| Call (281) 438-1139 for more information or to book today! Mention code 7382183 | | Caravan Tours | | Offer valid through 12/31/2008 | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | San Jose | San Jose, Costa Rica : Welcome to the "rich coast," friendly land of democracy and rare natural beauty. With naturalist guides, see exotic birds and wildlife, hike in jungle rainforests, view volcanoes, soak in hot springs and cruise through biological reserves. Relax on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Caravan provides transfers from the San Jose airport to your San Jose hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m. Dine at your hotel, then join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. D | | Day 2 | San Jose | Poas Volcano, San Jose City Tour : After breakfast, see the statue of the drummer boy, Costa Rica's hero. Next, weather permitting, visit Poas Volcano, dormant since 1991. You can safely view this dramatic milewide crater from an overlook. Enjoy lunch. Next, see San Jose's Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park and the National Theatre. Visit the National Museum (on Mondays, visit the Gold Museum instead). Enjoy dinner. BLD | | Day 3 | Tortuguero Park | Rainforest Aerial Tram : Scenic morning drive through Braulio Carrillo Park. Look for cascading waterfalls. Then, a thrilling adventure into the heart of the rainforest. Glide through the jungle canopy on the world famous rainforest aerial tram, rated one of Costa Rica's top tourist attractions. Next, with a naturalist guide, enjoy a short rainforest hike on level terrain. Enjoy lunch. Visit a butterfly garden. Then, cruise through rivers and canals to the 47,000 acre Tortuguero National Park. Tortuguero is home to more than 300 species of birds. Look for toucans, parrots, kingfishers and the rare green macaw. Enjoy a two night stay at your lodge. After dinner in Tortuguero, a naturalist talks about the rainforest. BLD | | Day 4 | Tortuguero Park | Tortuguero Park, Canal Cruise : Cruise this morning with naturalist guides along canals lined by raffia palm, habitat of howler and white-faced monkeys, green iguanas and tropical birds. Look for white and snowy egrets and the amazing nests of the montezuma oropendola. Then, enter the mysterious reflecting waters of Cano Palma wildlife reserve. Next, visit the Green Turtle Research Station. Learn about efforts to protect the turtle's nesting habitat, eggs and young hatchlings. Walk along the Atlantic turtle nesting beaches with a naturalist guide. Next, to Tortuguero village. Meet Costa Rican school children on your visit to a local school (when in session). Return to your lodge for lunch. Free time to enjoy your lodge's swimming pool and tropical flower gardens. See colorful butterflies. Enjoy an afternoon boat excursion into Tortuguero Park. Look for otters, turtles and manatees. Dinner. BLD | | Day 5 | Fortuna | San Carlos Valley, Fortuna : Morning cruise on Tortuguero River. See a banana plantation. Lunch, then a brief stop at Selva Verde Rainforest Reserve. Here you can walk the nearly 300 foot long suspension bridge over a jungle river. Next, through scenic countryside to the San Carlos Valley for a two night stay in Fortuna. Dinner. BLD | | Day 6 | Fortuna | Cano Negro, Hot Springs, Arenal : Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak and orange plantations. Then, cruise on the Rio Frio through the world famous Cano Negro wildlife refuge, home to many migratory birds found nowhere else in Costa Rica. Look for whistling ducks, roseate spoonbills, cormorants, anhingas, blue heron, and northern jacanas. Watch for caimans, crocodiles, spider monkeys and web-footed water-walking lizards. Lunch. Return to Fortuna. Free time to explore this charming village. Then, enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. Weather permitting, see nearby Arenal Volcano's softly glowing lava flow. Enjoy dinner. BLD | | Day 7 | Central Pacific Coast | Hanging Bridges, Guanacaste : This morning enjoy an unforgettable adventure at the Hanging Bridges. Here you can hike on six suspension bridges, through lush tropical rainforest canopy. Enjoy views of a waterfall and look for tropical birds. Later, a spectacular drive around Lake Arenal. Enjoy lunch. Next, enter the Guanacaste province. Drive through the only tropical dry forest in Costa Rica. Stop at the Monteverde cooperative. Then, to Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast for a two night stay. Dinner is at your resort.BLD | | Day 8 | Central Pacific Coast | Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio : This morning drive by the Carara Biological Reserve. This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary is one of the world's few nesting places for the scarlet macaw. Then, visit Manuel Antonio National Park, home to the playful rare squirrel monkey. Time to beachcomb or swim at the pristine beaches (on Mondays, visit Manuel Antonio's beautiful public beaches instead). Lunch. Return to your resort to enjoy leisure time. Dinner.BLD | | Day 9 | San Jose | Handicrafts, Coffee Plantation : Morning drive to the Central Valley. Time to shop for colorful handicrafts, including painted oxcarts. Enjoy lunch. Then, visit a coffee plantation. Pick a few beans when in season. Sample fresh Costa Rican coffee and learn about the history of the coffee bean. Return to San Jose. Farewell dinner. BLD | | Day 10 | San Jose | San Jose : Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your San Jose hotel. Caravan provides transfers throughout the day to the San Jose airport. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Hasta la vista! B |
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