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Day 1
ARRIVE SAN JOSE
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Let the Pura Vida way of life take over as you arrive in Costa Rica's cultural capital, San Jose. Built on the profit of a roaring coffee trade, this is a city overfl owing with museums, parks, theatres and innovative restaurants. Arriving today, settle in to your hotel then feel free to head out to explore. Trendy Barrio Amón offers a wonderful glimpse into the history of the city with vast colonial mansions converted into art galleries, whilst Barrio Escalante is the gastronomic epicentre and the best place to grab dinner. Hotel: Aloft San Jose Day 2
SAN JOSE – MONTEVERDE
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Head north today towards the little town of Sarchí. Regarded as the cradle of Costa Rican artisanship, this is the place to buy intricate arts, crafts and souvenirs and also offers the chance to see the towns famously ornate and beautifully painted oxcarts. Elegantly carved and hand painted in bright colours, the oxcart is a national symbol of Costa Rica and a beautiful reminder of its humble beginnings. Climbing high through the Tilaran Mountain range, you'll then enter the misty Monteverde Cloud Forest. (B) Hotel: El Establo Mountain Hotel Day 3
Day 4
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Your attention will nevertheless be more captured up by your gorgeous and secluded resort, nestled on the banks of the San Carlos River. Settle in and enjoy relaxing in paradise this afternoon, before joining your fellow travelers for an included dinner at the resort restaurant this evening. (B, D) Hotel: Tilajari Resort Day 5
ARENAL FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING
A guided hike through Arenal 1968 is fi rst up today. You'll walk through lava fi elds, observe leftover lava rocks and boulders and walk
GUANACASTE OPTIONAL EXTENSION REF:
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KEY: IC Iconic Breakfast B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
VRIC_Costa Rica Adventure.indd 2
MONTEVERDE – ARENAL
Enjoy the ride this morning as you travel past cattle ranches and coffee plantations on your way to Arenal Volcano National Park. One of the shining jewels in Costa Rica's already bedazzling crown, the national park is best known for its bubbling hot springs and geothermal activity, wide variety of wildlife and of course the sleeping giant, Arenal Volcano.
MONTEVERDE SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME
Meeting up with a Local Specialist, step into another world as you enter the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. Keep your eyes peeled and ears poised for the sounds of hummingbirds, howler monkeys, sloths and toucans. Costa Rica has a big reputation as a nature lover's paradise, and this place won't let you down. Leaving the forest on a real nature high, you then spend the afternoon relaxing or
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join our ‘El Trapiche' Optional Experience tour where you'll get to visit sugarcane, banana, orange and coffee plantations. (B)
Day 7
VRIG
ARENAL – GUANACASTE
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From tropical rainforests to golden beaches, it will be a complete change of scenery today as you travel towards the ‘golden coast' in the northwest of Costa Rica, arriving into the province of Guanacaste. A region loved for its glorious beaches, biodiverse parklands and fun surf, there's no better place to spend a couple of days than on the sun drenched shores of Playa Tamarindo. (B) Hotel: Wyndham Tamarindo (Ocean-view Room) Day 8
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GUANACASTE FREE TIME
With an entirely free day, how you explore is completely up to you. Keep it low key at your resort, or look into trying out ATV, zip-
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lines, horseback riding or sailing. However you choose to explore today, make sure you spend this evening surrounded by new friends, toasting to a fi nal Costa Rican sunset. (B) Day 9
DEPART GUANACASTE
Perhaps catching sunrise and after enjoying a fi nal dip in the sea, your trip will come to an end after breakfast. Travelling to the airport and then on to your respective corner of the world, we wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing you again some time soon! (B) This is a locally hosted extension.
Arenal Hanging Bridges
22/05/2019 17:30