 5,000 acres for conservation and instituting a wetland restoration program . Bordering the Palo Verde National Park, this magnificent private wildlife refuge is recognized internationally for its exuberant wetland and dry forest flora and fauna. This is critical habitat for many migratory and resident bird species and provides excellent birding; you might see the rose spoon-billed or the mythical Jabirú stork. The Jabirú can stand 5 feet tall, the tallest flying bird in Central and South America, and has a wingspan of 7.5-9 feet, the second largest wingspan, after the Andean Condor.

You will also visit the on-site “Casona de Guanacaste”.  La Casona is a cultural, folkloric attraction that is symbolic of the haciendas of the past and the hard working spirit of those who lived and died here in the 1800s during a faraway era of colonial Costa Rica. In the afternoon your guide goes back to San José.

Day 7: FREE DAY AT THE BEACH & OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Savor a free day to explore or relax on the beach. There are many ecological friendly activities in the area, including watching sea turtles at night during the nesting season, diving, snorkeling, body surfing, zip-lining, estuary trips, horseback riding and fishing.

Day 8: DEPARTURE

Transfer to Liberia International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

jungle tour and exotic volcano

Travel by land, air, and sea in order to experience the unparralled beauty of Costa Rica´s vast network of protected areas, and the warmth of its people. This well thought out itinerary is put together in a way that makes every day memorable. Travel to Arenal Volcano, a steaming volcano whose steep conical slopes rise out of vast rainforests, where you will explore the rainforest on a network of hanging bridges, hike through a landscape shaped by volcanic activity, have lunch at an organic farm dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican ¨campesino¨ way of life, and marvel at a powerful 200 foot waterfall fed by clear mountain streams. Then travel to the Pacific coast and visit wildlife-rich Manuel Antonio National Park, a place recognized by Forbes as one of the ¨World’s 12 Most Beautiful National Parks.¨ Continue on to one of our favorite places, Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula, in the remote jungles of the south Pacific.  Forward thinking conservation efforts have allowed this remote rainforest to remain in a pristine state. Because of its stunning natural diversity National Geographic considers Corcovado to be “the most biologically intense place on earth.” Pura Vida!

• Day 1:      Arrival in San José
• Day 2:      La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 3:      Lava Flow Hike, Organic Farm Lunch & La Fortuna Waterfalls
• Day 4:      Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Manuel Antonio
• Day 5:      Manuel Antonio National Park Hike
• Day 6:      Transfer to Osa Peninsula
• Day 7, 8:  Drake Bay & Corcovado National Park
• Day 9:      To San José & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2: PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the cool mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. After your visit, you will enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains, before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 3: LAVA FLOW HIKE, ORGANIC FARM LUNCH, & LA FORTUNA WATERFALL

In the morning, traverse a landscape shaped by old lava flows with your naturalist guide. The Arenal Volcanoe erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hotsprings. The volcanoe will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now. Rainforests are now regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. During your visit, you may see parrots, toucans and other forest wildlife.

organic farm and educational center

After exploring the lava flows, you will tour an organic farm and educational center managed by a rural family and dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican lifestyle.  Here you will have a lovingly prepared typical Costa Rican lunch.

Walk off your lunch with a short afternoon hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool, clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail leads you down through dense, lush rainforest with the objective of reaching a large pool at the base of the falls. (L)

Day 4: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MANUEL ANTONIO

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

In the morning you will be taken overland from Arenal to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio consists of multiple beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast, a lush forest growing to right to the beach’s edge, easy walking trails and an abundant diversity of wildlife. Manuel Antonio´s outstanding beauty was recognized recently when Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the ¨World’s 12 Most Beautiful National Parks.¨ The area outside the park offers visitors a wide variety of gorgeous hotels, excellent restaurants, and many optional activities such as rafting, sea kayaking, surf lessons and horseback riding.

In the afternoon your guide will return to San José. There are luggage restrictions for domestic flights, so if you have extra luggage you can send it back with your guide for safe storage in San José.

Hotel: Costa verde or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 5: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

Manuel Antonio

Today, take a hike with a local naturalist guide through the Manuel Antonio National Park’s species-rich forest. This park is an important refuge for valuable rainforest trees and animal species. Visitors frequently have up-close views of white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys, slow-moving sloths, coati mundis, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, and black iguanas (known locally as “garrobos”). This park is well known for bird watching. Some birds you might see in the park are: Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker, White Hawk, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Orange-collared Manakin, Chesnutt-backed Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, and Chesnut-mandibled Toucan. After hiking you can enjoy bathing in the tropical Pacific’s warm waters and relaxing on the white sand beaches of the park.

Day 6, 7 & 8: DRAKE BAY & CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

squirrel monkey

This morning you will fly to the Osa Peninsula, one of our favorite parts of the country. Drake Bay will serve as a base from which you can venture into the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s vast network of protected areas: Corcovado National Park. Described as “the most biologically intense place on earth” by National Geographic this coastal wilderness park is home to shy and elusive jaguars (you might see their tracks on forest trails!), tapirs, all four of Costa Rica’s monkey species, white-lipped peccaries, stunning scarlet macaws, several species of parrots, toucans and hundreds of other bird and wildlife species. You will find plenty to keep you busy during your stay; visit Caño Island, go horseback riding, sea kayaking, or simply relax and take in this exhuberent wilderness environment.

Hotel: Casa Corcovado or similar (3 nts)
Meals Incl: 3B, 3L, 3D

Day 9: DEPARTURE

Today you will fly back to San Jose and then transfer to the International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

best-of-costa-rica

Fly to the heart of the wild and wonderful southern Pacific, where the rainforest grows right up to the edge of an unfrequented, coconut palm lined beach. Stay at Tiskita Jungle Lodge, one of the best rated eco-lodges in the country. Swim in the jungle pools, ride horses, hike the private reserve, kayak, surf, fish, tour an orchard with over 100 species of tropical fruits from around the world, or relax and just take it all in. Over 270 bird species have been spotted here and some of the best birding and wildlife viewing in the country can be done sitting pool side at Tiskita! The next step involves traveling to the central Tilaran Mountain Range to explore the area around Arenal, a steaming volcano whose conical slopes rise out of a vast rainforest. You´ll visit a renown rescued wildlife preserve, majestic waterfalls, and a rural organic farm dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican way of life. Continue on through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and its unique Quaker/Tico community. Get a different perspective of the cloud forest, as you fly through it on a ¨zip line¨ canopy tour! Each of these destinations is an adventure on its own. We artfully blend all three, always paying close attention to detail and working to ensure you receive the highest quality service, to produce a sustainable tourism experience that is positively the ¨Best of Costa Rica!¨

• Day 1:       Arrival in San José
• Day 2-4:   Tiskita Jungle Lodge
• Day 5:       La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 6:       Lava Flow Walk, Organic Farm Lunch & La Fortuna Waterfall
• Day 7:       Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 8:       Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 9:       To San Jose or Liberia & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2, 3, 4: TISKITA JUNGLE LODGE AND RESERVE

Tropical fruits

Fly to Golfito and overland to Tiskita Jungle Lodge. Tiskita sits on a hill in the heart of Costa Rica´s wild and wonderful south Pacific, sorounded by rainforest, and overlooking the ocean with miles of unfrequented coconut palm lined beach. Over 270 bird species have been spotted here and some of the best birding and wildlife viewing in the country can be done sitting pool side at Tiskita! Toucans, parrots, and scarlet macaws, three monkey species, sloths, iguanas and many other exotic species reside here. You will enjoy guided hikes through the private reserve, and tour a tropical fruit orchard, with over 100 types of tropical fruits from around the world. Animal and bird sightings are common in the orchard because all the birds and animals in the forest know that it is the place to get food! In the afternoons you will have free time to relax or explore on your own. You may wish to walk to the nearby seaside village of Punta Banco to see how rural Costa Ricans live or visit the world class surf break at Pavones.

