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This is an excellent opportunity to learn of the past
and culture of Costa Rica. Visit different residential
neighbourhoods of the capital, parks, the heart of San
José, the University of Costa Rica, and some
of the government buildings. The tour includes a visit
to the National Theater and to the National Museum.
San José's foremost architectural showpiece,
the National Theater is a source of pride to Costa Ricans
everywhere. Inaugurated on October 19, 1897 with a performance
of "Faust" by the Paris Opera Company, the
building's origins date to 1890 when the Italian opera
singer, Angela Pelati, gave a number of performances
in Guatemala but refused to come to Costa Rica due to
the lack of a proper theater. The members of the country's
coffee elite proposed that a theater be built in San
José to correct this situation and agreed to
contribute five centavos per exported sack of coffee
to finance the construction.
Some parts of the theater were crafted in Europe and
shipped to Costa Rica for assembly, such as the metal
framework which was cast in Belgium and many of the
statues, murals, and ceiling frescos which are the work
of Italian artists that never saw Costa Rica. The stunning
baroque design features ample use of 221/2 karat gold
overlay and Carara marble.
Best known for the variety of pre-Columbian artefacts
on permanent display, the National Museum also has exhibits
dedicated to Costa Rican religious art and the history
of the country since the Spanish conquest. The building
itself has historic significance since it was once a
military fortress and after the abolishment of the army,
following the Revolution of 1948, was converted into
the museum.
Departures 8:00 am Morning pick-ups at San José
hotels / 1:00 pm Afternoon pick-ups at San José
hotels.
Duration 4 hrs. aprox.
Frequency: daily, except Mondays
Recommended Camera, comfortable shoes, and light clothing.
| Includes:
entrance fee to National Theater and National Museum,
transportation and tour guide. |
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Imagine following the journey of a coffee bean on the
plantation - from the plant to a cup of gourmet coffee.
When you take the Coffee Tour at Café Britt you'll
do exactly that! The professional acting troupe, dressed
in traditional garb, will escort you through a multi-media,
interactive tour through the history of coffee.
On a finca, as the plantation is called in Spanish,
your day starts on six-acres of coffee fields, tropical
gardens and coffee processing facilities. When you arrive,
you are greeted by a breathtaking view from the lookout
point with two of Costa Rica's most famous volcanoes
on one side and a spectacular panoramic view of the
Central Valley on the other. You will learn all about
coffee cultivation - and not just by giving you the
facts - feel free to pick a few ripe cherries to taste
their sweetness or take a few of the dried beans home
to grow a plant of your own!
From the fields, you will be taken into the roasting
and packaging facilities where you'll soak in the aroma
of roasting coffee and learn all about this magical
process that turns a red coffee cherry into a delicious
cup of java. Then, in the theater, sit back and watch
a multi-media play and presentation of coffee's place
in world history. Learn about how deeply coffee culture
is woven into the history and people of Costa Rica -
and be prepared to have a few good laughs while you're
at it. Departures The CoffeeTour at Café Britt runs
year-round, seven days a week. From December 15 to April
30, tours run at 11:00AM and 3:00 PM during the rest
of the year tours run at 11:00AM only.
Duration 6 hours
Frequency Daily
Facilities Gift Shop and restaurant
Recommended Comfortable shoes, raincoat, jacket, camera
Bring: Camera and comfortable shoes.
| Includes:
guided transportation and entrance fee |
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Guides may identify the most beautiful of Costa Rica's
butterflies, point out the females ovipositing their
eggs on host plants and feeding on flowers. The tour
then proceeds to view the amazing metamorphosis of the
caterpillar forming the pupae where their bodies change
from a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.
The entire cycle of the metamorphosis is shown and the
early morning tours may even see the butterflies emerging
from their chrysalides and taking off for their maiden
flight.
Departures Open schedule every day from 8:30 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Guided tours commence at: 8:30 a.m., 11:00
a.m, 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m.
Duration 5 hours
Frequency Daily
Facilities Gift Shop and restaurant
Recommended Comfortable shoes and camera
| Includes:
guided transportation and entrance fee. |
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Costa Rica is world renowned as much for the exuberance
of its biodiversity as for its gourmet coffee. It is
no mystery, therefore, why two of Costa Rica’s
most popular destinations are The Butterfly Farm and
The Coffee tour de Café Britt. Considered by
many travel specialists as the single best tour of Costa
Rica’s Central Valley, this is simply The Perfect
Combination!.
