Essence of Costa Rica

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1 Highlights Explore historical buildings & museums in San Jose Pontoon boat cruise on the Ramsar-listed waterways of Tortuguero National Park Visit La Selva, one of the world s important tropical rainforest research centres Hike Monteverde cloud-forest trails in search of the local quetzal birds Share the Pacific Coast views with sunbathing iguanas & Capuchin monkeys at Manuel Antonio National Park View scarlet macaws, white-faced monkeys & sloths from our eco-lodge Support local co-operative businesses, organic farms; visit museums & enjoy traditional cooking classes In this relaxed Central America country, national parks and private reserves protect an incredible array of flora and fauna in wetland ecosystems, cloud forests, volcanic landscapes and golden beaches. After exploring the markets and historical centre of the capital of San Jose, we cruise the jungle waterways of Tortuguero National Park. Located in the north east of the country, this Ramsar-listed wetland protects marine and land turtles, manatee, tapir, jaguar, sloth and a myriad of birdlife species. Nearby La Selva, an important rainforest research centre, we walk some of the extensive trails in search of unique wildlife and birds. We visit Monteverde and St Elena Cloud Forest Reserves, on the spine of Costa Rica s continental divide. The biodiversity in this virgin tropical rainforest includes exotic orchid species and an incredible variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. We enjoy natural history walks and explore the Children s Eternal Rainforest. Leaving behind the mist shrouded mountains we travel westwards to the Central Pacific Coast and our base on the Gulf of Nicoya. We spend time at a hacienda / working ranch which includes a national wildlife refuge plus a Ramsar-listed wetland and mangrove forest at the mouth of the Abangares River. We continue to one of the country s smallest but most scenic national parks, Manuel Antonio. This is renowned for its biodiversity of tropical plants and wildlife, from three-toed sloths and endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys to hundreds of bird species. On our return to San Jose we visit the charming town of Heredia for an immersion into coffee culture, and explore Poas Volcano National Park. DETAILS Price: Twinshare / person (ex San Jose) Advanced Early Bird: A$8,850 until 23/02/2018 Early Bird: A$9,050 until 5/07/2018 Regular: A$9,350 Single Supplement: A$765 Note: For single people who prefer to share, we will try to find a suitable roommate, but if this is not possible the sole-use surcharge will apply. Minimum Group size: 8 guests Special Interest: Wildlife, Botanical, History, Culture, Geology Note: Can be joined with Patagonian Journey & Guatemala - Mayan Magic Images of Toucan, Iguana and juicing cane on this page kindly supplied by Merle Jensen For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 1

2 WALK RATING Easy to Moderate: 3 15km per walking day (challenging options due to high humity, rugged & wet terrain). Age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience, and anyone of reasonable fitness should be able to join this tour. We reserve the right to be flexible with the itinerary to allow for unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions and group fitness. INCLUSIONS 17 nights twin share accommodation - 4 star hotel, haciendas & lodge accommodation with private facilities Meals include - 17 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners Transfers and boat tours as listed in itinerary National park, conservation centre, scientific and museum entry fees where noted Professional tour leader assisted throughout by local tour guides Basic group tips where required Pre-departure material including background & personalised A-Z tour information and destination tour companion EXCLUSIONS Airfares & taxes to start / from end of tour Airport transfers Heavy or excess baggage Travel insurance Personal expenses e.g. drinks (water, alcohol, tea & coffee), tour leader tips, laundry, telephone, or optional tours / excursions TOUR LEADER Phil Cullen is an avid bushwalker, historian, explorer by heart and accomplished photographer. A former ABC broadcaster, IPT marketing manager and tour coordinator, Phil has led IPT tours in Australia and to the Loyalty Islands, Cuba and Costa Rica. Whilst based at Lower Beechmont, Phil is currently living in Shenzhen, where he keeps himself busy exploring the tracks and trails of Asia and the Middle Kingdom. FAQ S How & when to book? Our biggest message to you is BOOK EARLY!! Many tours book out very quickly so the moral of the story is the early bird catches the worm! To qualify for any of the early bird prices, you simply need to send a completed booking form and deposit of A$400 per person per tour, by the early bird dates listed at the front of the tour itinerary. We offer A$500 discount per person if you book by the Advanced Early Bird date and A$300 discount per person if you book by the Early Bird date. If your deposit arrives after any of the early bird dates, the tour balance will be at the regular price. To place your booking, simply visit com.au to pay your deposit and book online, or complete a Tour Booking Form, and post / fax / it to us with your deposit. Once you have booked on a tour, we will stay in contact with regular mailings (see below). What information and contact can I expect? When you send your initial deposit, we will contact you to confirm your booking. Once the tour has been confirmed to depart, a comprehensive information pack will be sent to you, including a Tour A-Z, suggested packing list, medical questionnaire, balance of payment invoice, and pre / post accommodation options. We can assist you with flight arrangements but please don t book flights until our office contacts you to confirm that your tour has been confirmed to depart. The final mailing is sent out approximately three weeks before departure and includes final tour documents, address list for family and friends, meeting points, and any final travel information. What is the group size? We specialise in small group travel with an average group size of around guests. Please see the front page for details on the minimum group size for this particular tour. All tours need a minimum number of passengers to operate at the price listed in the itinerary. If the minimum number is not reached, a tour may still operate with a surcharge. How fit do I have to be? When you are assessing your ability and agility to participate, age is not necessarily as important as your fitness and recent walking experience. Please read the tour walk rating and the day by day walking descriptions in the itinerary to determine if the tour is suitable for your fitness. If you have any queries, we are happy to put you in touch with either the tour coordinator or tour leader to discuss your fitness in more detail. What gear and equipment do I need to take? Because we focus on half and full day walks, returning to our accommodation in the afternoon, you don t need to carry any more than a daypack with rain wear, sunscreen, drinking water, camera and lunch. A few tours include an overnight hike where you will need to carry personal gear for the journey. We recommend hiking boots on most of our tours as they offer good ankle support and grip. A detailed packing list is included with your tour s information pack. For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 2