Stream pools and waterfall

You can also go to the beach and tide pools, bird watching, visit the waterfall and jungle pools, or sign up for horseback riding, snorkeling, massage, biking, surfing, kayaking, or sea fishing. Tiskita has pioneered educational and health programs for the local community, and several conservation projects, including reintroducing scarlet macaws, a sea turtle conservation program, and a native tree reforestation project.

Hotel: Tiskita Lodge (3 nts)
Meals Incl: 3B, 3L, 3D

Day 5: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

scarlet macaw

As you travel into the highlands, your first stop is La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. After your visit, you will enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains, before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 6: LAVA FLOW HIKE, ORGANIC FARM LUNCH & LA FORTUNA WATERFALL

organic farm lunch

In the morning, traverse a landscape shaped by old lava flows with your naturalist guide. The Arenal Volcanoe erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hotsprings. The volcanoe will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now. Rainforests are now regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion.

La Fortuna Waterfall

After exploring the lava flows, you will tour an organic farm and educational center managed by a rural family and dedicated to preserving the traditional Costa Rican lifestyle.  Here you will have a lovingly prepared typical Costa Rican lunch.

Walk off your lunch with a short afternoon hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall. This beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool, clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail leads you down through dense, lush rainforest with the objective of reaching a large pool at the base of the falls. (L)

Day 7: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, rising majestically out of the vast surrounding rainforests, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. Rainforests are regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now.

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 8: ¨ZIP LINE¨ CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE RESERVE

zip line in monteverde

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a “Zip Line” Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 9: DEPARTURE

Transfer to San Jose or Liberia International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, and room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

tortuguero tropical forest map

Your ecotourism experience begins with two days in wildlife-rich Tortuguero National Park, known as Costa Rica’s “little Amazon”. Then fly back to San Jose where you will be picked up and driven to Arenal Volcano via La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a rescued wildlife preserve and home to several magnificent waterfalls. After exploring Arenal Volcano´s lush rainforests travel west through rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations en route to the cool montane forests of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and its unique rural Quaker/Tico community. Monteverde is a prime example of a rare rainforest type that accounts for only 2% of all the world´s rainforests.

• Day 1:      Arrival in San Jose
• Day 2, 3:  Tortuguero National Park
• Day 4:      La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 5:      Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 6:      Zip Line Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 7:      Transfer to San Jose or Liberia & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2, 3: TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

Tortuguero-Canals

Head to the Caribbean coast, and the land of the turtles, Tortuguero. This remote area is accessible only by plane or by boat; nevertheless your lodging will still be first class. Wildlife-rich Tortuguero National Park will allow youthe chance to see a large diversity of bird species, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, spider monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, iguanas, and basilisk lizards as you tour the navigable rainforest canals by boat. The tropical beaches around Tortuguero are key nesting sites for endangered but recovering sea turtles. At night, during July to September, green sea turtles come ashore to nest on the beach.

Hotel: Evergreen Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B, 2L, 2D

Day 4: LA PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

As you travel into the highlands, your first stop is La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. After your visit, you will enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains, before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (1 nts)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 5: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

arenal volcano

The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, rising majestically out of the vast surrounding rainforests, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. Rainforests are regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now.

Arenal hanging bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 6: ZIP LINE CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE RESERVE

canopy zip line

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a Zip Line Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Monteverde

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 7: DEPARTURE

Transfer to San Jose or Liberia International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Arenal Monteverde & Manuel Antonio.

Our journey begins as you climb in elevation into the forested highlands. Visit the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens, an aggregation of gorgeous waterfalls and a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve. Continue on to Arenal Volcano, a steaming volcano whose steep dark conical slopes rise out of vast rainforests. Drop in on the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and its unique rural Quaker/Tico community. Get a different perspective of the cloud forest, as you literally fly through it on a ¨Zip Line¨ Canopy Tour! Finally experience one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful national parks, Manuel Antonio. Famous for its tropical beaches and wealth of rainforest wildlife such as white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys, slow-moving sloths, coati mundis, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, black iguanas and a huge diversity of colorful bird species. If the names of these animals seem unfamiliar to you now, they won´t after just a few days with your expert private naturalist guide!

• Day 1:     Arrival in San José
• Day 2:     La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Transfer to Arenal
• Day 3:     Arenal Hanging Bridges & Transfer to Monteverde
• Day 4:     Canopy Tour & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Day 5:     Transfer to Manuel Antonio
• Day 6:     Manuel Antonio National Park
• Day 7:     Mangrove Kayak Tour
• Day 8:     Transfer to San Jose & Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica, after you clear customs & immigration and claim your luggage, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will be waiting for you. Our representative will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San José. Tomorrow your adventure begins!

Hotel: Bougainvillea or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 2: PAZ WATERFALL GARDENS & TRANSFER TO ARENAL

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Your journey begins as you leave the urban center of Costa Rica’s central valley and head north into the mountains. Your first stop is the renowned La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This unique, enchanting location boasts a comprehensive rescued wildlife preserve, which includes jungle cats, monkeys, birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians.  Enjoy a walk along a sparkling clear mountain river on a trail that provides easy access and great views of gorgeous waterfalls framed by serene forested mountains. Enjoy an appetizing lunch at the facility’s restaurant set amid the lush beauty of their gardens. Then continue your journey through the tropical plantations and cattle ranches of the northern central lowland plains before arriving at your hotel in the Arenal region. (L)

Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (1 nt)
Meals Incl: 1B

Day 3: ARENAL HANGING BRIDGES & TRANSFER TO MONTEVERDE

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968 devastating the village and farmlands in the western foothills at its base.  After slightly more than four decades of activity which included smaller eruptions, hot rock avalanches (termed pyroclastic flows), and lava flows, Arenal Volcano today steams quietly, rising majestically out of the vast surrounding rainforests, and heats numerous local rivers that flow near its base. These natural hot rivers have been channeled into pools to create hot springs. Rainforests are regenerating in the areas cleared by the explosion. The volcano will likely undergo another similar active phase several hundred years from now.

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a system of suspended bridges and trails that provide access to the forest floor, and canopy layer of a beautiful rainforest. The plant and animal communities that inhabit different layers of a rainforest can be quite different from one another. The lush vegetation is composed of numerous species of palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, heliconias and tall trees. From some of the bridges there are panoramic views of nearby Arenal Volcano. As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter a wide diversity of forest wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys. If you don’t recognize the names of these animals, then ask you friendly, knowledgeable guide!

After exploring the hanging bridges, you will travel into the mountains en route to your hotel in Monteverde. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range of the Puntarenas Province, Monteverde, which translates to Green Mountain, is the name of both the famous cloud forest reserve and a small nearby community. Your transfer will take you through small rural Costa Rican villages, dairy farms and coffee plantations. The small mountain farms of these towns are owned by “campesinos” (country farmers). The most important regional farm products are organic coffee, which can be purchased in local stores, and milk for the local Monteverde Cheese Factory.  In and around the community center there is a large selection of restaurants, and other fun activities, such as butterfly gardens, horse rentals, an orchid garden, art galleries, and an excellent educational bat exhibit.

Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B

Day 4: “ZIP LINE” CANOPY TOUR & MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST RESERVE

Zip Line in Monteverde

After breakfast, get a different perspective of the rainforest on a “Zip Line” Canopy Tour. This is an exhilarating way to view the forest while you traverse from treetop to treetop with specialized equipment along horizontal cables that bring you to a series of platforms built amid the treetops!  Suitable for children and active seniors, this tour will give you an unusual way to appreciate the magnificent beauty of a cloud forest, by literally flying through it!