The tour starts early as we meet participants at established
pick-up points. Driving through country roads to the
sub-tropical climate of La Guácima, one will
arrive at The Butterfly Farm in La Guácima, Alajuela,
an ideal location for breeding butterflies. In an enclosed
tropical garden filled with hundreds of butterflies,
experienced guides proceed to discuss butterflies’
natural history, the farm’s operations, and answer
the inevitable question, “Who buys butterflies?”
On export days visitors are invited to see the sorting
and packing of thousands of butterfly chrysalides as
they are prepared for shipment.
The journey continues to Café Britt’s Farm
in Heredia –the city of flowers. In the midst
of volcanoes, greenery and a working coffee farm you
will participate in the award –winning Coffeetour
de Café Britt, Costa Rica’s longest running
theatrical production. This multimedia presentation
highlights coffee’s history in Costa Rica and
around the world, and the evolution of the golden bean
from the plantation to your cup! Expert coffee tasters
will share their knowledge of the art and science of
gourmet coffee appreciation.
At Britt’s factory store/espresso café
you can sample the full range of fine Costa Rican coffees
and of course you can purchase Café Britt at
factory prices.
A delicious lunch will be served at Café Britt
at the end of your visit.
Departures Around noon. Pick up times vary according
to the hotel location.
Duration 7 hours.
Frequency Daily.
Facilities Gift Shop and restaurant.
Recommended Comfortable shoes and camera. |
 About an hour's
drive southeast of San José, just beyond the
town of Paraíso, lies this splendorously scenic
valley. Taking the road towards Orosi will bring you
to a lookout point on the valley rim that is well
worth a stop for the panoramic view of the valley
below.
Some 600 of the country's 1,400 native orchid species
are kept in this 11 ha. garden administered by the
University of Costa Rica. This was one of three orchid
collections amassed during the early part of the 20th
century by Charles Lankester, a British coffee plantation
supervisor who was duly impressed by the tremendous
variety of orchids he found on the trunks and branches
of forest trees that were being felled to make way
for more coffee plantations throughout the interior
valleys and slopes. Although he did nothing to protect
the forests (nor did anybody else in those days),
his orchid collections formed a basis for the study
and appreciation of these beautiful plants.
Departures Once a day. Around 8:30 am.
Duration 7 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended Comfortable shoes, light jacket and camera.
| Includes:
guided transportation, lunch and entrance fee. |
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 We
invite you to visit the “cradle of Costa Rican
handicrafts”. Among the many shops in this town
you will be able to find articles of leather, jewelry,
toys, as well as accessories of bronze, wood and other
materials. This is the ideal place to find wonderful
souvenirs of your trip.
Your second stop will be made in Grecia, a small town
famous for its iron church, friendly people and armony.
This will be a great opportunity for you to seat in
the central park and talk to the local people.
Departures Once a day. Around 8:00 am.
Duration 6 hours.
Frequency Daily.
Facilities Gift Shop.
Recommended Comfortable shoes and camera.
| Includes:
guided transportation, land tour guide. |
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The Pueblo Antiguo Experience
(Old Town):
 "Pueblo
Antiguo" was conceived with the idea of providing
permanent economic support to the Costa Rican National
Children´s Hospital. This is an authentic
attraction with professional actors that are going
to transport you to a Costa Rica of the turn of
the century. The inspired words of great political
leaders and the insighful comments of everyday people
recreate the spirit of independence, patriotism,
democracy and religion that have shaped this country.
Come to learn about the roots of Costa Rican traditions,
myths, legends and amusing idiosincracy in an entertaining
one hour long presentation of theater, music and
dance. Here in Pueblo Antiguo the story of our past
is told with the pride and friendship in hope that
these remembrances of paths traveled will help lead
us on the road to a brighter future.
Departures Tour operates from Wednesday to Sunday
10:00am to 2:00pm
Duration 5 hours
Frequency Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
only
Facilities Gift Shop and restaurant
Recommended Comfortable shoes, and camera
| Includes:
guided transportation and entrance fee. |
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 The
world famous "Calypso Catamaran Cruise"
to Tortuga Island was created by Calypso Tours in
1975 and has been polished into one of Costa Rica's
great experiences, combining blue water, white sand,
green mountains, superb cuisine and personal service.
Only Calypso's super yacht, the Manta Ray, built
with pride in Costa Rica, has the speed to provide
an extended island cruise. Glide past more than
seven islands in the Gulf of Nicoya, spend more
time on the beach and enjoy our snorkeling excursion!
Whether you're 2 or 92, no visit to Costa Rica is
complete without a trip on the "Calypso Catamaran
Cruise". The day begins at your hotel where
you will be greeted by a bilingual guide, seated
on an air-conditioned bus and served a Continental
Breakfast. The bus ride takes you from 5000 ft.
to sea level, to the pacific port of Puntarenas.
