12 Day Natural Beauty of Costa Rica & Panama

12 days
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Small Group Tour
1 San Jose, 2 Tortuguero, 1 Arenal, 2 Manuel Antonio, 2 Boquete, 1 Chitre, 2 Panama City
From$3,739
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Embark on a boat tour along the Tortuguero canals, through the heart of the Costa Rican jungle Relax in the soothing waters of the renowned geothermal hot springs of Arenal Experience Manuel Antonio National Park, filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery Get a glimpse into the history of coffee, its production, and what makes the perfect brew during a tour of a coffee farm Explore picturesque Boquete, known as "Valley of the Flowers", nestled in Chiriquí Highlands An exhilarating jeep adventure to the summit of Baru Volcano, the tallest mountain in Panama Tour a farm in Boquete and enjoy an authentic home-cooked Panamanian lunch View Miraflores Locks, at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal Discover Chagres National Park, in the eastern sector of the Panama Canal, home to the Embera village and people †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

What's this trip about?

    1 San Jose, 2 Tortuguero, 1 Arenal, 2 Manuel Antonio, 2 Boquete, 1 Chitre, 2 Panama City

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range18 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus

Destinations

  • Central America

Attractions

  • Boquete
  • Caribbean
  • Panama Canal
  • Panama City

Trip includes

    • Small groups of maximum 22 travelers guaranteed
    • Flights Miami-San Jose, Panama City-Miami
    • Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
    • Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
    • 11 nights accommodations 1 night San Jose 2 nights Tortuguero 1 night Arenal 2 nights Manuel Antonio 2 nights Boquete 1 night Chitre 2 nights Panama City Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
    • Hotel porterage
    • All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates†
    • 26 meals: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
    • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned vehicles
    • Services of local English-speaking tour manager throughout
    • Comprehensive, guided sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary
    • Active itinerary with unique cultural features

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Itinerary

DAY 1, Friday - Depart for Costa Rica
Depart for Costa Rica. Arrive in the capital city of San Jose, surrounded by lush green valleys and mountains. Transfer to your hotel. Tonight, attend an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM Overnight: San Jose

DAY 2, Saturday - Travel to Tortuguero
Today, depart San Jose and travel east to the shores of the Caribbean Coast. View lush vegetation along with acres of banana plantations, one of Costa Rica's major exports. At a nearby port, board a motor launch that takes you to the canals in the heart of the Costa Rica...
DAY 3, Sunday - Explore Tortuguero
Awake this morning to the sounds of the jungle in one of the most remote areas of Costa Rica filled with abundant biodiversity. Acquaint yourself with the many tree and insect species of Costa Rica on an easy guided hike through trails in the nearby rainforest. After lun...
DAY 4, Monday - Arenal Volcano National Park
Travel by motor launch and motor coach to Arenal, famous for its volcano. After lunch, hike along one of the trails in Arenal Volcano National Park. Learn about the flora and fauna of the area, while enjoying views of the volcano. This evening, relax in the renowned hot ...
DAY 5, Tuesday - Travel to Manuel Antonio
Opportunity for birdwatching before departing Arenal. Travel through scenic mountains and along the Pacific Coast to Manuel Antonio, with its sandy beaches and tropical forest. On the way, embark on a crocodile boat tour that includes lunch. Opportunity to view crocodile...
DAY 6, Wednesday - Manuel Antonio National Park, Catamaran Boat Tour
Begin the day with a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Opportunity to discover the mangrove swamps, numerous species of mammals and birds, along with beach vegetation and lagoons. In the afternoon, embark on a catamaran cruise. Stop in a peaceful cove of the s...
DAY 7, Thursday - Border Crossing to Panama, Farm Visit
Leave your tropical surroundings of Manuel Antonio behind and travel south towards Panama. After border formalities, visit a farm to get a glimpse into the daily life of farmers. Conclude the tour with a home-cooked lunch of local specialties. Continue to Boquete, known ...
DAY 8, Friday - Baru Volcano, Coffee Tour
Rise early this morning for a unique experience! Depart on a jeep adventure to Baru Volcano. At an elevation of 11,400 feet, the volcano is the tallest mountain in Panama. Drive uphill through the challenging terrain to reach the summit. At the top, witness the sunrise a...
DAY 9, Saturday - Travel to Chitre
Today, depart Boquete and travel to Chitre. En route, stop to watch a local artisan, as he creates masks from paper-mâché. These masks are a colorful part of Panama's folklore. Continue the drive on the Azuero Peninsula and visit a local workshop. Witness a demonstration...
DAY 10, Sunday - Miraflores Locks, Panama City
This morning, travel to Panama City, the capital of Panama and home to the Panama Canal. Arrive in the small town of Gamboa, where you board a boat and sail along Gatun Lake. Savor a light lunch on board, before visiting the Miraflores Locks, to observe how ships cross t...
DAY 11, Monday - Chagres National Park, Embera Village
Begin your Embera experience with a drive to Chagres National Park, in the eastern sector of the Panama Canal. Here, board a traditional piragua (paddle dugout canoe) that takes you on a journey to meet the indigenous Embera tribe, known as the "keepers of the rainforest...
DAY 12, Tuesday - Depart Panama
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,739
Price per day$312
Last Updated: 5/15/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Gate 1 Travel Reviews & Ratings

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Jan 2024

Provided byGate 1 Travel

Gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

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NBR

Dec 2023

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THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

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Joyce Toler

Dec 2023

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Poor customer service

It has been about 7.5 years since I traveled with Gate 1 Travel. In the past, customer service was exceptionally great! Now I am appauded with the unprofessional and...

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Gate 1 Travel

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

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Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Not Included:Gratuities.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
18 years and up
Additional Information

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.

Trip ID
gate1-DSCV-CR-PA-12DNBCRPA-PKG-23

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