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Costa Rica Tours & Holiday Packages: National Geographic Tour - G Adventures

Costa Rica: National Geographic Tour (G Adventures)
Costa Rica Tours Holiday Packages G Adventures National Geographic
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,477
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
RYA13S
• Costa Rica Tours & Packages
• G Adventures Tour
• National Geographic Guides
• San Jose
• Tortuguero Wetlands
• La Fortuna
• Arenal Volcano
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Manuel Antonio Park
• Costa Rica Tours Tours & Holidays

Our Costa Rica tours & holiday packages include this tour with G Adventures, led by National Geographic trained guides. Starting from San Jose, we travel from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast - visiting the Tortuguero Wetlands, Arenql Volcano, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio National Park. Learn to make tortillas in La Fortuna and hike in a magnificent cloud forest. Maximum group size = 16 (but average is 12).

Day 1
You will be met at San Jose Airport and transferred to this capital city in the Central Valley, surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains to the south and the volcanoes of Poas, Irazu and Turrialba.
 
Check in to your hotel and relax in this modern city.
Day 2
Today is at leisure to explore San Jose independently.
 
If you head into the city you can visit Plaza de la Cultura, the main plaza in the city centre, which is a good place to people watch. A mime, juggler, marimba band, magician, or storyteller may be performing for whatever is collected when the hat is passed. Artisan booths are common, creating a regular arts and crafts fair atmosphere.
 
You can also visit the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum situated beneath the plaza (pay entrance fee locally). This small art museum has an intriguing collection of over 2,000 artworks and artefacts relating to the pre-Columbian era (500 AD to 1500 AD) and a large collection of coins, including the Media Escudo - Costa Rica’s very first coin
 
Feel free to explore the city before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on your welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour.
 
Note: Costa Rica has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and is a top destination for nature lovers. As such, there is a lot of rain, regardless of the season, allowing for its lush green rain forests and cloud forest, in which flora and fauna thrive. Please come prepared for the possibility of wet weather and variations in temperature.
Day 3
Travel by land and motorised canoe to Tortuguero National Park. Located on the Caribbean coast, Tortuguero - translated as “land of the turtles” - is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtle. Settle into our secluded lodge, then enjoy a guided boat trip along Tortuguero’s tropical waterways.
 
Enjoy a delicious Costa Rican breakfast en route as we transfer by road then boat through the famous canals of Tortuguero. This tropical eco-paradise is home to countless bird and animal species, and you will have many opportunities to view and photograph wildlife.
 
The tropical rainforest gives way to prime secluded beaches, ideal nesting grounds for green turtles (nesting July through October), loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback turtles (nesting March through June). ??We cannot guarantee you will see turtles, but that odds are fairly good from July through October.
 
Note: In Tortuguero National Park we stay in a remote jungle lodge that is only reachable by boat. Rooms are simple, with ensuite, electricity and hot water, but due to this remote location there can sometimes be interruptions to services. There is no A/C but each room has large-screened windows and ceiling fans to catch the breeze off the Caribbean Sea. While at the lodge during your downtime, you can enjoy the pool, bar or beach. The stunning location, wildlife and natural beauty of the location more than makes up for a few minor inconveniences.
 
Occasionally, the Sea Turtle Conservancy is closed to visitors as it is an active research facility. In the event this happens, you'll visit the nearby Caño Palma Biological Station, which includes a sea turtle and marine conservation presentation, a hands-on turtle measuring experience on the beach, and optional beach clean.
Day 4
This morning, we’ll explore the wildlife-rich canals of Tortuguero National Park once more, seeking out howler, spider, and capuchin monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds.
 
Hop on board, kick back, and prepare to witness a parade of tropical birds, reptiles, and mammals as we motor through the black water canals of the Tortuguero National Park. Scan the trees for toucans, watch the shores for caimans, otters, iguanas and frogs, and look up to see monkeys sharing space with sloths. Bring your binoculars and bug spray. Be prepared for hot, humid, and possibly wet weather.
 
Afterwards we visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting sea turtles. Founded in 1959, the organisation was inspired by the work of pioneering conservationist and National Geographic grantee Archie Carr. Later, enjoy time to relax at the lodge pool, take a stroll along the beach, or head out on an optional kayaking excursion or seasonal turtle nesting night walk.
 
There’s plenty of opportunity to see a variety of birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. In your downtime, relax on a hammock at our secluded lodge or at the pool or on the beach.
 
Note: Occasionally the Sea Turtle Conservancy is closed to visitors. as it is an active research facility. In the event this happens, you'll visit the nearby Caño Palma Biological Station, which includes a sea turtle and marine conservation presentation, a hands-on turtle measuring experience on the beach, and optional beach clean.
 
Day 5
Depart early for the town of La Fortuna, situated at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano.
 
En route, visit a G Adventures-supported coffee cooperative to gain insight into the process of coffee production, from bean to cup, and find out where your cup of java comes from. Visit the Mi Cafecito coffee cooperative in San Miguel de Sarapiqui, see shade-grown coffee plants, learn about everything from harvesting, to husking, drying, and roasting the beans before enjoying the best part – a fresh cup!
 
Enjoy an included typical lunch of plantains, beans, and freshly caught tilapia fish and feel good about all this eating and drinking, knowing that you are supporting a 'G Adventures for Good' project that helps 200 farmers and their families.
 
