COSTA RICA: JUNGLES & RAINFORESTS ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Liberia, Costa Rica
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hilton Papagayo Resort. A transfer is
included from Liberia Airport to the Hilton Papagayo Resort, set
on a private beach on the Bay of Papagayo – a perfect place to
start your eco-adventure! Join us for a welcome reception and
dinner tonight. Meals D
2. Hacienda Guachipelin adventure
Dive into a morning of family fun at Hacienda Guachipelin, a
working hacienda (ranch) set at the foot of the active Rincon de
la Vieja Volcano – whose name means “the old woman’s corner,”
and comes from a local legend about a recluse who lived on the
mountain. The hacienda has carried on the traditional work of
raising cattle and horses for more than a hundred years; along
with the corrals where real cowboys and ranch hands work each
day, its grounds boast lush gardens with native trees, exotic
flowers and many species of birds. Your choice of activities
includes a dip in volcanically heated mud pools, horseback
riding along scenic trails, or an exciting river tubing
adventure on the Rio Negro. Return to your resort to spend the
rest of the day enjoying its many available activities as you
please. Meals BD
3. Pan American Highway / Lake Arenal / Sky Tram
Stretching all the way from Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska
to Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina, the Pan American
Highway is unofficially the world’s longest road at
approximately 15,000 miles! Drive along part of it today en
route to majestic Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake, which
was expanded to its current size by the completion of the Lake
Arenal Dam in 1979. Looming over the lake is another of Costa
Rica’s seven active volcanoes – cone-shaped Arenal Volcano,
which has been continuously erupting for nearly 40 years! A boat
cruise on the lake offers impressive views of the volcano,
weather permitting. After lunch, you’ll enjoy still another view
of this natural wonder and its surrounding scenery – a
bird’s-eye view, that is – during a thrilling sky tram ride.
Depart Lake Arenal this afternoon and continue on to Tilajari
Resort Hotel for a two-night stay in a private reserve set along
the lush banks of the San Carlos River. Meals BLD
4. River Rafting Adventure / Tilajari Resort
Another exciting day in Costa Rica’s tropical paradise
begins with a leisurely jungle river-rafting trip on the Penas
Blancas River. As you float along this gentle, scenic waterway,
your expert guide will help you spot amazing wildlife from giant
iguanas to chattering parrots. Stop along the way to visit the
home of a local farmer and his extended family, who have lived
on the river all their lives, much as their ancestors did.
You’ll return to Tilajari Resort to spend the rest of the day as
you please among its 35 acres of lovely gardens and tropical
fruit trees along the San Carlos River, home to a diverse range
of wildlife including crocodiles, caimans, monkeys, and an
immense variety of tropical birds. Go for a swim in the pool,
get in a game of ping-pong, play tennis on indoor or outdoor
courts, or explore the resort’s butterfly or botanical gardens.
You may also choose to take advantage of optional activities
available for an additional charge, such as horseback riding or
a hike to the Tilajari Reserve. Meals BLD
5. Pineapple Farm / Tortuguero National Park
Rise early today and depart the Tilajari Resort for an
eastward journey from Costa Rica’s dense interior, through
wildlife-rich rainforests to the Caribbean coast. En route,
you’ll stop at Finca Corsicana, a state-of-the-art organic
pineapple farm located near the foot of Mount Poas, a highly
active volcano that boasts the second-largest crater on earth.
The largest operation of its kind in the world, Finca Corsicana
features 3,000 acres of pineapple fields arranged in geometric
patterns. Learn how the pineapple came to be known as the “fruit
of kings” as you tour this fascinating farm in specially
designed vehicles, accompanied by a local guide. You’ll get an
insider’s look at the entire pineapple process from growing
through harvesting and packing, and learn how production methods
have evolved over the years. This afternoon, a rugged drive on
unpaved roads leads to a jungle launch, where you’ll board small
canal boats and set off for your riverfront lodge. It’s set on a
network of scenic canals just minutes away from the main
entrance to Tortuguero National Park – one of the world’s most
important nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtle;
colorful toucans, caimans, and monkeys reside here, too. Meals
BLD
6. Exploring Tortuguero National Park
Brimming with a wealth of diverse wildlife, the marshy
islands and beaches of Tortuguero National Park are yours to
explore by land and by boat! Start the day with an optional
canal cruise for birding and nature viewing, then visit the
village of Tortuguero or take a hike with a local naturalist.
Lunch at Pachira Lodge precedes an afternoon cruise through the
national park’s rivers and canals with an expert naturalist
guide. In June, July and August (during turtle season), you’ll
put on some dark clothing for an unforgettable night or early
morning beach excursion to watch nesting turtles; along with the
endangered green sea turtle, hawksbill and leatherback turtles
can also be found nesting here. During other times of the year,
your day includes a visit to the Caribbean Conservation Learning
Center in Tortuguero, dedicated to the preservation and study of
the green sea turtle. Meals BLD
7. Coffee Plantation Tour / San José
Costa Rica’s volcanic soil is perfect for growing coffee; a
private charter flight takes you out of the jungle to San José
and the nearby Café Britt coffee plantation, one of the
country’s largest. A guided tour of the operation, including the
organic coffee fields and roastery, reveals the secrets of this
important export from beans to the cup. Continue to your hotel
in San José to explore Costa Rica’s capital as you wish; please
join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD
8. Journey Home
Tour ends: San José. A transfer is included from the Costa
Rica Marriott Hotel to San José Santa Maria International
Airport. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for check-in. Meals B
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