Costa Rica Connoisseur (10D/9N)

Activity/Tour

Costa Rica Connoisseur/Explorer: 10-day vacation with five guided tours, beginning with a hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and visit to the Butterfly Garden. At Arenal, walk through the Hanging Bridges Project then soak in a natural hot springs in the shadow of the Volcano. Head to remote Tortuguero for boat trips through rainforest creeks and optional night excursion to observe sea turtle nesting (June-Oct. only). The Explorer is offered as both a fixed departure (group) and custom trip.

Costa Rica Expedition's goal is to create unique travel experiences that transcend conventional sight seeing. We strive to promote the type of tourism that is nourishing to both the visitor and the visited. The company was founded in 1978 to help the sophisticated traveler explore Costa Rica -- its flora and fauna, people and culture, and its wild and beautiful places. The company offers fixed departure and customized trips, many of which include white water rafting on the country's most scenic and exciting rivers.

Typical Day

DAY 5: After breakfast depart with your guide for a morning hike at the Arenal Hanging Bridges Project, a 250-hectare (618-acre) reserve of fully recovered secondary rainforest. Here you will traverse 15 bridges from 5-100 meters long that cross ravines and rivers in the rainforest and follow a 3-km circuit of interpretive trails built with paving blocks to prevent slipping. The bridges are made of aluminum, galvanized steel and concrete, and ensure maximum security for visitors. Afternoon visit to the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs. Costa Rica homestyle dinner included.

Age range, type of group

Costa Rica Expeditions offers tours for all ages and types of guests, from those who seek for relaxing itineraries to those who enjoy the most demanding adventures such volcano hikes and class IV river rafting. Costa Rica Expeditions also offers wilderness weddings and honeymoons.

The Costa Rica Connoisseur and its sister itinerary, Explorer, operate as both customized and fixed departure (group) trips. Children of all ages are welcome on Connoisseur family departures.

Sleeping and meals

The hotels included in this itinerary vary depending on whether or not you chose the Connoisseur or the Explorer. They also vary if you are traveling on a fixed departure (group) or a custom trip. See our web site for full description, prices and pictures.

Restrictions

INCLUDED:
Accommodations: As featured in the itinerary or similar.
Meals: As indicated in the itinerary. (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Transfers: Included in Fixed Departure programs, on arrival and departure when arriving and departing on the first and last scheduled days of the tour. For all other tours, transfers are included as indicated.
Porterage: The handling of two bags per person. Baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk throughout the tour.
Taxes & entrance fees: Hotel taxes, entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest in effect at the time of booking are included unless otherwise specified.
Sightseeing: As specified in the itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:
Costs of obtaining passports, visas or tourist cards; excess baggage fees; personal expenses such as room service, beverages and laundry; gratuities to tour escort, guides or driver; personal communications charges; international airfare and airport departure taxes; tax increases or new taxes charged for services that were not taxed at the time the booking was made; excess mileage carried out at the request of the passenger; sightseeing or meals not specified in the itinerary; personal insurance coverage (strongly recommended).

CANCELATION POLICY
In the case of cancellations 30 days or more prior to the start date of the scheduled trip, there is a full refund, minus hotel deposits, and a cancellation fee of $300 or 10% of the entire cost of the trip, whichever is less. In the case of cancellations received in our office from 29 to 15 days prior to the start date of the trip, there is a 50% refund, minus hotel deposits. There will be no refund for cancellations made 14 or fewer days prior to the trip. This policy may not apply to hotels or tours in which Costa Rica Expeditions, S.A., acts only as an intermediary, in which case the individual policies of the suppliers may apply.

Rates

Fixed departure trips: From US$1,908 per person in double occupancy. Min. 2 participants.
Custom vacation: US$2,349 per person in double occupancy. Min. 2 participants.

Other Information

Pricing can vary considerably for custom vacations, depending on the number of people in your group and travel dates. Please contact us for an accurate quote.