9 Day Costa Rica Fly & Drive with Tortuguero 2017 Itinerary

9 days
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Self-Guided / Independent Tour
2 San Jose, 2 Tortuguero, 2 Arenal, 2 Monteverde

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Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Visit the bustling little village of Tortuguero, with its strong Afro-Caribbean roots
    • Enjoy a boat tour along the Tortuguero canals through the heart of the Costa Rican jungle ♦ Kindly plan your arrival flight into San Jose on Day 1 no later than 9:00 pm in order to connect with your transfer to the hotel

What's this trip about?

    2 San Jose, 2 Tortuguero, 2 Arenal, 2 Monteverde

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range12 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus

Trip includes

    • Round trip flights Miami-San Jose, San Jose-MiamiSome departure dates may be offered from an alternate nearby airport. Check flight itinerary options when booking.Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
    • Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
    • 8 nights accommodations in your choice of hotels 2 nights San Jose 2 nights Tortuguero 2 nights Arenal 2 nights Monteverde Arrival transfer
    • 6 day car rental, days 4-9: SUV Mini (Suzuki Jimny or similar)
    • Upgrades to SUV Compact/ manual transmission, to SUV Intermediate/ automatic transmission or to SUV Standard/ automatic transmission available
    • Unlimited mileage
    • 13 meals: 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
    • Activities per itinerary in Tortuguero
    • Services of English-speaking naturalist guide in Tortuguero

Itinerary

SAMPLE ITINERARY Please note that the following is a suggested itinerary. While the sites listed below may be visited independently, the package does not cover any applicable entrance or tour fees.

DAY 1, Thursday - Depart for Costa Rica
Depart for Costa Rica. Arrive in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, which is surrounded by lush green mountains and valleys. After clearing customs, transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure Overnight: San Jose

DAY 2, Friday - Travel to Tortuguero
Depart early this morning for the Caribbean Coast. In the company of a bilingual guide, drive by Braulio Carrillo National Park and banana plantations to the port of La Pavona or Cano Blanco to board a motor launch, which will travel along canals through the heart of the...
DAY 3, Saturday - Full Day in Tortuguero
The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat tour along the canals, where you are likely to see turtles, caimans, monkeys, and many tropical birds thriving in the wild. Please note: the afternoon boat ride is subject to weather conditions and may be replaced by another hike along the hotel trails. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure Overnight: Tortuguero Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4, Sunday - Transfer to Guapiles, Drive to Arenal
This morning, travel by motor launch and motor coach to Guapiles, where your car will be dropped off to you. Continue to the Arenal area, famous for its volcano, lake and hot springs. You may choose to visit one of the many hot springs facilities that offer visitors an i...
DAY 5, Monday - Full Day in Arenal
Spend a full day at leisure in Arenal in the midst of an unspoiled setting. You may choose to spend half the day hiking to Arenal National Park, enjoying the natural hot springs throughout the area, or spend the morning or afternoon enjoying a horseback ride through both...
DAY 6, Tuesday - Drive to Monteverde
Depart for Monteverde Cloud Forest area. The road system in Costa Rica has improved over recent years, but be aware that those in and out of Monteverde can be bumpy and unpaved. Visit the charming small town of St. Elena, founded by Quaker settlers in the fifties and fil...
DAY 7, Wednesday - Full Day in Monteverde
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest on your own. Boasting 120 reptile and amphibian species, 130 mammal species, and 500 bird species, the Reserve represents an outstanding example of biodiversity. You may choose to participate in one of th...
DAY 8, Thursday - Drive back to San Jose
Drive back to San Jose. Consider a stop at Poas Volcano National Park, one of the most visited sites in Costa Rica, which features short easy trails for hiking. A short trip from San Jose, the Poas Volcano contains one of the world's largest volcanic lakes, Lake Botos, w...
DAY 9, Friday - Depart Costa Rica
Return your vehicle at the car rental facility at the San Jose International Airport prior to your departure flight Meals: Breakfast *Please consider that the driving times and distances are estimated and that they can vary because of many circumstances, such as, specific route taken, hotel location, traffic, weather, road conditions, etc.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $709
Price per day$79
Last Updated: 9/14/2017

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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Tour Operator

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

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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.

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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:Car Rental Fees of up to $120.
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
12 years and up
Optional Activities
Selvatura Canopy Tour 10:30 AM Join this exciting tour to see the rainforest in a whole new way. Cross through the unique Cloud Forest's canopy while suspended from a high weight capacity zipline cable, maneuvering between the 15 platforms and 12 cables that span over 2 miles in length, making this extreme adventure one of the longest Zipline tours in the country. It is recommended that you wear hiking boots for this activity as you will be walking some distance through the forest between the Zipline cables. For some, this activity may be considered very strenuous and people with difficulty breathing, heart or other medical conditions, should consider not to choose this optional tour. Pick-up time will be between 10:00 and 10:30 am from the front desk of the hotel. Approximate tour duration is 2.5-3 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $44 Selvatura Canopy & Hanging Bridges Tour 10:30 AM Enjoy a walk among the treetops on this 1.9 mile trail, which boasts 8 different bridges at heights ranging from 36 to 180 feet. The Selvatura Hanging Bridges are the longest and the strongest bridge system in the country. The hanging bridges give you the unique opportunity to see plants and animals not visible from the ground. Then, join an exciting tour through the canopy of the rainforest on a zipline adventure. With 15 platforms and 12 cables that span over 2 miles in length, this extreme adventure is one of the longest Zipline tours in the country. It is recommended that you wear hiking boots for this activity as you will be walking some distance through the forest between the Zipline cables. For some, this activity may be considered very strenuous and people with difficulty breathing, heart or other medical conditions, should consider not to choose this optional tour. Pick-up time will be between 10:00 and 10:30 am from the front desk of the hotel. Approximate tour duration is 4-5 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $60 Selvatura Hanging Bridges Tour 10:30 AM Enjoy a walk among the treetops on this 1.9 mile trail, which boasts 8 different bridges at heights ranging from 36 to 180 feet. The Selvatura Hanging Bridges are the longest and the strongest bridge system in the country. The hanging bridges give you the unique opportunity to see plants and animals not visible from the ground. It is recommended that you wear hiking boots for this activity. For some, this activity may be considered strenuous and people with difficulty breathing, heart or other medical conditions, should consider not to choose this optional tour. Pick-up time will be between 10:00 and 10:30 am from the front desk of the hotel. Approximate tour duration is 2.5 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $27
Additional Information
Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival transfer.
Trip ID
gate1-CR-9DCRFDTTQ-PKG-17

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