The Monteverde area offers a variety of restaurants where you can have a break for lunch after your morning tour (lunch not included).

Quetzal

In the early afternoon you will visit the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hike in this reserve on well-groomed trails with your expert naturalist guide. The reserve was founded in 1972, after initially being set aside as a watershed reserve by a group of Quakers who settled here in 1950. A cloud forest is a montane forest that receives rainfall and abundant mist from low lying clouds (mostly in late afternoons into the night and early morning) and is a very rare type of rainforest, accounting for less than 2% of all rainforests. These conditions create a forest where most of the tree trunks and branches are covered by small plants (termed epiphytes) that include ferns, bromeliads and orchids. Cloud forests harbor unique species of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal which was revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans and which spends about half the year in Monteverde feeding and breeding. The reserve supports a remarkable biodiversity, including over 2,500 plant species (including 420 species of orchids), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptile and amphibian species and thousands of insects.  As a prime example of a cloud forest ecosystem Monteverde has been intensely studied by scientists, and is the site for pioneering research on the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems. The income the reserve receives from visitors helps support the local economy, and conserves an important, rare ecosystem. Thus the reserve serves as a good example of how a protected rainforest can be of great value to the region’s local residents.

Day 5: TRANSFER TO MANUEL ANTONIO

Manuel Antonio National Park’s

In the morning you will be taken overland from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio consists of multiple beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast, a lush forest growing to right to the beach’s edge, easy walking trails and an abundant diversity of wildlife. Manuel Antonio´s outstanding beauty was recognized recently when Forbes Magazine listed it as one of the ¨World’s 12 Most Beautiful National Parks.¨ The area outside the park offers visitors a wide variety of gorgeous hotels, excellent restaurants, and many optional activities such as rafting, sea kayaking, surf lessons and horseback riding. In the afternoon your guide will return to San José.

Hotel: Costa Verde or similar (3 nts)
Meals Incl: 3B

Day 6: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK

white faced capuchin monkey

Today, take a hike with a local naturalist guide through the Manuel Antonio National Park’s species-rich forest. This park is an important refuge for valuable rainforest trees and animal species. Visitors frequently have up-close views of white-faced capuchin, squirrel monkeys, slow-moving sloths, coati mundis, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, and black iguanas (known locally as “garrobos”). This park is well known for bird watching. Some birds you might see in the park are: Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker, White Hawk, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Orange-collared Manakin, Chesnutt-backed Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, and Chesnut-mandibled Toucan. After hiking you can enjoy bathing in the tropical Pacific’s warm waters and relaxing on white sand beaches.

Day 7: DAMAS ISLAND ESTUARY MANGROVE TOUR

kayak Damas Estuary and mangrove forest

In an open-seat kayak you will paddle thorough the protected inland waterways of the Damas Estuary and mangrove forest with your bilingual naturalist guide. This unusual ecosystem, adapted to life in the inter-tidal zone, is one of the most important coastal habitats for wildlife, and for people. Mangroves provide safe haven, food, nesting, and nursery grounds for important marine species, and the shorebirds and other wildlife come to feed on them. Mangroves are the Earth´s natural filtering system, and are important actors in water purification. Just as importantly, mangroves stabilize the shoreline and serve as flood control and storm buffers, and of course mangroves provide both travelers and local communities the benefits associated with recreation and eco-tourism. Understanding the services provided by mangroves has fortunately resulted in an understanding in Costa Rica that mangroves are valuable as intact ecosystems, and should be protected. As you navigate the mangrove forest your guide will explain the outstanding features of this environment and help you spot local wildlife.

Day 8: DEPARTURE

Today you will fly back to San Jose and then transfer to the International Airport. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home. Pura Vida!

Included:  Lodging, transportation and meals as specified in the above itinerary where B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner, entrance fees to National Parks and Private Reserves, tours, guide services, applicable taxes, service fees and in-country ground operator support.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Trinidad-de-Dota

We are pleased to present a new program of rural home stays whereby visitors can get an authentic view of Costa Ricans and their ways of living, while also helping to support them as a part of our efforts to foster more sustainable tourism.   By staying in homes of local families, enjoying home-made meals, and even participating in daily activities (if they so desire), visitors will experience much of our culture. At present, we offer home stays in two regions, in La Trinidad de Dota and el Roble de Sarapiqui.

• Day 1:     Arrival in San Jose
• Day 2:     Trinidad de Dota homestay
• Day 3:     Volunteer work with host families
• Day 4:     Paraiso del Quetzal half day hike. Afternoon with host families
• Day 5:     To San Jose, or beach/volcano extension

Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER

Upon your arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica and after clearing customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal to your right where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel.

Hotel: ROOM STD GARDEN VIEW SGL AT BOUGAINVILLEA
Rooms: 1
Meals Incl: (1B)

Located in a quiet residential area a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Bougainvillea Hotel offers far more than just accommodations. The Bougainvillea is a family-owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel´s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in an attractive dining room. The Bougainvillea also offers a gift shop, meeting and conference facilities, internet, currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel´s most outstanding feature is it´s wonderful landscaping of beautiful gardens with tropical flowers, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which host some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds

Day 2: TRINIDAD DE DOTA HOMESTAY

La Trinida de Dota

This morning your travel host will meet you at your hotel and begin your tour of Costa Rica’s southern region.  Your destination will be the mountains of the Cerro de la Muerte range.

Your drive will be a scenic journey through mountains offering panoramic vistas of farms and forests

Today you will meet local families who will introduce you to their communities and way of life in this cool rural landscape.

Hotel: HOMESTAY TRINIDAD DE DOTA
Rooms: 1
Meals Incl: (3B, 3D)

Day 3: VOLUNTEER WORK WITH FAMILIES

In La Trinidad de Dota, visitors will enjoy the cool mountain air of a community located in mountains over5000 ft. in elevation about 25 miles south of the capital city of San José.  Many residents in this region have dairy farms, produce crops such as coffee, blackberries, apples, and even raise trout for local markets in small cold water ponds.  You may participate in harvesting some of these crops, help milk the cows, or be requested to go fishing for your lunch!   There will be plenty to see and do in this quiet Costa Rican rural community.

Day 4: PARAISO DEL QUETZAL TOUR (1L)

Quetzal

In the morning you will have the option of having a nature walk in the area.  On this tour you will see a variety of high elevation birds and have an excellent chance to observe the legendary Resplendent Quetzal, a bird worshipped as a deity by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, and which are relatively abundant in the area.  This region´s forests are dominated by massive oak trees that may be centuries old, and are often shrouded in clouds that create lush forests with low native bamboo plants among the understory vegetation, tree ferns, palms and more.  Among the many species of beautiful birds that abound here are several species of hummingbirds including the fiery-throated hummingbird endemic to the region.

In the afternoon, you will have free time to spend with your local family hosts.  They may show you around their community, offer you a sample of the local cuisine, or simply wish to visit with you and tell more about their culture and viceversa in this quiet and peaceful setting.

Day 5: TO SAN JOSE, OR BEACH/VOLCANO EXTENSION

With your driver and guide depart for a 2-3 hour drive to San Jose or continue on to an extension to a beach or other location.

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, and room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Costa Rica Sun Tours terms and conditions apply.
No refunds will be given for unused services as per our terms and conditions.

Any changes or cancellations made to these services while in Costa Rica are at the traveler’s expense.

Travel insurance, including trip cancellation insurance, is available and strongly recommended.

