Costa Rica Culture Meets Nature

Itinerary

Day 1 San Jose

Arrival and transfer to your hotel in San Jose.If you arrive early enough, you'll have time to head into the city to visit a museum, shop or people-watch in the main plaza. As it is located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate. The heat and humidity of the coast and lowland areas may affect you , with a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm, it is simply a reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water (cold bottled water is available everywhere) and do not attempt too much in any given day. We prefer fan-cooled rather than air conditioned rooms to avoid having to acclimatize to the heat and humidity every time you go outside. Like most cities, San José has its good and bad sides. It is the centre of government, theatre, and art, as well as of air pollution and congestion. It has beautiful parks and museums, and a few beggars on the streets. It is big and often noisy, but even from its crowded downtown streets, you’ll often enjoy a view of the surrounding lush mountains. Probably the hardest thing you will do in San José, other than get safely across busy streets, is keep the street numbering systems straight. Street and avenue numbers are posted on buildings at the corners of some intersections. Keep looking as you walk, and you will eventually find one. The plaza is a good place to people-watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere. A source of pride for the Ticos (Costa Ricans) is the National Theatre. Inaugurated in 1897, the building was paid for by coffee growers through a voluntary tax on every bag of coffee exported. The National Museum, housed in the Bellavista Fortress, offers exhibits on pre-Columbian art, colonial art and furniture and religious art within a 19th century building that was converted from a military fortress after the army was abolished. The Museum of Costa Rican Art, located in La Sabana Park used to be the international airport and this museum is in the old terminal building. The Jade Museum is on the 11th floor of the Instituto Nacional de Seguros building. In addition to the marvellous collection of jade objects, there are pre-Columbian ceramic and stone works as well as displays with archaeological and ethnographic information. The Gold Museum is located underneath the Plaza de la Cultura. Its spectacular collection of indigenous gold art belongs to the Central Bank of Costa Rica. The best and least expensive places to buy souvenirs in San José are the markets. The two main ones are the ones in Plaza de la Cultura, which is an outdoor open market, and the Central Market, where handicrafts are sold along with boots, fish, flour, herbal remedies, shirts and everything else you can imagine. Always watch your belongings and be ready for crowds. If you plan on spending a few days in San José prior to or after your tour, there are a number of activities within the city and area that you can participate in, many of them outdoors.

Day 2 Turrialba

Today you'll be picked up for your first tour to learn about the country's most famous crops: coffee and sugar.Cultural Tour at Tayutic Hacienda Experience - This tour focuses on the traditional Costarican roots: Expore the origin and history of coffee, visitors then observe coffee-picking at a coffee farm as well as the drying and hulling processes, finally enjoy yhe rich aroma of toasting. Also this tour provides the opportunity to vividly experience each step in the organic brownsugar process- one of the countrys oldest traditions,savoring juicy sugar-cane stickand its juice, picking at the tapa de Dulce fabrication process. After lunch continuing the journey through the Costa Rica of yesterday, you will visit the lovely colonial log house, where our forebearers lived and conducked their daily business. A visit to a beautiful ,small 19th century church painstakingly reconstructed. This is an unforgettable educational excursion.

Day 3 Puerto Viejo de Limon

This morning we transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limon on the Caribbean Coast. Relax on the Caribbean coast with it's incomparable white and black sand beaches, surrounded by exotic tropical vegetation. There are several optional activities available. Rent a bike, or hike in the jungle, try snorkelling or take it easy and relax on the beach

Day 4 Puerto Viejo de Limon

Today you'll be picked up for your tour of the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve. Enjoy a guided walk through the medicine garden and learn about their unique practice of iguana farming! You have a free afternoon.

Day 5 Puerto de Viejo de Limon

Day at leisure on the Caribbean Coast.

Day 6 Arenal

Transfer from Puerto Viejo to La Fortuna de Arenal.La Fortuna is one of the centres of adventure travel in Costa Rica. Here you can try numerous optional activities: river rafting, mountain bike, caving, horseback riding or take a walk on the active volcano. And don’t forget about the Hot Springs, fed directly by the active volcano. Once you’re seated at the swim-up bar, you won’t want to get out.Set on the northern plains of Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano is on the shores of Lake Arenal, (77 square kilometres, or 48 square miles), created by a hydroelectric project. Winds sweeping off the Caribbean Sea reach speeds of 48 to 72 km/hr (30 to 45 mph), making Arenal one of the best sail boarding locations in the world. The lake actually separates the mountain ranges of Guanacaste and Tilarán. The volcano is set on the lake’s southeast end. It is active and occasional eruptions make it a natural wonder to be respected. Arenal is especially impressive at night, when the glowing molten lava is blasted into the ink-black sky. Even during the day, its reflection on Lake Arenal is truly enchanting. There are several attractions in the area aside from the lake and volcano. It is a birders’ paradise, with over 600 species as permanent residents, and is inhabited by numerous species of frogs. You can also enjoy hiking the area’s nature trails, or if you’re more daring, you can opt to climb a ladder to participate in one of the canopy tours and catch a fresh glimpse of the forest greenery. After a long day of exploring, the local Hot Springs might just be the answer to your tired muscles. Soak in one of the natural thermal baths under the shade of the surrounding canopy.

Day 7 Arenal

This morning you'll head to the Arenal Hanging Bridges. The series of walkways high up at the top of the forest gives you a bird's-eye view of the canopy before heading to La Fortuna Falls for a refreshing swim before going for lunch in La Fortuna. Afterwards, you'll have a guided tour of Arenal Volcano National Park followed by a dip in the famous hot springs.Note: If space is unavailable at the Tabacon Hot Springs, you will visit the equally lovely and relaxing Baldi Hot Springs for dinner and leisure time in the hot pools.

Day 8 Manuel Antonio / Quepos Area

Departure to Manuel Antonio. Afternoon free!! The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters near the tiny town of Quepos is the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. Enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, boogie boarding, sailing or surfing. Not far away, Manuel Antonio offers excellent hiking and wildlife viewing. Like monkeys? This is the spot for you. Finally, you can snorkel, swim and try to spot dolphins as we finish our stay with an included sunset sail.Manuel Antonio sits on the outskirts of the Manuel Antonio National Park and is a great introduction to the laid back “Tico” lifestyle. This town is very popular with the younger set of international travellers and has a good beach for those who want to get a little sun and swim. If you have the jungle in mind, then we recommend that you head into the National Park. Although this is Costa Rica’s smallest National Park, it is also one of the most popular and it won’t take you long to see why. This park has fabulous beaches, abundant wildlife, and a great trail system for those who want to spend the day hiking. Look for monkeys, armadillos, coatimundis, sloths and some 350 species of birds that are present in the park.

Day 9 Manuel Antonio / Quepos Area

Departure to Manuel Antonio National Park for a Half day tour.

Day 10 San Jose

Mmorning free, during the afternoon transfer back to San José.

Day 11 San Jose

Transfer Out to the International Airport.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Superior hotel (10 nts)
Departure	Daily
Group Size	No Minimum
Included Highlights	Guided tour in Turriabla to learn about coffee and sugar, guided tour of the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve, leisure time on the Caribbean coast, Arenal hanging bridges and waterfall hike, guided tour of Arenal Volcano National Park, half-day tour of Manuel Antonio Park
Meals Included	10 B, 3 L, 1 D
StartFinish	ex San José
Transport	Bus or Van, Shuttle
Brochure Intro	Costa Rica's cultural history is often overlooked - learn more on this exciting and informative tour!

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