Ultimate Costa Rica 15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose

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15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose Discover the natural wonders of Costa Rica on this 15 day tour.

beaches in this enchanting coastal hamlet Tortuguero - take a walk along the famous turtle nesting trail and spot wildlife on a cruise along the canals of this spectacular national park San Jose -

1 15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose Discover the natural wonders of Costa Rica on this 15 day tour. Encounter wonderful wildlife in acclaimed national parks, learn about everyday life as a local Tico or Tica, explore the vibrant capital of San Jose and indulge in some relaxation on idyllic Samara Beach. This is Costa Rica encompassed! HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Monteverde - visit the world renowned Cloud Forest Reserve which is famous for its adrenaline activities Samara - relax on one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches in this enchanting coastal hamlet Tortuguero - take a walk along the famous turtle nesting trail and spot wildlife on a cruise along the canals of this spectacular national park San Jose - get acquainted with the country's capital and opt to visit the nearby Volcano Poas Manuel Antonio - explore the beautiful lagoons, palm fringed beaches and lush green forests of this beautiful national park La Fortuna - gaze in awe at the famous Arenal Volcano and take a dip in the relaxing hot springs Santa Rosa de Pocosol - gain a fascinating insight into rural life and stay with a local family Juanilama Reserve - take a hike to picturesque La Leona waterfall El Trapiche - learn about the farming and the processing of sugar cane, coffee and chocolate on an interactive tour What's Included Santa Rosa de Pocosol agricultural tour 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners 8 nights 3 star hotels, 4 nights lodges and 2 nights homestay San Jose airport arrival transfer on day 1 Escorted by a local English speaking tour guide with specialist guides at certain sites of interest. Private transportation in air conditioned vehicles Tortuguero boat cruise and village visit Excursion to Juanilama reservation and hike to waterfall La Leona Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park El Trapiche Sugar Cane and Coffee Tour Specialist local guides at certain sights of interest What's Not Included International flights and visa Tipping - an entirely personal gesture Airport departure transfer - can be booked at an additional cost upon request DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : San Jose Monday. Welcome to Costa Rica! Upon arrival at San Jose airport you will be transferred to your hotel to check in before having the rest of the day at your leisure. Take a stroll through the central market and try some local delicacies or explore one of the many theatres and museums this enchanting city has to offer before our tour starts tomorrow. San Jose is the capital and largest city in Costa Rica. During colonial times the main industry of this region was tobacco however by the mid 19th century the city became the centre of coffee production. After rivalling the then bigger and more established Cartago - 15 days - 1 -

and defeating them, San Jose declared itself the capital city. Overnight - San Jose Day 2 : Tortuguero San Jose - Tortuguero.

Then we set off to our first destination, Tortuguero, which is known as land of the turtles.

We also pass through banana plantations, the main economical activity of the Caribbean area.