Sarapiqui

We are pleased to present a new program of rural home stays whereby visitors can get an authentic view of Costa Ricans and their ways of living, while also helping to support them as a part of our efforts to foster more sustainable tourism.   By staying in homes of local families, enjoying home-made meals, and even participating in daily activities (if they so desire), visitors will experience much of our culture. At present, we offer home stays in two regions, in La Trinidad de Dota and el Roble de Sarapiqui.

• Day 1:     Arrival in San Jose
• Day 2:     Sarapiqui homestay, el Roble
• Day 3:     Volunteer work with host families
• Day 4:     La Selva OTS half day hike. Afternoon with host families
• Day 5:     To San Jose, or beach/volcano extension

Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER

Upon your arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica and after clearing customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal to your right where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel.

Hotel: ROOM STD GARDEN VIEW SGL AT BOUGAINVILLEA
Rooms: 1
Meals Incl: (1B)

Located in a quiet residential area a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Bougainvillea Hotel offers far more than just accommodations. The Bougainvillea is a family-owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel´s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in an attractive dining room. The Bougainvillea also offers a gift shop, meeting and conference facilities, internet, currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel´s most outstanding feature is it´s wonderful landscaping of beautiful gardens with tropical flowers, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which host some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds.

Day 2: SARAPIQUI HOMESTAY, EL ROBLE

Home Stay Sarapiqui

Morning pick-up at your hotel for a scenic drive with your driver.  Your travels will take you through the mountains through the spectacular cloud and rainforest scenery of Braulio Carrillo National Park en route to the lowland community of El Roble de Sarapiquí.  This area is a region of tropical agriculture that produces bananas and pineapples on large plantations, beef cattle, and local crops such as plantains, papayas, and various root crops.  With some reserves of splendid rainforests (La Selva, Tirimbina) in the area and the Sarapiqui River, tourism featuring birdwatching, nature walks, white water rafting and kayaking, and riverboat tours are also integral parts of the regional economy. In Sarapiqui you will meet your local family(ies) who will be your hosts for the next two days.  They will introduce you to their way of life in this interesting region.

Hotel: HOMESTAY EL ROBLE SARAPIQUI
Rooms: 1
Meals Incl: (3B, 3D)

Day 3: VOLUNTEER WORK WITH HOST FAMILIES

Volunteer Work

On this day be prepared to lend a hand!  You may help do “chores” on a farm, do some handywork in the local community (painting the school, trimming up the local town park etc.) help prepare a meal with produce from the farm, “chat” with students in a local school who are trying to learn English,  or any number of country “chores”.  Here local residents raise black pepper, bananas, and pineapples, so you may be asked to help  harvest one of these crops.  As you experience the “hands-on” activity, you will share ideas and learn about your hosts’ way of life in Costa Rica.

Day 4: LA SELVA HALF DAY HIKE

Toucan

OTS La Selva ½ day private tour, including round – trip transportation, lunch and local guide. The Organization for Tropical Studies (O.T.S.) is a 1560-hectare research station and biological reserve.  There are more than 450 species of trees, 400 species of birds (over half the species that reside in Costa Rica), 113 species of mammals, 81 species of reptiles, & 48 species of amphibians that have been identified here.  Here the wildlife is accustomed to the benign presence of researchers and visitors and tranquilly “go about their business” and are easy to observe.

In the afternoon you will spend more time with your host families.  You may enjoy a walk through their community, visit with family and friends, watch a local soccer game, or enjoy some other activity they may have prepared especially for you.  This is a unique opportunity for you learn more about true Costa Rican culture and residents´ life in this small rural community and to share time with your hosts and likely, new friends.

Day 5: TO SAN JOSE,  OR OTHER DESTINATION

Return transfer to San Jose or continue your vacation with a transfer to another destination

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, and room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Costa Rica Sun Tours terms and conditions apply.
No refunds will be given for unused services as per our terms and conditions.
Any changes or cancellations made to these services while in Costa Rica are at the traveler’s expense.

Travel insurance, including trip cancellation insurance, is available and strongly recommended.

Alex Arias

Alex is a passionate outdoorsman and has led nature tours for nearly 17 years all over Costa Rica.

His specialty is leading adventure tours: mountain biking,hiking, kayaking, fishing, canyoning and rappelling. He has competed with adventure teams in Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama, and has led friends up to the peak of Chirripo-the highest peak in Costa Rica-several times.

Families with children love him for his enthusiasm and caring personality!

We are proud to have such an active and passionate tour leader on our team!

Chocuaco

The Caño Negro and the Rio Frio are some of the most biologically diverse wetland areas in Costa Rica and some of the richest wildlife viewing and birding sites on this continent. Explore the refuge by canoe, and paddle our canoes down the Rio Frio or Rio Los Patos. The tour starts at 6:00 am with a two hour drive to just inside the national refuge, from where you paddle. Late afternoon return to your hotel.

Sustainable Tourism

We are once again proud to announce that we have been certified with 4 leaves by the ICT and the Sustainable Tourism Committee, revalidating the same category we had obtained 3 years ago when we were one of the first seven Tour Operators to be certified.

As the certification program has grown and more Operators have gone through the process, the standards are continuously raised, which gives even greater value to the high marks obtained.

We will continue to put our best effort forward towards operating and teaching our guests about sustainable travel practices.

Outriggers Jaco

Kayak and snorkeling tour at Pacific Ocean waters, after a short briefing and safety talk you are ready to paddle.  The ocean is calm and non-threatening at Playa Agujas, where you paddle 30 to 40 minutes along spectacular cliffs filled with pelicans and frigate birds to one of the beaches.  The quality of the snorkeling, like the weather, is a variable of the tour that we have no control over.  But you will be in the best location for snorkeling on the Central Pacific Coast. Trip includes, allequipment necessary, a fresh fruit buffet served on the beach, bottled water during the trip, and natural refreshment

Leo Chaves - Naturalist tour leader

One of the best and most knowledgeable tour leaders in Costa Rica, Leo has spent nearly 10 years giving training courses for tour leaders at the national level.

With nearly 20 years of experience as a naturalist tour leader, Leo’s knowledge encompasses the broad field of natural history with birds being his favorite subject. Over the years he has written a number of short articles about Costan Rican Birds that have been published in ornithological journals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Costa Rica.

This amiable and highly-respected travel leader enjoys giving nature tours to student groups, family tours, and naturalist groups. His nature travels outside Costa Rica have led him through several national parks in the United States, to the Andes and the Amazon in Ecuador, Panama, and to watch polar bears in Churchill, Canada.

An excellent teacher, Leo’s expertise in natural history combined with his modest personality, gentle sense of humor and passion for the natural environment make him the perfect choice for travelers who are birders and/or interested in learning about the many fascinating wonders of Costa Rica’s great outdoors.

Marco Fallas

Marco’s friends call him “Tex”, and he is full of energy and has a contagious sense of humor.

With over 20 years of experience in the tourism field in Costa Rica, Marco knows his home country well. Combined with his vast experience in the field, Marco continues to study about Costa Rica and in the off-season he has taken many courses including studies in ornithology, ecology, history etc., and recently nature photography.

His travels in the United States include the Grand Tetons, Minnesota, Sedona, and Michigan, and this has helped him to better understand temperate climate ecology and the USA culture.

With his ready laugh and caring manner, it is no wonder Marco is one of our most popular tour leaders!

O.T.S. La selva Sarapiqui

O.T.S. La Selva   Day Tour. Guided tour of the Organization for Tropical Studies field station La Selva. La Selva is an internationally recognized center for tropical rainforest research and education. Scientists, students, and natural history visitors from around the world come to discover, learn, and experience the extraordinary richness of its dynamic forest. With a strong base in systematic biology and evolutionary ecology, research at La Selva has diversified to include ecosystem level studies, bio diversity inventories, global change research, soil science, and applied forestry. Within the Station one can find over half of all the bird species native to the country, sloth, howler monkeys, butterflies, amphibians and reptiles

Contact us, for this or any other customized Costa Rican nature vacation!

