Viva Central America Group Tour Itinerary

Transcription

1 Viva Central America Group Tour Itinerary Day 1: Mexico City - Arrival On arrival into Mexico City you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Today is at leisure. One of the world s largest metropolis, Mexico City is also the oldest urban centre in the Western Hemisphere, when it was called Tenochtitlan. Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes and his men were awestruck by the sight of the imposing temples of the Aztecs. Reporting back to King Carlos V, Cortes was struggling to convey the majesty of what he saw. Imagine the King s surprise at learning that ''one of the plazas is twice the size of that of Salamanca'', and ''the principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville'', or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments ''could nowhere be bettered''. Nowhere is Mexico s explosive past better depicted than at its central plaza, the Zocalo. Surrounded by some of the finest buildings of the colonial era, lie the remnants of one of the Aztecs principal monuments, the Templo Mayor. Its mysterious shapes stand as a haunting tribute to the pre- Hispanic civilization that flourished here long ago. This evening we will hold our welcome meeting over dinner. Please join us in the hotel reception at 6pm to meet your tour guide and fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant. Meals Included Today: Dinner Overnight in a Standard Room at Best Western Hotel Majestic including breakfast (Standard Category

2 Day 2: Full Day Teotihuacan Pyramids & Guadalupe Shrine We will drive to the impressive archaeological site of Teotihuacan, located 50km northeast of Mexico City. On the way we make a stop at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, where three cultures converge: Aztec, Spanish, and contemporary Mexican. We continue to the Basilica de Guadalupe, Latin America s most revered religious shrine. It is here where the Virgin of Guadalupe is said to have appeared before an Indian named Juan Diego in 1531, and an image of her was miraculously emblazoned on his cloak. We will have time to explore the New Basilica de Guadalupe (the Old Basilica, built in 1700, is slowly sinking) and to see Juan Diego s cloak. We then drive for another hour to Teotihuacan, one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world, held sacred by the Aztecs. We will explore its temples, palaces and pyramids, including the Quetzalpapalotl Palace Complex, the Temple of the Feathered Conches, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the immense Pyramid of the Sun, ranked among the biggest in the world. Overnight in a Standard Room at Best Western Hotel Majestic including breakfast (Standard Category Day 3: Half Day Mexico City tour with Museum of Anthropology We will explore magnificent Mexico City, built on top of the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Our first stop is the Zocalo (main square), one of the largest public squares in the world. We will visit the Catedral Metropolitana the largest church in Latin America and the Palacio Nacional, which hosts Diego Rivera s murals depicting the history of Mexico. We continue to a handicraft market, where we will have time for some browsing. We then drive along the famous boulevard Paseo de la Reforma, built during the short-lived reign of Emperor Maximilian to connect the main square and his castle in Chapultepec. Our last stop is the Museum of Anthropology, where we will have time to explore the treasures of the Aztec culture Overnight in a Standard Room at Best Western Hotel Majestic including breakfast (Standard Category Day 4: Mexico City to Oaxaca Transfer from your hotel to Mexico City Airport for your outward flight. Fly from Mexico City to Oaxaca. Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel After check-in to your hotel, we will take you on a walking familiarisation tour of Oaxaca. The rest of the afternoon can be enjoyed at leisure in this lovely city.

3 Day 4 continued. Oaxaca, located in a valley surrounded by the Sierra Madre del Sur, was once the center of the Mixtec and Zapotec civilizations. Today's Oaxaca is a combination of pre-conquest, colonial and modern influences. The early Zapotecs developed a great civilization at nearby Monte Albán centuries before the birth of Christ. Two of Mexico's most famous presidents, Benito Juárez and Porfirio Diaz, were of Zapotec origin. After the Spanish conquered Oaxaca in 1533, the city quickly took on a Spanish flavour, with ornate buildings, churches, elegant archways, balconies, decorative grill work and charming plazas. Yet despite its colonial heritage, the city remains basically Indian at heart, wherein lies its charm. Overnight in a Standard Room at Hostal de la Noria including breakfast. Day 5: Oaxacan cooking course & Monte Alban Archaeological site Oaxacan cuisine is famous for its refinement and complexity. Learn and enjoy preparing a traditional Mexican meal in a fine mexican house with a styled kitchen, just few minutes from the historical center of Oaxaca. During the cooking class you will visit a small neighborhood market. Will prepare lunch accompanied with mezcal tasting. After your morning cooking course & lunch is completed, we will visit Monte Alban a World Heritage Site spectacularly situated on a mountain 400 meters above the Oaxaca Valley, a few kilometers west of Oaxaca. Monte Alban is the greatest of the Zapotec cities, and it came to dominate the cultural, religious, and economic life of the region. It is also a triumph of engineering; the mountain top was leveled to allow for the creation of the ceremonial site. We will explore the Gran Plaza, the Ball Court, the Observatory, the Palace, and other beautiful structures. & Lunch Overnight in a Standard Room at Hostal de la Noria including breakfast. Day 6: Oaxaca to Tutxla Morning transfer from the Hotel to the Airport Fly from Oaxaca to Tuxtla Airport

