COSTA RICAN ESCAPE (Nov. 19- Nov. 27, 2011)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

WELCOME TO COSTA RICA. Arrival to the International Airport Juan Santamaria. Meet and Great by your tour guide. Transfer to Hotel Ramada Herradura and check In. Evening, welcome dinner.

Meals Included

1 x Dinner

Sunday, November 20, 2011

ARENAL VOLCANO. In the morning we depart to Arenal Volcano by a scenic route. After our 3 hours ride we will arrive at our hotel, the Arenal Paraiso Hotel. After check in and lunch, you will visit The Hot Springs where you can enjoy the rest of the day swimming and having a great time in this unforgettable paradise.

The Springs is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. With views of Arenal Volcano, acres of tropical gardens, a great climate, and the soothing water of the river, most people consider this to be Paradise on Earth. The River begins inside Arenal Volcano. The magma heats the water to 101 degrees, which then flows through the base of the volcano down about 3/4 mile to The Springs. From here the river splits into several smaller rivers, joining with cool water from a different river to make dozens of pools of varying temperatures, shapes and sizes. These rivers meander through acres of verdant tropical gardens, which create a magical atmosphere.

If we are lucky after dark, we will have the opportunity to see the volcano activity and the red incandescent lava flowing down from the top of the crater to the adjacent areas.

Dinner included at this paradise. Overnight in Arenal at Hotel Arenal Paraiso or similar.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

1 x Lunch

1 x Dinner

Monday, November 21, 2011

DAY TOUR IN ARENAL. After breakfast we departure to a private biological reserve where you will experience a beautiful view of the active Arenal Volcano and the rain forest.

Arenal Hanging Bridges is one of the greatest eco touristic projects of Costa Rica, with the exuberant primary rain forest where you will find a great biological diversity with an incomparable scenic splendor. Thanks to the huge hanging bridges within the beautiful trails which allow easy access, you can appreciate the natural beauty of the majestic environment.

After our nature walk we enjoy lunch at the venue.  Afternoon, free time at leisure. Overnight in Arenal at Hotel Arenal Paraiso or similar.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

1 x Lunch

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

MONTEVERDE. After breakfast, we make our way to our next destination, Monteverde.  A 3 hours ride will take us into the clouds of the mountains of this fascinating region. Our destination: Hotel Belmar where you will have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy the place. Optional tours are available.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

MONTEVERDE TOUR. During the morning, experience one of the most famous tours in Costa Rica. The Zip Line or Sky Trek. This is a secure system of trails and zip lines, in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, that offer visitors the opportunity to observe and appreciate the nature from different vantage points. Sky Trek is a system of zip lines ranging from mountain to mountain, which together have a distance of 2.5 miles of linear cable.

The tour gives you the opportunity to fly through a cable and have a unique experience of adventure and adrenaline at speeds up to 40 miles per hour with distances ranging up to 2500 feet and heights of 524 feet. In addition the tour offers 5 observation towers that exceed the cloud forest treetops providing a panoramic view. All with total security and in an innovative braking system.
The tour starts with the Sky Tram that will lead you up to the Continental Divide.

After the tour, we return to our hotel.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to take a look of the Town of Santa Elena and its beautiful souvenirs stores, Art Galleries, Cheese Factory and many other local attractions.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

Thursday, November 24, 2011

QUEPOS - MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK. Morning: Departure to the beautiful Manuel   Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast.  Upon our arrival at the Gay Hotel Casa Blanca you will have the chance to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and relax in the swimming pool or explore the most popular Gay bars & Clubs of Manuel Antonio.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

Friday, November 25, 2011

Manuel Antonio Park Nature Walk: Take a natural history walk into the rainforest of Manuel Antonio National Park. Your bilingual naturalist guide will point out the great diversity of wildlife you might otherwise miss, and will explain the history and geography of the area. Lush tropical jungle surrounding beautiful, pristine beaches is your playground for the day. Three-toed sloth, iguanas, raccoons, white nosed coatis, agoutis, and other native mammals can be seen amid an unimaginable variety of rare plant species.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

Saturday November 26, 2011

FREE TIME & TRANSFER TO SAN JOSE. Morning, a great opportunity for explore the surroundings on your own or relax at the beach. Afternoon, land transfer to San Jose. Upon arrival, Check In at Hotel Ramada Herradura.  This evening Hermes Tours hosts a farewell dinner.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

1 x Dinner

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Transfer to the International Airport at scheduled flight and good bye. 

Meals Included

1 x Breakfast

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Currency and Money Issues:
The currency is the colon. Most banks and hotels exchange foreign currency. Credit cards (Visa and Master Card) are accepted, as are traveler’s checks, preferably in U.S. dollars which may be exchanged at banks, some hotels, and foreign exchange offices. Do not rely on your American Express Card or Diners Card as many establishments do not accept this card. We recommended a combination of US Dollars in Cash, some small bills for tips at restaurants etc… and the rest in $50 or $100 bills and your credit card which you would be able to withdraw cash from ATM machines if you needed to.

Visas: Canadian and American passport holders are not required to have visas to enter Costa Rica.  You must have a valid passport.

Shots and Immunizations:
There are no shots that are required for travel to Costa Rica. Hermes Tours also recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines. Also we recommend that your tetanus booster be up to date. Please contact your health care provider as soon as you have registered for this tour.  You should check with your doctor to determine which vaccines you will need.