Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1
Upon your arrival in San Jose you will
be welcomed at the beautiful Hotel Bougainvillea by Baymount owners and hosts,
Kathy and Richard Faulkner.
DAY 2
Following breakfast we begin our
adventure with a scenic drive through Braulio Carrillo National Park and banana
plantations to the private dock of Mawamba. Here we board a comfortable launch
for the two hour canal cruise to Tortuguero. There is always a chance
of seeing crocodiles, caiman and numerous of species of birds. A refreshing
fruit drink and hearty buffet dinner awaits our arrival at Mawamba Lodge. An
afternoon boat tour affords us the unique opportunity to experience the bird and
animal life along the inland canals and waterways. After a hearty supper we
tour Tortuguero Village and the Green Turtle Conservation Project.
DAY 3
The day begins with an early morning
boat tour into the canals. What an opportunity to see wildlife! After two
hours, we arrive back at the lodge for a hearty buffet breakfast. The fresh
fruit is amazing!
After breakfast we’re on the canals once
more to experience the wildlife of this special area. When we return for lunch,
we’ve seen and experienced so much, it’s hard to believe that there’s still an
afternoon to enjoy! (You always have the option to stay at the lodge and nap or
go for a dip in the pool!) After our buffet lunch, it’s off on a jungle hike
around Tortuguero Hill.
Look closely if you want to see the
poison dart frog. A leisurely evening follows our “Farewell to Tortuguero”
supper.
DAY 4
After breakfast we fly back to San Jose
where our driver and guide pick us up for the transfer to the cloud forests of Monteverde and our stay at Hotel Fonda Vela. The remainder of the day is a
restful time to wonder the grounds and soak up the atmosphere of the area. If
you don’t want to rest, you may want to head out with friends to explore the
quaint Villages of Monteverde or Santa Elena. Optional activities may include
visits to the Butterfly Gardens or the Sky Walk/ Sky Trek, a series of paths,
suspension bridges and ziplines through the middle and upper layers of the
forest canopy.
DAY 5
Following breakfast we visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in search of the illusive Resplendent Quetzal,
a bird considered by many to be the most beautiful in all of the Americas.
Our morning tour is conducted by one of
the Park naturalists, while the afternoon if free to explore other Park trails
with our own guide, relax back at the hotel or to investigate other activities
in the area.
DAY 6
Following an early breakfast, we are
treated to a series of breathtaking views as we descend out the mountains on a
narrow winding dirt road towards the Pan American Highway and onto the Central
Pacific coastal town of Manual Antonio. En route, we’ll make a short stop along
the Tarcoles River to view (at a safe distance) some very “healthy” looking
crocodiles. Our stay in Manual Antonio is the Hotel Espadilla, a quaint family
operated hotel, located within a five minute walk of the beaches and jungle
trails of the National Park. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, but
my guess is the afternoon and evening will find you at the beach enjoying the
surf and watching the brilliant orange sun slip into the distant ocean.
DAY 7
A hearty buffet breakfast, featuring
lots of fresh fruit will energize us for our guided morning hike into the jungle
trails of Manual Antonio National Park. Troops of Squirrel and White Faced
monkeys, three-toed sloths and large iguanas are but a few of the animals
featured in this corner of Costa Rica.. After our lunch in the Park, the
afternoon is free to continue exploring the Park’s jungle trails or enjoying the
spectacular sun, sand and surf offered by each of the three white sandy beaches
of Manual Antonio.
DAY 8
Our return to San Jose is delayed until
mid afternoon so that we can maximize our relaxation time on the beaches or
stroll through the village in search of the last minute vacation souvenir.
Don’t put away your camera yet, as the
last part of the journey back to San Jose is a hair raising ride along mountain
ridges that offers some spectacular photo opportunities.
Our final evening together and Farewell
Supper at Hotel Bougainvillea will give us all the opportunity to share and
reflect on our Costa Rican experiences and make plans for our next Baymount
vacation.
DAY 9
Breakfast and transfer to the San Jose
International Airport for the flight back to Canada or the United States.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE
* Escort
services by Baymount owners, driver and bilingual professional Costa Rican tour
guide throughout the
entire tour.
* All
overnight accommodations
* All meals
(8 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner and 1 farewell dinner)
* Air
transportation from Tortuguero to San Jose
* All tours
and associated entrance fees
* Naturalist
guides in Tortuguero and Monteverde.
* All ground
transportation in private air conditioned minibus.
*
Refreshments on minibus.
* All Costa
Rican government and hotel taxes.
PRICES QUOTED DO NOT INCLUDE
*
International flights to and from San Jose
*
International flight departure tax from San Jose (US $17.00)
* Airport
fees and departure taxes from Canada and the United States
* Personal
expenses
* Alcoholic
beverages
* Meals not
indicated on itinerary
* Personal
insurance and trip cancellation
* Gratuities for Baymount escorts, tour
guide and driver, local guides.
