Jorge and Elizabeth on Vacation in Costa Rica! March 16, March 28, 2016

Transcription

1 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 1 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS Day 1: Wed. March 16, Jorge and Elizabeth on Vacation in Costa Rica! March 16, - March 28, DATE ACTIVITY HOTEL You are arriving on flight AA 1153 at p.m. and Tabacon Resort and your Serendipity leader will meet you just outside the Spa terminal. Lookout for the unique Serendipity sign above the heads of the crowd, a yellow paddle.. We leave the city immediately and head towards the northern region of San Carlos, where the landscape is dominated by the cone-shaped Arenal Volcano. As we 1 Superior Room climb over the mountains you ll notice the temperature with King Bed drop as the plants and forests change their appearance. The views of the central valley and surrounding volcanoes are breathe-taking. The drive over the mountains takes us past coffee and sugar fields, through quaint villages and across lush river canyons. In a small town at the top of the mountains lives a man called Eduardo Manos de Tijeras (or at least we call him that) who has dedicated his life to his fine topiary gardens. A great place to stretch legs and mingle with local Costa Ricans that come to admire the monkeys and airplanes and bull fighters shapes he intricately creates with cypress bushes. The Arenal Volcano came into activity in the late 60 s and maintained strong activity until 2010, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to watch the lava flow. Nowadays, there is no red lava flowing, but you ll see smoke steaming from the perfect coned shaped mountain leaving no doubt this is still an active volcano. The thermal springs together with all the adventures offered in the area assure it remains as one of the most popular destinations among Costa Rica visitors. We ve arranged special accommodations at the very Award-winning luxury spa and hot springs resort with prime location at the base of the active Arenal Volcano.

2 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 2 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS foot of the volcano, along the banks of the Tabacon River, a steaming hot river stream that emerges from the depths of the volcano this very river feeds what is today a world-class hot springs spa resort. We suggest you take advantage of you having the guide at your disposition tonight and go out to a local restaurant for dinner! Day 2: Thur. March 17, You will be the one to decide what time to start this morning. The first activity today is a hike at the old lava rock trails at the base of the volcano. We can hike for 1-3 hours depending on your energy level, and if you are up to it we can rent some mountain bikes and also bike around these trails *Cost of bike rental not included. After the hike we might stop for lunch, then dedicate some time to explore the area further. Maybe you want to take a dip in a natural swimming hole before heading to the canopy tour? The concept of zip lines and treetop platforms were originally developed to research and learn about canopy ecosystems. Now it s more about the thrill of defying gravity and taking flight! Canopy Tours, as they are popularly called (traversing across suspended cables high above ground secured by harnesses and heavyduty pulleys), exist throughout the country there s literally hundreds of sites but not all of them uphold Serendipity s rigorous safety standards. We re taking on one of Costa Rica s more exciting canopy challenge courses, zipping across cables suspended on trees between 60 and 90 feet high!. We ll fly through the treetops of the rainforest. Your private tour is scheduled at 3.30 p.m. and will take hours.

3 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 3 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS In the early evening, your guide will drop you of at the hotel. From this point you will will be on your own, but always with our office just an or phone call away. Day 3: Fri. March 18, Day 4: Sat. March 19, Day 5: Sun. March 20, Today you will experience the excitement and adrenalin of white water river rafting. The pick-up time is scheduled at a.m. The destination is the class II/III Balsa River and you will have a private transfer to the river put-in where you will join the group of the day. Your guides will explain the safety procedures and safety equipment before embarking down the river. Enjoy up to 2 exhilarating hours of white water action on this beautiful tropical river. Get wet and wild through rapids such as "Magnetic Rock" and "Dredges". Enjoy a swim, some fresh tropical fruits and cold drinks followed by a hearty Costa Rican lunch at a local farm. Our lunch spot is a tour in itself. This traditional country estate with the aim to let visitors experience the genuine and peaceful way of country life in Costa Rica You will enjoy a delicious typical lunch served in a traditional way. You will most likely be back at the hotel around 4 p.m. Your room includes unlimited access to the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort so enjoy and stretch your muscles in the hot springs tonight! Today is a full day to relax and enjoy the Spa, unless you decide to sign up for some other tour in the area. Let the Serendipity office know what treatments you want to have scheduled, and we ll make the arrangements beforehand for your convenience. Time to say goodbye to the staff at Tabacon Resort. You re headed to Monteverde and we have arranged for a private transfer that will pick you up at noon. You ll ride in a van for maximum 15 minutes to reach the dam Hotel El Establo, Monteverde *Client made

