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DAILY ITINERARY (B,L, D indicates included meals that day ) Depart on your own arrangements from your home city to Liberia Costa Rica (airport code LIR). Upon your arrival, you will be met and then taken by our group’s private included transfer service directly to our group’s hotel for the first 4 nights of our tour, the beautiful 4 star Tamarindo Diria beachfront hotel. Read more about the Tamarindo Diria by clicking the links to the following websites for pictures, details and reviews of the hotel. http://centralamerica.com/cr/hotel/diria.htm Hotel Tamarindo Diria boasts modern amenities and luxurious accommodations featuring minibar & safety deposit box. The hotel also offers e-mail service and a full laundry service and is walking distance from many restaurants, shops and nightclubs. Our passengers will all enjoy ocean view rooms at this fine property, situated right on the vibrant Pacific Ocean sands. Tamarindo Beach Resort is located on the north pacific coast, it is an ideal place located in the heart of TAMARINDO, recognized as one of the country’s nicest beaches with all the amenities of a Costa Rican beach town
This evening at 7pm, we will meet Gustavo, our local, bilingual guide. Gustavo will be with us for the entire trip and is at your service for any needs or questions you may have. He has been with us guiding our Costa Rica trips since our first visit and he is the most knowledgeable, conscientious and dedicated guide you will meet anywhere.
Sunday December 6th (B) This afternoon we will enjoy an excursion to the fabulous Palo Verde National Park. You may spot Variegated Squirrels, Howler Monkeys, White-nosed Coatis, White-tailed Deer, White-throated Capuchin Monkeys, white-face monkeys, iguanas, Collared Peccaries and many more. Palo Verde is also known as a bird-watchers' paradise. More than 300 bird species have been recorded, not least great curassows and the only permanent colony of scarlet macaws in the dry tropics. At least a quarter of a million wading birds and waterfowl and jabiru storks, the largest storks in the world, flock here in fall and winter. Lunch is included at the park. After our tour, we will return to our hotel for another evening at leisure
If you wish, enjoy an optional morning excursion to go horseback riding along the beach or ATV riding along the beach.
This afternoon we will enjoy a private catamaran sailing excursion. The excursion will offer our passengers the chance to relax on deck, with outdoor deck space for lying out under the sun, as well as covered seating space for those wishing the comfort of the shade. We will enjoy plentiful appetizers and drinks (both soft drinks and alcoholic drinks will be provided at no cost by our private chartered captain and his crew sailing us on a course to some of the best snorkeling in the area (snorkeling equipment is provided for those wishing to go snorkeling, as are kayaks, each at no cost). As our sailing excursion returns, we will enjoy a spectacular sunset at sea, with an open bar and service provided by the boat’s crew.
Tuesday December 8th (B) If you wish, enjoy an optional morning excursion to go horseback riding along the beach or ATV riding along the beach. We will return to the Tamarindo Diria hotel for the evening at leisure to enjoy the restaurants and nightclubs, all walking distance from our hotel once more.
Wednesday December 9th (B, D) At the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano, lies Tabacón Hotel Springs Spa & Thermal Resort – a true, tropical paradise of nature, adventure and relaxation. Tabacón offers luxurious accommodations and amenities in a picture-perfect and natural setting. Its distinctive facilities are comprised of thermo-mineral rivers, flowing through exotic tropical gardens, forming natural waterfalls and river pools. The Tabacón Hot Springs perfectly combine mineral content, volume and temperature. While there are many hot springs destinations around the world, few offer this special balance set in a splendorous natural paradise.
Proudly awarded membership to The Leading Hotels of the World as of January 2007, Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort is a five-star resort located at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, in the northern region of Costa Rica. A three-time World Travel Awards recipient, the 114-room property offers luxurious accommodations and friendly service in a quaint tropical environment Its distinctive facilities are comprised of thermo-mineral rivers, flowing through exotic tropical gardens, forming natural waterfalls and river pools. The resort also offers a world class Spa facility, featuring a full array of massage services, facials, mud wraps and more. Try the waterfall massage, a soothing massage, in a private bungalow, alongside one of the resort’s waterfall hot springs.
The Tabacón Hot Springs perfectly combine mineral content, volume and temperature. While there are many hot springs destinations around the world, few offer this special balance set in a splendorous natural paradise. http://www.tabacon.com After a late afternoon check in, we will enjoy an included buffet dinner at the resort and then enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure to savor the natural hot springs, at the resort and its adjacent buffet restaurant, serving delicious dinner items. There are paths that meander from one hot spring to the next, each with its own character. Two have a natural waterfall that passengers can sit under as the warm waters cascade over them. One of the hot springs has a tiki bar adjacent to it from which passengers can take their favorite drink into the hot spring to relax in real comfort, while another hot spring has a built in tiki bar with bar stools, so passengers don’t even need to get out of the soothing waters to enjoy their favorite drinks. Their multiple hot springs are open until 10pm and offer separate changing rooms with lockers for men and for women. Fresh towels are provided to all guests. The feeling of soaking in the hot springs under the night sky is amazing. If you wish, sit and soak under their natural hot spring waterfall, with its own built in seating platform for the ultimate in relaxation to simply let go and unwind in this tropical paradise. At your leisure, you may return to the on-site changing rooms/lockers facility, where you can change clothes, return used towels and then walk back to your room (or take the free shuttle right to your room, if the springs relaxed you to the point you want to be pampered with transit back to your room)
Thursday December 10th. (B) This morning we will visit the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Just a short 10 minute drive from Tabacon, the Arenal hanging bridges are a unique marvel of nature. Set in a forested domain, we will walk across pathways where are local expert naturalist guide will describe the many indigenous plants and other items that make the forest their home. The highlight of the walk is the several bridges built into the forest. As we cross these bridges, you will gain a wonderful perspective and a panoramic view of the forest. You will even see a waterfall in the forest from one of the bridge overlooks. Arenal Hanging Bridges is one the most beautiful environmentally-friendly projects in Costa Rica. Located in front of the Arenal Volcano and within the corridor followed by migratory birds between North and South America, the project's trails and bridges bring you close to the birds, flowers, and lush vegetation of the primary rainforest. With safe and easy access, the trails allow you to walk right into a beautiful forest. The imposing hanging bridges overlook a dense canopy with volcano views looming in the background.