This is an excellent opportunity to view the coffee,
sugar plantations, volcanic mountains and the unique
Brahman cattle that form an ever-changing panorama.
Departures Around 6:30 am
Duration 12 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended Casual clothes, bathing suit or shorts,
suntan lotion, camera, sun glasses, tight fitting
hat, light weight long sleeved shirt, rubber sandals,
tennis or boat shoes. Don't forget your towels!
Includes:
Air-Conditioned Bus Transportation
to and from San José, Continental Breakfast,
Bar-B-Que lunch served with Chilled White
Wine, Soft Drinks and Fresh Fruit, Live Music |
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Poás
Volcano:
 Like
the other volcanoes in the Central Volcanic Cordillera,
the silhouette of Poás Volcano as seen from the
Central Valley gives no hint of the power and pent-up
fury below the surface. But once at the summit and standing
on the crater's rim, it becomes easier to understand
the forces that have shaped this region of the planet.
With a diameter of 1.5 km., the active crater is reportedly
the widest of any volcano in the world. If it is clear
enough to see to the bottom of the 300-meter deep crater,
you will surely observe some type of activity ranging
from fumaroles to bubbling emissions on the surface
of the small rain-filled lake to actual geyser-type
eruptions, but it is constantly changing. During the
early 1990s, there was enough geyser activity to cause
the lake to lose its water by the end of the dry season
(April/May); this resulted in increased gaseous emanations
that forced the park to close on a few occasions.
Departures Around 7:30 am. Pick up times vary depending
on the hotel location
Duration 5 hours
Frequency Daily
Facilities cafeteria
Recommended Comfortable shoes, light jacket, long pants
and camera.
| Includes:
guided transportation, lunch and entrance
fee |
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 At
3,432 meters above sea level, Irazú Volcano is
the highest point in the Central Volcanic Cordillera.
The gently sloping southern flank with its patchwork
pattern of potatoes, cabbages, and other vegetable crops,
replaced by bucolic dairy farms at higher elevations,
belies the violent past of this sleeping behemoth that
looms above the city of Cartago.
Upon nearing the summit the destructive forces of volcanism
begin to become more noticeable with the presence of
scorched dead tree trunks that are still standing. On
top of Irazú you will find several deep craters
in this barren windswept terrain that is reminiscent
of a moonscape. The high elevation itself, being just
above the tree line at this latitude, keeps the vegetation
from growing very tall, but the periodic devastating
effects of eruptions help to keep plant life rather
sparse. Among the few species of birds that live in
this habitat are the aptly named Volcano Junco and Volcano
Hummingbird.
As with all active volcanoes, the level and type of
activity changes periodically, often abruptly. Since
the last series of eruptions, between August of 1962
and March of 1965, Irazú's principal crater has
only emitted fumarole activity -- but things could change
again at any time.
Departures Around 7:30 am. Pick up times vary depending
on the hotel location
Duration 6 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended Comfortable shoes, light jacket, long pants
and camera
| Includes:
guided transportation, lunch and entrance fee. |
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 The
Rain Forest Aerial Tram is a unique ecotourism and research
facility which opened in October of 1994. Visitors from
around the world ride the Tram on a fascinating excursion
through the rain forest canopy and its hanging gardens
of plants and animals hidden at the tops of tall tropical
trees. Home to two-thirds of all rain forest species,
the rain forest canopy is a little-known world of tremendous
beauty and extraordinary biological diversity. Our park,
(adjacent to Braulio Carrillo National Park and only
an hour from San Jose), possesses one of the richest
canopy communities in the world.
The canopy is full of both known and unknown plant and
animal species. Visitors will be able to see canopy
life close-up for the first time, and scientists will
discover new things about the ecology of the rain forest.
Due to its inaccessibility, little scientific work has
been done concerning life in the tops of tropical trees.
The tram, by being the best access tool in the world,
has become a center for canopy exploration and research.
Departures You can choose the morning tour or the afternoon
tour. The morning tour will pick you up at your hotel
(or near by) between 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. and returns
by 1:00 p.m. The afternoon tour has pick-up times between
10:40 and 11:50 and returns by 7:00 p.m.
Duration 6 hours
Frequency Daily
Facilities Restaurant, souvenir shop, and cafeteria.
Recommended Light-weight, casual clothes, sneakers (or
other comfortable rubber-sole shoes), rain gear (just
in case), and camera.
| Includes:
all admission fees for the Rain Forest
Aerial Tram, either breakfast or lunch, the Tram
ride, 45 minute hike (optional), transportation
to/from San Jose, transportation within the Park,
and tax. |
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The best way to
get a close up look of nature from the bird’s
perspective over the trees. The Canopy Tour starts with
the explanation of the basic principles to make it a
safe and enjoyable adventure; our trained guides will
inspect your equipment before and after every run to
guarantee their efficiency and your safety during the
1:30 hours of the tour.
