 Feb. 25 Arrival – Villa Blanca
Arrive by air into San Jose. A representative from Costa Rican Trails will meet you at the airport. Immediately you will be start your trip to Villa Blanca. Aproximate driving time: 2 1/2 hrs.
Surrounded by the most spectacular cloud forest in Costa Rica and conveniently located just 60 Km, or one hour from San Jose Intl. Airport, you'll discover Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel.The Villablanca experience begins with the unique personality of your private accommodations. Each charming "Casita" is part of an authentic Costa Rican Farm Village overlooking 3,000 acres of dairy pastures and pristine cloud forests.
Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel includes 34 individual well-appointed casitas that feature 5 romantic Honeymoon Suites. On the main hilltop is the Hacienda, where you can enjoy fresh baked breads and pastries at Café El Bosque, a coffee drink in El Mirador de Los Angeles, overlooking countless acres of pristine cloud forests, and fine country style dining in the charming restaurant, El Sendero, which overlooks the majestic Arenal Volcano, near La Fortuna, a scenic 70 Km. drive from the hotel property. At Villablanca, relaxation and comfort go hand in hand with the conservation of nature. The philosophy behind Si Como No's Green Hotels management combines the unique style of hospitality, with a profound respect for the natural surroundings, including the nearby communities of Los Angeles Norte and San Ramon. The thrill of adventure, the indulging ambiance and local traditions, all blend together naturally at Villablanca Cloud Forest Hotel, offering an unforgettable experience to clients from around the world.
Overnight at the Villa Blanca - Breakfast & dinner included
Feb. 26 Cloud Forest Nature Walk & Quetzal Tour (At 1400 mts. altitude)
This tour departs from Villablanca at 7:00 a.m. and travels approximately by 45 minutes along a scenic paved road to the Azahar Peak , located near La Paz de San Ramon. In this farm village atmosphere, you'll make the short hike up the rustic road, observing the town people, their crops, houses and the lush environment that surrounds them. Within the primary cloud forest we'll observe many birds from excellent observation points. You will then continue to the summit by vehicle on an unpaved road, until you reach the farm where the Quetzal nests. There you will have a light breakfast and then begin to follow the trail within this pristine private cloud forest. In addition to the flora and fauna of this area, we may observe the footprints of the wild boars and cats that survive in this higher altitude habitat, along with a variety of birds. On clear days you can observe the Poas Volcano, Gulf of Nicoya, and the Pacific Ocean from a scenic lookout.
Night Walking Tour:
Tour departs around 5:30pm, just before nightfall with each participant with flashlight, entering a 1km long hotel trail. Your guide will discuss the uniquess of a this nocturnal habiat of the cloud forest, you will discover that most nocturnal species are very small, especially the great variety of insects. Observe frogs,snakes,owls and other nocturnal mammals.
Overnight at the Villa Blanca - Breakfast & dinner included
Feb. 27 EARTH Institute - Transfer to the Earth . Approx. driving time: 4 hrs.
Certainly one of the highlights of our trip and a program seldom included in any tour package, the EARTH Institute is a private educational foundation located in the humid tropical Guapiles area of Costa Rica. Our stay here includes 2 nights lodging in the Posadas Hotel (on site), 6 meals including a special open grill, pool side dinner of typical Costa Rican cuisine, an expert naturalist guide assisted by EARTH students who have an in depth knowledge of all Earth's activities, two birding / natural history tours and a tour of selected projects on campus of special interest to our group (in this case the Reforestation Project and the Botanical & Orchid Gardens). EARTH also has an amazing level of biodiversity on campus, with three species of monkey, two species of sloth, armadillos, bats, ocelots, poison dart frogs, and nearly 300 species of birds. The purpose of this aspect of our tour is to provide our group accessibility to conservation and integrated agricultural ideas to ecotourism.
Overnight at the EARTH Institute standard - All meals included
Feb. 28 Tortuguero Canals Tour
The canals of Tortuguero are without a doubt one of the main attractions in the country and this is a unique opportunity to experience this natural wonder.
Soon after, board a boat that will lead you through the living jungle that stretches over the narrow canals that are formed by the rivers borne in the high mountains that are making their way to the sea. Common sightings here are monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, and sloths. The Canals are also considered a bird watcher’s paradise, so keep your eyes open!
After the canal experience, guests will be treated to local snacks, fruit and drinks accompanied by the lively Caribbean sounds of a calypso band.
