12 Day – Sarapiqui River Float Adventure, Arenal Volcano and Hanging Bridges, Magical Monteverde and the Beaches of Tamarindo F12-001 May 13, 2008

This vacation package will be customized to your needs and availability. Prices based on quadruple occupancy for a family of four:

12 Day Luxury Family Vacation
Starting at $ 10338 per Family
12 Day Value Family Vacation
Starting at $ 5844 per Family
12 Day Budget Family Vacation
Starting at $ 4046 per Family

Itinerary at a glance:

Day 01 Arrival in San Jose Costa Rica
Day 02 Journey to Sarapiqui, Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfalls
Day 03 Sarapiqui River Float Tropical Rain Forest Excursion
Day 04 Journey to Arenal Volcano Discovery Tour
Day 05 Arenal Volcano, Up Close and Personal
Day 06 Magical Monteverde and the Children’s Eternal Forest
Day 07 Monteverde Canopy Bridge Eco Experience
Day 08 to 10 The Sun Kissed White Sands Beaches of Tamarindo
Day 11 San Jose, Costa Rica’s Vibrant Capital
Day 12 Departure

Day 01 Arrival in San Jose Costa Rica

Arrive by air into San Jose. Upon arrival a representative Eco Interactive will meet you at the gate and provide you all the information for your vacation along with providing you a transfer to your hotel. Transfer to your Hotel for your first night in Costa Rica. Soak up the tropical breezes and relax. You have arrived in Costa Rica.

Breakfast included. (Costa Rican Cuisine)

Day 02 Journey to Sarapiqui, Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Following a hearty Costa Rican breakfast, a representative of Eco Interactive will meet you at the hotel and provide a private transportation for your days adventure. The first stop will be the famous Poas Volcano followed by the amazing La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

As your climb in elevation you will experience the first of the varied micro-climates of Costa Rica. The temperature dips as you enter lush cloud forest of the Poás Volcano. The Poas Crater is stunning in both its magnitude and its appearance. Nearly a mile wide and a thousand feet deep, you will experience the thrill of standing at the abyss of one of natures most powerful vistas.

The next stop is the amazing La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Nature Park. Here you will encounter one of the most spectacular Butterfly Gardens in all the world. Costa Rica has more species of butterflies than the entire continent of Africa and here you will be amazed at the overwhelming variety. Next you will have an opportunity to explore the spectacular trails of La Paz that will lead you to the magnificent Magia Blanca Falls. Following your explorations of the park, enjoy lunch before continuing on your adventure.

Sarapiqui is one of the most diverse regions in Costa Rica, oferring a mosaic of mountains,plains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, forests, fruit farms and cattle ranches. Afternoon free to relax in the pool or take advantage of the hiking trails.

Breakfast included.

Day 03 Sarapiqui River Float Tropical Rain Forest Excuretion

After breakfast, a representative of Eco Interactive will meet you at the hotel and provide a transportation to your Rio Sarapiqui Adventure. Ease into one of the more quiet sections of Río Sarapiquí. Soak up the ambiance of the tropical rain forests of the Caribbean climate. These dense forests are surreal in their lush density as you descend into tropical world unlike any other. Upon arrival to Río Sarapiquí, your river guides will outfit you with life-jackets, paddles, a safety orientation for the river along with a little Costa Rican hospitality known as Pura Vida (Pure Living). You will begin rafting where the Class III trip finishes and continue down to Puerto Viejo. In some parts of the river you will pass green pastures and farmland, and delight in the sight of local children frolicking along shore. Rio Sarapiqui winds along the borders of the La Selva Biological Reserve – one of Costa Rica’ most important and diverse habitats.

For lunch, you will enjoy a picnic Costa Rican style in the lush tropical rain forest.

Day 04 Journey to Arenal Volcano Discovery Tour

Your adventure continues to La Fortuna, home of the Arenal Volcano. Along the way you will take in the sites and sounds of yet another of Costa Rica’ varied and diverse habitats. Arenal is one of the most active volcanoes of the world. Lined with tranquil cloud forests, and adorned by the magnificent Lake Arenal, this is a truly world class experience. A visit to Arenal Volcano is both ominous and sublime, with loud rumblings and frequent explosions of lava and ash. Set against a dizzying array of wildlife, the adventure of the experience will create memories to last a lifetime.

In the afternoon you will have time to relax and appreciate the symmetrical silhouette of the Arenal Volcano at sunset.

Breakfast included.

Day 05 Arenal Volcano, Up Close and Personal

Following a hearty Costa Rican breakfast, your guide will take you to the Hanging Bridges of Arenal. There,you will enjoy 15 bridges from 5 to 100 meters long, friendly design along 3 km rain forest circuit of interpretive trails built with paving blocks to prevent slipping. Designed by structural engineers with the most demanding safety margins in the world, you can be assured of a safe adventure for children ages 1 to 99.

Your naturalist guide will unlock the secrets of the rain forest. Set against the imposing vistas of the Volcano, your journey along the hanging bridges over the forest will open new world of insights to the many facets of Costa Rica.

Breakfast included.

Day 06 Magical Monteverde and the Children’s Eternal Forest

The next leg of your adventure will circumnavigate Arenal Lake and take you to the magical region known as Monteverde. Monteverde was founded in the 1960s by a group of Quakers that were looking for a place to start a new life. Monteverde is set in a pristine cloud forest reserve and is world famous for it diversity and beauty. This is truly one of Costa Rica’s most prized destinations.

Opportunities for bird watching abound. The rare Quetzal is often sighted in Monteverde as are a multitude of other rare and exotic species.

The afternoon will take you to the Children Eternal Rainforest. Children’s Eternal Rain Forest of Costa Rica (Bosque Nuboso de Los Ninos), is in a transition zone from pre-mountain wet forest to pre-mountain moist forest. Because of its location on the Pacific slope, elevation and humidity, Bajo del Tigre is a very different
habitat from other rain forest reserves in the area. Thirty of the tree species in Bajo del Tigre are among those in the area that have recently been identified as new to science.

As part of your experience at Jaguar Canyon, you will be sharing the home of the sloth, white-faced monkey, agouti, coatimundi, kinkajou, margays, porcupine, hog-nosed skunk, fox, coyote, armadillo, and bats, plus a world of insects, butterflies, spiders, reptiles,frogs, snakes, and great bird watching.

In the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest (Bosque Nuboso Eterno de Los Ninos), which contains over 50.000 acres; the largest private reserve in Central America some organizations carry out various projects related to research, education, protection, habitat rehabilitation and volunteering. Its mission is to conserve, preserve and rehabilitate tropical ecosystems and their biodiversity.

No meals included.

Day 07 Monteverde Canopy Bridge Eco Experience, Hummingbirds and Butterflies

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 Insect Museum, 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.
No meals included

Day 08 to 10 The Sun Kissed White Sands Beaches of Tamarindo

After breakfast, you will be driven to Tamarindo beach.
Both nature and beach lovers will find plenty here to fill their days. Tamarindo is famous for its stunning beaches, its marine national park and wildlife refuge. This area encompasses beaches that attract one of the largest leatherback turtle populations in
the world. Peak nesting seasons in the area are October through March. Due to its constant waves, it is also one of the favorite places for surfers.

Breakfast included
Two nights at the Hotel Tamarindo Diria, Tropical pool rooms, Breakfast included

Day 11 San Jose, Costa Rica’s Vibrant Capital City

After lunch, you will be transferred back to San Jose.
Overnight at the El Rodeo Hotel, standard room. Breakfast included.

Day 12 Departure

Transfer will be provided for your flight home.
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