3 TOUR Day 1 Fri 02 Nov San Jose Our hotel is centrally located in San Jose, where on arrival you can familiarise yourself with the surrounds, sights and smells of this fascinating Central American city. We gather in the hotel lobby at 6:30pm for group introductions, followed by tour briefing and welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant. Meals: D Walks: None Day 2 Sat 03 Nov San Jose & surrounds This morning we join our local guide who will travel with us throughout the remainder of the program, for an explorative city walk, taking in the colourful local markets, San Jose national theatre and museum. The remainder of the afternoon is free for us to either further explore the city or take the opportunity for an afternoon siesta. Meals: B Walks: 3hr easy city walk Day 3 Sun 04 Nov Caribbean Coast We board an early public shuttle bus for the scenic drive to Tortuguero village and the Caribbean coast, stopping along the way to enjoy breakfast. Upon arrival at the dock, we board a river boat for a unique transfer through the tropical jungle canal to our comfortable lodge in the car and street-free Tortuguero village - our base for the next three nights. The village has a mix of cultures: Hispanic, Miskito Indian (Nicaragua) and Afro- Caribbean. On one side, rivers and waterways beckon you to paddle deep into the jungle, on the other a Caribbean beach welcomes thousands of sea turtles to nest every year. We join the afternoon program provided by our lodge. Walks: Option for self-guided strolls & scheduled lodge program Day 4 Mon 05 Nov Tortuguero NP This morning, a canal boat trip takes us into the heart of a wetland mosaic, aiming to spot many of the endemic species for which Costa Rica is famous. The park is home to jaguars (rare sightings), three-toed sloths, spider, howler & white-faced Capuchin monkeys, basilisk lizards, caimans, crocodiles and numerous bird species (375 in total) including kingfishers, toucans and blue herons. This afternoon is at leisure or you may choose to join one of the local rangers on an explorative walk through Tortugero village along the well maintained Gavilan walking trail from the Cuatro Esquinas National Park Headquarters to the beach and return. Walks: Optional 2hr easy maintained trail Day 5 Tue 06 Nov Tortuguero NP & Sea Turtle Conservation Several options are available this morning to explore the national park either by joining the lodge activities or your tour leader s explorative walks. Early evening, we visit the Sea Turtle Conservatory. Tortuguero beach is the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle in the Western For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 3

