Costa Rica Rainforest Adventure “Costa Rica Rainforest Adventure” is Horizontes Nature Tours’ classic ecotourism vacation with just a touch of adventure travel. This signature ecotourism program takes you on a journey of personal discovery to three of Costa Rica’s most varied and beautiful rainforests: Tortuguero, Monteverde and Arenal Volcano. Experience the forest’s mind-boggling biodiversity from different perspectives: from ground level trails on the forest floor, from the lush forest canopy on suspension bridges and from high above the treetops on a zipline tour. Start planning your trip today!
Day-by-day IntineraryDay 1: ArrivalWelcome at Juan Santamaria International Airport where a guide-driver will take you to your hotel in the hills above the capital city. Overnight at Bougainvillea Hotel (or similar). Costa Rica Nature Day 2: Braulio Carillo National Park / Tortuguero Turtle Nesting
Day 3: Tortuguero Rainforest WaterwaysEnjoy a jungle boat tour through the rainforested waterways, and an afternoon adventure kayak to more remote canals where boats can’t venture. Overnight at Pachira Lodge (or similar). Day 4: Arenal Volcano / Hot SpringsAfter a light breakfast, take a domestic flight to San José, where a private guide/driver will be waiting to take you through scenic mountain roads to Arenal Volcano. En route you will stop at La Paz Waterfall Gardens. In the late afternoon you will be picked up at the lodge for the visit to beautifully landscaped hot springs on the Hidalgo family’s private farm, where you will spend few hours relaxing. Overnight at Volcano Lodge (or similar). Costa Rica Nature Day 5: Sky Walk Suspension Bridges & Trails
Day 6: Monteverde Cloud Forest ReserveGet an early start to best appreciate Monteverde Reserve, join one of the regularly scheduled guided walks. After the tour, enjoy private transportation to the hotel. Your afternoon is free to visit local craft shops, a butterfly farm, or relax. Overnight at Fonda Vela Hotel (or similar). Day 7: Manuel Antonio BeachIn the morning, private land transportation to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. En route stop fopr a a thrilling zipline tour through the rainforest canopy. Glide through the treetops on cables that connect to platforms on taller trees and see the forest from a bird’s eye view. Spend the afternoon at the beach or at your hotel’s pool. Overnight at Parador Hotel (or similar). Day 8: Manuel Antonio National ParkIn the morning you will be picked up at the hotel for the morning guided walk at Manuel Antonio National Park which is deservedly the most popular park in Costa Rica with beautiful white sand beaches surrounded by emerald waters and jungle. Your naturalist guide will explain the history and geography of the area as well as help you get the most of your visit, pointing out sloth, monkeys, iguanas, and a multitude of insects and birds during this very informative three hour walk. In the afternoon you can stay at the park on your own or return to your hotel. Overnight at Parador Hotel (or similar). Day 9: Free Day in Manuel AntonioFree day for optional activities, including boating through mangroves, sea kayaking and adrenaline canopy tours (at additional cost). Overnight at Parador Hotel (or similar). Day 10: Fly to San JoseDuring the day, we will provide transportation to the local airport for the domestic flight back to San José. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for a last evening to relax in the Tropics. Overnight at Bougainvillea Hotel (or similar). Day 11: Return HomeTransfer to Juan Santamaría International Airport, where you catch your flight home. Green season (from May to November 2007)
Dry season (from December 2006 to April 2007 )
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Additional DescriptionsTortuguero CanalsThis system of rivers and man-made channels parallels the coast and cuts through beautiful primary forest. One of the wettest regions in the country, it is also one of the areas with the greatest biological diversity. Most exploring is done by small boat in Tortuguero, although some hiking trails are available.Renowned naturalist Archie Carr did much of his work on sea turtles at Tortuguero and his “Casa Verde” research station is still situated here. In fact, Tortuguero gets it name from the Spanish word for turtle and is the most important nesting site in the entire western half of the Caribbean for the green turtle. Other species of sea turtles that also nest on the wide beaches of the park and refuge are the leatherback and hawksbill.Arenal VolcanoSitting just north of the Tilarán Mountains, Arenal is a spectacularly beautiful, cone-shaped