Sliding down from one platform to another, across the
13 platforms and 8 steel cables of this canopy tour
throughout the private reserve, each trip between platforms
is an experience full of adventure. Our location includes
3 platforms based on trees (each one on a different
type of tree) and 9 on the ground and one more on a
tower. Each platform includes a scenery full of nature.
The San Lorenzo canopy tour is located at the Valle
Escondido Hotel, only 1:45 hours from San Jose, where
you'll have a nice 10 minutes walk to the platform.
Departures Around 8:00 am. Pick up times vary depending
on the hotel location
Duration 9 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended Light jacket, walking shoes, long pants,
binoculars, and
| Includes:
transportation, tour guide, entrance fee
and lunch. |
|
 The
Poas Volcano is famous for having one of the largest
craters in the world and for its constant geyser-like
eruptions. Your tour guide will acquaint you with all
the information regarding the flora and fauna of the
region, before heading towards to Sarchi, where you
will enjoy a delicious typical lunch. Sarchi is the
hometown of the artisans, and here you will be able
to purchase beautiful articles such as the famous oxcart,
handicrafts made of wood or leather, t-shirts, coffee,
hammocks, liquor.
Departures Around 6:30 am. Pick up times change depending
on the hotel
Duration 8 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended The volcano is sometimes cold so bring a
sweater or jacket - It can rain in the rainforest so
take an umbrella or a poncho - Wear comfortable walking
shoes - Bottled water is available throughout the tour
route - Binoculars and camera are recommended
| Includes:
transportation, tour guide, entrance fee to the
volcano and lunch. |
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 At
3,432 meters above sea level, Irazú Volcano is
the highest point in the Central Volcanic Cordillera.
The gently sloping southern flank with its patchwork
pattern of potatoes, cabbages, and other vegetable crops,
replaced by bucolic dairy farms at higher elevations,
belies the violent past of this sleeping behemoth that
looms above the city of Cartago.
About an hour's drive southeast of San José,
just beyond the town of Paraíso, lies this slanderously
scenic valley. Taking the road towards Orosi will bring
you to a lookout point on the valley rim that is well
worth a stop for the panoramic view of the valley below.
Some 600 of the country's 1,400 native orchid species
are kept in this 11 ha. garden administered by the University
of Costa Rica. This was one of three orchid collections
amassed during the early part of the 20th century by
Charles Lankester, a British coffee plantation supervisor
who was duly impressed by the tremendous variety of
orchids he found on the trunks and branches of forest
trees that were being felled to make way for more coffee
plantations throughout the interior valleys and slopes.
Although he did nothing to protect the forests (nor
did anybody else in those days), his orchid collections
formed a basis for the study and appreciation of these
beautiful plants.
Departures Around 7:30 am. Pick up times change depending
on the hotel
Duration 8 hours
Frequency Daily
Recommended The volcano is sometimes cold so bring a
sweater or jacket - It can rain in the rainforest so
take an umbrella or a poncho - Wear comfortable walking
shoes - Bottled water is available throughout the tour
route - Binoculars and camera are recommended.
| Includes:
transportation, tour guide, entrance fee
to the volcano and lunch. |
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Pick up time: 6:30
a.m. approximately
Duration: 11 hours
 We
begin our journey driving by the monument "El Agricultor"
and the Juan Santamaria International Airport. During
the drive you will begin to feel at home in Costa Rica
as we enter the City of Alajuela, with the second largest
population in the country. The city of Alajuela is proud
to display the monument of our National Hero "Juan
Santamaria". While appreciating the history of
the monument, not far away is the well-known park of
"Los Mangos" and the old military headquarters
which has been transformed into a museum and school
of technical teaching.
As we continue our drive north, we begin to observe
the vast difference between the constructions of city
homes to the ones that encompass the green countryside.
These homes are surrounded by strawberry farms, huge
ferns, and flower plantations, which compliment the
massive coffee fields.
We now begin our assent to the national park where we
will soon relax and enjoy an authentic cup of Costa
Rican coffee accompanied by a delicious tropical breakfast.