After our tour, we will return by our chartered coach, the short 10 minute ride back to the Tabacon Hot Springs, where we will enjoy free time at leisure to relax, have lunch at leisure (not included) or visit the hot springs to soak in its many pleasures. From the hot springs by day, you can often see another unique view of Arenal volcano with smoke protruding from its top almost each day.
Mid this afternoon, we will enjoy a late afternoon tour to the Arenal Sky Tram and Trek Canopy tour. The tour location is less than 30 minutes drive from our resort. The tour is the ideal way to get both a bird’s view of the lush tropical forest, as well as enjoy a thrilling, safe, adventure ride high above the forest. The tour begins with the leisurely paced Sky Tram gondolas that will provide a smooth ride through the rain forest, with endless views along the way, so you can appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds you on your way to the top. Once at the at the observation deck, you will be able to enjoy the most magnificent views of the volcano’s south face for as long as you desire. From the observation deck, you will have two options for returning to the base. The first option is to ride back down the same way you came up, on the Sky Tram. On the ride you will be able to notice how the vegetation varies as the altitude changes once again. The other and more exciting option is that you can zip your way to the bottom along the fast moving Sky Trek Canopy Tour (also called the Zip Lines), the best option for those seeking a rush of adrenaline. The zip line canopy tour takes you across several cables constructed between the tree tops. Standing on the first of several tree top platforms, you will be placed in a safety harness that is then attached to the 1st cable. Then you will literally “Zip” from one platform to another across the cable. You will enjoy the thrill of gliding from one platform to the next, with views of the forest, the volcano and scenic Lake Arenal. Gliding high above it all, you will effortlessly go from one platform to the next, as you make your way, naturally back down to the base of the mountain. Upon our return to Tabacon, the evening is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the hot springs one more memorable time. You may wish to have dinner at Tabacon or join us as we head into the nearby town of la Fortuna where our local guide will pick a restaurant for all to enjoy dinner at their leisure (not included). For those that do join us for dinner on the town, you will also have the option to join us for a special free night volcano watch outing. This annual favorite takes us by our chartered coach to an overlook, just 5 minutes from our hotel, where, on a clear night, you will see the red lava flowing down the always active Arenal volcano. This volcanic activity occurs every night and can be seen when the sun is down each night. It is a memorable sight to see and one you won’t forget ! Upon returning to Tabacon Hot Springs Resort, enjoy, if you wish, a night dip in the thermal waters of the natural hot springs at Tabacon, as the springs are open until 10pm. Friday December 11th – (B) Saturday December 12th (B,L) A buffet breakfast is served at our hotel. Then, we are escorted by deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach to the Poas Volcano where a view from the observation deck provides stunning looks into the volcanic crater and its deep pools, as well as, on a clear day, a view of both the Pacific and the Caribbean, one of only 2 places in the Americas where both bodies of water can be seen from one observation. This afternoon, we will visit the La Paz waterfalls, butterfly and hummingbird gardens. La Paz offers the largest butterfly garden in all of the Americas, as well as a walking path to view many birds, monkeys and toucans. The waterfall trail, takes us to view 5 beautiful waterfalls amid lush trees. Walking just 15 minutes from the visitor's center, the main crater supplies guests with a spectacular view. At almost a mile in diameter (1.6 km), the crater & rain-fed sulfuric pool still bubbles and emits smoke into the air, reminding you of its imposing activity. Although the last major eruption was in 1910, visitors can still see geysers explode into the air up to 820 ft. (250 m) high. Chances of getting wet are pretty remote as the crater descends almost 1,000 ft. La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the #1 Most Visited Privately Owned Ecological Attraction in Costa Rica featuring the most famous waterfalls in Costa Rica, rescued wildlife preserve with over 100 species of animals and an environmental education program
Sunday Sept. 8th After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out of our hotel this morning and then board our coach for the short transfer to the San Jose airport (we will have 2 transfer times to meet the needs of flight times of our passengers. All passengers should book their return flight from San Jose Costa Rica (SJO) airport.
TRIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Tours included on our itinerary:
Trip cost: $1998 including tax based on double occupancy with free roommate matching based on age, sex and smoking or non smoking preference Passengers must provide their own air arrangements from their home city into Liberia Costa Rica (LIR) and home from San Jose Costa Rica (SJO) A deposit of $200 is due within 7 days of making your reservation
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