4 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 4 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS dock where you ll board a boat that will take you across the lake Arenal (approx. 30 minutes boat ride). On the other side another vehicle will be waiting to drive you to your hotel for the next 3 nights in Monteverde (approx.1.5 hr drive). arrangements. Lodging not included in this package Day 6: Mon. March 21, Day 7: Tue. March 22, Day 8: Wed. March 23, You ll be arriving at the hotel around 3 p.m. ready to take a rest. For later tonight you may want to sign up for the hotel s night hike that take place on their property. The main activity for today is to enjoy the famous Sky Trek, Sky Tram and Sky Walk that will allow you to see, sense and enjoy the cloud forest at different heights and different angles Ride in a gondola with a guide at the Sky Tram, walk on hanging bridges high the ground on the Sky Walk, and swish across the cables of their exciting zip line tour; the Sky Trek. We have scheduled pick-up at the hotel at p.m. The operators will also bring you back to the hotel once you are done with all the activities Today is a free day to enjoy Monteverde and Santa Elena further Did you know that the cloud forest is the home of over 100 species of mammals, more than 400 species of birds, thousands of insects and around 2500 different species of plants..? We recommend you hire a private guide and do a guided walk in the forest reserve. Let us know if you want us to assist you in reserving a naturalist guide. Today you are moving towards the beach. We have scheduled a private transfer to depart Hotel El Establo at noon. It is a bit of a haul, so sit back and enjoy the Gaia Hotel Luxury boutique resort in Manuel Antonio, nestled in the

5 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 5 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS ride. Also, it is Easter week, one of the bigger holidays in Costa Rica so don t be surprised if there is a lot of traffic on the roads. Many Costa Ricans go to the beaches this weekend. forested hilltops, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and world-famous national park. Suite with king bed Day 9: Thur. March 24, This afternoon you will arrive at the hotel with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the sunset These beach days on your own are free to relax and enjoy the sand, surf and sun and to recover from your adventures earlier in the week. Playa Espadilla, the public beach just outside the national park of Manuel Antonio, is about a 5-10 minute cab ride down the hill from your hotel. It is probably not a bad idea to visit the National Park today instead of waiting until the weekend, considering there will be more people around then, and the Park Administration is only allowed to let a limited number of people enter the park each day. A morning spent inside Manuel Antonio National Park is a definite must-do if coming to this coastal region. Inside the park are wonderful beaches and excellent hiking trails (the animals in the park are captive because it is an island-- and because they are protected, they really have little fear from the people who watch them. Guaranteed monkeys!). And beautiful beaches, and, compared to any of the popular beaches in the U.S. or Mexico or the Bahamas, the beaches are relatively empty...like out of the travel magazines. Try to go prepared with snacks and beverages to be able to spend time in the park comfortably on the beach, playing with monkeys, searching for sloths, snorkeling the waters. Just outside the park at Espadilla Beach, you can also

