Tortuguero, Arenal, Monteverde

<p style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in .25in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'source-serif-pro',serif; color: #666666;">Welcome to Costa Rica!</span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in .25in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'source-serif-pro',serif; color: #666666;">After passing through migration and customs, you can meet your Costa Rica Travel Adventures English Speaking Guide and your Spanish Driver with a sign with your name on it. Transfer to your hotel afterwards.
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'source-serif-pro',serif; color: #666666;">Driving time is approximately 50 minutes.</span></p>
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Early morning pick up at Hilton Garden Inn (5:30am approx.)  Your Transfer Guide, and your diver will transfer you to the airport where you will board a 25-minute Sansa domestic flight to Tortuguero National Park.

The Park originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle. Eleven habitats are found in the park. Three species of monkeys, along with more than 320 species of birds including all six species of kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, eight species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin and the Purple-throated Fruitcrow.

Early afternoon; Kayaking the mystical canals of Tortuguero National Park.

Kayak through the majestic  canals and rainforest of Tortuguero National Park on this unforgettable two-hour tour. Schedule an early morning or afternoon transfer by boat from the lodge to the quiet backwater creeks and lagoons of the park, where you will launch your kayak. You will be accompanied by a bilingual Tortuguero guide for the duration of the trip. Life jackets and will be provided, and your kayak’s seat can be adjusted to ensure your utmost comfort and security.  Your guide will give a full safety briefing and paddling instructions before the tour begins. No previous kayaking experience is required.

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Leave early morning the lodge by boat (shared with other guests) with your naturalist guide to explore the creeks of the National Park or join one of the available experiences included in your program which can take you deeper into the rainforest or to the nearby town. The morning hours are especially active in the rain forest when wildlife is hungry and in search of their energy source for the day.

In the afternoon journey back through time and glimpse the fascinating history and culture of Tortuguero Village, first known as Turtle Bogue or treat yourself to the only birds-eye view of the majestic Caribbean lowlands on a two-hour intermediate-level hike up Cerro Tortuguero. Return to the lodge by boat.

Late afternoon you are welcome to discover the magical twilight hours of the rainforest on a two-hour walk-through Tortuga Lodge’s private 26-hectare nature reserve. Join your fellow guests and the local naturalist guide at the front desk to be fitted with rubber boots and receive a rain poncho and flashlight.

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After breakfast, guided boat ride through the jungle back to the dock of La Pavona Dock where a van & driver will be waiting to take you to La Fortuna, Arenal.

The journey from La Pavona to your hotel would be 4 hours approximately.

Late afternoon, 10 minutes free shuttle to Titokú hot springs, where hotel guests enjoy complimentary admission to the heated hot springs.

Admission Schedule; from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Titokú offers 8 different hot springs. Every pool has a different temperature and a different size (from 6 to 20 people depending on the pool). Titokú features reception area, waiting room, bar (for up to 30 people), meeting room (for up to 50 people), bathrooms (also for disabled), dressing rooms and lockers for your convenience.

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Full day at the Arenal volcano area. During your stay the following activities are included.

Pick up by your English Local Guide and Driver. Drive for 30 - 50 minutes to the Hanging Bridges. Once there, the hike will start with on the suspended bridges that traverse the rain forest canopy. The entire project was designed to blend with the natural environment, leaving the forest virtually intact. As you walk, you can observe diverse flora, reptiles, birds, and insects from tropical rain forest as well as some views of the Arenal Volcano (weather permitting). The trails are made of cement tiles and have some steep sections with 15 –20% gradient. You return to your lodge after the activity at the bridges.

<strong>Tour Duration is</strong> 3 hours approximately

Pick up, and transfer for the approximately 3-hour adventure, kayaking across the waters of the Arenal Lake, Costa Rica’ largest and most breathtaking lake. Paddling these calm waters will give you the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife that surrounds the lake such us monkeys, iguanas, and many tropical birds. A snack of fresh local fruit is included.

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After breakfast (pick up 7:30am approx), depart from Hotel Kioro via Van-Boat-Van to the area of Monterde via Lake Arenal Boat crossing. Nice combination of ground and water transportation used as a shortcut between the areas of Monteverde and La Fortuna.

The combination of both transfers is about 2 ½ hours, depending on wind and road conditions.

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Full day at the area of Monteverde. During your stay the following activities are scheduled.

Morning shared transfer with your Local Naturalist Guide and your Driver to the Monteverde Reserve area (transfer time is approximately 25 minutes). Hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve from the visitors ‘center. The trails at the reserve are well-kept and have moderate gradients & steps, ascending ramps, alternating flat sections and quite appropriate conditions including bridges and handrails.

With the assistance of your Naturalist Guide, try to discover elusive birds in the cloud forest, including the mythical Quetzal, the sacred bird of the Mayans! Many more birds like hummingbirds, thrushes, trogons, or toucans can be seen in the reserve.

Sky Trek is a thrilling zip line circuit that’s located in the magical forests of Monteverde. Your tour will start riding an open-air gondola from the ground to the highest point of the mountain where you’ll be dropped off at an observation area to admire fantastic views of the surrounding forests, the Arenal Volcano on one horizon, the gulf of Nicoya at the other. From this area, you will start riding down a unique zipline circuit that stretches across canyons, going from one mountain to another, and in between treetops. It truly is an exhilarating adventure of zip lining down the mountains.

In case of any members of the family would not feel comfortable with this activity, the Sky Tram might attract your interests the better.
For your knowledge, tour would be as follows:

The Sky Tram gondolas rise smoothly through the Cloud Forest, offering up endless views during their mountainous ascent. This tour is perfect for people who want to take a different approach on admiring nature, without much physical effort but still be on spot where natures exhibit all its magic. On tour, you will be attended by a bilingual guide who will point out distinctive characteristics of the flora and fauna and other interesting facts of the area. Our Sky Tram travels up the mountains to arrive to a wide observation platform on the highest point of the reserve, where you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding forests, the Arenal Volcano on one horizon, the gulf of Nicoya at the other.

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After lunch,  ground transfer with Spanish Speaking Driver back to your San José hotel (3 hours transfer approximately).

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Pick up by your Naturalist Guide, and your Spanish Speaking Driver.

As you’ll be getting out of the city, you could see the contrast of the busy city life with the tranquility of the rural life, dedicated to agriculture, mainly to the coffee plantation.
You will also have the opportunity spotting ferns, flowers, strawberry, and dairy farms.

Upon your arrival to the centenary Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, you will have a Costa Rican typical breakfast and start with the coffee tour afterwards. Here you will learn about the ancient techniques used by the experts to produce some of the best coffee in Costa Rica and around the world. The careful process involves the cultivation, harvesting, and roasting of the Golden Bean.    After the coffee tour, continue your way on to the Poás Volcano where you will not only admire its impressive main crater and trails, but you’ll also learn about the different ecosystems in this unique and protected national park.  Estimate arrival time at San Jose 2:00pm

Your Transfer Guide and your Spanish Speaking Driver will be on time to get you to Juan Santamaría International Airport; 3 hours before your scheduled departure flight for check in purposes

<strong>Important Note: </strong>When flying or traveling by boat within Costa Rica a maximum of 30 pounds of luggage is allowed per person.

We’d be happy to assist you with the arrangements of your luggage excess.