4 Day 6 continued Pick up from Tuxtla Airport and transfer to the dock for touring in a boat through the Sumidero Canyon, one of the most spectacular natural reserves in Mexico. It is a geological failure formed 36 million years ago with walls of calcareous rock elevating to more than 1,000 metres, caves and cascades among which it is the Christmas Tree, a rocky structure. Before the end of the tour, you visit Chiapa de Corzo, a town that was the first settlement founded by the Spaniards with its Mudejar fountain known as La Pila, built in the XVI century; it is a sample of the colonial architecture with an Arabic influence. San Cristobal de las Casas is a characteristically indigenous Chiapaneca town nestled in the heart of the jungle highlands. The only way to reach San Cristobal is via a two-hour drive from Tuxtla Gutierrez. En route, the tropical heat and plant life prevalent in Tuxtla Gutierrez gradually give way to the nippy mountain air and pine forests that surround San Cristobal, where days are sunny and warm, and nights may be chilly. Amber, the translucent stone derived from fossilized coniferous resin, is plentiful in the region, and attractive shops in town display creative jewellery fashioned out of silver and the ancient rock. Overnight in a Standard Room at Casa Vieja including breakfast (Superior Category Day 7: Half-day City tour and Indian villages We will explore on foot the colonial city center of San Cristobal de las Casas. We will visit the cathedral, on the north side of the pretty main square, with its lavish interior and gold-encrusted pulpit. We then walk a few blocks to the impressive 16th-century Dominican church Templo de Santo Domingo, with its intricate pink facade and gilded Baroque interior. We will have time to browse the handicraft market in front of the church, where Tzotzil Indians from the surrounding hills come to trade. We then drive 10km into the Chiapas highlands, to the Tzotzil Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan. The Tzotzils descend from the ancient Maya and maintain some unique customs, costumes and beliefs. We will visit the beautiful white church in San Juan Chamula. The candles incense and chanting worshippers make a powerful impression. We then drive to the nearby village of Zinacantan, with its pretty church and handicraft market. Return to San Cristobal. Overnight in a Standard Room at Casa Vieja including breakfast (Superior Category

5 Day 8: San Cristobal de las Casas - Agua Azul - Palenque We will drive to Agua Azul, a place where over 500 cascades create incredible turquoise colored pools surrounded by the rainforest. After that, we will continue to Palenque, drop off at your hotel. In the foothills of the Tumbala mountains, the ancient Maya site of Palenque sits on a ledge overlooking the swampy plains that stretch northward all the way to the Gulf coast. Palenque was at its height between 500 and 700 A.D., when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta river. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization. It was the flood plain of the Usumacinta river that most likely provided Palenque's inhabitants with the resources to construct their extraordinary city. Blessed with the highest average rainfall in Mexico, this fertile alluvial plain could have been successfully farmed with raised beds, and would have produced a harvest that not only could sustain a large workforce but would also have provided an abundance that could be traded along the Usumacinta. It seems that the gods were as enchanted with Palenque as today's visitors. Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Mision Palenque including breakfast (Standard Category Day 9: Palenque archaeological site with Picnic lunch We will visit the archaeological site of Palenque, a World Heritage Site, located 7km outside of the town of Palenque. Palenque flourished between AD600 and 800, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta river. The site, surrounded by rainforest where toucans and howler monkeys live, is made up of some 500 buildings spread over 15 sq km, of which only a few have been excavated. We will explore the magnificent ruins, including the Temple of the Inscriptions the tallest and most stately of Palenque s buildings, the Temple of the Sun crowned with a prominent roof comb, The Palace with its maze of corridors and rooms, and many other beautiful buildings. Picnic at Palenque archaeological site (box lunch from hotel and cold soft drinks) & Picnic Lunch Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Mision Palenque including breakfast (Standard Category