6 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 6 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS enjoy the ocean and waves. There is often the option to sign up for paragliding or to rent a Jet Ski. Sometimes people show up with horses to run on the sand, sometimes a man with sea kayaks comes there to rent his equipment, sometimes it's just home-made barbecue sold off a roaring fire, and fresh milk chopped by a machete from a green coconut, or strawberries or bananas or mangoes and water in a blender to drink. Day 10: Fri. March 25, Day 11: Sat. March 26, Day 12: Sun. Breakfast included at Hotel Day tour operators are a dime a dozen in Costa Rica and the spectrum for standards when it comes to security and service is wide. Although Serendipity s direct operation and standards are rarely matched we do have a very short list of trusted sources in this coastal region in case you wish to continue being active. Please let us know in advance but we can arrange private **surf lessons, **whitewater rafting, **ATV rentals (four wheel motorcycles) and **sunset boat rides. Breakfast included at Hotel Today is the day for Deep Sea Fishing- The waters of the central pacific coast offer world-class opportunities for sport fishing -- especially fighting sailfish and marlin. We have chartered a boat and reputable captain for a full day excursion aboard his well-maintained and fully equipped 33-foot yacht. Trips are hosted by the captain and his trusted deck crew. All necessary fishing gear is included plus snacks, lunch and beverages. You will get picked up at the hotel at 7.10 a.m. and transferred to the boat, in order to board around A full day means 8 hours on the water. Good luck with the catch! Breakfast included at Hotel. Lunch and snacks included during the fishing trip Your last day to enjoy the sun, sand and pool! The Quepos/Manuel Antonio area is populated enough

7 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 7 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS March 27, for good infrastructure, small enough to be intimate. Small and medium size hotels dominate the landscape here and large-scale resorts never flourished- so there s lots of local flavor yet excellent quality services. Day 13: Mon. March 28, The food in Manuel Antonio reflects the eclectic character of the area you can find everything from local tipico (as the Costa Ricans call the traditional rice, beans, plantain and cornmeal based cuisine) to world class fusion, and everything in between. Breakfast included at Hotel Today you are flying back home, departing on flight AA 1600 at 2.19 p.m. We have booked a domestic flight straight to the international airport, departing Quepos at a.m. (Nature Air flight 5C 135), scheduled to arrive at a.m. Departure is always a two-edged sword -- wanting to get back to family and friends, to the life to which you are accustomed, but then today you ll be leaving behind the splendid tropics, and your new friends. You may take a few bruises, some extraordinary memories, certainly a new understanding of Costa Rica and the Third World, and perhaps a new skill or two, with you. You have to leave behind the granadillas, the gallo pinto and guanábana, but you ll come back for these sometime Breakfast included at Hotel Departure total. The customized itinerary above for a private group including 2 adults costs: U.S. $9,415 Optional tips and airfare are not included in the above price (see TIPPING below for suggested ranges) PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS: The above price quote is based on a $600 per person deposit, which you can pay with any major credit card to our corporate account with PayPal. Balance payment is required by sending us a personal check or a bank to bank wire to our account in Michigan. If you wish to pay balance with credit card, please add 3,5% surcharge to balance amount.

