Detailed description. Costa Rica, Nicaragua & Panama. Welcome. Day to Day schedule. tree frogs won t be the only red-eyed species around!

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1 Costa Rica, Nicaragua & Panama tree frogs won t be the only red-eyed species around! Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SCO Detailed description Welcome Experience walking through verdant rainforests, gaze over smoking volcanoes and relax in hot sulphur springs on this exciting tour. Get acquainted with brilliant green tree frogs, energetic capuchin monkeys and intriguing iguanas before kicking back and indulging in some reggae relaxation. Nicaragua will appeal, with it's friendly people, colourful markets and Spanish colonial buildings. Panama has brilliant white beaches and colorful coral reefs. This varied journey is taken at a relaxed pace and offers plenty of freedom for your own exploration. Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 San José San José 2 San José San José 3 Bus San José - Monteverde Cloud Forest Monteverde Cloud Forest 4 Monteverde Cloud Forest Monteverde Cloud Forest 5 Bus Monteverde Cloud Forest - Granada Granada 6 Granada Granada 7 Granada Granada 8 Bus Granada - Rincon de la Vieja Rincon de la Vieja 9 Rincon de la Vieja Rincon de la Vieja 10 Bus Rincon de la Vieja - La Fortuna La Fortuna 11 La Fortuna La Fortuna 12 Bus La Fortuna - Quepos (Manuel Antonio N.P.) Quepos 13 Quepos Quepos

2 14 Bus Quepos (Manuel Antonio N.P.) - Boquete Boquete 15 Boat,Bus Boquete - Bocas del Toro Bocas del Toro Bocas del Toro Bocas del Toro Bocas del Toro - Cahuita Cahuita Cahuita Cahuita Cahuita - San José San José San José End of tour Boat,Bus Bus 20 Day to Day description Day 1: San José Welcome to Costa Rica! Your tour starts in San José, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Most of your travel companions will arrive later this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 8.00 hrs A.M. on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel. Day 2: San José San José is set in a beautiful green valley, encircled by volcanoes. Enjoy a free day to explore this small capitals shopping streets and markets. Join a city tour to the Gold or National Museum and treat yourself to a coffee in a coffeehouse, a favourite pastime of the friendly locals. Book a day-tour to the nearby Poas volcano. Day 3: San José - Monteverde Cloud Forest Today we travel by private bus to the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest nature reserve. Just the trip to 'the green mountain' is an adventure and you ll be rewarded with breathtaking views. We shall stay two nights in a good hotel with an excellent restaurant and large garden. The entrance to the reserve is close by, as is the butterfly garden and a beautiful hummingbird gallery. Day 4: Monteverde Cloud Forest Enjoy another day in the nature reserve at Monteverde. You can enjoy other activities such as visiting the frog garden, horse riding or walking the suspension bridges built high above the cloud forest. A hike in the cloud forest is also an enchanting experience you will never forget. The variety of dramatic microclimates, an extremely short distance from each other is extraordinary. Usually, a one-day hike provides alternating fog, sunshine and rain with an average temperature of 18 degrees. Another special feature of the cloud forest is the kaleidoscope of greens. Due to the high atmospheric humidity, the giant trees are covered with an abundance of bromelia's, orchids, ferns, hart s horns and mosses. It is also the home of the beautiful yet shy, red green feathered, quetzal.