6 Day 10:- Bonampak and Yaxchilan archaeological sites We will drive to the archaeological site of Bonampak, located 148km southeast of Palenque. Bonampak s setting in a dense jungle hid it from the outside world until When it was discovered, it initially did not seem to be very significant, until beautiful, vividly coloured murals were found in its temples. They depict Mayan life and mythology like no other find in the Maya world. We have time to explore the temples and view the murals, before driving 25km to the border town Frontera Corozal. From here we continue 22km by boat on the Usumacinta river, its jungle-covered banks forming the Mexico-Guatemala border. We arrive at Yaxchilan, located 20m above the river in the heart of the Lacandon rainforest, and one of the most dramatic Maya sites. Yaxchilan was as powerful as Palenque or Tikal, and it ruled over several surrounding cities including Bonampak. We will explore the temples, before making our way back to Palenque. Tonight we enjoy our final dinner in Mexico together in a local restaurant. Some passengers will be ending their journey with us tomorrow, while others will continue on to Guatemala. (Please ask your travel advisor about our connecting Guatemala Group Tour) & Dinner Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Mision Palenque including breakfast (Standard Category Day 11: Overland Border Crossing Day - Palenque - Bethel - Flores, Guatemala This morning we will say farewell to Mexico and travel overland in to Guatemala. You will be met & taken to the Guatemala Border. Once completing border crossing formalities, you will be met & transferred to Flores FLORES: Although it covers nearly one-third of the country, El Petén is Guatemala's most sparsely populated department. Here, parrots and monkeys far outnumber people, and the crumbling ruins of the ancient Mayas stand in for modern cities. A large tract of El Petén belongs to the Maya Biosphere Reserve, a wildlife haven that stretches from Belize through Guatemala to Mexico. The Tikal archaeological site is the department's biggest draw, though it's certainly not the only spot for ruins. Archaeology buffs will also enjoy Yaxhá, Ceibal, Aguateca, and Uaxactún (you can camp at the latter). El Petén's main towns include Flores and El Remate; both provide easy access to Tikal and the Mundo Maya International Airport. Visitors to El Petén should note that although the department is remote, it does have a handful of top-notch hotels and ecolodges. & Dinner Overnight in a Standard Room at Villa Maya including breakfast (Superior Category

7 Day 12: Tikal Full Day Tour with Lunch You will be met at your hotel by a private guide for a tour of Tikal National Park, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. Not only you will enjoy a fascinating tour of this impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you will also experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys, that live in the jungle canopy. Once home to an estimated at 50,000 residents or more, Tikal flourished from 800 BC to 900 AD. You will follow in the footsteps of Maya royalty and commoners as your guide leads you to such sites as the majestic Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar (44 meters / 144 feet), Temple of the Masks (38m/125ft), the Acropolis and much more. Lunch is provided at a local restaurant. You can also explore the museum at the visitor centre before returning to your hotel. & Lunch Overnight in a Standard Room at Villa Maya including breakfast (Superior Category Day 13: Flores to Lake Atitlan via Comalapa Markets, Guatemala Private transfer from your hotel to the airport. Fly from Flores to Guatemala Upon arrival at Guatemala Airport, you will be met by your private guide & driver for 1 hour transfer to the town of Comalapa. On arrival to the town you can see the famous painted mural that the school children of the town painted depicting major events in Guatemala's history up to the signing of the peace accords in From here you will visit some local painters who continue the tradition of naïve paintings that the town is so famous for. Finally, you can visit the wonderful authentic market of Comalapa to see the local people go about their daily life buying produce and goods for the rest of the week still dressed in the traditional textiles of the area. You can also visit the small museum dedicated to the composer who wrote Guatemala's national anthem who came from Comalapa. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant After lunch your journey continues to Lake Atitlan and your hotel LAKE ATITLAN Surrounded by rugged hills, a trio of towering volcanoes, and a handful of small villages, it's easy to wax poetic about Lake Atitlán. Located in the Guatemalan highlands, the lake was formed more than 80,000 years ago during a violent volcanic eruption. Tz'utujil and Kaqchiquel Mayas have plied its shores for centuries and continue to do so today, wearing vibrant traditional clothing and practicing age-old Maya customs, particularly in towns like Santiago Atitlán and Santa Catarina Palopó. Panajachel is the lake's main hub. From here, boats depart regularly for destinations like San Juan La Laguna, which is known for its handwoven, naturally dyed textiles, and San Pedro, where intrepid visitors can summit a 3,020-meter (9,908-foot) volcano. Meals Included Today: Boxed Breakfast & Lunch Overnight in a Standard (No Breakfast) Room at Hotel Atitlan (Superior Category

