DAY 1 - DEPARTURE Depart from London Gatwick on your direct British Airways service. We arrive in San Jose in the afternoon and transfer to the four-star Radisson Hotel for one night with breakfast. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
DAY 2 - ARENAL Today, enjoy a brief tour of San Jose, with its fine Spanish-colonial buildings and leafy suburbs. As we leave the city behind, on our way to Arenal, we pass by coffee and sugarcane plantations before stopping in Sarchi, an artisan town, known for its brightly-painted traditional oxcarts which were used for transporting coffee from the highlands to port. If time permits there may be a visit to a local school on the way to Arenal. Later this evening after checking into the four-star
superior Royal Corin or Arenal Kioro Hotel for two nights with breakfast, you may look forward to sampling some typical Costa Rican cuisine - dinner is included at a local restaurant.
DAY 3 - CANO NEGRO RESERVE Arenal, famous for the perfect symmetrical cone of the Arenal Volcano, is Costa Rica's youngest volcano. But today we head north, close to the Nicaraguan border, to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Here we embark on a boat to quietly float along the Frio River – your local guide will point out what is considered to be some of the most abundant bird life in Costa Rica. Turtles, iguanas, caimans and numerous monkey species can also be spotted in the lush wetlands and along the river banks. Lunch is included. Tonight, enjoy an optional evening at the family-
run Eco Termales Hot Springs – private and secluded, the four pools (ranging in temperature from 91-105 degrees Fahrenheit) are surrounded by the local flora of the forest and are a great way to relax at the end of the day. The trip includes a home-cooked traditional dinner.
DAY 4 - MONTEVERDE In the morning, embark on an hour-long walking tour (mostly easy and flat) along the Las Coladas trail in Arenal National Park passing some interesting old lava flows whilst enjoying scenic views of the volcano. We turn south today to drive towards the Monteverde Cloud Forest, staying for two nights with breakfast at the three-star Heliconia or El Establo Hotel. On arrival a guided walking tour is the best way to acquaint you with the lovely surroundings. Your evening is free to try out one of the many excellent local restaurants, cafés and bars.
DAY 5 - MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST This stunning Cloud Forest boasts an extraordinarily diverse ecosystem, being home to 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, 130 species of mammals and an astounding 500 species of birds, not to mention more than 3,000 species of plants. Possibly the best way to enjoy all this is from above: the Selvatura Hanging Bridges are a system of walkways that offer a unique view into the jungle from up to 180 feet above the forest floor. If you are feeling really adventurous, this is where you have the option to try what is considered to be the country’s best ‘zip-line’ experience! This afternoon enjoy lunch and a tour of a
traditional Costa Rican coffee farm where you’ll see how one of Costa Rica's top exports is grown in this tropical region and its importance in the development of the country as a whole. Dinner tonight is included at a local restaurant.
DAY 6 - MANUEL ANTONIO This morning we drive along the shores of the striking Pacific coast towards Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most beautiful places in the country, with
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an exotic combination of exquisite beaches and an exuberant tropical forest. On the way, we stop at the bustling town of Jaco, a surfer's paradise, for some free time to have a stroll and sample some of the local cuisine. We arrive in Manuel Antonio in the afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy all of the delights of this popular beach area where it’s not unusual to see iguanas and white-faced monkeys on the beach! Our hotel for three nights with breakfast will be the four-star Parador Resort & Spa. This evening, take a leisurely walk into town – there’s plenty of great food, music and friendly bars to choose from.
DAY 7 - MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
Today, we take a guided walking tour in Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica's most popular conservation areas. Its wide range of land and marine biodiversity and beautiful coral reefs make this one of the world's
most impressive natural habitats. Your local guide will lead you through the paths of this tropical paradise to discover a unique combination of thick coastal forest, beaches and mangrove lagoons which are home to more than 109 species of mammals and
184 species of birds. You’ll observe several species of monkeys, iguanas, and birds and possibly even the three-toed sloth. Optional adventures include diving, snorkelling, fishing, a canopy tour and much more.
DAY 8 - FREE DAY IN MANUEL ANTONIO Enjoy all of the pleasures of your final day in Manuel Antonio National Park. You can take it easy on the beach or beside the hotel pool, with a pina colada or daiquiri in hand, or perhaps join the optional Catamaran cruise that sails along the coast with picturesque views and time for snorkelling at Biesanz beach. Tonight, dinner is included at one of the most popular restaurants in Manuel Antonio.
DAY 9 - SAN JOSE Travel back to San Jose today for our last night in Costa Rica. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city independently, visit some of the galleries and museums or linger at a lovely restaurant for dinner tonight. The opportunities are endless in this energetic city.
DAY 10 - RETURN FLIGHT Transfer to the airport for your overnight direct flight to London Gatwick.
DAY 11 - ARRIVE HOME We arrive home this morning.
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