Costa Rica Family Exploration
Central Pacific Coast – Monteverde - Arenal
9 Days / 8 Nights
Day 1
Upon your arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, a representative of Costa Rica Sun Tours will meet you at the airport, present you with land portion vouchers and transfer you to your hotel Day 1-2
1 nights accommodation in San Jose at Hotel Grano de Oro (standard room) or similar
Hotel Grano de Oro is a converted Victorian mansion and maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home while offering the amenities of a fine hotel. The restaurant at the hotel is one of San José's finest. It is located on a quiet street close to the city center, near restaurants, theaters and shops Day 2
Morning pick up at your hotel for a scenic drive to the majestic Poás Volcano National Park, entrance fees included. Poás Volcano is still an active volcano and its colorful crater is one of the widest and deepest in the world that is accessible by road. You can stand on the edge and look down into its cauldron. Walk a ˝ mile though a rarely encountered dwarf cloud forest to the second crater, Botos that is a rain-fed lake surrounded by highland jungle. After exploring the park continue on to your hotel on the Central Pacific Coast (L)
Days 2 - 4
2 nights accommodations in Jaco at Club del Mar (standard room) or similar
The Club Del Mar Hotel and Resort is nestled on a quite cove on the Pacific coast, surrounded by mature gardens at the south end of Jaco Beach. A tropical rainforest serves as a backdrop, and gentle waves tumble to a safe beach. The focus is water sports. Ninety meters of beach front provides safe swimming, canoeing, body surfing, and boogie boarding. Located just steps from the surf is a tropical swimming pool with a social area that is surrounded by Costa Rican flora and fauna, a lap pool and a separate area for children. Towering mature trees give shade, and a gentle ocean breeze ensures a perfect temperature for an afternoon nap Day 3
This morning visit the Pacific Aerial Tram. Board the tramcars for an aerial excursion. The cars glide on a breathtaking journey below, through and above the airy canopy of the rainforest. This afternoon enjoy a guided hike in the Carara National Park. The Carara Reserve has a transitional climate and contains flora and fauna from both the hot dry northwest, and the rainy region of the southwest. Carara's habitat includes marshes, primary and secondary forests, and is home to parrots, parakeets, toucan, trogons, Scarlet Macaws, and three species of monkeys (B) Day 4
This morning depart the Central Pacific Coast for your hotel in Monteverde, one of the most diverse and richest tropical cloud forests in the New World. This evening experience a Night walk in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, bring your flashlights and a raincoat for a guided walk to view the nocturnal life within the Reserve (B)
Days 4 – 6
2 nights accommodation in Monteverde at Hotel Fonda Vela (standard room) or similar
The Hotel Fonda Vela is an attractive eco-tourism lodge in a tranquil setting of 35 acres. All rooms were designed with natural lighting, privacy and warmth in mind. The hotel also has an elegant restaurant. Day 5
This morning visit the Selvatura Tree Top Walkways. Located along a 1.7 mile trail, this bridge system is designed to be walked by people of all ages. The bridge system has 8 suspension bridges, totaling a distance of 1,200 feet, and 90% of the trail goes through primary cloud forest. This is one of the best methods of learning about the complexity and beauty of the cloud forest. Afternoon enjoy a guided walk through the Monteverde Reserve. The Monteverde Reserve it is best known as home to the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal but has hundreds of other birds, mammals and plant species (B.D) Day 6
Morning pick up at your hotel for an overland transfer from Monteverde to Rio Chiquito on Lake Arenal.
Here you board the boat for the boat ride across Lake Arenal. From here you will be met and transferred to your Arenal hotel. Please be aware that strong winds or heavy rains can make for a rough, bumpy, & wet boat ride. The lake crossing takes 2-3 hours less than driving all the way around Lake Arenal (B.D) Days 6 – 8
2 nights accommodation in Arenal at the Arenal Observatory Lodge (volcano view room) or similar
The Arenal Observatory Lodge is located inside the Arenal National Park across a gorge from the volcano and surrounded by lush rainforest. The lodge offers comfortable rooms, good restaurant, pool and Jacuzzi, and a guided hike each morning Day 7
Morning guided hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park, for a close-up exploration of recent lava flows that left a 50 ft deep path of lava thru the rainforest. This afternoon enjoy a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall. Hike down a 500 meter trail, through lush forest to the base of this spectacular waterfall and swimming hole. Here you’ll find huge rocks where you can swim and relax before hiking back up (B.D) Day 8
Morning pick-up at your hotel for an overland transfer from Arenal to your hotel near San José, stopping en route at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, entrance fees & lunch included. At La Paz you will have an opportunity to see magnificent waterfalls from viewing platforms, and a Butterfly Observatory. Enjoy lunch on the terrace dinning room, before you continue on to your hotel near San Jose (B.L) Days 8 – 9
1 nights accommodation in Santo Domingo at Hotel Bougainvillea (standard room) or similar
The Hotel Bougainvillea is a family owned and operated inn with 80 tastefully decorated rooms set in 12 acres of beautiful gardens. The restaurant offers continental cuisine in a wonderful dining room. Guests can stroll in the gardens, swim in the heated pool, enjoy a sauna or use the tennis courts
Day 9
Pick-up at your hotel for a departure transfer to the International Airport in San Jose to check in 3 hours before your scheduled flight time Meal Codes (B)=Breakfast (L)=Lunch (D)=Dinner |