8 Day 14: San Juan & Santiago Full Day Lake Tour You will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to San Juan La Laguna Village where you'll visit a local textile cooperative to see the back strap loom in use and to see how they still dye with natural dyes. You will also visit the home and workshop of local naïf painters before boarding the boat onto Santiago Village for lunch. After lunch you will walk with your guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximón is living. Each year a different ''brotherhood'' has the privilege of taking care of their God so his location changes. Once with Maximón you may see local shaman performing rituals for local people. After visiting Maximón you can visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town and also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art that is famous from this area. When you are ready you will be transferred back to your hotel. & Lunch Overnight in a Standard (No Breakfast) Room at Hotel Atitlan (Superior Category Day 15: Chichi Market & Travel to Antigua You will be met at your hotel by your private driver & guide for the 1hr transfer out to the highland town of Chichicastenango. Along the way you will pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives - working in the fields, collecting firewood, travelling between markets, selling their wares. Upon arrival at Chichicastenango your guide will take you to explore this famous market both the local areas of the fruit & vegetables & everyday items as well as the craft area where you can find endless variety of beautiful textile, wooden & ceramic crafts. You can also visit the famous St Tomas Church where local Maya people come to perform Maya rituals within the Catholic church - demonstrating the interesting way the two faiths have combined in recent times. If you want to you can also hike up the hill to the Pascual Abaj ritual site to see if any local shaman are performing rituals and/or to the cemetery on the outskirts of town. Lunch is provided. When you are ready you will be driven to Antigua ANTIGUA Founded in the sixteenth century, Antigua is a cosmopolitan destination with a rich colonial past. Its cobblestone streets are lined with pretty, pastel-hued homes, luxe boutique hotels, and an exceptional selection of smart restaurants and shops. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, this city of 35,000 people sits in valley between coffee farms, indigenous villages, and three imposing volcanoes. At the heart of town is the parque central, a European-style plaza busy with shoe-shiners, ice cream vendors, families, and tourists. During its architectural peak, Antigua was home to dozens of colonial monuments, churches, and monasteries, but an earthquake in 1773 damaged or reduced most to rubble. In the centuries thereafter, efforts were made to rebuild and restore, and the city today is filled with melancholy but gorgeous relics and ruins. & Lunch Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Meson de Maria including breakfast (Superior Category)

9 Day 16: Antigua Walking Tour You will be met at your hotel reception by your private guide to begin your half day walking tour of Antigua. This tour explores this colonial city's cultural, architectural, and social history with a behind-the-scenes look at some of Antigua's ornately decorated churches, Spanish colonial-era ruins, and the tomb of the first Guatemalan saint. Entrance fees for the Cathedral of San Jose and the San Francisco el Grande and La Merced churches are included. If you wish to visit other monuments you will need to pay the entrances directly. At the end of the tour, the guide will accompany you back to your hotel Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Meson de Maria including breakfast (Superior Category Day 17:- Antigua Free Day - Optional Excursions Today is free to explore Antigua at leisure. Optional days tours can be pre-booked (additional costs apply): Chicken Bus, Carpentry & Local NGO School Street Food Tour Antigua Valley Hike Antigua Valley Bike Coffee & Canopy Finca Feladelfia Pacaya Volcano Hike w Picnic & Thermal Please ask your Travel Advisor for more details. & Dinner Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Meson de Maria including breakfast (Superior Category Day 18: Guatemala to San Jose, Costa Rica As we say farewell to wonderful Guatemala, our adventure continues on to Costa Rica Transfer from hotel to Guatemala & Fly Guatemala to San Jose, Costa Rica On arrival at San Jose Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in San Jose.

