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A week's escape in magical Costa Rica!
The group flight usually arrives into San Jose this afternoon. Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. This evening's welcome briefing is the perfect opportunity to meet your guide and get to know your fellow travellers. Accommodation: Studio Hotel (or similar)* *
We drive to the area surrounding Arenal Volcano. Following a large eruption in 1968, Arenal was Costa Rica's most active volcano until recently when it entered a resting phase. There is a lot of geo-thermal activity in this area, with natural hot springs, waterfalls and Lake Arenal waiting to be discovered. Today we visit La Fortuna Waterfall, a 65 metre cascade of water plunging into an emerald pool below. A short trail through the rainforest brings us to a steep set of steps that we must descend to reach the waterfall and then ascend to the exit - this takes around 20-30 minutes and will be rewarded with a swim in the emerald pool. It is possible to visit the lookout point and wait for the group here if you prefer. There will be plenty of time to see what animals you can spot in the forest along the way; keep an eye out for colourful toucans in the trees! Accommodation: Arenal Manoa or Arenal Paraiso (or similar)
After breakfast we make our way towards the Balsa River for an exhilarating whitewater rafting excursion. The rapids here are graded II and III and have nicknames such as “Magnetic Rock” and “Dredges” – prepare to get wet and wild on this adventure which is sure to be great fun for everyone! No experience of this activity is needed as a full safety briefing and instruction is given before getting into the rafts. Tropical scenery flanks the river and we may spot monkeys, toucans or other animals in the surrounding forest. There will also be a stop for drinks and tropical fruits along the way. On our return to La Fortuna we stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at “Vida Campesina”, a traditional country estate that allows visitors to experience typical country life in Costa Rica. Lunch will be made with ingredients harvested on the property and prepared on a wood stove in traditional style. Accommodation: Arenal Manoa or Arenal Paraiso (or similar)
From Arenal we travel to the Tilaran Mountain Range in the Central Highlands for a taste of the Costa Rican cloud forest. Reaching Monteverde involves a fast boat across Lake Arenal which is incredibly scenic and will take roughly half an hour. Our journey is then completed by private minibus as we ascend the hills towards Monteverde, a forest-cloaked region whose name literally means 'Green Mountain'. The high altitude supports a complex eco-system where plants thrive, particularly orchids of which there are some 400+ different varieties here. Our total journey time will be in the region of 3.5 hours, including the lake crossing. Around 6pm we have a night walk to experience the forest in the dark. This gives an entirely new perspective on the habitat of the cloud forest, with many pairs of eyes staring back at you! We may see sloths, armadillos, porcupines, possums and coatis and will surely hear a cacophony of insects and amphibians. Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge (or similar)* *
Today we visit Selvatura Park which has 850 acres of protected land dedicated to nature and adventure. We begin with the hanging bridges excursion, which is a system of treetop walkways through the forest designed to let you experience the beauty of the cloud forest and observe its many inhabitants. We’ll also visit the butterfly garden which has one of the largest exhibitions of butterflies in the world, and the hummingbird garden where more than 14 species of hummingbird will amaze you with their aerial manoeuvres. After this it’s time to try out some aerial manoeuvres of our own on a zip line adventure through the tree tops! Before you fly down the zip-lines, guides will teach you the proper technique, including how to position yourself and hold the cable correctly, enabling you to safely embark on this adrenaline pumping adventure suspended above the trees. Accommodation: Monteverde Country Lodge (or similar)* *
We travel to the region of Samara on the Pacific Coast, one of the best kept secrets in Costa Rica! The broad, shady bay is backed by coconut palms and the water is calm and safe for swimming thanks to a coral reef just out to sea on which the normally large, Pacific waves break before reaching the beach. There are plenty of facilities in this area but there's a noticeable absense of big resort hotels, which makes for a nice atmosphere. Our hotel faces onto Carrillo beach in the neighbouring bay to Samara. We have a free afternoon here to enjoy the facilities and discover the area. Accommodation: Nammbu Hotel (or similar)
Today we take a private boat trip around 2 – 10 nautical miles offshore from Carrillo beach in search of dolphins. You could be lucky enough to see Spotted dolphins, Central American Spinner dolphins or Common Bottlenose dolphins which all inhabit this area year around. Feel the ocean breeze and enjoy the scenery of the coastline as we search for these playful animals who love to swim in the bow wave of the boat! As we make our way back along the coast, we will anchor near the shores of Isla Chora, a delightful white sand beach full of hermit crabs and iguanas. This is a great spot for a refreshing swim and a chance to observe the underwater world by wearing a mask and snorkel. Beneath the surface teems a lively world with huge marine diversity. In total today’s excursion will last around 4 hours, with the rest of your time at leisure to enjoy the area. Accommodation: Nammbu Hotel (or similar)* *
A four hour journey takes us back to San Jose, where those on group flights will be transferred to the airport in time for their return flight. Land only clients end in San Jose and are advised not to book a flight leaving San Jose before 4pm today, as arrival at the airport will be timed to co-incide with the group flight.