Black Guan

At the end of the day of out modules to monteverde,  enjoy an amazing and unforgettable night hike, during the tour you can see birds, tarantulas, gray foxes, snakes, insects, amphibians and many species that appear during the night because most of these species are nocturnal, providing a unique and different experience. Guides will explain about the darkness of the cloudforest, rainforest and the creatures that live there. you can enjoy this adventures on any of our Daily Departures Modules

Arenal Observatory Lodge

Receive a greeting from one of our hotels in Arenal and La Fortuna area, the Arenal Observatory Lodge. They are proud to inform you that consistent with its operation responsible for the nature environment, is now a new partner of the Costa Rican Network of Natural Reserves whose objectives are the preservation, search and enjoy incentives for those who protect natural features present on their property, promotion of knowledge and social impact. Arenal Observatory Lodge is one of the best places in Costa Rica for birding with more than 400 species recorded. Near the lodge all kinds of adventure tours are available, like rafting, kayaking, biking, canyoning, hiking, caving and more!

Here at Costa Rica Sun Tours we like to give support to green partners, Costa Ricans that practice sustainable tourism and protect our natural and cultural resources. Many of our custom and classic trips like Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve will visit responsible hotels like Arenal Observatory Lodge!

Green Iguana

The Green Iguana or Common Iguana (Iguana iguana) is a large, arboreal hervivorous species  of the  genus Iguana to Central and South America and of course Costa Rica. It grows to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 pounds (9.1 kg). To find them join any of our  daily departures itineraries

Arenal

Highlights of this tour include a visit to a spectacular waterfall in the heart of the jungle; lunch on a farm with local residents who grow organic tropical crops;  a walk to a 50 foot-tall massive lava flow that crushed its way through the forest in 1992; spectacular views of Arenal, a steaming live volcano that rises out of the rainforest; a hike along trails and amidst the treetops in a beautiful rainforest on suspension bridges; an evening visit to relax in thermal springs naturally heated by Arenal volcano; a “Polynesian-style” outrigger canoe guided tour along the scenic Pacific coast; hikes, swimming and relaxing at the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park; an exciting “zipline” treetop canopy tour; and an island excursion by catamaran.

• Day 1:     San Jose, arrival to Hotel Bouganvillea.
• Day 2:     Arenal. Fortuna waterfalls & organic farm lunch.
• Day 3:     Arenal National Park lava walk & rainforest  hanging bridges. Thermal springs.
• Day 4:     Manuel Antonio. Outriggers at Agujitas Beach.
• Day 5:     Manuel Antonio National Park hike  & Titi canopy tour.
• Day 6:     Manuel Antonio. Catamaran Island Tour.
• Day 7:     Depart. Drive back to International Airport or your hotel in San Jose.

Day 1:  ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose.

Hotel:  Bougainvillea
Meals Incl:     1B

Located in a quiet residential area just a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Hotel Bougainvillea offers far more than just accommodations.  The Bougainvillea is a family owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel’s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in a wonderful dining room with views of tropical plants in the hotel’s12 acres of gardens. The Bougainvillea also offers guests a gift shop, meeting & conference facilities, internet and currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel’s most outstanding feature are the beautiful gardens of bougainvilleas, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which are hosts to some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, motmots, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds.

Day 2: TRANSFER TO ARENAL, LA FORTUNA WATERFALLS  & ORGANIC FARM LUNCH (BLD)

La Fortuna Waterfall

Morning pick-up at your hotel by your private naturalist guide with air-conditioned van for 5 days for a scenic drive to Arenal.  Upon arrival visit La Fortuna Waterfall, entrance fee included. Located just 3 miles away from the town of La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano, this beautiful 200 foot-tall waterfall receives its cool clear waters from the pristine forested mountains of Arenal National Park. The steep trail to the waterfall goes down through dense, lush rain forest where one has the opportunity to see parrots, toucans and tropical hummingbirds.  In addition to seeing a majestic waterfall in a beautiful setting, visitors to the falls are helping the local community.  The fees collected are used for important community projects such as supporting area schools, buying books, and helping cover some of the expenses for the town orphanage.  Additionally funds are used for recycling projects, maintenance of the community water supply, improvement of the local roads and sidewalks and construction of an educational center.

Afterwards, visit Vida Campesina (Country Life). This tour lets you experience life in the Costa Rican countryside with a farming family that grow typical crops and are practicing newer sustainable agricultural techniques.  A few miles from Arenal Volcano among the vast rich farmlands outside the town center of La Fortuna, Erasmo Gonzales operates his organic farm with his four children Greivin, José, Andrea & Noyleen.The tour begins with a demonstration of sugarcane juice production using a manually-operated sugar mill.  The tour continues on into the cultivated sections of the farm where visitors will see and learn about common Costa Rican crops such as coffee, bananas, plantains, sugar cane, red taro, white taro, medicinal plants, ñampi, tropical fruits, yuca, Chinese “potato”, papaya, corn, rice, ñame, annatto, and more.   Also on the farm are various animals including cattle, chickens, sheep, and rabbits, whose organic waste is converted to biogas and an organic foliar fertilizer.  At the end of the farm tour, you will enjoy a traditional lunch with freshly harvested vegetables, lunch includes a hands-on demonstration on tortilla making!

Arenal Volcano is located on the north plains of Costa Rica, province of Alajuela. Besides the activity of  lava rocks and occasional eruptions for the last 40 years, the area is surrounded by lush rainforest and second growth that cover the old lava flows and river sides. There is abundant wildlife in the area, and many bird species like toucans, toucans, motmots, jacamars, tanagers, honeycreepers and hummingbirds. While Arenal Volcano continues to be the main attraction in this region, in recent years many optional activities have been developed which visitors can enjoy during their visit. Recommended activities in Arenal: canopies and hanging bridges, rafting class II & III, canyoning, birding, caving, sport  fishing, nature hikes, lava hikes, horseback riding, waterfalls, butterfly gardens, thermal springs, organic farms and more.

Hotel:  Arenal Observatory Lodge
Meals Incl: 2B.1D

Arenal Volcano

The modern Arenal Observatory Lodge offers guests spacious rooms with picture windows that enable them to admire the impressive and unequalled vision of an active steaming volcano rising out of the wilderness forest looming large in front.  The forests surrounding the Observatory are now protected in Arenal Volcano National Park and teem with tropical wildlife.  The Observatory offers guests a restaurant, Jaccuzi, swimming pool, excellent birding on its own grounds, and daily guided hikes into the forests of the national park and onto a lava flow from 1992.

Day 3: LAVA WALK, HANGING BRIDGES & THERMAL SPRINGS (BLD)

Arenal Hanging Bridges

Optional early morning birdwatching at the lodge gardens.  This morning with your guide, you will hike a trail to the Arenal Volcano  1992’s lava flows to further explore the area. On your hike you will have an opportunity to see a variety of rainforest wildlife and view the volcano from a safe vantage point while your guide explains its fascinating history. After the tour enjoy a delicious lunch in the area.

Afternoon visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges, entrance fee included.  This is a complex of suspended bridges and trails through a beautiful rain forest. As you walk through, you may encounter a variety of the wildlife, including toucans, motmots, trogons, poison dart frogs, howling monkeys, spider monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys. These allow the observation of flora and fauna from the ground level to the top of the trees.  This is one of the best methods of learning about the complexity and beauty of the rainforests of Arenal.

Late afternoon, visit the Ecotermales Hot Springs, entrance fee included.  There are four hot spring pools to relax in, filled with hot mineral water heated from the volcano.  Receive a natural massage from the small cascade! Traditional dinner included.