2 and defeating them, San Jose declared itself the capital city. Overnight - San Jose Day 2 : Tortuguero San Jose - Tortuguero. After your first Costa Rican breakfast meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at 08:30am in the hotel lobby. Then we set off to our first destination, Tortuguero, which is known as land of the turtles. En route we drive through the lush rainforest of Braulio Carrillo National Park and enjoy some of Costa Rica s most picturesque views. We also pass through banana plantations, the main economical activity of the Caribbean area. Most of the sweet bananas you buy at the grocery store at home are produced right here in Costa Rica and the surrounding Caribbean countries. Arriving at the port in Limon we take a shuttle service boat to our lodge in Tortuguero National Park. If you keep your eyes open, you might spot crocodiles quietly swimming, or monkeys jumping from tree to tree. The park is extremely biologically diverse since it incorporates eleven different habitats, including rainforests, mangrove forests, swamps, beaches and lagoons. After checking into our accommodation we take a scenic boat ride through the canals to visit Tortuguero village and the Sea Turtle Conservancy Centre. Overnight - Tortuguero (B, L, D) Day 3 : Tortuguero National Park Tortuguero National Park is renowned for being an important turtle habitat. Green Sea turtles, leatherback turtles and Hawksbill turtles all nest on the beaches here so if you come at the right time of year you may have the opportunity to some of these beautiful little creatures hatch as you take a stroll along the famous turtle nesting trail. Today we cruise along the extensive canal system of natural and man-made waterways to explore the national park and witness the rich wildlife of monkeys, iguanas, and colourful tropical birds hiding in the jungle around us. Note: The Green Sea and Hawksbill turtle s nesting season runs from July to October with the peak in August, and the Leatherback turtles nest from February to April. Overnight - Tortuguero (B, L, D) Day 4 : Santa Rosa de Pocosol Tortuguero - Santa Rosa de Pocosol. We leave tranquil Tortuguero behind to continue our journey to Puerto de Santa Rosa de Pocosol, where we get a fascinating insight into the daily life of the locals, known as Ticos. After a warm welcome we are taken on a guided walk through the village and get to sample delicious fresh fruits from the trees. There's also the opportunity to participate in an optional workshop where you can learn how to cook like a local or make arts and crafts with the village ladies. We spend the next two nights at a homestay with a local family. Overnight - Santa Rosa de Pocosol (Homestay) (B, L, D) Day 5 : Juanilama Reservation Hike After breakfast we embark on a scenic hike through the ecological reserve in Juanilama until we reach the beautiful La Leona waterfall. Here we can take a dip in the clear water and if we're lucky we may even see some pakas, agutis, frogs or rare howling monkeys. This evening enjoy a tasty dinner with your homestay family. Overnight - Santa Rosa de Pocosol (Homestay) (B, L, D) Days 6-7 : La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano Overnight - La fortuna (2) (B:2) Days 8-9 : Samara Beach La Fortuna Samara Beach. Our next destination is sunny Samara. This beautiful coastal hamlet is a paradise on the western shore of the Nicoya Peninsula. Known for being one of the prettiest and safest beaches in all of Costa Rica, Playa Samara has soft white sand made smooth by the gentle turquoise tide. The local village has some great places to shop, lovely restaurants, charming hotels, and a few bars. Those interested in the nightlife should check out one of the local discos which stay open all night! Samara's laidback vibe is the perfect atmosphere for two days of rest and relaxation. Sport fishing is a popular activity off the coast, as is snorkeling and scuba diving around the local coral reefs or surfing, stand up paddling and horse riding. In the village you can visit the art gallery and admire the work of local artist or a short one-mile (2 km) walk down the beach will take you to the Tico hamlet of Matapalo, a great snorkeling spot. For birdwatchers, Chora Island, which is located just off the coast, is home to flocks - 15 days - 2 -

Known as the best Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, this lush reserve is a nature lovers paradise and an excellent place for bird watching.