* Flights usually direct with British Airways
* Travel by minibus, boat and on foot
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader
* 7 nights comfortable hotels
All breakfasts and 2 lunches are included in the price of the tour, allowing
you plenty of flexibility for non-included meals to be taken as a family or
with the group.
Costa Rican specialities include 'Gallo Pinto', a black bean and rice dish
considered to be a staple part of the local diet. Soups, stews and fresh fish
are also common, and most hotels offer International menu's as well. There is
a lot of fresh fruit in the tropics - you may need to share your bananas with
monkey's from the hotel gardens!
Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests,
vegetarians can usually be well catered for.
* Flights usually direct with British Airways
* Travel by minibus, boat and on foot
* Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader
* 7 nights comfortable hotels
Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate)
This holiday has been designed for teenagers aged 13 - 16, but is also
suitable for children aged 9 - 12.
Our family activity levels are aimed at children in the primary or
‘Designed for’ age group. We are confident it is also suitable for those
in the ‘Also for’ age range, however please note if your child is in this
secondary category they may find it a little tougher. Please see the family
activity levels on our website for further information. When grading our
trips we consider multiple factors, the pace — how busy an itinerary is —
and the level of activity involved. Then there’s the amount of time a
family will spend travelling and the weather is an important factor too.
Reaching Costa Rica will involve approximately 11 hours of air travel (or 14+
if you travel on indirect flights) and when you get there it can be hot and
humid, which can be tiring.
This holiday aims to show you the best of Costa Rica using a mixture of buses
and boats. Whilst the driving distances are not huge and most roads are
good, some sections are of poor quality/pot holed, which can result in slower
driving times. Most drives are not longer than 4 hours and all drives will be
broken up with regular stops. On some travel days we depart early in the
morning to ensure we optimise the time at our next destination.
There are some dangerous insects and snakes present in the jungle, although
incidents are extremely rare. Advice from the guide must be heeded at all
times – it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that children
listen to the guide and don’t stray from paths.
The trip involves a walk to reach La Fortuna Waterfall that has some steep
steps. There are also several included activities, such as whitewater rafting
and a zip wire canopy tour: experience of these activities is not required as
a full safety briefing will be covered at the start, and all necessary
equipment will be provided. Please be aware that some activities may be
changed as a result of the weather.
All of the accommodation is comfortable with private bathrooms and everywhere
has air conditioning apart from the lodge in Monteverde. For further details
please see the accommodation section below.
Hotels in Costa Rica
We stay in four comfortable hotels during this tour for a total of 7
nights;
In San Jose we stay at the modern 4* Studio Hotel, conveniently located near
the airport for an easy arrival transfer at the start of the holiday.
In Arenal, our accommodation will normally be at the 3* Arenal Manoa Hotel.
This property is close to Arenal Volcano and has large natural grounds
showcasing the surrounding rainforest. Rooms are comfortable and well
equipped. There are several natural pools fed by spring water to swim in. We
also use the Arenal Paraiso hotel in a fantastic setting with wonderful views
of Arenal Volcano.
In Monteverde, we stay at the Monteverde Country Lodge, a 3* star property
providing cosy, comfortable and warm accommodation. This property doesn't
have a swimming pool or air conditioning as it's in an area of Costa Rica
that is typically much cooler.
By the Pacific Coast we stay at the 3* Nammbu Hotel, a beachfront property
overlooking Carrillo beach. This family run property has large rooms,
wonderful ocean views and a lovely swimming pool. 
All breakfasts and 2 lunches are included in the price of the tour, allowing
you plenty of flexibility for non-included meals to be taken as a family or
with the group.
Costa Rican specialities include 'Gallo Pinto', a black bean and rice dish
considered to be a staple part of the local diet. Soups, stews and fresh fish
are also common, and most hotels offer International menu's as well. There is
a lot of fresh fruit in the tropics - you may need to share your bananas with
monkey's from the hotel gardens!
Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests,
vegetarians can usually be well catered for.