Day 4: TRANSFER TO MANUEL ANTONIO,  OUTRIGGERS AT AGUJITAS BEACH (BL)

Outriggers

Optional early morning birdwatching. Morning depart from Arenal and drive to Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. Stop enroute at the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles to view the crocodiles basking on the river shore.  Enjoy lunch in Tarcoles Beach at the home of a Costa Rican family.

Later enjoy the famous Outrigger Canoe Tour along the Pacific Coast. Outrigger canoes use lateral support floats to increase stability while maintaining most of the streamlined efficiency of a narrow craft.  These vessels have been used by people of Polynesian cultures for sea travel for untold centuries both within coastal waters and to migrate to remote islands far out in open oceans.  Visitors with a sense of adventure can get a taste of travel by outrigger by stopping in at Agujitas Beach and participating in a ½ day guided outrigger canoe tour.  This tour runs alongside the coast with spectacular scenery and also offers visitors an opportunity to swim (and snorkel when conditions permit) in waters off beautiful secluded beaches.   The equipment is top notch and the canoe is incredibly stable, comfortable and easy to paddle offering visitors a fun “no experience necessary” activity while visiting the beach area.   The outrigger holds up to 7 paddlers and is perfect for small groups and families who want to share laughs and adventure together!

After the tour continue on to Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio is a community which is composed largely of hotels, separated by trees on a hill overlooking beaches and the coastal Manuel Antonio National Park with rainforest growing to the edge of its beautiful cream colored sandy beaches.  The forest is home to a variety of wildlife that are accustomed to people and readily seen including sloths, monkeys, armadillos, scarlet-legged land crabs, iguanas, agoutis, pizotes, raccoons, parrots, and parakeets.  The ocean water temperature is always near a comfortable 80º F and great for swimming and other water sports.  The region offers numerous other activities such as boating, river rafting, fishing, snorkeling, diving, canopy tours and more.  With a large number of excellent hotels and restaurants in the area outside the Park, visitors are assured a comfortable stay and a diverse offering of local and international cuisine.

Hotel:  El Parador
Meals Incl: 3B

Manuel Antonio

Hotel El Parador is located in one of the the most pristine areas of Manuel Antonio National Park, atop a majestic bluff and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by 400 acres of lush tropical rainforest.  All rooms have balconies with views of either the rainforest or the ocean. All are tastefully decorated and include many luxurious extras such as  cable TV, air conditioning, mini-bar, coffee maker, telephone, safety deposit box, ceiling fans and hair dryers.  The hotel’s facilities include 2 restaurants, bars, conference room, gift shop, spa services, tennis court, tropical gardens, an infinity pool, expansive views and excellent service.

Day 5: MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK HIKE & TITI CANOPY TOUR (BL)

squirrel monkeys

Today you will take a hike with your naturalist guide through the Manuel Antonio park’s forest,entrance fee included.  Visitors frequently have up-close views of white-faced capuchin and squirrel monkeys, sluggish sloths, racoons, agoutis, colorful black & scarlet land crabs, and black iguanas. Some birds possible to see in the park are Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Golden-naped Woodpecker, White Hawk, King Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Orange-collared Manakin, Chesnut-backed Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Fiery-billed Aracari, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan. After hiking you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the park.

After lunch in a local place you will drive to the famous Titi Canopy Tour. During your two hour journey, you will zip thru 16 platforms high above the jungle floor with dramatic views of the valley. A series of 12 zip line cables reaching up to 450 meters (1,475 ft) take guests throughout the unspoiled rainforest canopy on an exclusive tour. After the tour your guide return to San Jose.

Day 6: CATAMARAN  ISLAND TOUR (BL)

This morning enjoy the Catamaran  Island Tour Board the boat where you will marvel at the mysterious islands with their jagged rock formation, towering cliffs and nesting grounds with numerous species of marine birds and their young. Listen to the blowholes; whistle with each surge of the waves. Count the varies types of dolphins, and whales that frolic just beyond the islands, and learn interesting facts about Manuel Antonio National Park and some history of the Quepoa Indians. Witness unforgettable offshore sunsets, taking a moment to relax and enjoy another beautiful day in paradise. Lunch included. Free afternoon.

Day 7: DEPARTURE (B)

Pick-up at your hotel for a transfer from Manuel Antonio Beach to San Jose’s International Airport on time for your departure flight. Check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight home.

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, bilingual naturalist licensed guide services, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Hotel Bougainvillea

Welcome to Costa Rica!  Let us be your first hosts to the many wonderful vacation opportunities Costa Rica has to offer. One of our staff will pick you up at the airport, bring you to your hotel and inform you about your upcoming travels in the country. The next morning you will begin with a day trip to a destination of your choosing: a visit to Poas Volcano to look into its steaming crater and the beautiful La Paz waterfalls and gardens, a class III-IV rafting trip on the scenic Pacuare River, etc. The following day, you will continue on with your own adventures.

• Day 1:    Arrival San Jose. Welcome briefing. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 2:    Adventure day, full day tour. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 3:    Free day at leisure. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 4:    Continue on with your own adventures.

Day 1: ARRIVAL

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose.

Hotel: Bougainvillea
Meals Incl: 2B

Hotel Bougainvillea

Located in a quiet residential area just a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Hotel Bougainvillea offers far more than just accommodations.  The Bougainvillea is a family owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel’s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in a wonderful dining room with views of tropical plants in the hotel’s 12 acres of gardens. The Bougainvillea also offers guests a gift shop, meeting & conference facilities, internet and currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel’s most outstanding feature are the beautiful gardens of bougainvilleas, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which are hosts to some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, motmots, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds.

Day 2: ADVENTURE DAY

Today enjoy a day trip to choose from: White Water Rafting, Nature Hikes, Coffee Lover’s Tour and many more.

Day 3: FREE DAY AT LEISURE

Free day in the area. Optional activities and tours available through the Hotel’s front desk.

Day Ttrips

Day 4: DEPARTURE

Say goodbye to Bougainvillea Hotel.

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, bilingual naturalist licensed guide services, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes. Consulting with a professional country specialist, about routes, activities.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Honeymoon in Costa Rica

Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon your arrival at the international airport one of our representatives will meet you and bring you to your San José area hotel. The following day your tropical honeymoon vacation will start with a visit to Poas Volcano.  This 9000 ft. volcanic mountain’s peak has a main crater that vents superheated steam and sulfur. Nearby, after passing through a dense forest of gnarled trees, you can admire the tranquil beauty of an extinct crater lake surrounded by verdant forests.  Bring a sweater or jacket, for it is often cool here! Following your tour at the volcano, you will then travel to the La Paz Waterfalls and Gardens where you will enjoy a delicious lunch and tour of the gardens, waterfalls and numerous other attractions such as the butterfly flyway and hummingbird garden before returning to your hotel.  The next day you will be transferred to the local airport for your flight to the beautiful pacific coast beach town of Tamarindo where you will stay for four days.  Located on Costa Rica’s famed Guanacaste coast, this area is known for its abundant sunshine, summer weather year-round, and warm water.  You can choose to simply swim and relax on the long, cream-colored sandy beach that wraps around the wide bay, or choose to participate in various activities available in the area including snorkeling, taking a boat tour through a nearby mangrove forest, go surfing, enjoy a canopy tour or take a day trip to one of the region’s national parks.

• Day 1:      Arrival San Jose. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 2:      Poas Volcanoe and La Paz waterfalls day trip
• Day 3:      Flight to Tamarindo Beach. Hotel Capitan Suizo
• Day 4-6:  Free time at the beach
• Day 7:      Departure transfer to Liberia International

Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose.

