Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours – Costa Rica Adventure Tour 2010
Costa Rica Adventure Tour
Glimpse the grandeur of nature in this dramatic landscape of active volcanoes, misty cloud forests, the Caribbean coast, and the mysterious jungle on a memorable, eco-rich Costa Rica travel adventure! Visits to a butterfly garden, a tropical agricultural college and a jungle cruise provide up-close views of nature. Costa Rica travel invites active participation in order to get the most out of the adventure, including an exciting “sky walk” on suspension bridges high above ground in the cloud forest canopy, a river float trip, and a lake cruise in the shadow of a volcano. Stays at acclaimed eco-resorts… sightseeing excursions with expert naturalists offering insights into the region’s unique ecosystems, native birds and wildlife… visits to conservation and nature centers… and a look at local farm life are all highlights of your Costa Rica travel experience!
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Welcome to Costa RicaYour Costa Rica travel experience begins at 6 PM at the Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica in Escazð, a suburb of San José. A transfer from Juan Santamaría International Airport to your hotel is included. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at the welcome reception and dinner as you prepare to begin your Costa Rica travel adventure.Meals: DinnerLodging: Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica |
| Day 2 | Monteverde Cloud Forest canopy walkKick off your Costa Rica travel as you enter the cooler climactic zone in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve for a two-night stay. Become a part of the cloud forest’s unique ecology as you challenge yourself on the Selvatura Sky Bridges, high suspension bridges crisscrossing the treetop canopy and over ravines. There are 400 bird species here, including 30 hummingbird species, but most are quite shy. You can rely on your experienced naturalist to point out any that reveal themselves – along with other residents of the cloud forest from howler monkeys to the Resplendent Quetzal. A lecture this evening by one of the original American Quaker settlers who created the cloud forest reserve in the 1950s gives you a new perspective on conservation.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Monteverde Lodge, Monteverde, Costa Rica |
| Day 3 | Wildlife galore in marvelous MonteverdeAn exciting day of biodiversity awaits in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve! Meet a wide variety of reptiles at the Serpentarium, and see more than 50 of over an estimated 1,000 native Costa Rican butterfly species, including the stunning blue morpho, at the enclosed Butterfly Garden; our naturalists pass along their expert insights on the butterflies’ complex life cycles. The Hummingbird Gallery introduces you to several species of these fascinating birds, and you’ll see photos and slides by noted wildlife photographers. Visits to a private reserve and the Frog Pond of Monteverde offer even more opportunities to see wildlife up close; throughout your stay at Monteverde, keep your binoculars at the ready to spot wildlife that may reveal themselves. Spend tonight relaxing amidst the orchid-filled gardens of your eco-lodge, where your room features bay windows looking out on the cloud forest!Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Monteverde Lodge, Monteverde, Costa Rica |
| Day 4 | Volcanic landscapes and soothing soaksTake in vistas of coffee plantations and cattle farms as your Costa Rica travel takes you to Arenal National Park, home to eight distinct biological zones as well as to Arenal Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcanoes – it’s been erupting continuously for over 40 years! Enjoy a short cruise across Lake Arenal, and go for a pleasant soak in private hot springs rich with therapeutic minerals. Spend the next two nights at a tropical resort nestled in a rainforest overlooking the San Carlos River.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica |
| Day 5 | Meet a farm family as you float through the jungleYour Costa Rica travel adventure continues in the jungle today with a float trip* down the scenic Penas Blancas River aboard a raft; look for wildlife ranging from sloths to giant iguanas along the shore. Meet a local farmer and his extended family who have lived on the river for generations; visit their private home for lunch and a glimpse of their daily life. Later, spend time enjoying all there is to see and do at your resort in the heart of one of Costa Rica’s most richly diverse ecosystems, from swimming to strolling through botanical and butterfly gardens.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica |
| Day 6 | E.A.R.T.H. University and a cruise to TortugueroEn route to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica travel to E.A.R.T.H., a tropical agricultural university, where student guides teach you about their educational programs seeking a balance between conservation and agricultural production. No Costa Rica travel adventure is complete without a visit to Tortuguero National Park, one of the world’s most important green sea turtle nesting sites. Cruise through jungle-lined canals to get to your remote riverfront lodge, reachable only by boat. Keep an eye out for a roseate spoonbill, or perhaps crocodiles and howler monkeys with the help of expert naturalists.Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
| Day 7 | Cruise through the jungles of TortugueroRenowned as one of the country’s most varied national parks, Tortuguero National Park is known for its 11 ecological habitats, ranging from high rainforest to herbaceous marshes. Explore the park’s vast network of waterways on private morning and afternoon cruises with a naturalist, visit the village of Tortuguero, and check out the Caribbean Conservation Learning Center to learn all about the area’s endangered sea turtles. You’ll have plenty to talk about with your Costa Rica travel companions tonight at the farewell reception and dinner!Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinnerLodging: Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica |
| Day 8 | Adios, Costa Rica travel!Fly to San José in the morning on a private charter flight, and catch your flight home. Your Costa Rica travel adventure ends at 10 AM at Juan Santamaría International Airport. If you’re departing on a flight scheduled for after 1 PM local time, you may join us on a visit to a coffee plantation in the San José area. Some flight schedules may require additional nights in San José; inquire at booking.Meals: Breakfast |
Price Guide
| April – November | Land Price | On-Tour Air (1 flight) |
Total per Person |
| Double | $2285 | $105 | $2390 |
| Single | $2628 | $105 | $2733 |
| Triple | $2194 | $105 | $2299 |
| Holiday Departures December 13, 27 |
Land Price | On-Tour Air (1 flight) |
Total per Person |
| Double | $2685 | $105 | $2790 |
| Single | $3042 | $105 | $3147 |
| Triple | $2594 | $105 | $2699 |
Note: Costa Rica departure tax is not included.
All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.
About The Tauck Luxury Escorted Tours Experience