Compare Best of Costa Rica’s National Parks by Adventure Women vs Costa Rica: See & Experience it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 11 days |
| Price From | Check price | $ 2,413 |
| Price Per Day | Check price | $ 219 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
1 breakfast, 5 lunches, 1 light dinner and 1 standard dinner are included on this tour. We are very picky about food and refuse to accept anything short of quality. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine. |
| Description |
Join AdventureWomen in Costa Rica for one of the greatest adventures in Central America in the midst of flora and fauna unequaled in so small an area. With outstanding accommodations, amazing national parks, and the assortment of exciting activities we have planned, you will see why this active adventure travel vacation is Really Hard To Beat!! Our exciting multi-activity adventure vacation in Costa Rica begins with a flight to the remote Osa Peninsula on the pristine Pacific coast, where Corcovado National Park protects about a third of the Osa Peninsula. Considered the crown jewel in the extensive system of Costa Rican national parks and biological reserves, Corcovado's ecological variety is quite stunning. Called "the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity" by National Geographic, Corcovado National Park has an amazing abundance of plant, bird, and wildlife species: including a bewildering assortment of orchids; hundreds of mammals, running the gamut from monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, agoutis, tapirs, and coatis to sloths; more than 850 species of birds; a population of butterflies that outnumbers Africa’s; and 361 amphibians, including 2 types of endangered turtles. From our beautiful wilderness resort on Drakes Bay, it's the perfect location from which to hike and boat into the jungle to view jungle birds and wildlife, swim under waterfalls, and snorkel on Cano Island, a snorkler's paradise with sea turtles, manta rays, parrot and angel fish, and more |
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all ""FIRST CLASS,"" yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price and substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see and do on this tour:
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Day 1: Depart the United States for San Jose, Costa Rica
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel San Jose Palacio
After arriving at Costa Rica’s San Jose International Airport on April 16, 2015, by 5 p.m., each participant is met by an English-speaking driver (who will be holding a sign with your name on it), and is transferred to the 5-star Barceló San José Palacio Hotel in San Jose, just 8 miles from the airport.
After checking in, relaxing, and freshening up in our rooms, we meet at 7 p.m. in the hotel lobby for our special Welcome Dinner. Trip introductions and orientation will take place after dinner.
Day 2: Fly to the Osa Peninsula. Snorkeling and Swimming on Rio Claro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
Early this morning we transfer to the domestic airport in San Jose and fly to Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. Our scenic flight passes over Manuel Antonio National Park and provides a great aerial view of the South Pacific Coast en route to the Peninsula. We land at Drake Bay and transfer to Drake Bay Wilderness Resort for check-in and breakfast.
The South Pacific side of Costa Rica is home to the Osa Peninsula, an area of unparalleled rugged beauty. Jutting out approximately 30 miles into the Pacific, the peninsula protects Golfo Dulce from ocean swells and produces a marvelous natural harbor. Its extensive area of virgin lowland rainforest and the fact there are few cities or towns here, make the Osa Peninsula one of the most ideal ecotourism locations on the planet: with its picturesque beaches and rocky headlands, majestic forests, endangered plants and animals, and it’s wildness.
Resting on the northern side of the Osa Peninsula is Drake Bay (Bahía Drake), an adventure-seekers paradise. It’s named after Sir Francis Drake who is believed to have ventured here in the late 16th century. Having changed little since the day Sir Francis docked here, it is still remote from most of the surrounding area, and has become a ‘go to’ spot for eco-tourists seeking a genuinely secluded wilderness experience. Frequent rains nourish a very wet tropical forest rich in biodiversity. Stretching south of Drake Bay are highly scenic rocky areas and coves, crystal blue waters, pristine beaches, and lush primary jungle rainforests. Explorers will find tide pools, spring-fed rivers, numerous waterfalls, forest trails, and some of the best bird watching in the entire country.
After check-in, breakfast, and time to relax, we head out to Rio Claro, just a fifteen minute boat trip that takes us to a breathtakingly beautiful beach and lagoon. We hike 30 minutes to a nearby jungle river, and spend time swimming, canoeing, floating, relaxing in a secluded waterfall pool, and observing jungle birds and wildlife. On the beach we’ll have a delicious buffet lunch brought by our guide. Bring hiking shoes, swimsuit, sunscreen, hat and water bottle.