8 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 8 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS Included: all hotels, activities and meals as described above. Day 1 and 2 includes your personal 4x4 full TOYOTA LAND CRUISER or NISSAN PATROL (including fuel) and the services of a private full time Serendipity adventure leader (see details below). Your Serendipity leader: Your private guide is your personal driver, but also your travel concierge, logistical manager, cultural facilitator, first-aid responder and general source of information about Costa Rica's nature, social structure, economy, democracy, geology, etc.. With Serendipity's guides you ll try some things which you never thought even in your wildest dreams you would ever attempt, and you ll appreciate the one-on-one relationship with a knowledgeable guide/leader who takes you through the steps. Also included are government taxes (about 17% on everything). Not Included: any service not mentioned above or labeled by asterisks (**) as well as personal expenditures including laundry, exit visa for Costa Rica ($29 per person), tips. Serendipity Adventures, Inc. and Serendipity Costa Rica, S.A. have advised me that there are risks and dangers involved in participating in their adventure expedition. The dangers include possible injury or death caused by any of the activities provided, including but not limited to: hiking, biking and driving on and off roads, ascending on ropes and harnesses into trees, structures, natural formations or anchor points, rappelling, balloon inflation, flight and landing, white water rafting, rubber Duckies, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, scuba, NOTICE OF RISK climbing, insect and snake bites, power boating, animal bites, sailing, hiking on or near volcanoes, food poisoning, fishing, surfing, and windsurfing. I participate in these activities of my own free will, recognize that the element of risk is a necessary part of the enjoyment of this trip, and I hold Serendipity Adventures, Inc. and Serendipity Costa Rica, S.A. harmless for my safety beyond normal due care. By joining this trip I acknowledge that I have been informed of these risks. THIS IS A PRIVATE TRIP - only members of your own group will participate, except during adventures which require minimum participants for safety (balloon flight and rafting are examples). Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of $600 deposit per person. CANCELLATION: PEAK SEASON (Dec. 15-January 15 and March 1 April 15)): full refund, less prepaid hotel amounts and additional Serendipity cost of $190 per person, if requested in writing at least 90 days before trip start date. No refund if cancellation received less than 90 days before start date. Final payment at least 90 days before start date. Full payment should accompany reservations made less than 900 days before departure. Credit cards may be used for the deposit only. OTHER SEASONS - full refund, less prepaid hotel amounts and additional Serendipity cost of $190 per person, if requested in writing at least 60 days before start date. No refund if cancellation received less than 60 days before start date. Final payment at least 60 days before start date. Full payment should accompany reservations made less than 60 days before departure. PAYMENTS: Credit cards (AMEX, VISA and Mastercard) may be used for the deposit. The above price assumes final balance paid by cash, personal or corporate check on USA

9 Friday, January 15, 4:07 PM Page 9 of 9 ITINERARY: 0316-MEDEROS bank, wire transfer or money order. Any other final balance payment will result in a 3.5% additional processing fee or bank service fees. ITINERARY CHANGES AFTER TRIP CONFIRMED: while Serendipity always strives to be accommodating, changes in hotel arrangements and activities are usually impossible to make once a trip has been confirmed. Upgrades and changes are sometimes available at extra cost. Before placing your deposit for the proposed itinerary, please speak with your Serendipity itinerary designer if you have concerns about any hotel, bed arrangements, activities, transfers or food. WEATHER RISKS: As with all outdoor sports, scheduled balloon flights, rafting, climbing, air and ground transportation and other activities are weather dependent. Activities may be rearranged to accommodate weather conditions, or canceled in the interests of safety. CANCELED ACTIVITIES: Guides and pilots may decline to take guests who present a risk to themselves or others, who are inebriated or incapacitated in a way that creates a hazard for conducting the operation arranged. Serendipity will not refund for cancelled activities if participants have medical conditions or incapacitation not revealed prior to purchasing their Serendipity travels. INSURANCE: Car theft is EXTREMELY COMMON all over Costa Rica. Please avoid carrying extra "things" and then leaving them in the car when away from your hotel. Serendipity is not able to buy insurance in Costa Rica on vehicle contents or mysterious disappearance from vehicles, hotels, etc. Serendipity must therefore limit its liability to no more than $100 per person for loss of personal possessions. We STRONGLY recommend travel insurance for lost or stolen luggage, trip cancellation and medical emergency available thru your travel agent or RELEASE FORM: All participants will be required to sign and return a release form prior to departure. See Serendipity website: for current RELEASE form. TIPPING: We are constantly asked what is appropriate. Our answer is that any tip is optional. Like fishing charters or naturalist specialists in Costa Rica, guides usually receive about 7-12% of the total trip cost, depending on the quality of the service provided and on your preference. The tip you give to your principal guide is shared according to your instructions among all the people helping your trip run smoothly -- river guides, horseback guides, climbing guides, naturalist guides, drivers, etc. who will be with you at different times during the adventures. This policy eliminates a need to constantly be concerned about tipping etiquette in Costa Rica. AIR FARE to Costa Rica not included. We are pleased to help you locating best routes and fares.