3 Day 5: Monteverde Cloud Forest - Granada Today we travel by bus and cross the border to Nicaragua. We will travel along the bank of Lake Nicaragua overlooking two impressive volcanoes, before reaching the beautiful colonial city of Granada. We will stay three nights in an atmospheric colonial hotel with pool and air conditioned rooms. Granada lies on the banks of Lake Nicaragua, with scores of beautiful buildings and a central square with an imposing cathedral and colourful market. Day 6: Granada You may choose to take an optional excursion to the city of Masaya and the Masaya National Park, where you can pay a visit to an active volcano. Alternatively visit Catarina from where you will have a brilliant view over the Laguna, the Apoyo and the city of Granada or take a trip to the nearby capital Managua, and visit the cathedral, the National Museum and the colossal statue of Sandino or take a boat trip out on to Lake Nicaragua. Day 7: Granada Our last day to immerse ourselves in the rich cultural heritage of Granada. Day 8: Granada - Rincon de la Vieja Today we head back to Costa Rica driving along an impressive landscape to Guanacaste province, where we arrive by the end of the afternoon. We stay two nights in a pleasant lodge surrounded by jungle and beautiful waterfalls. TIP: Rincón de la Vieja National Park is a must for adventurers and nature-lovers as this tropical mountain forest is crowded with exotic birds and animals. You can choose to take wonderful hikes in the nature reserve and cross the jungle on foot or by horse. There are sulphur springs and bubbling mud pools if you know where to look! Day 9: Rincon de la Vieja Our second day in Rincon de la Vieja. Continue to enjoy this fascinating area! An extremely special way to travel through the forest is on the Canopy Tour, where you swing from platform to platform like Tarzan! Real go-getters can hike to the crater of Rincón volcano; weather permitting, accompanied by a local guide. Day 10: Rincon de la Vieja - La Fortuna Today we visit Arenal, up until recently one of the world s most active volcanoes, and with a bit of luck, you will still hear the underground rumblings. We spend two nights in La Fortuna village, in a lovely hotel with swimming pool and views of the Arenal. On arrival you can take a walk to a nearby waterfall for a refreshing swim or hire a horse to explore the surroundings. In the evening, it is possible to visit the hot water springs around the Arenal.

4 Day 11: La Fortuna Why not join an optional excursion to the beautiful Caño Negro Reserve, a watery area abundant with birds, caimans, turtles, monkeys and reptiles. Day 12: La Fortuna - Quepos (Manuel Antonio N.P.) Today we drive along the coast to one of the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica and will stay for two nights in the city of Quepos. With an array of restaurants, soft sands and warm waters, perfect for snorkelling. Quepos is a great base from which to explore the 682-hectare Manuel Antonio National Park with its beaches, offshore islands, lush rainforest filled with monkeys, sloth and lots of birds. Day 13: Quepos Carry on exploring the wonders of Quepos. Day 14: Quepos (Manuel Antonio N.P.) - Boquete Today we cross the border into Panama and travel to the small village of Boquete, set in the highlands of the Chiriqui province. The climate is much cooler here allowing flowers, vegetables, coffee and citrus fruit to grown. On the steep slopes, the "Gnobe-Bugle" Indians, better known as the Guyami live and work on the coffee plantations. The mountains of Boquete, offer some truly breathtaking walks that you will never forget. Day 15: Boquete - Bocas del Toro We drive to Chiriquí Grande and take a boat to the resort of Bocas Toro on the island Isla Colón. TIP: We have two days here to enjoy the magnificent snorkelling, boat tours, scuba diving, swimming, waterskiing or kayaking. There is also the option of hiring bicycles to explore this magnificent island. It is a typical Caribbean island with wooden huts on stilts and a relaxed atmosphere. The local food has definite Jamaican influences and the local population are laid back at friendly. Day 16: Bocas del Toro Relax in Bocas for a second day.

5 Day 17: Bocas del Toro - Cahuita We head back to the Caribbean reggae town of Cahuita and chill out with the easy-going locals. Enjoy a drink or two at one of the bars, enjoy a spot of reggae music and dine in one of the welcoming restaurants. Or why not take a hike in Cahuita National Park and see if you can spot sloths, raccoons and toucans. Beach-lovers will appreciate the wonderful bay with white sand and surfing or snorkelling on the coral reef is a must. Diving tours out to the reef can also be arranged. Day 18: Cahuita Treat yourself in Cahuita to some famous fruit flavoured crepes or a delicious variety of their equally well-known grilled chicken dishes. Day 19: Cahuita - San José Today we travel back to San José for one final night. Day 20: San José The last day of your tour. You can use your hotel room in San José until check out time (most times at hrs noon). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. Your personal µmy.shoestring page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today. When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 20) is not included. More info What's included: Accommodation in hotels; transportation with AC (mini) bus only for transfers from hotel to hotel; boat transfers in Bocas del Toro; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded: International flights, all meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all entrance fees; border expenses; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance.

