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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 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 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)
Due to current flight schedules from San Jose, this morning we have a 4:30 AM early transfer (approx. 4 hours) back to San Jose, where those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport in time for their return flight. Land only clients end in San Jose and arrival at the airport will be timed to coincide with the group flight.*Please note that the 13 August departure will fly back from Liberia, so the trip will either end in Carrillo beach or Liberia airport.
Travel by minibus, boat and on footGroup normally 4 to 16, plus local leader7
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.
Travel by minibus, boat and on footGroup normally 4 to 16, plus local leader7
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 the Arenal Paraiso
Hotel. This property is close to Arenal Volcano and has large natural grounds
with wonderful views of Arenal Volcano. Rooms are comfortable and well
equipped. There are several natural pools fed by spring water to relax
in. 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
LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of Lufthansa or 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.*Please note that the 13 August departure will fly back from
Liberia, so the trip will either end in Carrillo beach or Liberia airport.
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 ponchoWarm mid-layer (fleece or wool) - for cool eveningsLightweight
cotton (or “wickable” quick-drying fabric) clothes for low-lying
areasLong sleeved shirts and trousers will help prevent mosquito bitesShort
trousersLightweight walking/trail bootsTrainers/sandalsSun-hatSwimsuit &
towelTorchSunglasses, sunscreen and lipsalveWater bottleInsect
repellentPersonal first aid kitTravel 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 2-5Soft drink
USD 2-5Medium beer USD 3-7Local snack lunch USD 10Three course dinner* USD
35Bottle of wine USD 40Bottle 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: USD49Wildlife and Mangrove Kayak:
USD49Turtle 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 insuranceSingle 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.