The Best of Costa Rica: A Wildlife and Nature Safari
Vacation in Costa Rica in one of the most biologically diverse countries in Central America! Costa Rica is the ideal setting for an adventure travel tour with a treasure trove of flora and fauna unequalled in so small an area. Join AdventureWomen for a unique 11-day Costa Rica women-only wildlife viewing and nature safari that is really hard to beat!
AdventureWomen's Costa Rica adventure vacation capitalizes on the plethora of engaging activities in this “miniature continent” of staggering topographical variations. You go whitewater rafting on the exciting Pacuare River, sea kayak the lagoons and jungle waterways of Tortuguero National Park, horseback ride on Cocles Beach, explore the Costa Rica rainforest on an Aerial Canopy Adventure, relax in hot spring pools, hike the lava flows of the Arenal Volcano, and snorkel in the fabulous Caribbean waters of Cahuita National Park.
Costa Rica is the ideal destination for a wildlife and nature safari! In Costa Rica, a tiny country, no bigger than West Virginia, you are amazed at the abundance of incredible bird life, plant life, butterflies, reptiles, and smaller mammals that make their home here. Costa Rica has over 12,000 varieties of plants, including a bewildering assortment of orchids; 237 species of mammals, running the gamut from monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, agoutis, tapirs, and coatis to sloths; over 850 species of birds (the U.S. and Canada together number only 350); a population of butterflies that outnumbers Africa’s; and 361 amphibians, including two types of endangered turtles.
On this very special Costa Rica vacation, AdventureWomen takes you from the beaches of the Caribbean to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, from volcanoes to tropical rainforests, and from Costa Rica’s rushing rivers to its canals and lagoons. In all the travels on your Costa Rica adventure, stay in first-class hotels, extremely comfortable eco-lodges, and beautiful resorts in the rainforest and at the foot of a volcano. The Costa Rican cuisine is fresh and delicious, and you have the services of a knowledgeable (and vivacious) Costa Rican guide throughout the journey. Join AdventureWomen on this “BEST of Costa Rica” vacation.
Main Attractions
Experience an exciting array of adventurous activities, including an “Aerial Canopy Tour”, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, and hiking.
Explore beautiful beaches, plus swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters of Costa Rica’s Caribbean sea.
Stay in Costa Rican luxury hot springs resorts, hotels, bungalows, and rainforest eco-lodges.
Learn about and see some of Costa Rica’s 12,000 plant varieties, 237 species of mammals, 850 species of birds, and more butterflies than Africa!
Hike the lava flows of the Arenal Volcano with an outstanding bilingual, local guide.
Trip Details
Duration
11 Days/10 Nights
Location
Costa Rica
Season
October
Trip Type
Fully Guided
Nearest City
San Jose
Physical Condition Required
Good
Destination(s)
Costa Rica
Minimum Age Limit
30
Sports/Adventures covered
Wildlife Viewing, Natural History, Birding,Cultural Exploration, Whitewater Rafting, Sea Kayaking, Horseback Riding, Aerial Canopy Tour, Hot Springs, Walking, Photography
Guest Capacity
19
Accommodations
First-class hotels, extremely comfortable lodges, and beautiful resorts in the rainforest and at the foot of a volcano.
Dining
Ten breakfasts, eight lunches, and nine dinners included.
About Liquor
Available with meals for additional cost.
Rates
$3,795.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
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Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Depart for San Jose, Costa Rica Depart from home, arriving for the start of your Costa Rica vacation in San Jose, Costa Rica in the late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel, located between the airport and downtown San Jose, for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River and Aerial Canopy Tour Excitement today as you begin your wildlife viewing and nature safari in Costa Rica with an overnight whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River! Go team! Time on the river is an excellent way to experience the Costa Rican rainforest and the camaraderie of new AdventureWomen friends.
Lunchtime arrival at the spectacular and award-winning Pacuare Jungle Lodge, with afternoon aerial canopy tour. Adrenaline flows as you explore the canopy of the Costa Rican rainforest, traversing safely in a harness and cable system, from platform to platform — a FANTASTIC and SAFE way to see the spectacular rainforest vegetation and all the animals, birds, and fauna that live there.