You will feel a change in temperature and the lush vegetation
becomes apparent, preparing us for the pleasures of
the exuberant cloud forest of the Poas Volcano. On a
clear day the view of the main crater is admired by
all visitors, with its diameter is considered one of
the widest in the world. After this we will enjoy a
quick hike on a trail which leads us to the Botos Lagoon
(an extinct crater), where many different ecosystems
exist and where some of the many species of flora and
fauna of this cloud forest can be observed. After leaving
the National Park we will be able to observe some dairy
farms which have become the pride of Costa Ricans, due
to the quality and the rich tasting products that are
currently being exported to several other Latin American
countries.
As we continue towards the Caribbean zone, we will stop
to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a Nature Park
where we will walk on the truly spectacular trails that
will lead us to Magia Blanca Falls (the largest and
the most spectacular of the falls in the area). At the
Park you will also witness the largest enclosed butterfly
observatory in the world with a beautiful collection
of tropical jewels. After a terrific lunch we will continue
to Sarapiqui and on our way we come across the La PazWaterfall,
where we take some time to enjoy the splendid view.
Less than a mile away we will encounter yet another
waterfall surrounded by virgin forest, which becomes
a great photo opportunity.
As our journey continues we have the pleasure of observing
the unique characteristics of the Atlantic area. We
come across quaint towns and farmhouses that are encompassed
by beautiful pineapple, yuca, coco, and heart of palm
plantations. One could never miss the tropical plants
that enhance this picturesque view. Once we arrive at
Puerto Viejo (Old Port), we will be ready to enjoy a
relaxing boat ride on the Sarapiqui River, just sit
back and observe the wildlife that is around you. The
monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, and the variety of birds
will allow you to relax and concentrate on the scenery.
During the boat ride our guide will also explain to
us about life style of the friendly people that live
at the river margins. Before returning to San Jose we
will drive through the unforgettable rain forest of
Braulio Carrillo National Park, one of the most important
rainforest reserves for Costa Rica.
Includes:
Breakfast, visit to coffee fields, Poas
Volcano National Park craters and cloud forest
trails, Botos Lagoon, visit to La Paz Waterfall
Gardens Nature Park and all its natural wonders,
La Paz, Magia Blanca and San Fernando Falls. Lunch,
jungle ride on the Sarapiqui River, visit to a
butterfly and tropical frog's garden, snacks,
and sightseeing the 45,899 ha. Braulio Carrillo
National Park.
Suggested Equipment: Hat, light
jacket, raingear, walking shoes, insect repellent,
binoculars, and camera |
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 Our
most popular tour! The Arenal Volcano is one of the
most active volcanoes in the Americas. From our observation
point, you will feel the ground tremble and see the
night sky explode with ash and lava in a natural display
of fireworks. Next, we will visit the hot springs of
the volcano, where you can relax in the soothing waters
and be caressed by the cool night air while observing
the stars and the incredible night sky above the volcano.
At a convenient time after your arrival, we will treat
you to a splendid dinner.
This is absolutely an evening you will not want to miss
in Costa Rica!
On this tour we will also visit the town of Sarchi,
well known for the beauty of the handcrafts that they
produce. (Lunch and dinner included). Suggested Equipment:
swimsuit, comfortable walking shoes (if there is good
weather), sweater, insect repellent, and a towel.
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 In
this excursion you have the opportunity to be in one
of the most popular rivers for this sport, The Pacuare
River, The Reventazon River, The Sarapiquí River,
The Saveegre River or The Corobici River. The Pacuare
River, is one of the five most important rivers of the
world by its landscapes and fast rapids. In this tropical
river the trip is pure magic. Located in the Caribbean
of Costa Rica, the Pacuare River confines the Mountain
of Talamanca, the home to the native Indians of Cabecar
and an immense variety of flora and fauna.
Once in the river you will go 16 miles on the Heart
of the rain forest, observing cascades, birds and diversity
of Flora. The Reventazón River makes the perfect
trip for beginners the 12 miles of the river will take
approximately 2 hours until you arrive the city of Turrialba,
during the trip you will enjoy incomparable landscapes
in the river more close to San Jose. The Sarapiquí
and Saveegre Rivers are ideal for beginners and families.
At the Corobici River the trip is excellent for bird’s
watcher and nature lovers. Except for the Pacuare River,
no previous experience is required. In anyone of these
rivers you will have a security briefing.
Includes:
Breakfast and Lunch from San Jose, and
Lunch from Jacó Beach and Guanacaste Beaches,
transportation and guide.
Bring. Bathing suit, an extra T-shirt, towel and
tennis shoes.
Reventazon River departs from San Jose 6:30 am
Pacuare River departs from San Jose 6:30 am
Sarapiqui River departs from San Jose 6:00 am
Savegre River departs from Jaco Beach 7:00 am
Corobici River departs from Guanacaste Beaches 7:30
am. (optional) |
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