Family Fun in the Tropics - Central America, 10 days
This 10-day tour departs any day of the year, subject
to availability. Families will delight in dolphin-viewing,
walking the turtle beaches, and countless other activities
to share. Pricing may vary during holiday seasons.
Tour Highlights:
- A safe, flexible, easy-to-plan luxury vacation for
parents or grandparents traveling with children.
- Luxurious, family-friendly accommodations, including
three nights at Costa Rica's premier eco-hotel, the
visionary Si Como No.
- Explore the diversity of Costa Rica's Pacific and
Caribbean beaches, smoldering volcanoes, cloud forests,
and Central Valley, traveling by land, boat and air.
- Wildlife viewing on foot and by boat in three of
Costa Rica's most abundant protected areas: Tortuguero,
Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio.
- Travel to the summit of Poas Volcano, famed for
its vast smoldering crater and sea-green lake in the
clouds.
- Fun, meaningful experiences allow families to share
the thrill of discovery, from dolphin-spotting by boat
at Manuel Antonio, to walking the turtle beaches of
Tortuguero and meeting local families at a remote Caribbean
village accessible only by boat.
- Perfectly paced for young travelers, with new adventures
every day, and ample free time for beach activities
and optional excursions such as horseback riding and
butterfly garden tours.
- SPECIAL RATE FOR TEENS (12-18 YRS) SHARING ROOM
WITH ADULTS - $1245
- SPECIAL RATE FOR KIDS (11 AND UNDER) SHARING ROOM
WITH ADULTS - $895
Day 1: Arrive San Jose, Costa Rica
-
Your holiday begins with a friendly tico-style welcome to the natural
paradise of Costa Rica. Our representative will assist you through arrival
procedures at San Jose Airport, and escort you to your well-equipped
resort in the scenic Central Valley. The balance of the day is at leisure
for swimming, tennis,and nature walks through the surrounding gardens
and greenery.
Accommodations : Hotel Bougainvillea
Day 2: Tortuguero National Park -
Set out this morning through breathtaking countryside to the steamy Caribbean
lowlands of Tortuguero National Park. Keep a lookout for waterfalls,
showy flowers, and giant "umbrella leaves" tumbling down
the lush roadside hills as you drive past the dense rainforest of Braulio
Carrillo. Continue to the docks of Matina where you board a small boat
for a gentle float trip through the forest, to your canal-side lodge
in Tortuguero National Park. Wildlife abound on the banks of the river
and canals, where crocodiles lounge in the sun and towering trees provide
perches for birds, lizards, sloths and monkeys. Enjoy a late lunch
on arrival at your lodge, with the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
to swim and stroll the nature trails.
Accommodations : Pachira Lodge ( B L D )
Day 3: Tortuguero National Park -
A naturalist-guided boat excursion on the canals and back channels of
Tortuguero begins your day. Drift along silently, listening to the
awakening jungle -- howler monkeys bellowing in the forest, a squawking
match erupting between toucans -- a jungle symphony, all for you. Return
to your lodge for lunch and a mid-day break before an afternoon walking
tour along the beach where masses of green sea turtles come to nest
every year. Complete your tour at the local village, so remote it is
only accessible by boat, where you can meet and spend time with local
children and families. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodations : Pachira Lodge ( B L D )
Day 4: Poas Volcano - Monteverde Cloud
Forest -
Fly early this morning back to San Jose, to begin a remarkable day that
will take you from the smoldering cauldron of Poas Volcano, down to the
Pacific lowlands, then ultimately up to the cool, misty cloud forest
landscapes of Monteverde. Your tour of Poas will take you to the volcano's
summit to peer into the steaming vents of its massive main crater. You
can also walk through a dwarf cloud forest full of birds and dripping
with foliage, to the rim of an extinct crater filled with the sea-green
waters of a small lake. Continue to Monteverde where you have a free
afternoon at your hotel near the entrance to the famous Monteverde Reserve.