10 Day 18 continued.. San Jose, the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, sits in the Central Valley region overlooked by volcanoes to the north and the Talamanca Mountains to the south. It is the cultural capital of Costa Rica, offering many museums including the Pre- Columbian Gold Museum that displays hundreds of gold artefacts. In the historic neighbourhoods of San Jose, Spanish colonial mansions have been converted into galleries, boutique hotels and restaurants. This evening join together for a pre-tour welcome meeting Overnight at Colonial Hotel including breakfast. Day 19: San Jose to Tortuguero Today we drive from San Jose to Tortuguero. On the way we will enjoy breakfast at local restaurant. Shortly after breakfast. we will continue our journey to the dock for the shared boat transfer to the hotel. Guide visit to Tortuguero Village during the afternoon. TORTUGUERO VILLAGE The Tortuguero Village is a calmed place, where there are no cars or wide streets and nature is literally bursting into town. On one side of the village, rivers and waterways beckon you to paddle deep into the jungle and experience nature unperturbed. On the other side of the village an unexplored Caribbean beach, Lunch & Dinner Overnight in a Standard FB Room at Manatus Hotel - Standard 2 Night including breakfast (Superior Category Day 20: Mawamba Park & Tortuguero Canals This guided visit includes the butterfly farm, the frog farm and garden, the iguana farm, the biodigestor combined with a nice walk along the lodge's private trails. Located on the North Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, is the third-most visited National Park in the country, despite the fact that it can be reached only by domestic plane or boat. The park has an incredible biological variety, with different habitats, including rainforest, swamps, beaches and lagoons. Tortuguero is very humid, and receives up to 250 inches (6,400 mm) of rain a year. Its beaches are key nesting ground for endangered sea Green Turtles (between July to September). The rivers within the park are home to sensitive populations of manatees, as well as caimans, and crocodiles. The forests are home to jaguars, three-toed sloths, three species of monkeys, Basilisk lizards and poisonous frogs also inhabit the area, along with 375 species of birds. There are more than 400 species of trees and approximately 2,200 species of other plants

11 Day 20 continued.., Lunch & Dinner Overnight in a Standard FB Room at Manatus Hotel - Standard 2 Night including breakfast (Superior Category Day 21: Tortuguero to Arenal At the appropriate time we will depart on our shared boat transfer from Tortuguero to the dock. Upon arrival we will stop for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch our travel continues to Arenal area. Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica s most notable natural features, with its picture perfect conical shape rising to 1,657m. It lies within the Arenal Volcano National Park in the northern lowlands region of the country. Since a major eruption in 1968, this volcano has been one of the most active in Costa Rica with mild, nearly continuous activity from its conical crater. Lava flows and clouds of smoke or ash can often be seen from the El Mirador viewpoint and there are hot springs in the area where you can relax in the mineral-rich pools of the natural geothermal river. & Lunch Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Las Colinas including breakfast (Standard Category Day 22: Arenal Volcano National Park + Titoku Hot Springs Guide visit to Arenal Volcano National Park and Titoku Hot Springs. Arenal Volcano National Park: Before the active period of 1968, a lavish canopy of vegetation covered the Arenal Volcano. People that climbed Arenal s summit related that inside the crater there were big trees and at night, they slept in places where there was some heat due to small steam outlets. Right now the green area is located at the east side of the Mountain, and other little green parts can be seen on the north and the south of the volcano. Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a gentle Hike along the base of this marvelous Mountain of Fire. The Hike begins in one the trails close to the volcano, this trail will take us through the forest over recent lava flows and the area destroyed in 1968 now in the process of regeneration. We are going to be on this trail for about 2 ½ hours. Titoku Hot Springs: Titokú, meaning water from the gods, in Maleku (costarrican native language). It s located at only 7 minutes from Kioro Hotel. They offer 8 different hot springs pools, with hydro-massage. Every pool comes with different temperature and size (6-20 people) Titoku has the total capacity for 80 persons. Titoku`s other service: reception, waiting room, snack bar, meeting room, bathrooms, dressing rooms and lockers. & Dinner Overnight in a Standard Room at Hotel Las Colinas including breakfast (Standard Category

