LATIN AMERICA
Earth Journeys Highlights… • On-tour film vignettes custom-made for Tauck by BBC Earth natural history experts • Field equipment may include FLIR® thermal imaging cameras and night vision goggles • Privately guided hike by Costa Rica’s foremost naturalists in Selvatura Park in Monteverde • An exclusive farewell tasting and dinner at an artisan chocolate workshop in San José
• Zip lining in the rainforest canopy; float trip on the Peñas Blancas River; presentation by one of Monteverde Reserve’s original settlers; private tasting tour at a coffee plantation
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted • 20 meals, gratuities to local guides, service charges, admission fees, taxes & porterage
hued butterflies – and amphibians in a rainbow of colors. See an exotic parade of animals and birds during this morning’s guided visit to the Toucan Rescue Center, dedicated to the rescue of rainforest animals. Meet resident sloths, monkeys and parrots, including the toucans they successfully breed here. Costa Rican riches continue to inspire today when you visit the Gold Museum; spread out on three floors, its collection of golden artistry dates to pre-Columbia times and chronicles a history of colonial-era quests, conquests and excesses. Enjoy lunch back at your hotel, before embarking on a drive through the countryside to your spa resort, located at the base of Arenal Volcano in the heart of a rainforest in Arenal Volcano National Park. Dinner is at your leisure tonight. Meals BLD
3. A FLOAT TRIP, HOT SPRINGS & LOCAL FARE Start your day on a float trip down the Peñas Blancas River, fed by the pristine waters of several private cloud forest reserves in
Monteverde and surrounded by lush rainforest, natural volcanic hot springs, waterfalls and forested canyons. Your expert guide helps you spot Costa Rican wildlife in the water and on the shore, including tropical birds, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and iguanas. Stop along the way to visit the home of a rural family who lives in the forested jungle without modern-day conveniences. Spend the afternoon enjoying the natural hot springs of Tabacon, soaking in thermally heated water both therapeutic and relaxing. The evening heats up with dinner and musical entertainment at a local restaurant. Meals BLD
4. ZIP LINING, A NATURE WALK & MONTEVERDE Let your spirit for adventure soar during a zip line ride* through the rainforest canopy, experiencing a thrilling bird’s-eye view of life in the rainforest. Landlubbers may choose a guided nature walk on the forest floor, equally inspirational with a close-up look at the wilderness wonders that thrive closer to the ground. After lunch, drive to Monteverde for a three-night stay in forest view rooms in a rustic-chic lodge nestled in the jungle near one of the most ecologically diverse cloud forests in the world. Meals BLD
Float down the Peñas Blancas River, wildlife rich and peacefully serene Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825
5. EXPERT LOCAL INSIGHTS & BUTTERFLIES Explore Selvatura Park this morning on a guided two-hour nature walk with two of Costa Rica’s foremost naturalists who provide an insider’s perspective and informative overview of the cloud forest eco-system. Stroll past tall trees festooned with orchids, bromeliads, moss, and ferns all the while keeping a sharp lookout for sightings of wildlife that may include jungle cats, monkeys, tapirs, and birds like the three-wattled bellbird. After lunch, visit a domed, climate-controlled Butterfly Garden, aflutter with some 50 different species of butterflies from an array of altitudes and climates found throughout Costa Rica. Hear the stories behind the establishment of the Monteverde Conservation Area during a presentation by one of its forward-thinking pioneers. Join us for dinner tonight at a local restaurant renowned for its innovative modern-day take on traditional Latin American cooking. Meals BLD
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