After a typical lunch - accompanied by an aromatic cup of coffee - continue to La Fortuna. Check in to your hotel and unwind by the pool, taking in views of the surrounding jungle, the verdant hills, and the dark silhouette of the volcano.
Day 6
At leisure to independently explore the small town of La Fortuna (pay any entrance fees locally).
 
In 1968, the Arenal Volcano erupted after centuries of lying dormant, converting this quiet agricultural town into a hot spot for adventure travel. Many optional activities are available - including the Sky Tram & ziplines, the Hanging Bridges in the treetop canopy where you can search for rainforest wildlife such as sloths and monkeys, the La Fortuna waterfall and many walking trails around Arenal Volcano.
 
You can enjoy kayaking or paddle boarding on Lake Arenal, horse riding, mountain biking, ATV tours or a gentle cruise down the Penas Blanca River. If you are adventurous you can also try river tubing and waterfall canyoning, or venture into a world of stalactites, stalagmites and subterranean species on a visit to the Venado Caves. Alternatively you can simply relax at one of the many Hot Springs.
 
Day tours are also available to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, the rainforests of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, the turquoise waters of the Rio Celeste, or across the border into Nicaragua to view the Penas Blancas Massif.
 
This evening we visit a local home to learn how to make tortillas. Chat with your welcoming hosts and dig into an included traditional Costa Rican dinner of black beans, plantains and your own handmade tortillas.
Day 7
Enjoy another full free day to explore the magnificent surroundings of La Fortuna.
 
In the evening you can join an optional guided night trail in search of nocturnal wildlife.
Day 8
From La Fortuna, we make our way by road and boat to the misty mountain region of Monteverde. Spend two days exploring this charming little town and the nearby cloud forest reserve - a nature lover’s paradise.
 
Optional activities include a guided Cloud Forest night walk.
 
Note: The town of Monteverde is fairly small with shopping and some great restaurants, but most of the upgraded accommodations in this area are located outside of the main town centre - to take better advantage of the natural beauty and stunning landscapes of the area. Taxis are readily available to take you into town and back and can cost approx. $10 USD each way. Accommodations tend to be a bit more simple here, with fewer amenities. It's important to remember that the cloud forest sits at a higher elevation and offers a cooler but humid climate - which is why hotels in this area do not have air conditioning. It can also feel damp in rooms, which is unavoidable in such a climate.
Day 9
Set out on a hike in the stunning Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve today, treading past giant ferns and vibrant orchids. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the resplendent quetzal - a sacred bird in Maya and Aztec cultures.
 
In your free time, embark on an optional zip- ining adventure, gliding high above the treetops and zooming through the misty foliage. Alternatively enjoy optional horse riding.
Day 10
We pay a visit to the Monteverde Institute today, a research and educational organisation supported by National Geographic. Hear from a researcher about some of the institute’s conservation initiatives, including a successful reforestation project. Then roll up your sleeves and head to the nursery to help plant trees and collect data for the project. Lunch is included today.
 
Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Optional activities include a visit the Butterfly Gardens to see dozens of local species, explore forest trails, go zip-lining or visit a coffee plantation. You can also visit the Monteverde Hanging Bridges to get high into the treetop canopy and enjoy a bird's eye view of the cloud forest.
Day 11
Leaving the cloud forest behind, we travel to Costa Rica’s sweeping Pacific coast and settle into your hotel in the busy seaside town of Manuel Antonio.
 
Soak up the laid-back atmosphere of the area. The white-sand beaches and warm Pacific waters are the ideal atmosphere to relax at the end of your adventure. If you opt to chill out at the beach, be sure to walk out into the sea on the incredible natural sand formation that is shaped like a whale's tale when the tide goes out.
 
Note: Hotels in Manuel Antonio are not located on the beach, but are scattered along the cliffside road that overlooks the stunning coastline and lush jungle. The beach, national park, markets, shops and restaurants are easily accessible by frequent public bus (safe and easy to use) or taxi.
Day 12
Discover the lush tropical forests and white-sand beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park on a guided day trip. Costa Rica’s smallest national park - yet one of the most spectacular - boasts an abundance of wildlife including monkeys, armadillos, sloths, iguanas, and countless species of birds. Hike through the dense forest, climb up to rocky outcrops for views of the dazzling Pacific Ocean and go swimming in the park’s lovely lagoons and tidal pools.
 
Later, enjoy some free time at the beach. Pack your sunscreen, snack and beach shoes, and prepare for a great day in Costa Rica’s smallest yet no less stunning national park. Manual Antonio offers four white-sand beaches, separated by jagged rock outcrops and tidal pools. Swim, snorkel, surf, and sunbathe. When you’re all beached out, head to the shade of the nearby hiking trails to search for sloths, monkeys, and armadillos. Climb to the lookout to capture views of the pristine Pacific Ocean and the area’s off-shore islands
Day 13
Spend a full day exploring Manuel Antonio on your own.
 
Walk along lush jungle trails looking for toucans in the treetops or head out for a snorkelling excursion on the nearby reef. Kayak amid the coastal mangroves or in the open sea, try a surfing lesson or set sail on a catamaran, keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales. Alternatively enjoy white water rafting or horse riding.
 
There's plenty to see and do in Manuel Antonio and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Day 14
Today we return to San José.
 
Tonight you can choose to join the group for an optional farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Day 15
Transfer to San Jose Airport for your flight home.