3 of curious birds which are best seen from a kayak. Overnight - Samara Beach (B:2) Day 10 : El Trapiche farm tour Samara Beach Monteverde. Leaving the beach behind we venture to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Known as the best Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, this lush reserve is a nature lovers paradise and an excellent place for bird watching. After checking into our hotel, we will visit El Trapiche for a tour of a local farm. Here you will see banana trees, plantains, arracache, evergreen macadamia trees, orange trees, fields of sugarcane and coffee plants. You can even taste typical regional food and learn about the process of cocoa production. This evening we return to our hotel for the rest of the evening at leisure. El Trapiche is the Spanish word for sugar mill. The tour is run by a local family who are on a mission to not only teach about the sugar cane but also about Costa Rican culture. As well as learning about other crops on the farm we will learn about how coffee is produced. Overnight - Monteverde (B) Day 11 : Monteverde Cloud Forest Today is free to enjoy optional activities in the Cloud Forest. Your leader can help you arrange activities in advance. Monteverde includes several exciting areas to visit and things to do, such as the Santa Elena and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or the Butterfly Gardens. Monteverde is world famous for adrenaline tours. Here you can ride the longest zipline in Latin America, Bungee Jump, cross hanging bridges, go on a nightwalk through the jungle and more! Overnight - Monteverde (B) Day 12 : Quepos Monteverde Quepos. After our unique Cloud Forest adventure we travel on to Quepos. Quepos is the gateway to the beautiful Manuel Antonio national park and this small harbor town is also one of the best places in the world for big-game sport fishing. There are a variety of outdoor adventure options but the city itself is also very exciting! Quepos has a vibrant nightlife and the village center is composed of six blocks of restaurants, bars, hotels, art galleries and gift shops. These are all right next to the main beach and sport fishing fleet. The city is located in the northern part of the Puntarenas province on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast. For centuries the city lived from exporting bananas, today the palm oil plantations are of even a higher importance. Every year flocks of people descend on Quepos for the various concerts, parades and carnivals as well as admire the colourful flora and fauna surrounding the village. After checking into our hotel the evening is yours to explore this wonderful village. Overnight - Quepos (B) Day 13 : Manuel Antonio National Park Today we have an excursion to the Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest and possibly the most visited national park in Costa Rica. This celebrated park is blessed with beautiful lagoons, palm fringed beaches, a vast array of animals and lush green forests. The park was founded in 1972 and consists of a very large area in the sea next to the part on land. When you head away from the beaches you will find yourself in a lush rainforest traversed by several trails. This is great place to see bright and exotic birds, iguanas and monkeys! Overnight - Quepos (B) Day 14 : San Jose Quepos San Jose. Leaving the Pacific Coast behind us we head to the sunny capital city of Costa Rica, San Jose. After checking in to our hotel the rest of the day is free to explore the capital or opt to visit the Volcano Poas National Park National Park. You can see the largest volcanic lagoon in the world or take a boat down the cold water lake which flows from the mountain to the Sarapiqui River. Explore some of the many trails of the park and take a peek at over 80 species of birds that call this park home. For those wanting to stay in the city and explore the history it has to offer there are lots of city highlights to tick off of our list including the Nacional, Museo Nacional or Museo del Oro. Witness the beauty of the post card worthy colonial architecture, sample some of the local delicacies including the local street food and soak up the amazing atmosphere San Jose has to offer. Overnight - San Jose (B) Day 15 : San Jose Monday. It s time to say adios to beautiful Costa Rica and the group. We can arrange a departure transfer upon request. We would be delighted to help you extend your stay in Costa Rica and book more nights for you if you re still not quite ready to head home. (B) Our Partners This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers who booked through different operators, not solely On The Go. The Tour Group Our partner also offers this tour to their travellers in another language and with different accommodation for the overnight stays en route. At times, when there are less than 6 English speaking travellers in a group, the tour may be combined and you will be joined by a second guide and travellers who may speak English as a second language. On such occasions you will still be escorted by an English speaking guide, while the additional guide will conduct their travellers' guided sightseeing in another language days - 3 -

