Costa Rica Explorer

• Itinerary
• Prices & Information

Day 1 – Home to San Jose
Board your flight today for San Jose, Costa Rica. Arrive in San Jose
and check into your hotel for a two night stay. We meet our expert,
full-time Costa Rican Bilingual Guide, Edgar Salazar, at the airport.
Hotel: Hilton San Jose Hotel or Similar

Day 2 – San Jose
Breakfast is served at the hotel this morning. An excellent opportunity
to learn about the history and culture of Costa Rica, see
different residential neighborhoods of the capital, beautiful parks,
the University of Costa Rica and various government buildings. The
tour includes a visit to the National Theatre – an architectural jewel
in grand European style – and to the Gold Museum. Later visit Doka
State Coffee for an interesting tour of the coffee plantation. Return
to San Jose for some leisure time. Enjoy a typical “tico cuisine” dinner
and a traditional show at Pueblo Antiguo.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 – San Jose to Tortuguero
R&J Tours has chosen to include Tortuguero for our guests, as this
truly is the best place to see wildlife. Sights include a Banana
Plantation, spectacular rain forests of Braulio Carrillo National
Park, and more. Enjoy a buffet of tropical fruits before boarding a
boat specially designed for canal navigation. Board flat riverboats
at Cano Blanco that will take us to our waiting wilderness lodge in
Tortuguero National Park, the amazon of Costa Rica. This amazing
intricate network of jungles, canals, peaceful lagoons, and islands,
set along the Carribean Sea, is a delightful adventure. In the afternoon
we will be at our leisure to experience the local culture and
habitat, visit some of the area’s wonderful natural attractions, walk
the nature trails, or just relax in a luxurious hammock.
Included Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Mawamba’s Lodge

Day 4 – Tortuguero National Park
Breakfast is served before a full day of exploring Tortuguero National
Park. You may see spider, howler and white faced-monkeys, and the
poison dart frog. Observe a variety of exotic birds including parrots,
toucans, kingfisher, and an array of other rare types. Lunch is served
at the lodge today. You can opt to take a guided canoe ride on the
parks rivers with a nature walk to the black-water lagoons. This
evening enjoy dinner at the lodge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Tortuguero to Arenal Volcano
This morning we depart Tortuguero and make our way to Arenal
Volcano. Lunch is included today at the Rio Danta restaurant.
We find ourselves surrounded by a diverse natural environment
and a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcano. Enjoy two nights
of relaxation in the midst of a tropical forest and a landscape of
exceptional beauty, with its’ forests, lagoons, fields of crops, rivers
with hot springs, and the most active volcano of Costa Rica: Arenal.
Later, join us as we experience an open air dinner at the beautiful
Arenal Restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Mountain Paradise Hotel

Day 6 – Arenal Volcano
The hanging bridges are located within the corridor, followed by
birds migrating between North and South America. The trails and
bridges of this project will bring you as close as you could ever
hope to get to the birds, the flowers, and the lush vegetation of the
primary rain forest. You will be able to walk right into the forest,
thanks to the imposing hanging bridges and the beautiful trails
that are safe and easy to walk on. You’ll have an opportunity to
experience the zip line canopy tour at your own cost. Or sign up
by November 2, 2009 and get it free! Later afternoon, we visit the
amazing and beautiful natural hot springs, “The Springs of Costa
Rica”. The hot springs offer outstanding therapeutic waters and the
atmosphere is gorgeous. You’ll have opportunity to soak in the
natural pools and hot springs set among cascading natural pools
filled with warm mineral water. A delightful dinner is served here at
the springs.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 – Arenal Volcano to Pacific Coast
After breakfast leave Mountain Paradise for the scenic Northwest Pacific Coast. Continue to the Hotel Tamarindo Diria surrounded
by exuberant vegetation, pools and is on the Pacific Ocean beach.
Your home for the next 3 nights will be in the center of town and
right on the beach. Enjoy a walk by the ocean or simply relax by
the pool. End the day with dinner served at the Hotel ocean terrace
as we watch a spectacular sunset!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Tamerindo Dira

Day 8 – Pacific Coast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then choose to enjoy the hotel
and ocean or depart for an optional hike to the Rincon de la Vieja
Volcano for some photo opportunities. Lunch will be on your own today. Return to the hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening in this
paradise setting!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 – Pacific Coast
Enjoy breakfast at your leisure this morning. Today, enjoy a full
day of leisure. Many choose to spend this day golfing, snorkeling,
scuba diving, fishing, walking along the beach, or an array of other
activities of your choice. Dinner is included again this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 Pacific Coast to San Jose
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the resort. As we travel back to
San Jose, we stop to visit the country’s famous artisan shop, El
Jardin,with it’s countless souvenir and handicraft handmade
artifacts. See elaborately painted bowls and trays, natural wood
serving utensils, tables, furniture, jewelry boxes, and carvings. It’s
time to fill any remaining empty spaces in our suitcases! We
continue on to San Jose for our last overnight stay. This evening
dinner is at a favorite local restaurant the “Los Anonos,” as we bid
farewell to beautiful Costa Rica.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hilton San Jose Hotel or Similar

Day 11 – San Jose to Home
After breakfast at the hotel we board our flight for home arriving
in Minneapolis this evening. Each person is responsible for $26 in
cash for departure taxes upon leaving Costa Rica.
Included Meals: Breakfast