Day 3: Rainforest Hiking in Corcovado National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
The OsaPeninsula is part of Corcovado National Park, the largest single area of lowland tropical rainforest in all of Central America, and the largest of Costa Rica’s National Parks. Having the good fortune to be fairly inaccessible, Corcovado is the perfect base for visitors who are seeking to fully capture the ecological magic of this region. It is the ideal destination to experience firsthand the ecologic and biotic diversity of Costa Rica.
The crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national park system, Corcovado National Park (Parque Nacional Corcovado), is comprised of an enormous 103,290 acres of tropical rainforest. It encompasses about a third of the Osa Peninsula and embraces an unbelievable amount of its biodiversity. The Park represents a very diverse population of flora and fauna, including 10% of the mammals found in the Americas. Declared a protected area in 1975 to prevent the harvest of precious resources, it is believed to have the largest concentration of macaws and virgin lowland rainforest in Central America. Also, it is one of the very few locations in Costa Rica that harbor the endangered squirrel monkey (the other most prominent being Manuel Antonio National Park).
After an early breakfast, we boat to Corcovado National Park and enjoy a full day of guided rainforest hikes. Our main hike is in the morning, and after lunch we hike to a waterfall to enjoy an afternoon swim.
Bring hiking shoes, swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, water bottle and insect repellent. An extra pair of shoes/sandals is recommended.
Late afternoon we return to Drake Bay for a fabulous dinner.
Day 4: Snorkeling and Optional Scuba Diving on Caño Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort
Drake Bay provides a wonderful base to explore the uninhabited Caño Island (Isla del Caño). One of the most popular and pristine snorkeling locations in the area, the island has remnants from an ancient civilization that carved stone spheres dating back to pre-Columbian eras. Its beaches are frequently visited by olive Ridley sea turtles, who venture ashore to lay their eggs on the sandy beaches. Just offshore, whales and dolphins like to congregate in the temperate waters.
This morning we boat 10 miles to Caño Island for a great day of snorkeling. This is one of the very best and most special areas in Costa Rica for snorkeling and diving!
If there are certified scuba divers in the group, BRING YOUR C- CARDS and we can arrange for diving while the rest of the group is snorkeling. Diving will be an optional activity and an extra cost.
Day 5: Fly to Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
This morning we say good-bye to the beautiful Osa Peninsula and its fabulous beaches, and fly back to San Jose. We transfer by vehicle to the spectacular Volcán Arenal area and the Tabacon Resort & Spa, with its hot springs and uninterrupted views of the volcano.
Tabacon is the name of what might very well be Costa Rica’s top destination. This 5-Star luxury resort is recognized as a member of The Leading Hotels and The Leading Spas of the World. Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort sits near the base of the active Arenal Volcano and offers the unique combination of the heat of the volcano, the flowing waters of the natural, mineral hot springs, the pure air of the rainforest, and the fertile earth of the Fortuna de San Carlos Region of Costa Rica. These thermal springs are warmed from the volcano.
The Resort’s lush setting, with manicured gardens and the relaxing Grand Spa, sets it apart from other spas in Costa Rica. Its location, north of Arenal Volcano’s most active crater, faces the direction in which the lava flows. Sitting in a hot spring and watching the red glow of the volcano light up the deep blue of the rainforest at dusk is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will never forget!
This afternoon you are free to relax and enjoy the hot springs or a spa treatment (on your own).
Day 6: Kayaking Lake Arenal and Hiking on the Volcano’s Lava Flows
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
Lake Arenal is the largest lake in Costa Rica. Considerably enlarged in 1979 as part of a hydroelectric dam project, it covers 33 square miles and can be found straddling the border of two Costa Rican provinces, Guanacaste and Alajuela.
The water and the surrounding hills are ideal for fishing for rainbow bass, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, birdwatching, and mountain biking.
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll do a morning kayak trip on Lake Arenal: visit an island in the lake; see local birds such as osprey, kingfishers, neotropical cormorants and aningas; and view mammals such as howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white nosed coatis and sloths. It’s hard to miss the impressive view of the Arenal Volcano as we paddle!
Lunch will be en route on our way back to the resort.
This afternoon our knowledgeable guide takes us on a fascinating hike through the old lava flow trails of the Arenal Volcano. This is always one of the highlights of any of our trips in Costa Rica, so it is an exciting activity to incorporate.
