Costa
Rica Carribean Adventure
August
27– September 2, 2009
(optional
extensions available)
Regularly
$2898
Save $900 a Person!
New Price -- $1998
a Person
Guest
Itinerary
(Subject
To Change)
Thursday, August
27 - Arrival San José, Costa Rica
Arrive at San José Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría
International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred
to the charming Hotel Grano de Oro. Situated
on a shady street our hotel is a true oasis, a sanctuary in
the heart of a bustling city. Converted from a Tropical Victorian
mansion, the hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private
home. No guided activities have been planned so that you can
arrive at your convenience. Overnight Hotel Grano
de Oro. (TG)
Friday, August 28
- San José – Farmer’s Market and City Tour
Early morning visit to the Farmer’s Market, one of the
best ways to meet the local culture. Breakfast will be served
at a typical Costa Rican restaurant. Continue on for a city
walking tour of San José. We will visit both the National
Theater and the Gold Museum. The magnificent National
Theater, built in 1897, is a historical landmark and one of
the country’s architectural jewels. The Pre-Columbian
Gold Museum boasts a collection of gold objects that reflect
the world view, social structure and gold working techniques
of the Pre-Columbian people of Costa Rica. In the afternoon,
we visit the National Museum, located atop a hill that dominates
the city of San Jose, in the country’s former army headquarters,
vacated in 1949 after Costa Rica abolished its standing army.
Here you can witness for yourself the pre-Columbian tools, pottery,
burial sites and social past. Return to our hotel late in the
afternoon in time for a welcome dinner with our guide. Overnight
Hotel Grano de Oro. (BLD) (NG)
Saturday, August
29 - San José / Tortuguero
Our drive towards Tortuguero
will take us through scenic banana plantations to the Caño
Blanco dock where we will take a boat ride to reach
our destination. Arrive at Tortuga Lodge set on a private rainforest
reserve bordering Tortuguero National Park. The essence of Tortuguero
is slow-moving tropical rivers. Everything about Tortuguero
is defined by the rivers. They are Tortuguero's roads and Tortuguero's
soul. If a visitor wants to bring home the essence of Tortuguero
he/she must get in tune with the rivers. 
After lunch we will
walk through the village of Tortuguero and hike along the Tortuguero
National Park trail. Learn about the history of the
village and its efforts to get their basic needs met such as
running water, medical and dental care, garbage collection and
management. Visit the park headquarters, the general goods store
and walk through down the paths lines with colorful afro-Caribbean
homes. Visit the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle Museum
founded by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation. The late
Dr. Archie Carr began to study and tag the thousands of Atlantic
green sea turtles that every year from June through October
come to Tortuguero Beach to lay their eggs. The study has continued
without fail ever since, under the auspices of the Caribbean
Conservation Corporation (CCC). It is the longest running
continuous study of its kind in the world, and it has had a
profound effect on the community of Tortuguero. Return to the
hotel for dinner. Overnight Tortuga Lodge. (BLD)(NG)
Sunday, August 30
- Tortuguero
Early to rise and to go look for the hatching baby turtles
before breakfast. Escorted by the best Tortuguero Guides
available, we will walk the beach in the early morning hours
in search of a nest that has begun to hatch. Baby turtles dig
their way out of the nest and then make their way to the water.
After lunch, depart with
our guide for a boat tour into the Tortuguero National
Park. Originally intended to protect a major nesting
beach of the Atlantic green sea turtle, Tortuguero National
Park now protects 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas
of tropical rain forest in Central America. Eleven habitats
are found in the park. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler,
and White-faced), Three-toed sloths, and River otters are frequently
seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. More than
320 species of birds including all 6 species
of kingfishers found in the new world, 3 species of toucans,
8 species of parrots and many more species which we will have
the opportunity to observe during this afternoon boat ride through
the back water canals of Tortuguero National Park.
This evening a night
time turtle walk. We will actually stand a few feet
from a 300 pound Green Sea Turtle while she lays 80-100 eggs,
covers up her nest, perhaps digs a false nest to throw off predators,
and, finally, after more than an hour, returns to the sea. Overnight
at Tortuga Lodge. (BLD) (NG)
Monday, August 31
-Tortuguero Children
Morning visit to the village of San Francisco de Asis to be
visitors of the local school. To insure that their children
received an education the parents built the school themselves.
Spend the morning with the local children as their special guests.
After lunch, participate
in another optional boat tour through the canals of the Tortuguero
National Park.
Another great opportunity
this evening to go on a night time turtle walk after dinner.
Overnight at Tortuga Lodge. (BLD)(NG)
Tuesday, September
1 - Tortuguero / Caño Blanco / San José
After breakfast, transfer
to the Airstrip to board our chartered flight to San Jose. Arrive
at Xandari Resort & Spa, a tropical paradise of individually
designed villas nestled on a 40 acre plantation overlooking
the Central Valley of Costa Rica. View the twinkling lights
of the valley below as we toast farewell. Overnight
Xandari Resort & Spa (BLD) (NG)
Wednesday, September
2 – Depart
Transfer to the international airport according to your flight’s
scheduled departure time. (B) (TG)
STAY LONGER, EXPLORE
MORE - Ask about optional extensions to Arenal or Xandari
by the Pacific.
# # #
A
PERSONAL TRAVELOGUE | GUEST
ITINERARY | TRIP
DETAILS
On-line
Reservations
Print Reservation Form