volcano rising out of the flat San Carlos Plains. It is the most active volcano in the country and the frequent, loud booms can be heard as far away as Monteverde. Even in the daytime, it is a very special experience to see clouds of ash and smoke billowing into the sky, from Arenal's crater. On clear nights, spectators are occasionally treated to a real natural fireworks display, when an eruption of lava and burning rocks explodes into the air and showers down the cinder cone. Even when it's overcast, the rumblings, ventings and molten lava glowing eerily through the clouds, make for stirring spectacle. Ecotermales Hot Springs Amenities: 10 private bathrooms/changing rooms, sun deck and covered deck, four natural landscaped pools fed by waterfall, capacity for 76 guests Special features: not open to public, located on a Costa Rica family farm, authentic and peaceful, at source of hot spring. The Ecotermales Hot Springs is an exclusive retreat for those looking for a relaxing respite in natural springs heated by Arenal Volcano. Family owned and operated, the springs are surrounded by tropical foliage and set near an authentic ranch house complete with Costa Rican curiosities, such as a coffee grinder (pilon) and farming equipment. The four pools are landscaped with large, smooth river rock taken from the area and are large enough to offer plenty of room to spread out and find a private corner to relax among peaceful environs. The hot springs are not open to the public. Monteverde Cloud ForestAt 3000 feet above sea level in the Tilarán Mountains of northwester Costa Rica, isolated Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s most famous places and a world class example of conservation by a local community. Originally a small forest reserve set aside by the Quakers who settled the area in the 50’s, to protect the watershed for their dairy industry, Monteverde’s protected areas now cover nearly 30.000 hectares of private reserves, including the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Santa Elena Reserve and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is included on this itinerary, offers well developed and easily negotiable trails access some of the most beautiful cloud forest, anywhere. Often shrouded in cloud blown in from the Atlantic Ocean, the forests of Monteverde are laden with epiphytic growth such as mosses, lichens, ferns, bromeliads, orchids-even small trees!. Famous for its populations of Resplendent Quetzal, Monteverde has almost become synonymous with this legendary bird. Other cloud forest denizens include the Black-faced Solitaire, Golden-browed Chlorophonia and Black Guan. Visitation is limited to under 150 persons at one time (distributed on various trails) allowing for a very private connection with the forest. Manuel Antonio National ParkScenic Manuel Antonio National Park is a perfect combination of warm Pacific waters and rainforest that grows right down to the three white sand beaches. Nature trails take you along the beach strand and over a forested, rocky promontory. This park, in the humid tropical zone, protects several habitats, including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources. Because of its relatively small size and isolation by surrounding ocean and plantations, it is probably one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife, particularly sloths, coatimundis, agoutis, White-faced Monkeys and the tiny Squirrel Monkey. There is no development inside the park but, along the 7 kilometers (4 miles) of clifftop road leading to Manuel Antonio are dozens of small hotels surrounded by trees and lush tropical gardens. |
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Costa Rica-based Horizontes Nature Tours has been designing family vacations, honeymoon tours, and educational and adventure travel programs to Costa Rica's most beautiful and biodiversity-rich destinations since 1984.
Between 6:00 and 7:00 am you will be picked up at the hotel for your trip to Tortuguero National Park. On the way you will pass through cloud forests of Braulio Carrillo National Park and banana plantations on the Caribbean slope before a two-hour boat trip to Tortuguero. At night see turtles nesting on Tortuguero’s protected beaches (seasonal). Overnight at Pachira Lodge (or similar).
During the day private land transportation to Monteverde -- a community in the cloud forest world-renowned for its conservation efforts. In the afternoon take a soft adventure tour to the treetops for a bird’s eye view of the forest on Sky Walk suspension bridges. Overnight at Hotel Fonda Vela (or similar).
- Special Interest trips
- Family Travel