After a day of paddling and hiking, the hot springs will be a refreshing treat before we have dinner tonight at a local restaurant.
Day 7: Whitewater Rafting at La Balsa River Class II & III
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
Rio Balsa Rafting is ideal for first-time whitewater rafters. It is gentle enough for inexperienced rafters but enough of a challenge to make it exciting. Our professional, experienced bilingual guides will give us a safety talk and paddling instruction, life jackets, helmets, and then we’re off on our guided rafting trip! Enjoy paddling through 25 fun and safe rolling rapids with names like “Morning Coffee” & “Rock around the Croc” and then play around in tranquil river pools in an isolated rainforest river canyon. Hopefully, we’ll get to see lots of wildlife like monkeys, sloths and tropical birds such as ospreys and toucans. This unique river trip is the best way to combine adventure and nature. Go AdventureWomen Team!!
Bring secure shoes/sandals, clothes to get wet and dry clothes to change into, bathing suit, camera, binoculars, sun screen.
Day 8: Monteverde Cloud Forest and Aerial Canopy Zip-Line Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Fonda Vela
This morning our adventures continue! After breakfast at Tabacon, we transfer overland to Monteverde Cloud Forest and the Hotel Fonda Vela. We check into our hotel, and then we are off to experience the top of the rainforest!
Undoubtedly, the zip line aerial canopy tour in Monteverde is one of the most exciting activities you’ll enjoy. It’s the perfect combination of adventure, nature, and excitement, together with experiencing the beautiful cloud forest landscape above and in the treeline.
The tour begins with a short safety briefing by our guides about the equipment we use, building confidence, and offering a few laughs. Then our adventure begins with the “Tarzan Swing”, one of the most exciting parts of the tour. This “feat” can be done by anyone, and once you do this, the rest of the tour will be no problem! Next we pass through the treetops via a rope canopy cable, which feels like we’re flying through the forest. Along the way, the guides will review the safety guidelines.
At the halfway point we reach the Rappel section, where we safely experience a quick rope descent of about 150 feet, always helped by the guides. This is a moment of pure adrenaline. You’ll wonder why you have never done this before!
On this tour you’ll get to experience being in the forest canopy, a magical world that exists only in the treetops. Connecting to nature in a new way, you’ll gain a deepened sense of “place” from the bird’s eye views of the environment and geography that you witness. It’s an amazing experience, and you will be empowered by it. Your fellow AdventureWomen friends are there to support and encourage you!
This is a FULL day of activities, and at 5:30 p.m., we’ll experience a night tour of the cloud forest. A new world awakes in the cloud forest just before nightfall, when forest life is just beginning to wake up. Our guide helps us recognize the various animals, insects and amphibians within the cloud forest and will explain the reason that these creatures’ habits (most of which involve feeding or breeding) are best suited for the dark. Typically though, this time of transition offers a good opportunity to view nocturnal mammals as well as diurnal animals as they prepare for night.
At 7:30 p.m. we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Fonda Vela
This morning we have a naturalist guided hike through the cloud forest of Monteverde Reserve. The whole area is a fabulous place for walking, especially through the magical shrouds of mist that drape the forests in the early morning.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is the most well known cloud forest in the world for its wide variety of biodiversity, important conservation contributions, and scientific researches. It sits astride the continental divide at an altitude slightly above 5,249 feet. The foliage is lush, and it protects and provides habitat for an estimated 2,500 species of plants, more than 100 species of mammals, 490 species of butterflies, and over 400 species of birds.
The Reserve is the last sizeable pocket of primary cloud forest in Central America, and supports six different eco-systems.
On our hike this morning we’ll enjoy the cloud forest climate as we walk the trails among the varieties of plants and magnificent epiphytic-laden trees. The resplendent quetzals, with their long tails, feed at various locations, and one can, at times, hear the “bong” of the bellbirds.
Interesting fact: You can step on the Continental Divide, where one foot will be on the Caribbean side and the other on the Pacific side (fun to take a picture with a friend, each in one side).
This afternoon you’ll have an opportunity for optional horseback riding before our Farewell dinner in the tree tops at Tree House Restaurant. This aptly named restaurant has a large and impressive fig tree growing right through its center. Indeed, it’s worth a visit not only to enjoy its wonderful food but also to see its one-of-a-kind environment.
