Adventure Type:
Budget Adventures, Eco Adventure, Family Explorer

Budget: $1501 ~ $2000

Days: 8

Arrival
Arrive San Jose and transfer to hotel
(B)


Tortuguero National Park
Start your journey to Tortuguero National Park in the northeastern lowlands. With its abundant wildlife Tortuguero is one of the best areas in Costa Rica for viewing wild animals! You will have the chance to see everything from a variety of bird species; howling, white-faced, and spider monkeys; sloths; crocodiles; iguanas, basilisk lizards and more from the comfort of your boat. During July to September, green sea turtles come ashore at night to nest on the beach.
Hotel: Evergreen Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B, 2L, 2D


Arenal Volcano
Flight back to San Jose. On the way to Arenal Volcano stop en route at the community’s agriculture town market of San Ramon. This market offers a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables, including some that are rarely seen outside the tropics. You will continue on with a visit to the Cocora Private hummingbird and butterfly gardens. Cocora is located in the cloud forest belt at 3000 feet elevation and offers the visitor attractive tropical plants and colorful butterflies and hummingbirds. After a traditional lunch at Doña Rosa´s house, you will continue on to your Arenal area hotel, travelling in the north central lowlands of Costa Rica among farmlands of tropical crops and cattle ranches. (L)
Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B


Arenal Zip lining & Monteverde reserve
Today in the morning you will visit the Zip lining or private horseback riding tour. After your rainforest tour, you will travel up into the mountains on your way to the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Next day in the morning you will visit the Trapiche ('sugar mill') that first began operation in 1948. The Monteverde Trapiche is run by a local family, and on your tour you will not only learn about the local process of making sugar, but also about the other important agricultural products of the region. There you will enjoy a refreshment of sugar cane juice or lemonade, eat picadillo de arracache (a typical Costa Rican food) and make candy out of sugar cane (everyone makes their own candy!).

After lunch enjoy a guided visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, one of the premier natural history destinations in Costa Rica. The forest consists of lush, verdant vegetation containing understory palms, majestic canopy trees, arching “ropy” lianas, bizarre “strangler” fig trees and epiphytes-small plants that grow on the trees. As you walk through the forest, you may encounter a variety of wildlife including white-faced capuchins, white-nosed coatis and two-toed sloths. Among birds, you may see the Resplendent Quetzal, hummingbirds, toucanets, guans and solitaires.
Hotel: Fonda Vela or similar (2 nts)
Meals Incl: 2B


Monteverde - San Jose
Explore the main community of the area, Santa Elena, before going back to San Jose or being transferred to the beach or other destination. You may just want to take advantage of banks and supermarkets or 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. Local coffee, wood sculptures, embroidered clothing, and paintings by resident artists are just some of the offerings available. Overnight San Jose at selected Hotel.


Departure and return flight
Transfer to San Jose International Airport for your departure flight.