4 The group can vary in size from 2 18 persons. Arriving into San Jose An airport arrival transfer is included on day 1 of your tour from Juan Santamaria International Airport which is approximately 30 minutes away. At the airport terminal please wait where all pre booked transfers wait. Your driver will be holding a sign with your name on it or an On The Go Tours logo. If for any reason you miss your connecting flight or will be delayed more than an hour, please let us know by calling our emergency phone number on your voucher. If, for any reason, you need to make your own way to the hotel, metered taxis are available to the city centre and costs approximately CUC $25 however be sure to confirm the price with the driver if the taxi doesn t have a meter. We do not recommend trying to use the buses as this can be tricky due to the fact that bus payment is required in non-convertible pesos which are hard for tourists to obtain. We recommend that you obtain Costa Rican Colon once you arrive in the airport (CRC). There are lots of ATMs available and exchange bureaus and whilst you may not get as good of an exchange rate than if you were to exchange in the city it is good to have some cash on you. Please note that US Dollars are no longer accepted in Cuba and visitors will be charged commission to exchange them. The hotel has safe deposit boxes for your use. Please leave all of your important documents, money and travellers cheques here when you go out but remember to carry some form of ID and a photocopy of your passport with you. Accommodation The accommodation on this tour depends on the location but generally we work with 3 star standard hotels and above (except in Tortuguero lodge accommodation and home stay in Santa Rosa de Pocosol). Our hotels are usually situated close to the main sights and town centres. Staff are friendly and there is often a bar and restaurant either on site or nearby. All accommodation is included from the arrival day until check out time on the final day of the tour however there is an option to extend your stay and book additional post night accommodation. Clothing & Footwear We recommend bringing lightweight clothing with you for the duration of your trip. Evenings in certain locations such as Guatemala and San Jose can be cold, we recommend bringing clothes that you can layer with at least one pair of warm trousers and jumpers. For anyone visiting during rainy season we highly recommend a waterproof jacket. Please avoid any military or camouflage patterned clothing as this may be illegal in some countries and can cause problems. Comfortable walking shoes with grip and ankle support are essential for our tours, ideally these will be waterproof. Essential Items A lightweight water/windproof jacket with hood Easy to pack wide-brimmed hat or cap Towel - you will need a towel for most overnight excursions Swimwear Sandals/flip flops/thongs Check the climate and altitude at to get an idea of what the weather will be like on your tour so that you can pack accordingly. Hotels & Transfers Day 1 of the tour is a joining day for you to have the flexibility to arrive into the joining city at your own leisure. The tour starts from the morning of day 2 and the times will be confirmed in your final itinerary and details will be at the joining hotel reception for you to request this information. Tours are scheduled to arrive in the afternoon/evening before the departure day to allow time to pack and freshen up. Should you wish to spend more time in the start/end cities of the tour we can happily organise pre and post tour accommodation upon request. Check in time in hotels differentiates per property but is usually from 1300 on day 1. If you wish to use the services of the room beforehand then it is recommended to advise the hotel and request an early check in however this may incur an additional fee and will depend on the hotel facilities if they can accommodate this request. The same applies for any clients wishing to arrange late check out on the last day however this may incur an additional nights cost. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Costa Rica Country Guide Costa Rica - Fact File Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica Capital: San Jose Population: 4.9 million Total Area: 51,100 square kilometres Official Language: Spanish Religions: Roman Catholic 76%, Evangelical 13%, others 10% Voltage: 110 volts, US-style two pronged plugs Dialling Code: +506 Time Difference: GMT/UTC -6 Airport Departure Tax: US$29 - can be paid on arrival to avoid queues when departing. Costa Rica - Visas It is important to check with your nearest embassy or consulate regarding the rules depending on your nationality however most nationals do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica. Entry will be granted as long as your passport is valid for more than six months and you have proof of funds to support yourself during your stay as well as a return ticket (this is not usually requested). On arrival to Costa Rica you will be presented and requested to fill out an immigration/tourist card which you will need to keep a copy of until you leave the country. As a tourist you are usually granted with 30 days however this will depend on the immigration official you speak to. Costa Rica - Climate Costa Rica has a tropical and subtropical climate depending on the time of year. The dry season usually runs from December April, whilst rainy season runs from May - 15 days - 4 -