6 Travel documents Passport: It is your responsibility to ensure you have a passport valid for at least 6 months after your return date. Visa: It is your responsibility to ensure you have visas for travel, where required. Visa information can vary depending upon ones nationality but at present, most nationalities do not require a visa for any of the countries visited on this trip. We recommend checking this information well in advance of travelling through a site such as this one. To arrange your visa, you should either contact your nearest respective embassy or use an agency such as CIBT Accommodation and transport Transport During this tour we travel in a good, private air-conditioned bus, which allows us to stop off at places along the way. The bus is not available to the group on the free days in Granada. Transportation to and from Bocas del Toro is by boat. The transfers to and from the airport are not included. Travel distances San José - Monteverde 155 Km/ 4 Hours Monteverde - Granada 300 Km/ 7 Hours Granada - Rincón de la Vieja 190 Km/ 5 Hours Rincón de la Vieja - La Fortuna 155 Km/ 4 Hours La Fortuna - Quepos 250 Km/ 5 Hours Quepos - Boquete 300 km/ 7 Hours Boquete - Bocas del Toro 190 Km/ 4 Hours Bocas del Toro - Cahuita/Puerto Viejo 110 Km/ 4 Hours Cahuita/Puerto Viejo - San José 200 Km/ 5 Hours Please note that duration's are of course approximate and will depend on the local situation at the time. Accommodation You will stay in a range of accommodations. In Granada and San Jose, you have charming hotels, situated along the coast with beautiful gardens and sometimes a pool. These are simple but comfortable hotels with 2-person rooms and private bathrooms. In Rincón de la Vieja you sleep in a cosy lodge. Travellers booking alone will share a 2-person room with a fellow traveller. We of course keep in mind to pair people of the same sex. It is possible to book a single room for the whole trip. If you wish to do this, please indicate so on your booking and a supplement will be charged. A triple room is sometimes available on a request basis. Please keep in mind that this is a room with two double beds, which means the beds are shared.

7 During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency. Single excursions Excursion Details Price Cahuita National Park - Snorkelling excursion Take a trip to one of the best places for snorkelling in Costa Rica! You will visit two different places where you can observe the underwater life. In the ocean here you will find more biodiversity than on the mainland in Cahuita! The coral reef lies off the coast of Cahuita National Park. After snorkelling you can take a boat or walk through the national park back to Cahuita. Duration: half day Minimum number of participants: 8 Includes: Boat tour, snorkelling equipment, bilingual guide, Fruit based snack, round-trip transportation and National Park entrance fee. 35 Granada - Masaya day excursion This day trip includes a visit to the Masaya Volcano, as well as to the artisanal market- and the town of Masaya. You will also be taken to the village of Catarina and the famous lookout lagoon over the Apoyo Lake. Masaya National Park is one of Nicaragua's most interesting and beautiful natural phenomena. It covers an area of 54 km2 and its' roads lead to and around the two impressive volcanoes and five formidable craters. The Masaya Volcano, also known as Popogatepe currently displays gaseous activity and incandescent lava in its interior. We will also pay a brief visit to the orphanage in Granada where we will make a donation for the children in need ($5 per person). Includes: Transportation, entrance fees to Park and Laguna de Apoyo, visit to Masaya and Catarina. Duration: Whole day 34