Hotel: Bougainvillea
Meals Incl: 2B

bougainvilea hotel

Located in a quiet residential area just a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Hotel Bougainvillea offers far more than just accommodations.  The Bougainvillea is a family owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel’s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in a wonderful dining room with views of tropical plants in the hotel’s 12 acres of gardens. The Bougainvillea also offers guests a gift shop, meeting & conference facilities, internet and currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel’s most outstanding feature are the beautiful gardens of bougainvilleas, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which are hosts to some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, motmots, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds.

Day 2: TOUR POAS VOLCANOE & LA PAZ WATERFALLS (BL)

Poas Volcano

Morning drive up to Poas Volcano, visit Doka Coffee Estate for a delicious breakfast and a coffee tour, learn about the ancient techniques used by the experts to produce one of the best coffees in Costa Rica. After the coffee tour continue to Poas Volcano where we will the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles, also learn about the different ecosystems in this beautiful park. Following the visit continue to La Paz Water Fall Garden for lunch and tour. On arrival to the La Paz, walk through a trail, leading to a spectacular waterfall in the rainforest. Inside the park we will also visit the hummingbird gallery, serpentarium, the bird house, the butterfly garden and the frogs exhibit.

Day 3: TAMARINDO BEACH  (B)

Sun Set

Pick up at your hotel for your transfer to the domestic airport in San Jose, for a domestic flight from San Jose to Tamarindo (50 min). Domestic airlines in Costa Rica permit a maximum of 35 lbs. per person for checked in baggage and a small handbag for the cabin, the aircrafts do not have any overhead baggage compartments. Any baggage over 35 lbs. will be charged (they are still not guaranteed space on the aircraft) at a rate of 1.00 us per pound. For passengers exceeding their baggage allowance, please allow extra time at the airport to pay the excess.    Sporting equipment t, such as surfboards, are subject to space and are charged at an extra fee of $15 per flight.

Again, no luggage regardless of weight is guaranteed transfer on the same flight as the ticketed passenger.

Hotel: Capitan Suizo
Meals Incl: 4B

Hotel Capitan-Suizo

Capitan Suizo is located directly on the beach in a privileged area 1 km outside of Tamarindo town and at the end of the bay; it is surrounded by lush tropical gardens.  It is an ideal place for relaxation that carries a tropical ambience and lies amongst a lush garden. With a discreet elegance and a touch of Swiss quality that blends with an informal and joyful atmosphere, Capitan Suizo is an oasis where it is implicit that nature and animals are integrated with love and respect. The hotel offers an open-air restaurant, free-form pool, bar, Jacuzzi, massages, table tennis and beach volleyball. Capitan Suizo is an environmentally conscious and future oriented beach Hotel.

Day 4-6 FREE DAYS AT THE BEACH (B)

Tamarindo

Free days for optional activities, snorkeling, surfing, sailing sunset tours, sea kayak an many others

Day 7: PRIVATE TAMARINDO-APO LIBERIA (B)

Pick-up at your hotel for a departure transfer to Liberia International Airport (approximately a 1 hour & 15 minute drive). Check-in 3 hours before your scheduled departure flight.

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, bilingual naturalist licensed guide services, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Yelow-tailed Oriole

Due to its tremendous variety of habitats (most are within a four hour drive from its capital city of San José), Costa Rica offers birdwatchers some of the best birding anywhere.  Over 800 resident and migrant bird species can be found within this tiny tropical nation’s rainforests, dry forests, high mountain peak paramo habitats, cloud forests, mangroves, freshwater marshes, and coastal and marine environments on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. This tour will bring you to some of the best birding locations in the country!  You’ll visit lush eastern lowland rainforests, the rich western transition zone of Carara National Park, and upper elevation habitats of the southern mountains.

• Day 1:     Arrival San Jose. Welcome briefing. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 2:     Birding Bouganvillea Gardens. Mid-morning depart to Braulio Carrillo                NP. Tirimbina Lodge
• Day 3:     Visit La Selva Rain Forest. After lunch Tirimbina Reserve hanging                bridges
• Day 4:     Depart to Carara National Park. Cerro Lodge.
• Day 5:     Carara National Park full day. Cerro Lodge
• Day 6:     Depart to Cerro/Quetzales National Park.  Savegre Lodge
• Day 7:     Savegre Gardens & Oak forest
• Day 8:    Tour at Quetzal Paradise. Hotel Bougainvillea
• Day 9:    Transfer out to the International Airport.

Day 1: ARRIVAL &  ORIENTATION BRIEFING (D)

Hotel bougainvilea

Upon your arrival in San José, Costa Rica and after you clear customs & immigration, exit the airport terminal, take the right hand side exit door, where you will meet a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours who will present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel in San Jose.

Join your guide for an orientation briefing where you will have the opportunity to get an overview of the following days activities, ask questions to prepare for the trip.

Hotel: Bougainvillea
Meals Incl:  1B, 1D

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Located in a quiet residential area just a few minutes outside downtown San Jose, the Hotel Bougainvillea offers far more than just accommodations.  The Bougainvillea is a family owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms where every detail is personally supervised by owner Hans van der Wielen. The hotel’s restaurant offers excellent cuisine in a wonderful dining room with views of tropical plants in the hotel’s 12 acres of gardens. The Bougainvillea also offers guests a gift shop, meeting & conference facilities, internet and currency exchange, a swimming pool, sauna and tennis courts.  Perhaps the hotel’s most outstanding feature are the beautiful gardens of bougainvilleas, orchids, bromeliads, medicinal plants and trees which are hosts to some 60 species of birds including hummingbirds, motmots, colorful tanagers and numerous songbirds.

Day 2: BIRDING BOUGANVILLEA GARDENS. DEPART TO BRAULIO CARRILLO (BLD)

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Braulio Carrillo National Park is located only 20 kms north of San Jose. It is an amazing terrain of rugged mountains, rushing rivers, dormant volcanoes and deep canyons in cloud and rainforests. The bird life consists of over 400 species, which include the King Vulture, Great Curassow, Lattice-tailed Trogon, Lanceolated Monklet.  Among hummingbirds: Green Thorntail, Green Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Purple-crowned Fairy, Black-crested Coquette.

Hotel: La Tirimbina Lodge
Meals Incl: 2B, 2D

White-winged Dove

Tirimbina is an educational, scientific and ecotourism destination, situated between the forests and rivers of the northern region of Costa Rica on Sarapiqui. Tirimbina offers education programs for primary schools, high schools and university students, as well as facilities for study groups, volunteers and researchers, highlighting the biodiversity and conservation of the rainforest. The Lodge, which is situated next to the Sarapiquí River and is surrounded by lush gardens, offers three sectors with accommodation so you may choose which one best satisfies your needs according to the purpose of your visit. Other services: wireless internet, library, conference room, restaurant, souvenir shop and laundry service.

Day 3: VISIT LA SELVA RAIN FOREST. AFTER LUNCH TIRIMBINA HANGING BRIDGES  (BLD)

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo

Morning private tour at OTS famous rainforest station. La Selva is a 1560-hectare research station and biological reserve.  In this reserve more than 450 species of birds have been identified. Among them: King Vulture, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Barred hawk, Bat Falcon, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Snowy Cotinga, Spectacled Owl, Great Tinamu, Chesnut-colored Woodpecker, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Amazon Kingfisher, Broad-billed Motmot, White-whiskered Puffbird, Chesnut-backed Antbird, Spotted Antbird, Long-tailed Tyrant, Stripe-breasted Wren, Shinning Honeycreeper, Golden-hooded Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Passerini´s Tanager, Crimson-collared Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Orange-billed Sparrow, Montezuma Oropendola, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari. Other animals that may be seen in their natural habitat are: Howler, White-faced Capuchin and Spider monkeys, Three-toed Sloth and Two-toed Sloth, Collared Peccaries, White-nosed Coati, Agouti and Tamandua Anteater.

