Sharon Battle Travel

Day 1 – San José, 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. Caravan provides transfers from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica to your hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are available for check in after 4:00 p.m. Join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing. Dinner is served until 9:30 p.m. at your hotel. 

 

Day 2 – Poás Volcano, Cloud Forest, Coffee Plantation, Butterflies
Morning visit to Costa Rica's most popular park, Poás Volcano. Weather permitting, you can see inside the active crater from an overlook. Next, hike the Escalonia Cloud Forest Trail, home to epiphytes, orchids, ferns, and tropical hummingbirds. Cloud forests are like rain forests, but with less rain and more humidity. Then, drive through Costa Rica's famous coffee growing region. Enjoy a guided tour at a coffee plantation. Sample fresh Costa Rica coffee. Look for blue morpho butterflies on your visit to a butterfly garden. Dinner. 

 

Day 3 – Wildlife Rescue Center, Sarchi, Fortuna
This morning, drive by San Jose’s Plaza de la Cultura, Central Park, and the National Theatre. Next, visit Zoo Ave, a wildlife rescue center. Here, injured birds and animals are rehabilitated for release back into the wild. Lunch. Then, visit the artisan town of Sarchi and see skilled craftsmen making traditional Costa Rican ox carts. Continue to the San Carlos Valley. Arrive at Fortuna for a two night stay. Dinner. 

 

Day 4 – Rio Frio Cruise, Hot Springs
Head north this morning, passing through sugar cane, teak, pineapple, and orange plantations. Then, cruise on the Rio Frio which runs through the world famous Caño Negro wildlife refuge, home to many migratory birds found nowhere else in Costa Rica. Look for black turtles, whistling ducks, roseate spoonbills, cormorants, anhingas, herons, and northern jacanas. Watch for caimans, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, green iguanas, and water-walking lizards. Lunch. Return to Fortuna. This afternoon enjoy a relaxing soak in the volcanic hot springs. Dinner. 

 

Day 5 – Hanging Bridges, Manuel Antonio
Morning visit to the Hanging Bridges. With a naturalist guide, hike the suspension bridges. Weather permitting, enjoy views of majestic Arenal Volcano. Next, enjoy a scenic drive around Lake Arenal. Lunch at a historic hacienda in the Guanacaste province. Stop at the Monteverde Cooperative. Then, drive through the tropical dry forests of Costa Rica to the beautiful Central Pacific Coast. Continue to your hotel for a relaxing three night stay. The Hotel San Bada is located directly at the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. It is the closest hotel to the Park and a short, easy walk to the public beaches of Manuel Antonio. Dinner. 

 

Day 6 – Aerial Tram, Manuel Antonio
This morning enjoy a thrilling adventure. Glide through and above a dry tropical transitional forest. Enjoy views of waterfalls and the Pacific Ocean. Lunch. Return to Manuel Antonio. Enjoy magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and the jungle of Manuel Antonio from your hotel's rooftop terrace and pool. Dinner. 

 

Day 7 – Manuel Antonio Park
Morning visit to world famous Manuel Antonio Park, a natural habitat for the white face monkey, the rare squirrel monkey, and the three-toed sloth. Hike through the rainforest and along the spectacular beach coves, ranking among the most beautiful in the world. Look for toucans and parrots. Lunch. Your afternoon is at leisure. Swim in your hotel's two pools, enjoy the elegant spa, or simply relax, listening to the joyful jungle sounds. Dinner.

 

Day 8 – Bird-Watching Cruise, San Jose
Morning cruise on the Tarcoles River, adjacent to the Carara Biological Reserve. Float through mangroves. Enjoy bird watching and crocodile spotting. Look for white and snowy egrets and the amazing nests of the montezuma oropendola. This tropical bird and wildlife sanctuary is a nesting site for the scarlet macaw. Lunch. Return to San José. Farewell dinner. 

 

Day 9 – San José
Your tour ends after breakfast this morning at your hotel. Breakfast begins at 6:00 a.m. Caravan provides transfers to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San José, Costa Rica arriving at the airport at 5:00 a.m, 7:00 a.m, 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Hasta la vista!