Day 10: Back to the U.S.A.
Meals: Breakfast
Transfer to San Jose International Airport for afternoon departure.
Day 1: A Social Gathering on the Sand & Horseback Riding
Our tour to Costa Rica starts in Tamarindo. This beach village is a popular destination for couples and families looking for a good time. Tamarindo is the epitome of everything Costa Rica prides itself on. Let's head to the beach, where there is likely to be a gathering/party of some sort. On a side note, Tamarindo is also home to leatherback turtles. The day ends with horseback riding on the beach and in a nearby valley.
Day 2: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with an Open Bar & Appetizers & Going Snorkeling
We go on an excursion today. Passing by the beaches in Brasilito and then Potrero, we stop at Flamingo beach so we can go swimming. Afterwards, we do a cruise into the bay. We are provided with snorkeling gear, local appetizers and access to an open bar. Enjoy the sunset while “sipping on some bubbly.”
Day 3: Zip-Lining & a Night Expedition in a Cloud Forest Reserve
We relocate from Tamarindo near to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. There we go on a zip-lining tour. We return in the evening for a night tour.
This reserve draws roughly 70,000 visitors a year. It consists of over 10,500 hectares of cloud forest and 6 ecological zones, 90 percent of which are virgin forest. A high biodiversity-consisting of over 2,500 plant species, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species and thousands of insects-has drawn scientists and tourists alike.
Day 4: Rappelling, Climbing & Hiking & Bathing in Natural Hot Springs
We relocate from Monteverde to the town of La Fortuna. Shortly thereafter, we are taken on an adrenaline-pumping adventure to the Lost Canyon. There we climb and hike and otherwise go waterfall rappelling. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
After the Lost Canyon, we are taken to one of the many natural hot springs in La Fortuna. More specifically, we are taken to a resort called Ecotermales Fortuna. There we bathe as well as eat. Dinner is included this evening.
Day 5: Walking Over Hanging Bridges & Swimming Under a Waterfall
Today we are taken on a tour to the nearby surroundings. First is Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, which features cool-looking bridges hanging in the tropical rain forest. Next is La Fortuna Waterfall, where we can go swimming. Following the waterfall is lunch, which is included on today’s tour. Lastly for today is Arenal Volcano National Park. It offers a nice hike amid tropical scenery. The volcano measures at least 1,633 meters (5,358 feet) high and is estimated to be less than 7,500 years old.
Day 6: An Intimidating Volcano
We go on a daytrip today. We are taken to Tenorio Volcano National Park. The jewel of this national park is its volcano, from which it receives its name. Tenorio Volcano consists of 4 volcanic peaks and 2 craters. Thermal springs and small geysers dot the area, as do rivers, waterfalls and lagoons. The upper area of the park is dominated by primary cloud forest, while the lower regions are carpeted with rain forest. The summit can be reached via the Lago Las Dantas Trail, which winds up the volcano and passes through forested terrain before eventually reaching the peak. From the park’s entrance, it takes about an hour to hike up to the peak/main viewpoint. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
Day 7: The Country's Most Famous Beach
We relocate from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio. We see why this town is so popular with tourists. Its national park receives almost 150,000 visitors annually. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica at its most tropical. Let's head to the beach.
Day 8: White Sand & Taking a Surf Class
The day starts with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests. The second half of the day is spent taking a surfing class.
Day 9: Discovering Wildlife Inside an Animal Kingdom
Before relocating to the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, we are provided with a guided tour inside Manuel Antonio National Park. Extra time is given so we can go swimming. This park has impressive landscapes and several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests.
Day 10: The Most Stunning Volcano in Costa Rica & a Coffee Plantation Visit
We go on a daytrip today. We are first taken to Doka Estate. There we are provided with breakfast followed by a guided tour of a coffee plantation. Next, we visit Poás Volcano National Park. There we are provided with a guided tour. Please note that Poás Volcano National Park is often closed due to eruptions. If this is the case during your visit, then this park would need to be removed from today’s itinerary. Lastly, we visit La Paz Waterfall. There we are provided with lunch as well as a guided tour.
Day 11: Our Tour Ends This Morning
San Jose is the final destination on our tour around Costa Rica. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the international airport.