8 La Fortuna - Caño Negro day excursion This day excursion will be be a boat tour around the waterways of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is considered one of the best sites on the continent for bird watching. In addition Caño Negro is home to many animals, such as sloths, three types of monkeys, caimans, lizards, bats, and a variety of flora native of the wetlands. Includes: Boat tour, picnic lunch and transportation. Duration: Whole day 44 La Fortuna - Finca Educativa Don Juan Finca Educativa Don Juan is an educational center which provides a model for sustainable agriculture and inspiration to farmers from around the world. You can harvest the ingredients for your own meal, savour the tropical crops and learn how organic farming works. At the end of the tour you can operate the "Troja" (sugar cane press), to process sugar cane in a manual press. This is how fresh beet juice and sweets like 'sobado' and 'guaroliquor' are made. At the edge of the forest and the river, you can enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican meal, which is cooked on a wood stove. Duration: half day Includes: tour of the farm, lunch, meeting with local farmers. 34 Manuel Antonio - Jungle night walk and aquatic tropical gardens The Amphibian Aquatic Garden is a series of waterways and pools that are designed to provide a habitat for a variety of native species. Animals can reproduce here and move freely without limiting their natural behaviour. During this unique Jungle walk you see one of the most interesting and important ecosystems in Costa Rica, the night time tropical forest. You can get up close with all kinds of animals and have the chance to see one of the most interesting reptiles... the snake! With over 30 identified species you will learn more about which are the dangerous ones and which are not! 38 Minimum number of participants: 2 Includes: local guide, entrance and flashlight Duration: 2 hours

9 Manuel Antonio N.P. - Tarcoles River boat trip The 'Guacalillo the Estero (Guacalillo mouth) and the river Tarcoles allow you to see one of the largest populations of American crocodiles in existence. It is an impressive ecosystem, consisting of four different mangrove species, each an important ecological habitat for various bird species. As the boat nears the riverbank, you get up close with crocodiles of up to 15 feet in length. Thanks especially to the efforts of the local community, the crocodile population has grown from 50 to 150 crocs per square kilometer. 21 Included: Boat tour, fresh fruit, water, Duration: 2.5 hours Monteverde - Canopy tour The Canopy Tour consists of 13 cables and 18 platforms high up in the trees of the cloud forest and takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. During this tour you will be zipped through each of the cables while attached to a top safety harness and using the best climbing gear available. It is an adventurous tour that raises adrenaline as you fly through the treetops looking down on this beautiful landscape. Includes: Transportation, local guide, equipment & entrance fees. Duration: 2.5 hours Minimum 2 persons. 38 Monteverde - Tree top walkways On this excursion you can walk the 1.9 miles (approximately 3 kilometers) trail that crosses through the Monteverde Cloud Forest. You will walk on eight different bridges with various lengths ranging between 150 feet (50 meters) up to 510 feet (170 meters) and altitudes ranging between 36 feet (12 meters) up to 180 feet (60 meters). Each bridge has a width of five feet, the widest bridges in Costa Rica, and also a capacity of up to 80 people per bridge making them both the longest and strongest bridge systems in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The Tree Top Walkways are suitable for people of all ages. The duration of the hike is usually between 1.5 and 2 hours. Includes: Transportation, entrance fees and guide. Duration: hours Minimum 2 persons. 30 San Jose - Poas Volcano Half day excursion to the active Poas volcano some 2704 meters high. In clear weather you have spectacular views of the 300-meter deep crater. Includes: private transport, entrance to Poas National Park Duration: Half day, evening departure. 48

10 Festival info News 12/10/2013 Important information: Crossing the Panama border The government of Panama has tightened the rules in regard to overland travel from Costa Rica in to Panama. Important: each person must now produce the following items in case of inspection by the immigration department: - A valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity from date of departure from Costa Rica. - A copy of your passport (minimum 2 copies). - A copy of your departure letter (containing flight + e-ticket number). - U.S. $ 500 cash OR a credit card with a copy of a bank statement in your name indicating that the card has a spendable limit of at least U.S. $ A tax document purchased from Bancredito in Costa Rica worth U.S. $ 7 per person (Your tour leader will go to Bancredito to buy this tax document with you). General information Tour leader Our tours are led by trained, local English speaking tour leaders. We know that our travellers appreciate being accompanied by these local tour leaders who, compared to their counterparts (living outside of the destination) have more detailed knowledge of their country. He/she knows the area well, can provide background information and ensure that the trip goes smoothly. He/she knows what to do if something were to go wrong, but is not a "walking encyclopedia". Therefore we would like to refer you to study a good travel guide (book) in advance of travel. Your tour leader understandably expects a tip at the end, if she/he has completed the job well. Shoestring pay the tour guides a wage which is higher than that of most adventurous travel companies. Our guideline for tipping is between 1, - and 2, - per passenger per day (the equivalent thereof). Sustainability We know that travelling to remote corners of this planet has its effects. At Shoestring we really try to make an effort to keep our impact to a minimum. We try to avoid the use of plastic water bottles on our treks through Nepal and we do not dump our litter during our trips through Africa. All of our staff have been trained to take special care to ensure we make as little impact on the environment as possible. Furthermore we support a lot of local projects which are mostly related to clean drinking water or making sure that children get vaccinated against illnesses such as tuberculosis. On most tours you will be able to visit some of the projects we support through our local agents. Find out more about the different projects Shoestring are involved with, how you can make a difference and our environmental policies here