Accommodations : Trapp Family Lodge or similar
( B L D )
Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest -
Arise this morning for a guided nature hike on groomed trails through
the private cloud forest of Monteverde, a rich, picture-perfect landscape
of orchids and waterfalls, towering trees heaped with green tangles
of vines, ferns and mosses, and an unusual assortment of birds. Your
guide will use a trained eye to help search for monkeys, sloth, tiny
insects and frogs, and will explain some fascinating qualities of the
1500 plant species native to this area. Return to your hotel for lunch
and a free afternoon for touring the Butterfly Garden or other optional
activities.
Accommodations : Trapp Family Lodge or similar
( B L D )
Day 6: Manuel Antonio National Park
-
Return to the Pacific coast for a drive to the sparkling crescent beaches
and gently sloped forests of Manuel Antonio. Here you will begin a three
night stay in one of Costa Rica's most brilliant and innovative eco-hotels,
towering over the park. Arrive well fed and refreshed from a mid-day
luncheon and swimming stop at Villa Lapas along the way. Then settle
into your ocean-view, deluxe suite and prepare for the exciting activities
of the next two days.
Accommodations : Si Como No (Deluxe Suite)
( B )
Day 7: Manuel Antonio National Park
-
A private half-day hiking tour of Manuel Antonio Park will yield countless
delights. Search for glimpses of its abundant wildlife such as sloths,
capuchin and squirrel monkeys, agoutis, coatimundi, frogs, leaf-cutter
ants, iguanas and prehistoric-looking ctenosaur lizards. The afternoon
is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful the beaches frequented by monkeys,
or perhaps join an optional excursion.
Accommodations : Si Como No (Deluxe Suite)
( B )
Day 8: Manuel Antonio National Park
-
An enchanting morning has you boating offshore for close views of the
playful dolphins that frequent these waters, as well as the many seabirds
and perhaps even a breaching whale. The balance of your day is unscheduled.
Accommodations : Si Como No (Deluxe Suite)
( B )
Day 9: La Paz Waterfall Gardens -
Central Valley -
Fly today over golden beaches and forest-blanketed hills back to San
Jose. You are met on arrival and taken on a tour of the La Paz Waterfall
Gardens, a private wildlife refuge with hummingbird, orchid, and butterfly
gardens. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for up-close photos
of many tropical species. Then continue to your hotel in the Central
Valley.
Accommodations : Hotel Bougainvillea ( B L )
Day 10: Depart San Jose -
With new friends and new appreciation of nature, you are transferred
to the airport and assisted with boarding your homebound flight. (
B )
Prices are per person, double occupancy.
Tour operates with minimum 2 persons.
Family Fun in the Tropics
Dates
of Season |
Land-only |
International
Air
(sample fare) |
Internal
Air |
Single
Supplement |
Jan-01-04
Apr-30-04 |
$2345 |
$450 |
N/A |
N/A |
May-01-04
Jun-30-04 |
$2295 |
$450 |
N/A |
N/A |
Jul-01-04
Aug-31-04 |
$2345 |
$450 |
N/A |
N/A |
Sep-01-04
Oct-31-04 |
$2295 |
$450 |
N/A |
N/A |
Nov-01-04
Dec-31-04 |
$2345 |
$450 |
N/A |
N/A |
International airfare quoted
from Miami. Air Taxes not included. All airfares
are subject to penalties and seasonal surcharges
and based on availability. Fares also available
from other major USA Cities. |
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THE TOUR COST INCLUDES:
- Any internal flights within Costa Rica as specified in the itinerary
- Indicated accommodations or those of similar quality, inclusive of
hotel taxes
- Meals as indicated (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
- Local English speaking guide(s) services during included excursions
- Park Fees and entrance fees to indicated sights of interest and national
parks
- Airport transfers as indicated
- Ground transportation as specified in Costa Rica with driver
- Pre-departure destination travel planning guide
- Attractive Big Five in flight bag, document wallet and luggage tags
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST:
International airfare to Quito, Ecuador. Departure Tax of approx $25
per person payable locally, Passport and visa fees. Travel insurance.
Excess baggage or shipping charges. Items of personal nature such as
gratuities to guides and drivers, rental of snorkeling equipment aboard
some vessels, telephone / telex / fax charges, laundry, beverages, meals
and services not specified.
Departure Dates:
This tour departs on a daily basis.
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