12 Day 23: Arenal to Monteverde Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde Monteverde is a Quaker settlement in the mountainous northwest of Costa Rica. Nearby, the stunningly beautiful Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve houses 2.5% of the world s biodiversity and is home to thousands of species of plants and animals including jaguars and ocelots as well as over 400 species of birds, including the colourful resplendent quetzal. There are many trails that lead through the ferns and orchids and hanging bridges that allow you to experience the forest canopy. Overnight in a Standard Room at Monteverde Country Lodge including breakfast (Budget Category Day 24: Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve + Frog Pond Hiking at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve & Visit to Frog Pond Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve: The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, is one of the most famous conservation areas in Central America. It is a tropical rain forest but because of its altitude (1400 meters or feet), it's called a Cloud Forest. A cloud forest is a highland forest characterized by nearly 100% humidity throughout the year. Here in Monteverde, warm north-easterly trade winds, filled with moisture, blow in from the Atlantic. As the winds sweep up to the Continental Divide, they cool and condense to form clouds, bathing the forest in a constant soft mist. The cloud forest receives an incredible four meters of rain every year- over twelve feet! It is home to rare and unusual wildlife, such as jaguars and pumas, and over 450 species of birds including the world's largest population of quetzal birds. Frog Pond: At our Herpetarium you can admire over 20 species of frogs and other amphibians. Walk with our guide and learn about species that are unique to the tropics of Costa Rica. Come see extraordinary frog, such as colorful Poison Arrow Frog, the very large Marine Toad and the famous Red Eyed Tree Frog. Frogs and toads are undergoing massive worldwide declines. We are committed the conservation of amphibians and we dedicate part of the proceeds from each ticket purchased to research and conservation efforts. We hope to inspire others to do the same. Overnight in a Standard Room at Monteverde Country Lodge including breakfast (Budget Category

13 Day 25: Sky Adventures Zip Line + Don Juan Coffee Tour During the morning Sky Tram & Trek and Don Juan Coffee Tour Sky Adventures: The Sky Tram will lead the visitors up to the Continental Divide and to one of the highest mountains of Monteverde. It is a guided tour that gives everyone the opportunity to observe the cloud forest biodiversity, the Arenal, Tenorio, Miravalles and Orosi volcanoes, the Nicoya Gulf and the Guanacaste plains if the weather allows it. It is a high technology cableway that includes a ride of 800 meters (one way) with altitudes between 1400 and 1600 meters above sea level. Sky Tram technical information: * Austrian manufacture: Doppelmayr * Length: 1250 meters * Six gondolas, six persons per gondola * Maximum height: 46 meters over the treetops. * Duration of tour: approx.20 minutes one way Sky Trek is a system of zip lines ranging from mountain to mountain measuring 2.5 miles of linear cable. This tour gives the visitors the opportunity to fly through a cable and have a unique experience of adventure and adrenaline at speeds up to 40 miles per hour and heights over 524 feet. In addition there are five observation towers over the cloud forest treetops that provide a panoramic view. The tour starts with the Sky Tram that will lead everyone up to the Continental Divide. Don Juan Coffee Tour: At Don Juan Coffee Tour, experience the age-old coffee tradition through a unique tour of our coffee farms. Our specialized guides will point out the most important aspects of coffee, its harvest and processing. They ll take you through the history of this crop from its beginnings in the Arab African countries and Ethiopia, and highlight the importance the golden bean in the social, cultural and economic development of Costa Rica. At our traditional house, you ll enjoy a friendly atmosphere and the delicious, seductive aroma of one of the best coffees in the world. Along with your exquisite cup of coffee, you can try one of our typical snacks. Finally, you can purchase a wide variety of fresh roasted and packaged coffee. Don Juan Coffee Tour is Culture and Tradition. Overnight in a Standard Room at Monteverde Country Lodge including breakfast (Budget Category Day 26: Monteverde to San Jose with farewell Dinner Transfer from Monteverde to back to San Jose Tonight we enjoy change and sharing storied of our wonderful time together during our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. & Dinner Overnight at Colonial Hotel including breakfast.