4 TOUR continued... Hemisphere. Giant leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles also nest here. We meet with the local conservation group and learn more about their sustainable development work with the local community which has demonstrated that live sea turtles on the beach have greater value for the villagers than dead turtles in the stew-pot. Walks: 2-3hr on uneven walking trails Day 6 Wed 07 Nov Travel to Sarapiqui We return via boat transfer back to the dock to connect with a public shuttle transfer stopping in Guapiles for lunch. We then connect with our private transfer around the foothills of the impressive Braulio Carrillo National Park to Sarapiqui, where we stay for the next two nights. In the afternoon we visit Tirimbina Rainforest Centre, dedicated to forest education, scientific research and ecotourism. Here we discover the secrets and wonders of one of mankind s favourite foods - chocolate. A local guide will explain the natural and cultural history of the cacao tree (important since Mayan and Aztec times), along with the processing of chocolate. Walks: Short strolls Day 7 Thu 08 Nov La Selva Biological Station Today we join a local naturalist guide and explore La Selva Biological Station and nearby walking trails. This station was originally created for scientific purposes in 1954 and has since been opened to the public and converted into a leading research centre for Costa Rican ecology. There are around 1000 tree species found throughout the 3700 acre park as well as 420 bird species within the station borders from toucans to macaws. Around half of Costa Rica s mammal species and the majority of the butterfly varieties can be observed at La Selva. Walks: 3-4hr on cement/wooden walkways Day 8 Fri 09 Nov Arenal Volcano NP After breakfast, we transfer to our next base at Arenal Volcano, stopping along the way for lunch and a tour at the Fina Educativa Don Juan educational farm. With its perfectly symmetrical shape, Arenal (1657m) was Costa Rica s most active strato-volcano until 2010, but has since been dormant. Join your tour leader and local guide for an afternoon explorative walk to forests and viewpoints at the base of the volcano. Walks: 4hr on defined trails, with some rough uneven terrain Day 9 Sat 10 Nov Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve This morning we transfer by bus and boat across the manmade Lake Arenal to Rio Chiqiuito and continue our journey overland to reach our base for the next three nights in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Here we are surrounded by the incredible biodiversity from wind-sculpted elfin woodlands For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 4

5 TOUR continued... to rainforests festooned with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines and mosses. Late afternoon, join our guide for an short introductory walk. Meals: B, D Walks: 1-2hr uneven forest trails Day 10 Sun 11 Nov Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Early morning we join our local naturalist guide for a nature walk to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Founded in 1972, the 10,500 hectare reserve has six ecological zones over a range of altitudes. The biodiversity is astounding with over 2,500 plant species (including the most orchid species in a single location), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species and thousands of insects. The pastoral mountain community around it offers many natural sites, art galleries and adventure activities. Your tour leader and local guide will give options for afternoon activities. Walks: 3-4hr on well-defined nature trails, possibly muddy Day 11 Mon 12 Nov St Elena Cloud Forest This morning options include explorative guided walks in the neighbouring St Elena Cloud Forest Reserve or you can spend the time at leisure at our comfortable accommodation. We end the day with a twilight walk in the Children s Eternal Rainforest (Bosque Eterno de los Ninos), also known as CERF. This is an opportunity to explore the mysteries of nocturnal forest life while learning about one of Costa Rica s most important environmental conservations projects. At hectares of virgin and secondary forests, this is one of Central America s largest private reserves. Taking its name from the support of children all over the world, CERF is managed by a non-profit organisation to preserve and rehabilitate the region s tropical biodiversity. Meals: B Walks: 2-4hr optional walks Day 12 Tue 13 Nov Travel to Central Pacific Coast We leave behind the mist shrouded mountains and drive two hours towards the Central Pacific Coast. Our base for the next two nights is Hacienda La Ensenada on the Gulf of Nicoya. This property includes a national wildlife refuge alongside a working ranch dedicated to cattle, horses and salt production. The Tretti family have maintained and are regenerating forest covering more than 30% of their property including mangrove zones at the mouth of the Abangares River. Walks: short orientation strolls Day 13 Wed 14 Nov Ramsar Wetlands Rio Ambangares This morning we join one of La Ensenada boat tours to explore the impressive Ramsar wetland and mangrove forests around the Ambangares River, an important ecosystem in this area. In the afternoon, we take advantage of the extensive hacienda For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 5