11 Further important info... We recommend preparing well before you go on this trip so please read about your destination and carefully check which vaccinations and other medications you might need. Here are a few important points. Prior to the trip After making your booking, if you have not heard whether your trip is definitely going ahead then it is safe to assume that this is the case. If we unexpectedly have to cancel the trip, we will let you know no later than three weeks prior to your departure. It is not common for a trip to be cancelled, so please do not worry unduly. Incidentally, even if the minimum number of participants is not reached, Shoestring can still choose to let the trip proceed anyway. Guarantee Shoestring offers a unique guarantee, but what does a "guaranteed price" mean? It simply means that you pay the price that appears on the website at the time of booking. We guarantee that price. Any price increases made later will not be passed on to you! Personal Information Make sure when completing your booking to fill all details in correctly. This includes your passport and personal information (such as gender, date of birth and first and last name as stated in your passport). These details are necessary for confirming any domestic flights or transportation tickets and at some hotels that form part of your itinerary. Check your (digital) receipt of your booking confirmation details to make sure they are listed correctly. You are responsible for providing correct information. Incorrect information can lead to you not being admitted onto a train or into a hotel! Further information for your trip No later than one week prior to departure you will find your departure letter on your personal myshoestring site. Any tickets for local flights/other transportation will be controlled by your tour leader and provided locally. Single travellers About a third of our travellers are single travellers. This does not have to cost more as you can share with one of the other travellers in your group. We of course keep in mind to pair you with someone of the same sex. If you would prefer a room to yourself then this is usually possible. Please indicate this when booking and the applicable supplement will be added. Feedback While we put a lot of effort into the execution of your trip, it still occurs that travellers have comments about various aspects. To ensure that these observations can be addressed immediately we ask that they are notified to the tour leader in writing whilst on tour. If comments are not communicated in writing to the tour leader during the trip then this will affect how we are able to handle any potential complaint after the trip has concluded. Newsletter We regularly send out a digital newsletter, our E -zine. Here you can read stories, offers, tips and latest news about our travels. Do you receive this newsletter? Sign up easily through this link. Kuoni Specialists Ltd Shoestring is part of Kuoni Specialists Ltd, a group of adventure travel companies that interact in various ways to ensure that the traveller gets true value for his/her money. Behind the scenes, there is cooperation in the field of purchasing and handling of the trips and for the traveller, it means that we have an enormous amount of extra resources behind us, in the event they should be required. Have fun with the preparations for your trip! Insurance

12 Travel insurance, including medical repatriation insurance, is mandatory. It is not included with our packages and it is your responsibility to purchase suitable travel insurance. Make sure that it covers all the activities that you are likely to undertake, such as rafting and trekking. Many free insurances that come with banking packages, credit cards etc, are quite often inadequate to cover you on our tours, so make sure you check the policy before you travel. You should enter your travel insurance details via your my.shoestring account and you are required to give a copy of your insurance policy to your tour leader upon arrival. Without proper insurance like this, you will not be allowed to join the tour as we will not be able to respond adequately in case of an emergency if you do not have the right insurance. Address Shoestring International Entrada AA Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. You can call us on number or +44 (0) and us at info@shoestring.com Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM (Local times in Netherlands).