14 Day 27: 20 Oct 2017 (Friday) Tour Ends Transfer from your hotel in San José to the International Airport for your outward flight. Note that check in at airline counter must be done three hours prior to flight departure. EXTEND YOUR STAY OPTIONS: Why let the fun end there. Talk to your Travel Advisor about extending your stay in Panama, Cuba, Columbia, Brazil and Peru. Included: Accommodation, internal flights, daily breakfast, other meals where stated, tours with professional English speaking guide on a shared service basis unless otherwise stated, airport transfers where stated, most entrance fees and local taxes (some exclusions apply). Excluded: Any meals not mentioned in the above itinerary. Travel Insurance and tips. Any flights or services not mentioned in this itinerary. Please Note: This itinerary and/or hotels quoted within this itinerary may change due to local operating conditions or availability at the time of booking or before departure. Please see our terms and conditions for more details. Please note that all flights are non refundable and non changeable unless advised otherwise. Viva Expeditions accepts no responsibility for flight delays and subsequent delays on tours. Minimum 10 passengers required for this tour to be fully escorted. Should passenger numbers be below 10, it will operate with a local English Speaking tour guide Please be aware that many of our products are operated in US Dollars and therefore subject to currency fluctuations. Viva Expeditions will do its upmost to avoid passing on any additional charges however if there is a significant change in exchange rates then we will be required to add a currency surcharge without warning. If you would like to remove this currency risk you do have the option of paying in full at the time of. Final payment on bookings are generally due 95 days prior to departure. Please note comprehensive pre tour departure information will be provided shortly after confirming your booking. This pack is an invaluable source with information on visas, tipping, what to pack and much more. Hotel Information Best Western Hotel Majestic Standard Category Accommodation Located in the heart of Mexico City, the Best Western Majestic is the perfect place to visit and experience the history of the city in each one of its 7 floors with outer balconies and the lobby where the quarry, carved wood, bronze and Talavera are combined in a unique style. The hotel offers extensive Junior and Master suites, with incredible views to the Zocalo or Madero street as well as interior room with a stunning view onto the hotels patio.

15 The Best Western Majestic offers the unique experience of staying in a historical hotel that is located in the downtown area of Mexico City with excellent services and personal attention. Hostal de la Noria Located just two blocks from the main square in the heart of Oaxaca, the Hostal de la Noria provides a taste of Oaxaca s past whilst still offering all the modern facilities needed for a comfortable stay. Each of the air-conditioned, en-suite rooms has been decorated to represent the hotel s Colonial past and Spanish influence, yet, is equipped with modern facilities including cable TV, telephone and hairdryer. After a day of exploring the city, guests can enjoy a tasty regional meal served in the Asuncion Restaurant before a drink in the bar or on the terrace. Casa Vieja Superior Category Accommodation Located just three blocks from San Cristobel de las Casa s historic centre and Central Park, the Mansion del Valle Hotel offers guests a comfortable and friendly place to stay close to the city s main attractions. Its softly decorated en-suite rooms come equipped with in-room safe, wireless internet access, cable TV and a telephone offering free local calls. The building itself is a fine example of Mexican architecture and houses a top restaurant, coffee shop, bar and beauty salon. Hotel Mision Palenque Standard Category Accommodation Just 62 km from the wonderful Agua Azul cascades and nestled between exuberant rainforest and the archaeological finds of the sacred Mayan Kingdom, stands the Hotel Mision Palenque. Each room has a terrace with a garden view, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, safety deposit box and cable TV. The hotel itself has a spa, large swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, tennis, soccer and volleyball courts and free bicycle rental and the on-site restaurant serves tasty, traditional Mexican cuisine.

16 Villa Maya Superior Category Accommodation Villa Maya is a larger hotel decorated with local wood and Guatemalan textiles offering guests a beautiful location on the shores of a lake in a rainforest setting. The hotel has extensive grounds, inside and outside dining, a small pool, and bar. The hotel is a comfortable and friendly place to stay for couples, families and groups and is well located to get to and from the airport and to the main archaeology sites in the area. Facilities: Approx. 55 Rooms, Small Pool, Restaurant, Bar Location: 15mins drive to the airport and Flores. 60mins from Tikal and Yaxha. 15mins from Ixpanpajul Hotel Atitlan Superior Category Accommodation Hotel Atitlan is a larger hotel decorated in colonial style offering guests a beautiful location on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The hotel has beautiful gardens, inside and outside dining, a small pool, and bar. Its lakeshore location offers guests stunning views of the lake and its three surrounding volcanoes from most areas of the hotel. Just behind the hotel is the Reserva Atitlan which offers moderate hiking in cloud forest, a butterfly farm and zip line. The hotel is a comfortable and friendly place to stay for couples, families and groups. Facilities: 65 Rooms, Small Pool, Restaurant, Bar, Gardens, Meeting / Conference Room, Helipad Location: 10mins drive outside of Panajachel located on the lakeshore Hotel Meson de Maria Superior Category Accommodation This is an excellent mid range hotel with 20 rooms and beautiful colonial décor. They offer a bed and breakfast service and due to the central location it is no trouble to go out into Antigua for dinner in one of the many nearby restaurants. There are standard rooms and suites available all decorated in tasteful colonial style with local textile adornments and a nice roof terrace from where to enjoy the central views of Antigua. This is great value for money. Facilities: 20 Rooms, Roof Terrace, Bed and Breakfast Location: Very central Location. 2 Blocks from the Central Plaza and 1 Block to the main Arch Street Colonial Hotel Colonial Hotel is located downtown San José, very close to many important governmental buildings, museums and parks as well as nice restaurants, stores and supermarkets. It is an elegant restored neocolonial mansion that once belonged to the owners of a well-known furniture store. The house has many elegant details such as hand carved mahogany beams and tropical redwood floors. All rooms have ceiling fans, telephone and cable TV; some of them also have air conditioning. Some additional services available are laundry service, money exchange, luggage storage and free wireless Internet access.