Later we explore and view the richness of treetop flora and fauna at the Tirimbina Biological Reserve suspended canopy walkways.

Day 4: DEPART TO CARARA  (BLD)

Golden-bellied Flycatcher

Today in the morning we travel to the Pacific coast, a very different environment is waiting for us! Driving on the way to Carara, we will look for raptors, and other open country birds.

Hotel: Cerro Lodge
Meals Incl: 2B, 2D

Cerro Lodge is an environmentally friendly project located on a farm in Tarcoles (central pacific) just 10 minutes from Carara National Park. The lodge is in the middle of one of the most important refuges for the Scarlet Macaw; these spectacular birds are often seen as they fly through the valley at Cerro Lodge.

Day 5: CARARA NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY (BLD)

Boat-billed Heron

This afternoon enjoy a hike through Carara National Park.  Carara has a transitional climate and contains flora and fauna from both the hot dry northwest, and the rainy region of the southwest.  Carara habitats includes marshes, primary and secondary forests, and is home to a rich bird life. Possible to see: Great Tinamou, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Great Curassow, Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibis, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Wood stork, King Vulture, Osprey, Zone-tailed hawk, Crested Caracara, White Hawk, Roadside Hawk,Laughing Falcon, Ringed Kingfisher, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Scarlet Macaw, Blue-headed Parrot, Costa Rican Swift, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Green-breasted Mango, Baird´s Trogon, Violaceous Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Green Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, American Pygmy Kingfisher, White-whiskered Puffbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Fiery-billed Aracari, Chesnut-mandibled Toucan, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Northern-barred Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Chesnut-backed Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Streak-chested Antpitta, Royal Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Golden-crowned Spadebill, Rufous Piha, Turquoise Cotinga, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Orange-collared Manakin, Red-capped Manakin, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Rufous-naped Wren, Riverside Wren, Rufous-breasted Wren, Buff-rumped Warbler, Cherrie´s Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Shinnig Honeycreeper, Orange-billed Sparrow, Thick-billed Euphonia, Yellow-crowned Euphonia.

Day 6: TRANSFER TO CERRO/LOS QUETZALES NATIONAL PARK (BLD)

Resplendent Quetzal

Today you will drive to the upper Savegre watershed where cloud forests are dominant. These mountain forests are frequently covered by fog from low clouds and harbor unique assemblages of flora and fauna.  In these cool, moist habitats large trees are often covered by dense growths of mosses, bromeliads, ferns and orchids.

At the hotel grounds your guide will show you the many plants and colorful mountain flowers that attract hummingbirds at this elevation.  The variety of hummingbirds here is impressive! The area species include: White-throated Mountain-gem, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green Violet Ear, Volcano Hummingbird, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird and Scintillant Hummingbird.

Hotel: Savegre lodge
Meals Incl: 2B, 1L, 2D

Savegre Mountain Hotel is located in San Gerardo de Dota, a small community in Costa Ricas southern Talamanca mountains in the midst of a deep cloud forest filled with massive oaks and other native species, also known as one of the best places in the country to observe quetzals, which live here almost all year round. Each room is equipped with heating systems or fireplace, private bath with hot water & comfortable beds.  The family of community founder Don Efraín Chacón were the first to settle in this valley in 1954 and not only have developed this wonderful hotel, but have taken advantage of the crisp weather to grow apples, plums, and peaches, which when in season are part of the menu at  the hotels restaurant.

Day 7: LOS QUETZALES NATIONAL PARK FULL DAY (BLD)

Purple-throated Mountain-gem

Today in the morning you will be driven 20 min to “The Towers”, the entrance to Los Quetzales National Park at 10’500 feet elevation.  Here you will explore the Paramo, or low “subalpine” vegetation above the tree line that is composed of small shrubs and grasses. Later during the day you will descend into oak forests dominated by huge trees with branches covered by thick moss and other epiphytes.

Here some birds possible to find are: Red-tailed Hawk, Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Band-tailed Pigeon, Sulfur-winged Parakeet, Black Guan, Collared Trogon, Hairy Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker, Silvery Throated Jay, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Mountain Elaenia, Dark Pewee, Black-capped Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Ruddy Treerunner, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Mountain Robin, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Mountain Robin, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, Collared Redstart, Black-cheeked Warbler, Wrenthrush, Timberline Wren, Flame-colored Tanager, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Yellow-thighed Finch, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Golden-browed Chlorophonia.

Declared a national park in July of 2005, Los Quetzales National Park has the distinction of being the most recent addition to Costa Ricas extensive park system. The park encompasses what was formerly the Los Santos Forest Reserve, stretching across12,355 acres, 3 types of rainforest, and 14 different ecosystems.

Day 8: EN ROUTE TO SJO STOP AT PARAISO DEL QUETZAL (BLD)

Green thorntail

This morning you will visit Paraiso del Quetzal, you will see a variety of high elevation birds in oak forests and have an excellent chance to observe the legendary Resplendent Quetzal, a bird worshipped as a deity by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, and which are relatively abundant in the area.

Later depart back to San Jose.

Hotel: Bougainvillea
Meals Incl: 1B,1D

Day 9: DEPARTURE TRANSFER

Pick-up at your hotel for a departure transfer for your International flight 3 hours before your scheduled flight time

Included: As specified in the above itinerary, arrival, lodging, transportation within Costa Rica, meals [B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner], specified entrance fees to National Parks & Private Reserves, bilingual naturalist licensed guide services, ground operator support within Costa Rica 24/7, and taxes.

Not Included: International airfare, airport departure taxes, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service), gratuities, or costs associated with changes in your itinerary for reasons beyond our control.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
Is a small owl that breeds in south-central Arizona in the USA, south through to Mexico, Central America and South America to Bolivia and Argentina. Trinidad, as well as other localities, have endemic subspecies of this owl. Recent genetics work has found substantial differences in Ferruginous Pygmy Owls from different regions, and members of the northern ridgwayi group are sometimes considered a separate species, the Ridgeway’s Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium ridgwayi).This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, the family that contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae. In the southern portion of its range, the Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is generally a common bird found in a wide range of semi-open wooded habitats.

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is small, typically 15 cm (6 in), and stocky with disproportionately large talons. The crown has elongated white/buff spots or streaks, the wing coverts have white spots, and the underparts are heavily streaked white. There are prominent white supercilia above the facial disc. There are two eye spots on the nape. Otherwise, its overall color is highly variable, ranging from grey-brown with a black-and-white barred tail to rich rufous with a uniform rufous tail. Sexes are similar with females slightly larger and often more reddish. The flight is low to the ground and rapid with long swoops. This species is crepuscular, but often hunts by day. It can be readily located by the small birds that mob it while it is perched in a tree (up to 40 birds of 11 species have been recorded mobbing one owl). It hunts a variety of birds, lizards, mammals, and insects.
Contact us For birding trips in  Costa Rica

Prothonotary Warbler

The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. It is the only member of the genus Protonotaria.
The Prothonotary Warbler is 13 cm long and weighs 12.5 g. It has an olive back with blue-grey wings and tail, yellow underparts, a relatively long pointed bill and black legs. The adult male has a bright orange-yellow head; females and immature birds are duller and have a yellow head. In flight from below, the short, wide tail has a distinctive two-toned pattern that is white at the base and dark at the tip

The preferred foraging habitat is dense, woody streams, where the Prothonotary Warbler forages actively in low foliage, mainly for Insects and snails.

The song of this bird is a simple, loud, ringing sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet. The call is a loud, dry chip, like that of a Hooded Warbler. Its flight call is a loud seeep.