Day 3: Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River to Totuguero National Park Continue your Costa Rica whitewater rafting trip on the Pacuare River, stopping to visit pristine waterfalls and natural waterslides. Transfer after lunch by boat to Tortuguero National Park and the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.
Day 4: Explore Tortuguero National Park Tour the lagoons and jungle waterways of Tortuguero National Park today by boat/sea kayak! Home to an extensive network of freshwater creeks and lagoons, there are various species of turtles, caiman, river otters, crustaceans, manatees, and over 50 species of freshwater fish. See spider, howler, and capuchin monkeys, and dozens of species of birds.
Day 5: Visiting Limon and the Caribbean Coast Transfer to the lush South Caribbean coast, an area rich with unique culture and traditions. Stop in the port city of Limon for a quick city tour, then continue on to the Caribbean coast and arrive at your home for the next three nights, a wonderful Costa Rican lodge on the white sand beach of Playa Chiquita. The lodge’s bungalows are nestled in a great tropical garden surrounded by pristine beaches and wild tropical jungle. Listen to the sounds of the local birdlife and jungle under the bright moonlight and sparkling stars.
Day 6: Horseback Riding on the Beach and Free Afternoon Go horseback riding in Costa Rica on a guided morning trip from the white sands of Cocles Beach through a beautiful coconut grove and on to a magnificent stretch of tide pools. Pass the exclusive Playa Chiquita beaches and observe the tidal zone’s bird life and blooming jungles along the shore.
Continue to the splendid Punta Uva Beach in Costa Rica, rated by Travel & Leisure Magazine as one of the five most beautiful beaches in the world. Take a well-deserved swim before returning to the resort to enjoy the free-form swimming pool or the beach.
Day 7: Snorkeling and Hiking in Cahuita National Park Full-day trip to Cahuita National Park, a Costa Rica nature preserve that protects over 55,000 acres of ocean and marine life. Spend the morning snorkeling among the 35 different species of coral and 500 different species of multicolored fish. In the afternoon, hike the trails of the national park to catch a glimpse of some of the park’s diverse Costa Rican wildlife before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 8: Exploring Waterfall and Butterfly Gardens and then on to Arenal Volcano Transfer to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and the world’s largest butterfly observatory. Walk nature trails while viewing butterflies, hummingbirds, and awesome waterfalls, then continue to the spectacular Arenal Volcano area and your deluxe hotel at the foot of the volcano. Surrounded by streams of spring waters flowing from Arenal Volcano National Park, the thermal hot springs create a spectacular environment.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Relax in the famous hot springs pools or have a massage/spa treatment.
Day 9: Hiking Lava Flows and a Relaxing Day at the Hotel Take a fascinating morning hike through the old lava flow trails of the Arenal Volcano. Spend the afternoon with optional activities such as mountain biking on quiet country roads, fishing on Lake Arenal, or have lunch at Tabacon Hot Springs. Or spend more time relaxing with a massage and spa treatment.
Day 10: Shopping in Sarchi and Return to San Jose Stop for shopping in the small town of Sarchi, then return to San Jose for a fun farewell dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Transfer to the Airport and Flights Home Transfer to the San Jose International airport and depart for flights home.
This Package Includes
Individual pick-up and transfer from San Jose International Airport to the first night’s hotel, and return to the airport from the last night’s hotel.
All land and water transportation throughout the trip.
All scheduled activities and excursions with an English-speaking naturalist bilingual guide, service guides, and drivers thoughout the entire itinerary.
Entrance fees to all parks and reserves.
Full-day trip to Cahuita National Park, including round-trip transportation, snorkel gear, lunch, local guide, and a guided hike through the national park.
Overnight whitewater raft trip to a spectacular jungle lodge on the Pacuare River.
All hotels, lodges, and resorts as described in the itinerary.
All meals as listed in the itinerary.
Special welcome and farewell dinners.
One AdventureWomen escort throughout the trip.
Notes
What Clients Say About AdventureWomen “The Costa Rica trip was superlative! My daughters and I had a fabulous time: the variety of activities kept three very different people happy all of the time - quite a feat.”
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