17 Manatus Hotel - Standard 2 Night Superior Category Accommodation Mawamba Lodge is located in the exotic rain forest of Tortuguero. Mawamba Lodge, amidst this exotic spot, and whose front yard is the Tortuguero canals and its backyard the Caribbean Ocean, blends with the surrounding natural richness to welcome you in this tropical sanctuary that we call Tortuguero. Facilities include: direct access to the beach and at walking distance to Tortuguero town, swimming pool & whirlpool, restaurant by the pool area, bar, Entertainment (foosball, pool, volleyball sand court and table games), cafeteria with free WI-FI connection access. Mawamba Park: private trails with 2 butterfly gardens, iguanas and frog garden (guided visit included in the 3 day / 2 night package). Unlimited free access to guests for self-guided walks, natural trails: El Manakin trail for day hikes and another private nature trail for night hikes. Optional tours: kayaks, night hikes, turtle tour in season (July-September) Katonga floating restaurant. Bio-digester (sewage waters are treated and converted in a natural source of gas to heat up the kitchen stoves), souvenir shop and conference room. The lodge has 54 standard rooms and 4 standard superior rooms. Standard rooms feature one double and one single bed or three single beds. All rooms have garden view, ceiling fan, complimentary safety box, daily clean up service and private bathroom. Hair dryer available for guest use in reception (limited numbers). Superior rooms are independent bungalows with ample room space with one king size bed, ceiling fan, view of the canals, complimentary safety box and larger bathroom with separate tub and shower and hair dryer. Hotel Las Colinas Standard Category Accommodation Hotel Boutique Las Colinas is a place with a familiar atmosphere with more than 20 years of experience in the market. With excellent views towards the Majestic Arenal Volcano and located just half a block away the Central Park in La Fortuna Down Town. Monteverde Country Lodge Budget Category Accommodation Remodeled during 2010, Monteverde Country Lodge conjugates accessible lodging prices with the traditional Monteverde' s cozy-rustic style, providing our guests with comfortable facilities and a warm familiar environment. Located less than 10 minutes away from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve and in a walk-able distance from Santa Elena Downtown, Monteverde Country Lodge is the perfect option for those who are looking for cozy lodging, nice rest and easy access to all the activities Monteverde has to offer. Guest at Monteverde Country Lodge have access to cable TV, safety boxes, coffee maker and hot water showers in every room; as well as a gated parking lot, bar and restaurant. Free wireless Internet at all premises and free concierge service to book tours all around Monteverde. The lodge offers a complementary meeting room for groups staying with us; equipped with video in, microphone, surround sound system and a capacity for 50 people. Ideal for lectures, meetings and workshops. In addition, while staying at Monteverde Country Lodge, guests are able to use the indoor heated pool at our sister property Hotel Poco a Poco free of charge, the same for its exercise room, kids club and jacuzzi. They will also have access to preferential discounts at Otocuma Restaurant and seasonal promotions at Naroa Spa.

18 Pre-booking Advice Please click on the below link which includes some detailed information on common destinations. Please read this information prior to approving your quote with your sales consultant as the items mentioned in this document can be difficult (and/or expensive) to change after your booking is confirmed. Itinerary Planning Advice Important Information on Facebook and Twitter For more inspiration, great images and interesting Latin America and Antarctic updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.