The majority of our travel will be done in an air-conditioned 16 seater
minibus, but we also use small motor boats for some activities such as the
Lake Arenal crossing and the boat excursion to see dolphins.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 9 days *
The group flight from London is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the
itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of British Airways (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up‐to
date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be
confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 8 days starting and ending in San Jose *
Your trip normally starts in San Jose in the evening of Day 1 of the
itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final
Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before departure. The
cost of a taxi is likely to be about USD25-30 should you decide to make your
way independently.
Exodus offers FREE airport arrival transfers on any flight for this trip, so
no matter which flight you choose to arrive on you will be met and
transferred to your hotel.
All land only clients taking advantage of the free airport transfer must
provide full flight details for their arrival in advance; unless specified
otherwise, the transfer will be to the Exodus start (or pre-tour) hotel;
transfers to other hotels in the same city may attract an extra charge;
transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the same flight, or on
a flight with similar arrival times.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to
you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at
least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our
office or your travel agent.
The trip ends at San Jose airport in time for the departure of the group
flight.
Costa Rica is located 10º north of the equator and has an almost perfect
tropical climate. The average temperature is 12ºC – 22ºC in the
highlands, and from 22ºC - 27ºC in the lowlands. There is a rainy season
from May to November when there are daily downpours, though these are usually
quite short and there is still plenty of bright sunshine, so the midsummer is
not necessarily a bad time to go. December to April is the driest time of the
year but you should still expect some rain. Many areas visited on the trip
are hot and humid throughout the year.
We advise you to pack as light as possible for your convenience as you will
be on the move during this trip. Below is a suggestion of what you might find
useful to take - it is not an exhaustive packing list. You should try to
be prepared for a variety of climates.
Lightweight waterproof jacket/trousers or rain poncho
Warm mid-layer (fleece or wool) - for cool evenings
Lightweight cotton (or “wickable” quick-drying fabric) clothes for
low-lying areas
Long sleeved shirts and trousers will help prevent mosquito bites
Short trousers
Lightweight walking/trail boots
Trainers/sandals
Sun-hat
Swimsuit & towel
Torch
Sunglasses, sunscreen and lipsalve
Water bottle
Insect repellent
Personal first aid kit
Travel adaptor/chargers
Hand santiser / bio degradable wet wipes
Wet shoes or old trainers that you don't mind getting wet are ideal for the
rafting and boat trip (these can be bought locally if necessary)
If you wear glasses, you should have a sports band to secure these to your
head for the rafting excursion (or take them off). Glasses bands can be
bought locally if necessary.
A laundry service may be available in some hotels, but we recommend you take
bio-degradable travel detergent so you can wash clothes as you choose.
Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours so avoid wearing dark blue or green
t-shirts.
Camera, binoculars for wildlife viewing, small daypack, universal sink plug.
We also recommend bringing a re-usable fabric tote bag so that you can avoid
using unnecessary plastic bags whilst in Costa Rica.
US dollars are widely accepted as payment in Costa Rica, however change will
likely be given in local currency and the exchange rate will fluctuate. We
suggest taking some US dollars with you but then using ATM's to withdraw the
rest of your money in local currency whilst you're there.
You should allow extra to cover the cost of those meals not included in the
price of the holiday. Approximate costs are given for guidance only, and may
vary widely according to location and type of establishment.
Coffee/tea USD 2-5
Soft drink USD 2-5
Medium beer USD 3-7
Local snack lunch USD 10
Three course dinner* USD 35
Bottle of wine USD 40
Bottle of water USD 2
*reasonable mid-range tourist class restaurant.
Optional Activities:
Monteverde:
Don Juan Coffee Tour: USD35
Trapiche Tour (Sugar cane mill): USD71
Frog pond tour: USD45
Monteverde Orchid Garden: USD45
Samara/Carrillo:
SUP (stand-up-paddle) Mangrove tour: USD49
Wildlife and Mangrove Kayak: USD49
Turtle nesting tour (night time): USD49 (visits Camaronal, Corozalito or
Ostional beach depending on season)
Tipping is an accepted part of everyday life, and - although it is always at
your discretion - you will be expected to tip to reward service. Your group
leader will be able to give you an indication of when and how much is
appropriate. This can vary widely, but please allow £25 per person
(including children) for this trip. Porters at the airport and hotels are
normally tipped about USD1 per piece. Also, if you wish to tip your group
leader and driver (in recognition of their contribution towards your overall
enjoyment of the holiday) a suggested guideline would be approximately £1 to
£2 per person, per day. Occasionally the tour leader will suggest organising
a tipping kitty to facilitate these and other tips (such as waiting staff in
restaurants) which will be collected in advance at the start of the trip.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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