Costa Rica: Off the beaten path

Upon arrival in Costa Rica, through immigration, baggage claim, and customs, you will get to the arrival exit where you will meet and greet our representative (holding a sign bearing your name). Our guide will run through your travel details, then transfer you to your hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes approximately 30 minutes.

Early pick up from your hotel to drive towards the Caribbean. On the way, you will admire the biodiversity of an astonishing protected area in Costa Rica as the bus drives through Braulio Carrillo National Park. Stop en route to have a delicious typical breakfast. The bus ride continues through banana plantations to the pier. Upon arrival, you will board a boat and let this extraordinary exotic paradise enchant you, as you travel along the Tortuguero canals. Lunch upon arrival at the hotel.

Later, you will take a guided visit to Tortuguero's picturesque town, to get a taste of the Afro-Caribbean culture and to the Sea Turtle Information Center (formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation). Sea Turtle Conservancy has worked for the conservation of endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica since 1959 (entrance is NOT included). Tortuguero hosts the largest green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookery in the Western Hemisphere and also important nesting populations of leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles. The Costa Rican legislature declared Tortuguero National Park in 1975 to protect the nesting turtles, the beach, and the adjacent terrestrial habitats.

Only a few minutes away from Tortuguero National Park, this hotel is located on a land strip between two canals. The property features 12 stylish bungalows surrounded by tropical vegetation, ideal for the rest and the delight of the guests. Additionally, the hotel offers an excellent a la carte restaurant the Ara Macaw, a bar, a swimming pool in front of the main canal, Spa services in the privacy of the bedroom, internet access around the property, a pool table, laundry service, fitness room, and a small art gallery. Besides the tour included in the stay package, guests can optionally also enjoy different activities like kayak, or they can go fishing, canopy, or bird watching as well as observing turtles nesting on the beach during the season (July through September/cash payment only). Manatus offers a nice combination of first-class services, unique in Tortuguero, combining luxury and comfort with the beauty of the tropical forest. The hotel has the National Geographic flag, which was granted thanks to the support given to the manatee protection program since the manatee is an endangered species in the region.
• Breakfast a la carte
• Access to natural trails
• Observation point
• Butterfly garden
• Herpetarium (frogs and snakes)
• Rescued orchids garden  
• Suspension bridge
• River access

Important:
Beverages and Sea Turtle Info Center entrance are not included.

Sisältyy: Dinner included at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Tortuguero National Park. Depending on weather conditions, we will explore the canals in small, open boats to allow better visibility and even a closer look at the flora and fauna, or we will take a hiking tour of the park. Tortuguero is a network of navigable lakes, rivers, and canals (both natural and man-made) that are used for transportation and are a great place for observing local wildlife. The climate is warm and humid. Daily temperatures average 26 degrees C (79 F) and annual average rainfall is over 5,000 mm (200+ inches). Warm days are tempered by trade winds and cool nights. Abundant wildlife inhabits Tortuguero, including 57 species of amphibians, 111 species of reptiles, and 60 species of mammals. More than 300 species of birds live in Tortuguero for all or part of the year. Birdwatchers commonly see keel-billed toucans, slaty-tailed trogons, Montezuma oropendolas, and a variety of parrots. Birds common along the canals include green and great blue herons, egrets, belted kingfishers, anhinga, jacanas, sun grebes, and several species of hawks and kites.

Note: Two boat tours are included on this day visiting two different sections of the park.

Sisältyy: Lunch and dinner are included at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure by boat to Caño Blanco/Pavona pier and then, continue the route by bus. Lunch is included on the route. Stop at Suerre restaurant where you will meet with the rental car. Drive towards Selva Bananito and leave car in the main entrance from where you will be transferred to the lodge. Please note that the car will not be available to use for the next 2 days while at the lodge. 

The Selva Bananito Private Reserve is an important transitional zone towards La Amistad International Park. Selva Bananito Ecolodge has achieved worldwide recognition as one example of ecotourism in Costa Rica.
Selva Bananito Lodge offers spacious and elegant rooms, with water heated by solar panels, a spacious "Rancho" in the main building to enjoy meals and socialize with others, large terraces with spectacular views and comfortable hammocks. Each cabin has an elegant design, with a queen size bed and a double bed or two queen size beds. The eleven cabins are built in wood, on stilts following the Caribbean tradition. To preserve a more natural look at night, the hotel does not use electricity produced by generators. The rooms have LED reading lamps that work with solar energy in each of the 6 superior rooms and 5 of the standard cabins. This property also offers the privilege of exploring a natural environment in the privacy of small groups. The guests can choose among several activities such as bird watching, guided walks through the rain forest, horseback riding, rappelling or tree climbing.

*Tours: birdwatching tour for the first-night stay and one additional tour for each additional night to be chosen from: Plant a Tree / Rainforest Hike/ Introductory Tree-Climbing / Horseback Ride Through the Farm.

