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Trip Itinerary:

• Day 1 - San Jose

  Adventure

  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.

  Relaxation

  Relax on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

  Hotel

  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.

  Food and Dining

  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.

  Sightseeing

  After breakfast, see the statue of the drummer boy, Costa Rica's hero.

  Sightseeing

  Next, weather permitting, visit Poas Volcano, dormant since 1991. You can safely view this dramatic milewide crater from an overlook.

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy lunch.

  Sightseeing

  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).

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy dinner. BLD.

• Day 3 - Costa Rica

  Rainforest Aerial Tram.

  Adventure

  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.

  Hiking

  Next, with a naturalist guide, enjoy a short rainforest hike on level terrain.

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy lunch.

  Sightseeing

  Visit a butterfly garden.

  River or Barge Cruise

  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.

  Hotel

  Enjoy a two night stay at your lodge. After dinner in Tortuguero, a naturalist talks about the rainforest. BLD

• Day 4 - Costa Rica

  Tortuguero Park, Canal Cruise.

  River or Barge 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.

  Sightseeing

  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.

  Sightseeing

  Next, to Tortuguero village. Meet Costa Rican school children on your visit to a local school (when in session).

  Food and Dining

  Return to your lodge for lunch.

  Relaxation

  Free time to enjoy your lodge's swimming pool and tropical flower gardens. See colorful butterflies.

  Sightseeing

  Enjoy an afternoon boat excursion into Tortuguero Park. Look for otters, turtles and manatees. Dinner. BLD

• Day 5 - Fortuna

  San Carlos Valley, Fortuna.

  River or Barge Cruise

  Morning cruise on Tortuguero River.

  Sightseeing

  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.

  Hotel

  Next, through scenic countryside to the San Carlos Valley for a two night stay in Fortuna. Dinner. BLD

• Day 6 - Fortuna

  Caño Negro, Hot Springs, Arenal.

  River or Barge Cruise

  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.

  Adventure

  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.

  Sightseeing

  Return to Fortuna. Free time to explore this charming village.

  Sightseeing

  Then, enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. Weather permitting, see nearby Arenal Volcano's softly glowing lava flow.

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy dinner. BLD

• Day 7 - Costa Rica

  Cloud Forest Hike, Central Pacific Coast.

  Hiking

  This morning, drive by the Children's Eternal Rainforest, part of the Monteverde cloud forest region. The Children's Rainforest was purchased with donations from school children around the world to be preserved forever. Next, enter a cloud forest reserve, home to epiphytes, orchids, ferns and tropical birds, for a guided walk. Cloud forests are like rainforests, but with less rain and more humidity. Look for many species of hummingbirds in the feeding gallery.

  Food and Dining

  Lunch at a cloud forest restaurant.

  All-Inclusive Resort

  Then, to Costa Rica's central Pacific Coast area for a two night stay. Dinner is at your resort. BLD

• Day 8 - Costa Rica

  Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio.

  Sightseeing

  Visit Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica's most beautiful park, this morning.

  Beach

  Time to beachcomb or swim at the three pristine beaches, rated among the top ten in the world. Easy hiking trails wind through the jungle, home to one of the last natural habitats of the playful rare squirrel monkey.

  Relaxation

  Lunch. Return to your resort to enjoy leisure time.

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy dinner. BLD

• Day 9 - San Jose

  Carara Reserve, Coffee Plantation.

  Safari

  This morning drive by the Carara Biological Reserve. Carara is an Indian word meaning "river of crocodiles." This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary is one of the world's few nesting places for the scarlet macaw.

  Food and Dining

  Enjoy lunch.

  Sightseeing

  Afternoon visit to Sarchi, see the painted ox carts and colorful handicrafts.

  Sightseeing

  Next, see the metallic church of Grecia. 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.

  Food and Dining

  Return to San Jose. Farewell dinner. BLD

• Day 10 - San Jose

  Hotel

  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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