Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloudforest:
Sta. Elena Cloudforest Reserve & Skywalk, Manuel Antonio National
Park & Beaches
Detailed description EX1 (Comfort+,
with english-speaking
naturalist guide)
Day 1
San José - (-)
Welcome! Upon your arrival at San José International
Airport our English-speaking representative will greet you
and escort you to your hotel. At this time you will be provided
a short briefing and an informative travel handout.
Overnight stay Grano de Oro
Day 2
Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs- (BF)
After breakfast your adventures begin, you will be off together with your private guide to La Fortuna at the active Arenal Volcano. In the afternoon, you will explore the Silencio Trail with your guide and hike through the rainforest at the foot of Arenal Volcano where you have the possibility of spotting monkeys and a large variety of birds, including toucans and trogons. You will end the hike with a magnificent view of Arenal Volcano, where, with a bit of luck, you can see the flowing lava of Costa Rica’s most active volcano. This stunning experience is followed by an evening at the hot springs of Ecotermales, to enjoy a soothing bath of waterfalls and natural pools against the backdrop of fresh nighttime air and a starry sky, all within beautiful, tropical gardens.
Overnight stay Arenal Springs Resort or similar
Day 3
Arenal Volcano - MonteverdeCloud Forest- (BF)
Today continue your journey, enjoying a drive around Arenal Lake to Tilarán or Cañas, before taking on 35 km’s of adventurous gravel road, winding your way to Sta. Elena in the Monteverde Cloud Forest region. Once in Monteverde, there are numerous optional activities that you may enjoy during the remainder of your afternoon, including a visit to the Frog Pond, the Snake Farm, or the Orchid Garden (your guide is at your disposal, entrance fees not included). Overnight stay Hotel Fonda Vela
Monteverde:
Southwest of Lake Arenal at an altitude of about 1800
m extends Costa Rica's most popular nature reserve: Monteverde,
which represents only a small part of the cloud forest, it
is the most visited and as consequence the animals living
in this ecosystem have slightly retracted. The visitor may
enjoy more the private nature reserve of Sta. Elena, which
borders the Monteverde Park; they both belong to the same
ecosystem, and this is evident by the manifold fauna and flora.
The 345 ha cloud forest nature reserve of Sta. Elena has well-marked
trails by which the visitor is carefully led through this
humid and dusky world. The high humidity supports the growth
of approx. 2500 different kinds of plants, among them many
orchids and bromeliads; up to day, about 100 different mammals
(i.e. the ocelot, jaguar and monkeys) have been sighted, however
they can hardly be seen due to the dense vegetation, but encountering
the various birds living here, is a unique experience: among
the 400 kinds of birds of this region, we may - with some
luck - also see the Quetzal, the most famous among the Central
American birds.
Day 4
Monteverde Cloud Forest - (BF)
Today’s adventure is a "walk in the clouds", to immerse in the sights and sounds of the cloud forest’s inhabitants greeting the new day. Start with your feet on the ground, hiking through lush forest toward the Treetop Walkways of Selvatura; suspended bridges, platforms and trails elevated deep within the canopy of the cloud forest. From here we are allowed a gentle, rare glimpse through the tops of giant trees into the nether regions of this hidden world that would otherwise remain a mystery to most of us. While exploring the different bridges and trails keep your binoculars or camera handy, since you might catch a glimpse of the rare and famous bird of kings – the Quetzal! There are numerous other optional activities that you might want to enjoy during the remainder of your afternoon, including a visit to the Frog Pond, the Snake Farm, or the Orchid Garden. Overnight stay Hotel Fonda Vela
Day 5
Manuel Antonio (optional: Carara National Park)- (BF) After breakfast we take a drive on the Interamericana South along the coastline towards the town of Jacó. We’ll stop at the bridge over Rio Tarcoles, a great place for spotting large crocodiles, basking on the banks of the river. If you wish, we’ll visit Carara National Park, one of the main nesting sites of the Scarlet Macaw. (Optional, with an entrance fee of approximately US $ 10 p.p) You’re welcome to hike for a bit on the park trails before we continue our drive further south to Manuel Antonio for an afternoon check-in at your hotel.
Overnight stay Hotel Costa Verde
Day 6
Manuel Antonio National Park & Beaches- (BF)
Are you ready for capuchin monkeys, sloth, iguanas, anteaters, and multiple species of birds, all within easy walking distance into the rainforest? A hike of about 1.5 hours on the park’s trails will get you this and more, including fantastic beaches within the park, where you are free to soak up some sun or bathe in the refreshing Pacific Ocean. Overnight stay Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio: This park
with an extension of almost 1,800 acres attracts the visitor
with its gorgeous hiking trails through abundant, tropical
jungle bordering white sandy beaches and blue-green water.
The evergreen fascinating forest is the home of about 100
species of mammals and 180 kinds of birds. A hiking trail
through dense vegetation all around the cape enables you to
catch the beautiful sight of 12 smaller islands just in front
of it. This is a splendid combination of nature experience
and beach fun.
Day 7
San Jose- (BF)
Ride back to San José. Once in San José, the
remainder of the day is yours to do as you wish. You might
visit one of the various galleries or museums (optional -
entrance fees not included) or just go on a sightseeing spree
with your guide who is with you until evening. Overnight stay Grano de Oro - Breakfast
Day 8
Departure or Extension Program- (BF)
Transfer to the International Airport for your flight
back home.
BF =
Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, BL = Box Lunch
NOTE:
This
tour is available in 3 different versions:
"Comfort+" Tour (with driver/guide
and private vehicle) - see description above
"Wheels
& Vouchers" self driving tour
"Budget+"
Tour (with seat-in transfers/INTERBUS from hotel
to hotel)
After breakfast we take a drive on the Interamericana South along the coastline towards the town of Jacó. We’ll stop at the bridge over Rio Tarcoles, a great place for spotting large crocodiles, basking on the banks of the river. If you wish, we’ll visit Carara National Park, one of the main nesting sites of the Scarlet Macaw. (Optional, with an entrance fee of approximately US $ 10 p.p) You’re welcome to hike for a bit on the park trails before we continue our drive further south to Manuel Antonio for an afternoon check-in at your hotel.