Overnight at the EARTH Institute standard - All meals included
Feb. 29 - Mar. 01 Arenal Volcano - Transfer to Arenal Volcano. Approx. driving time: 3 1/2 hrs.
One of the most active volcanoes of the world, cloud forests, a lake world-famous for windsurfing and an incredibly diverse population of wildlife is what you will find in this area. The flawless silhouette of Arenal Volcano, its loud rumblings and frequent explosions of lava and ash are a sight not to be missed by any visitor to Costa Rica.
Two nights at the Tabacon Resort - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar. 02 Monteverde - Boat transfer to Monteverde Cloudforest, Approx. driving time: 3 ½ hrs.
Monteverde was founded about 40 years ago by a small group of conservation-minded Quakers who were looking for a peaceful place to live. Its cloud forest reserve is one of the most outstanding wild life sanctuaries in the tropics. This high elevation rain forest offers miles of trails with excellent opportunities for bird watching. The resplendent Quetzal is often sighted up here (mostly January to July). It is for this reason that more visitors are attracted to this private reserve than to any other in Costa Rica.
Walkways, Butterfly Garden, Hummingbird Garden
These Tree Top Walkways are the best system of suspension bridges that exist in Costa Rica. The bridge system is located along a 1.7 mile trail designed to be walked by people of all ages and consists of 8 suspension bridges going 90% through primary cloud forest. In the Butterfly Garden you can observe more than 50 species of butterflies from different altitudes and climates on a guided tour. In the Hummingbird Garden the visitor can observe more than 14 species of hummingbirds surrounded by waterfalls and natural floral arrangements.
Overnight at the El Establo - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar. 03 Monteverde Cloudforest Private Tour
You will hike through the well-marked-trails, waterfalls, rivers, and the observation area of the park. If you are lucky you might spot a "Quetzal", one of the most beautiful birds in the world. You will also see an amazing variety of flora and fauna in this tour. A must for all visitors.
Visit to Cooperative Santa Elena
High in the mountains of Costa Rica, some of the world’s best coffee is grown, in harmony with nature. Cooperative Santa Elena, located in the Monteverde region, is made up of 84 small coffee producers who are committed to growing their crops in environmentally friendly ways. The Cooperative exports most of its coffee to the international Fair Trade market, but also roasts Café Monteverde and sells it locally to local supermarkets, hotels, and to the growing number of tourists who visit Monteverde each year. Stop at Women`s cooperative store.
Overnight at the El Establo - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar. 04 Manuel Antonio - Transfer to Manuel Antonio, Quepos. Aproximate driving time: 5 hrs. Manuel Antonio is considered to be Costa Rica's most beautiful park, with enchanting white-sand beaches ideal for swimming, and tropical rainforest forest alive with wildlife. Watch for the monkeys and iguanas who share the park with you. Most hotels are small and intimate, set high on a hill overlooking the rain forest, endless beaches and the national park. Options abound here! Whether you are looking for a romantic honeymoon hideaway or an action-packed visit, this premier destination has the answer.
Overnight at La Mariposa Ocean view room - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar. 05 The Spice Plantation Tour
Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is located in the Central Pacific rain forest 10 miles east of Quepos overlooking Manuel Antonio National Park. The plantation includes 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest. Cash crops include our major spice - vanilla, plus true ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oil and medicinal plants. We also showcase our unique collection of epiphytes (airplants) including orchids, bromeliads, and tilandsias.
Vanilla is the most popular flavor in the world and is the plantation’s major crop. Native to Central America and Mexico, it is also the second most expensive flavoring agent and the reason for its high cost is the labor-intensive nature of vanilla cultivation and processing. Each vanilla orchid is carefully fertilized by hand and during pollination season, visitors learn how to pollinate vanilla flowers. Vanilla is the only edible member of the orchid family, the largest plant family on the planet.The Spice Plantation Tour is a half day tour and is available in the morning or afternoon. You will experience the sights, tastes, and aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, pepper and other tropical spices, essential oil plants, and a wide variety of tropical ornamental plants.
Overnight at La Mariposa Ocean view room - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar. 06 Manuel Antonio National Park
Have an experienced nature guide take you on an informative hike through the park. Our guides know where you are most likely to encounter sloths, monkeys, etc. they will also provide a great deal of information on the history, flora and fauna during this easy 2 1/2 hours walk.
Overnight at La Mariposa Ocean view room - Breakfast & dinner included
Mar 07. Departure
We will drive directly to the airport and to our early afternoon departure from San Jose home. Aproximate driving time: 3 1/2 hrs.
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