Sisältyy: car rental - Suzuki Vitara 4WD AT*, Mitsubishi ASX 4WD AT or similar*WIFI Hotspot*Full insurances:- Direct car damages, collision and roll over.- Total or partial theft of the rented car.- Windows, car lights, vandalism damages, car plates, tow truck and road assistance*The refundable security deposit will be $100.00 (only with credit card, no debit card)Lodging, land & boat transfers, all meals & tours as described in the itinerary.

Drive towards San Gerardo de Dota Cloud Forest. Drive is around 6 hours and we recommend that you leave right after breakfast around 9am. Stop on the way in Guapiles for lunch and continue. Possible stop on the way at Iruazu volcano. 

What to Expect Irazu

• You can drive almost all the way to the top, so no long hike required.

• There are marked walking trails around the main crater and side craters.

• The terrain is flat and easy to walk, but the elevation is 3,432 meters (11,260 feet) — the air is thin, and it can be chilly.

• On clear days, you might even see both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from the top!

• The main crater sometimes has a stunning blue-green lake inside it (depends on rainfall and activity).

Continue before 4pm towards San Gerardo de Dota. 

Regular Highland birds & paramo tour

You will discover Los Quetzales National Park, which covers 5000 hectares (12,350 acres) and has 3 forest zones and 14 different eco-systems. This protected area preserve highland forest and safeguard the water sources there. You will also explore the Continental Divide separating the eco-systems between North and South America; you will start by searching endemic bird species while your g

After a short walk, you will discover one of the most impressive sceneries, on the right the Talamanca Cordillera and the Central Volcanic Cordillera, in front the Central Pacific and a bit to the left the Southern Pacific leading towards the Osa Peninsula and behind you, Chirripo –Costa Rica’s highest peak. After exploring this area, you will walk along short trails to look for any birds missing from your list.

Duration: 5 hours approximately.

Sisältyy: lunch & dinner, guide, and entrance fees.

Drive from San Gerardo de Dota to Dominical (around 3 h). 

Hotel is located in Costa Ballena, very near the Ballena Marine National Park, at the South Pacific area of the country. It is about 185 km from San José and 30 minutes from the Palmar Sur airstrip. The hotel offers 15 spacious junior suites, two master suites and two family suites in a 12-hectare private tropical garden. All guest rooms have private balcony, amazing ocean views, air conditioning, ceiling fan, satellite television wireless internet access, minibar, safe deposit box, coffee maker and hairdryer. In addition, Cristal Ballena offers two simple but charming “Adventure Lodges” situated in the gardens and surrounded by the tropical forest. Each lodge has a king size bed, separate tiled bathroom, wireless internet access, telephone, ceiling fan and terrace. Guests can also enjoy the café-style Bar & Restaurant Pura Vida, Spa Cristal, a refreshing swimming pool, deckchairs and sunshades, room and laundry service, souvenir shop and pool table.

Junior Suites are spacious and comfortable and have either one king or two queen four-poster canopy beds. All have a private balcony with spectacular ocean views and are fully equipped with a sitting area, a desk, air conditioning (A/C), ceiling fans satellite television, Wi-Fi, a telephone, a minibar, a coffee maker with a free morning coffee, room safe and private bathrooms with hot shower, free toiletries, and a hairdryer.

Drive to Bahia Aventuras meeting point at Uvita for group full-day snorkeling tour at Caño Island. 

The meeting point for this regular/shared trip is the main operations office where there is free coffee and snacks for the clients. The suggested arrival time is 6.40 am. Then you have to try on the snorkeling equipment and the guide will conduct a safety briefing, review the itinerary and make sure the safety vest fits each one. The boat leaves at 7:30 am from Playa Uvita and lasts approximately 1,5 hours. During the boat trip to Caño Island, there is the possibility of spotting dolphins, sea turtles, or whales depending on the season of the year. Once you arrive at Caño Island, two snorkeling sessions will take place in different locations chosen by the captain and guide according to the conditions of the day. The average time we spend snorkeling is approximately 2.5 hours or more, depending on the visibility and the ability of the participants. After finishing the snorkeling sessions, the guide will make an informative review of the marine species observed during the activity and a short break to eat some snacks and fruits on the boat, and then there will be time to relax on the beach (30-40 minutes). The boat will then return to Uvita beach and on the way back the captain will look for more marine life such as dolphins, sea turtles, and whales (when in season). Duration: 6-7 hours approximately.

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What to bring? Shorts and flip flops, sunblock, swimsuit, t-shirt for protection, a change of clothes, light jacket, towel, camera

Lunch will consist of burritos, chips, cookies, sweet desserts, fruits, and natural drinks, all served on board or when the boat returns to Uvita beach.
There will be access to a bathroom on the Island during beach hours.
There is a moderate degree of difficulty, thus some physical effort is required because as the boats are not anchored on a pier, you will have to get on the boat fording the waves.

Sisältyy: Boat transfers, naturalist guide, safety equipment, snorkeling equipment, tropical fruit snack, picnic-style.

Free time to explore Dominical and the surrounding areas. 

Free time to explore Dominical and the surrounding areas. 

Free time to explore Dominical and the surrounding areas. 

Drive to San Jose airport for the departure flight in the evening. Car drop off at the airport at 16.00. 

Arrival to Helsinki.