5 November with the highlands offering cooler temperatures. Visit to get an idea of what the weather will be like on your tour. Costa Rica - Money TThe currency used in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican colon. For up-to-date exchange rates with your own currency visit Changing money, credit cards & ATMs Generally, the easiest way to obtain local currency is to use ATM s. CIRRUS ATMs are available at most major tourist locations and as long as you have a four-digit pin you can withdraw cash with ease, however you should not rely on this as there are times the machines wont work even if your bank tells you they will. Always have a few back-ups just in case. Visa is the most accepted credit card however due to poor connections there can be issues with the machines accepting the purchase even if you have funds in your account. There may also be a commission added to your bill (usually 8%), so it is advisable to pay with cash where you can. Travellers cheques can often be a hassle to cash in Costa Rica so if you do decide to take them, make sure they are in US dollars and American Express cheques as they are more widely accepted. San Jose is the easiest place (and sometimes the only place) for you stock up on money. There is no restriction on the amount of foreign currency that you may bring into Costa Rica, however very large sums should be declared on arrival. but it s a good idea to be aware of what the approximate price should be before getting in the taxi. In other Costa Rican towns and cities, walking is basically the best and cheapest way to see the sights. Costa Rica - Food & Drink Food There s a lot of different food options to choose from in Costa Rica and travellers are usually surprised by the variety on offer. The Caribbean coast tends to offer dishes influenced by the island nations and curry spices are heavily used whereas on the Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste Province there are still a lot of ancient indigenous influence where maize is heavily used. Local cuisine is simple yet tasty and not very spicy. The national dish of Gallo Pinto, consists of red and white beans with rice, sometimes served with egg, is the most common breakfast dish. The Gallo pinto from the Caribbean side is made with coconut milk and is very tasty. Lunch is a similar affair however the rice and beans are usually supplemented with meat, fried plantain, salad and cabbage. Other specialities include Sopa negra (Black bean soup) and Olla de carne (beef, plantain, corn, yucca and chayote soup). Vegetarians If you are a strict vegetarian you may experience a distinct lack of variety in the food available, especially in small towns. You might find that you are eating a lot of omelettes and other egg dishes. Our tour leaders will do their best to provide interesting vegetarian alternatives when arranging group meals, but your patience and understanding is requested. most popular are Bavaria and Imperial. Wine, once a rare commodity, has become more common in higher end restaurants, where there are good Chilean and Argentinean varieties on offer. Also, very popular is guaro, a clear spirit distilled from fermented sugarcane. All drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinks are at your own expense throughout the tour. The following is a guideline for drinks bought in a shop in the street. Prices in restaurants and hotels can sometimes be more than double the prices specified below: 1 litre of water US$1 30cl bottle of soft drink US$1 30cl bottle of beer US$ cl bottle of beer US$2 You should be wary of drinking the local tap water. Bottled water and carbonated soft drinks are widely available and are generally safe to drink. Cost Rica - Bugs Should your tour include any visit to the jungle/rainforest region you should be prepared to come into contact with an array of wildlife including insects and spiders etc. This is all part of the jungle experience and most insects and bugs are harmless. As you will be in the jungle finding any bugs in your room doesn t mean the room is unclean it s all part of the experience. If you are uncomfortable with bugs we recommend you bring insect repellent spray and coils to put in your room. Remember that once out of Costa Rica you will generally not be able to use or exchange colones (except at the border towns). Therefore, you must make sure you spend/exchange/donate any left-over money before leaving the country. Costa Rica - Local Transport Taxis are recommended for most journeys in San José. All taxis should have a meter Drink Costa Rica has no national drink, however horchata, a cinnamon flavoured drink made of ground rice, batidos, fresh fruit shakes made with milk or water and ice, and fresco de frutas, a fruit salad floating on a base of cola and water are very popular. Beer is also heavily on offer in Costa Rica with countless larger, and dark beers on offer. The - 15 days - 5 -

Ultimate Costa Rica. 15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose. Day 1 : San Jose. What's Included. Trip Highlights. What's Not Included TRIP NOTES

Ultimate Costa Rica. 15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose. Day 1 : San Jose. What's Included. Trip Highlights. What's Not Included TRIP NOTES 15 days Starts/Ends: San Jose Discover the natural wonders of Costa Rica on this 15 day tour. Encounter wonderful wildlife in acclaimed national parks, learn about everyday life as a local Tico or Tica,