6 TOUR continued... grounds and waterways literally at our doorstep. There is the option to explore marked trails on the property, join other lodge activities or have an afternoon siesta. Walks: Optional 2-3hr walks Day 14 Thu 15 Nov Manuel Antonio NP Today we drive south along the coastline to one of the country s most scenic yet small national parks, Manuel Antonio. Renowned for its vast diversity of tropical plants and wildlife, from three-toed sloths and endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys to hundreds of bird species, Manuel Antonio also includes twelve small isles just off the coast which are visited by dolphins and at times, migrating whales. Walks: Short afternoon walks Day 15 Fri 16 Nov Manuel Antonio NP We have today to further explore Manuel Antonio National Park. There are a number of short trails that feature waterfalls, rainforest, and scenic viewpoints. With our local guide, we follow the trails from the park entrance Sendero el Perezosos to Sendero Punta Catedral. There is a good chance of spotting sloths in the guarumo trees, as well as squirrel and howler monkeys. Walks: 2-4hr easy walks with some muddy tracks Day 16 Sat 17 Nov Jaco forest tour - San Jose After lunch, we travel north to the town of Jaco to enjoy an aerial tram ride over the treetops of the tropical, transitional forest. This tour also includes butterfly and medicinal plant gardens. Later in the afternoon we return to San Jose and check into our hotel for the two nights of the tour. Meals: B, L Walks: short strolls Day 17 Sun 18 Nov Heredia - Poas Volcano NP This morning we drive to the charming town of Heredia for an immersion into coffee culture. Our coffee tour covers the process from planting to the roasting room with the chance to also visit the local Sarchi Artisan markets. We continue to Poas National Park to peer into an active volcano with its 1.6km wide caldera. We have the option to hike the trail through eerie elfin forest to the jade-coloured Botos Lagoon or simply linger longer after a scrumptious lunch at La Finca restaurant. On return to San Jose we re-group for our final farewell dinner. Walks: 2-3hr walk mix of uneven & paved trails at various elevations Day 18 Mon 19 Nov End of Tour Your tour ends after breakfast. The hotel offers airport transfers based on scheduled times. Why not continue your Central America exploration and join this tour with Guatemala. Meals: B For bookings call visit or info@parktours.com.au 6

7 REDISCOVER EXPERIENCE CONNECT WHY TRAVEL WITH US? InterNATIONAL PARKtours have been leading small group walking holidays since Our like-minded guests bond easily and often create reunions, celebrations and friendships, many of them lifelong. Our tours are active with regular half and full day walks. Aside from walking, we also spend time meeting local people, tasting regional food and immersing ourselves in the culture and history of a destination. Our flexibility enables us to adapt to the likes, dislikes and agility of our travellers, and changing situations such as weather and unforeseen circumstances. In most locations, we stay 2-3 nights and sometimes longer. This allows us to slow down, unpack our bags and enjoy the local atmosphere at different times of the day. Accommodation is comfortable, unique plus locally owned and operated where possible. Our guides are dedicated, informative people who share their passion and knowledge on local history, culture, wildlife & topography. Our journeys are designed to safeguard the ecosystems; benefit the communities we visit and contribute to the sustainability of destinations. Travel is a chance to change your perspective. Nature always provides a new view if we take the time to look. IPT offers great value for money with their programmes. There is minimum spending money needed once on tour and there are no hidden extras along the way. Judy & Peter Hughes I know that you get the blue ribbon extras with IPT and I was in the mood to be spoilt. Judy Potkonen Disclaimer of Liability Although international PARKtours has prepared the Information contained in this itinerary with all due care and updates the Information regularly, international PARKtours does not warrant or represent that the Information is free from errors or omission. Whilst the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and international PARKtours is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user. Itinerary Updated: November 8, :38 PM Responsible Travel For your protection, we are allied members of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. Your payments are kept in a trust account until required for payment of your tour. We are accredited with ATAS, a national accreditation scheme, endorsing travel agents who have met strict financial and customer service criteria. We also have advanced accreditation with Ecotourism Australia and are members of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Serendipity of travel Our guides will work 24/7 on your behalf to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure your enjoyment. We have planned an intimate adventure, but adventure cannot be guaranteed. If indeed it could then it would lose its appeal. Though we do the best we can to plan a smooth journey, sometimes things change at short notice. Some things may take longer than anticipated, transport and accommodation arrangements may alter, and you may experience occasional shortcomings and be frustrated by the manana attitude; at other times you will be amazed by local efficiency. Tour itineraries may need to be modified but this is done so with your needs in mind and to provide the best tour experience. So, be flexible, surprised and delighted with the serendipity that comes from being open to the unexpected. Your enjoyment of this journey is ultimately up to you. T T F Timbarra Drive Beechmont QLD 4211 Australia info@parktours.com.au