| Cost From: | $3195 |
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| Length: | 7 days |
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| Activity: | Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Sea Kayaking |
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| Difficulty: |
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We had an excellent trip. Everything was well organized and extremely comfortable.N. Sullivan—Cincinnati OH
By adding trips to your “Wish List” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
The ultimate way to explore Italy—on foot! Discover jewel-like towns of the southern Tuscan countryside, from remarkable Siena to the enchanting villages of the sun-splashed Maremma, with its hidden coves and vineyards producing “super-Tuscan” wines.
Beauty is all around us in the tropics of Costa Rica, from jungle-draped volcanoes to sweeping expanses of wilderness beaches along the azure Pacific. With a delightful mix of activities that includes hiking, sea kayaking, and wildlife viewing, we explore from the mountains to the sea on this naturalist-led journey. We start with hikes near Arenal Volcano, an active tropical volcano rising from jungled highlands, then explore treetop canopies by way of spectacular hanging bridges and thrilling zip lines. Our grand finale is on the idyllic Pacific Coast, which we discover by sea kayaking, hiking on beaches where monkeys howl and coatimundis roam, and snorkeling and dolphin watching by catamaran at sunset as the tropical sky turns pink and orange.
$3195 (11-15 members)
$3595 (6-10 members)
Single supplement: $895
Internal airfare: $90-150 (based on group size)
December surcharge: $200 per person
Pacuare River Rafting Extension from: $149
Prices are for 2010 dates
Dec 17-23, 2010
Reading list, click here.
From the Costa Rican capital, we head to the biological preserve of Nectandra Cloud Forest for an intriguing introduction to the tropics with our Trip Leader, an expert naturalist. We continue to the highlands of Arenal Volcano National Park, where the perfect cone of Arenal Volcano (5,300') is a dramatic sight. From our lovely lodge overlooking Arenal, we hike, soak in hot springs, and explore the rainforest amid the playful sounds of toucans and howler monkeys. Highlights include a hike across spectacular hanging bridges connected with forest trails. They give us access to various rainforest zones, including the high canopy—a great way to peek into the world of towering, orchid-draped trees. Views of Arenal are striking from these bridges, and with luck, we may see the volcano’s red lava flows at night.
En route to Manuel Antonio National Park, we visit a private forest reserve to experience Costa Rica’s popular adventure sport—the canopy zip line. Clipping into steel cables rigged among the trees, we fly across the treetops among huge kapok and elephant-ear trees for a bird’s-eye view of the canopy, where 90 percent of rainforest wildlife lives. We continue to Manuel Antonio National Park, where our Pacific Ocean setting offers gorgeous tropical forests edged by white-sand beaches. We hike trails to the beach through the forests of the park, with its treetop canopy full of monkeys and iguanas. We also explore by sit-on-top kayaks along the coast, the perfect way to view wildlife up close. At sunset one evening, we head out by private catamaran for a snorkeling excursion at a magical time of the day. Sea turtles, flying fish, and birdlife including boobies and frigatebirds share this beautiful environment with the many dolphins that frolic in these tropical waters. Depart on Day 7 via San Jose, or join our Whitewater Rafting Extension.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following option:
Day 1 (1 night), San Jose, Costa Rica
The Hotel Bougainvillea is set among 10 acres of lush tropical gardens in the residential district of San Domingo de Heredia, just 15 minutes from ...
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Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
This wonderful resort is like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. While the rooms are not luxurious, they are very comfortable and private, and ...
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Days 4 to 6 (3 nights), Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Set atop a majestic bluff overlooking the Pacific and surrounded by 400 acres of tropical rainforest, the Hotel El Parador is a bit larger than ...
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If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions option:
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
