Costa Rica Expeditions - Connoisseur/Explorer Itinerary

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* SUMMARY * FIXED DEPARTURE - COSTA RICA CONNOISSEUR / EXPLORER (10 Days/9 Nights)
Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano and Tortuguero on the Atlantic Coast
From US$1,908 per person in double occupancy. Min. age 12 years. Click on the Custom Itinerary tab above to see the version of this trip that can go on any date.

Guided hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and visit to the Butterfly Garden. At Arenal, walk the nearby Hanging Bridges trails then soak in a natural hot springs in the shadow of the Volcano. Head to remote Tortuguero for boat trips through rainforest creeks and a night excursion to observe sea turtles nesting (June-Oct. only). Return in light charter plane to San Jose and, on your last full day in Costa Rica, enjoy a shopping tour (included on the Explorer version of this trip) or visit the Cafe Britt Plantation (included on the Connoisseur).

Meal codes: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Day 1: Arrival San Jose (No meals.)
Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.

Day 2: San Jose / Monteverde (B,L,D)
After a welcome orientation breakfast, you will be picked up by a Service Guide for the 4 1/2-hour drive to Monteverde. Afternoon visit to the Ecological Farm.
Hotels: Explorer, Sapo Dorado; Connoisseur, Monteverde Lodge.

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest (B,L,D)
Guided tour in Monteverde Reserve. Afternoon visit to the Butterfly Garden. Overnight at hotel. (Same as Day 2.)

Day 4: Monteverde / Arenal
Drive with your guide from Monteverde to your hotel in the Arenal area (4 hours).
Meals: Explorer, B; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Volcano Lodge; Connoisseur, Arenal Manoa.

Day 5: Arenal Hanging Bridges Project
Morning walk on the Arenal Hanging Bridges trails. Afternoon visit to the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs.
Meals: Explorer, none; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotel: Same as Day 4.

Day 6: Arenal / Tortuguero
Drive with your Service Guide to the Cano Blanco dock (5 hours), where you will meet your boat and local guide for the 1-1/2 hour ride to Tortuguero.
Meals: Explorer, L, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Mawamba Lodge; Connoisseur, Tortuga Lodge.

Day 7: Tortuguero National Park (B,L,D)
Boat tour in Tortuguero Park. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at your Tortuguero hotel (see Day 6).

Day 8: Tortuguero Village (B,L,D)
Guided tour of Tortuguero village. Overnight at your Tortuguero hotel.

Day 9: Tortuguero / San Jose
Fly back to San Jose for either a shopping or Cafe Britt tour. Farewell dinner held tonight. Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.
Meals: Explorer, B, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Day tours: Explorer, San Jose shopping; Connoisseur, Cafe Britt Plantation.

Day 10: Departure (No meals.)
Transfer to the international airport, arriving at least two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time.

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* DETAILED * FIXED DEPARTURE - COSTA RICA CONNOISSEUR / EXPLORER (10 Days/9 Nights)
Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano and Tortuguero on the Atlantic Coast
From US$1,908 per person in double occupancy. Min. age 12 years. Click on the Custom Itinerary tab above to see the version of this trip that can go on any date.

Click to enlarge.

Meal codes: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Day 1: Arrival San Jose (No meals.)
Arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport. After passing through Immigration you will be met by a Costa Rica Expeditions representative who will give you a sticker to facilitate clearing customs. When you leave the building after customs, look for a sign that says "Costa Rica Expeditions" with your name on it. A Costa Rica Expeditions' guide wearing an orange shirt is holding the sign. He or she will take you to your hotel. Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.

Day 2: San Jose / Monteverde (B,L,D)
After a welcome orientation breakfast, you will be picked up by a Service Guide for the 4-1/2 hour drive to Monteverde. The first 2-1/2 hours are on the Pan-American Highway and the last two hours are on a winding gravel road. Arrive at your Monteverde hotel in time for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Ecological Farm, a small private reserve where you will have the opportunity to see flora, birds and mammals. Cool climate.
Hotels: Explorer, Sapo Dorado; Connoisseur, Monteverde Lodge.

Day 3: Monteverde Cloud Forest (B,L,D)
After breakfast join a guided tour in the Monteverde Reserve. Founded in 1972, the Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilaran Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 ft.), encompassing six different ecological life zones and protecting more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. From Jan-July, depending on your luck and patience, you may observe the Resplendent Quetzal (occasionally a dozen or more individuals at once). Other species include the Three-wattled Bellbird, the Emerald Toucanet, and White-faced and Howler monkeys. Return to your hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Butterfly Garden, where butterflies and other insects are raised and displayed in shade cloth surrounded by tropical gardens. Overnight at hotel. (Same as Day 2.)

Day 4: Monteverde / Arenal
Mid-morning drive with your guide from Monteverde to your hotel in the Arenal area (4 hours). You will drive around the north end of Lake Arenal near Arenal Volcano, which has been active since 1968. Stop for lunch on the way to Arenal. Arrive at your hotel in time for an afternoon rest. In the evening, weather permitting, view the volcanic activity, which may include explosions and lava flows.
Meals: Explorer, B; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Volcano Lodge; Connoisseur, Arenal Manoa.

Day 5: Arenal Hanging Bridges Project
After breakfast depart with your guide for a morning walk on the Arenal Hanging Bridges trails, a project that consists of eight fixed bridges and six hanging bridges, built with the latest techniques and designed with an eye for both beauty and safety. The bridges and trails, which cover a distance of 3 kms were designed to blend with the natural environment, leaving the forest virtually intact. As you walk, you will be able to appreciate the great diversity of flowers and wildlife that are typical of the rainforest, along with imposing views (weather permitting) of Arenal Volcano.

Afternoon visit to the Hidalgo Family Hot Springs, the ideal alternative to the mass tourism hot springs in the Arenal area. When we first met the Hidalgo family in 2000, they were reluctant to open their family farm to visitors. Finally they agreed to try it on a trial basis. They found, perhaps to their surprise, that they enjoyed having foreign guests and have now put in changing rooms and a restaurant. Although they do not provide the private experience that they did at the beginning, the Hidalgo Hot Springs is not nearly as crowded as others in Arenal. The springs consist of five, free-flowing pools set in a natural river gorge. Water temperature ranges from 100F to 109F (38-43C), depending on the pool. A Costa Rican home-style meal in the restaurant, modeled after the first house that Don Manuel and Dona Hortemida Hidalgo built in 1940 when they settled on the farm, is a must.
Meals: Explorer, none; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotel: Same as Day 4.

Day 6: Arenal / Tortuguero
After an early morning breakfast, drive with your Service Guide to the Cano Blanco dock (5 hours), where you will meet your boat and local guide for the 1-1/2 hour ride to Tortuguero. The last part of the drive will take you through banana plantations. Until the 19th century, Costa Rica was very poor with an economy based on subsistence agriculture. Then the introduction of coffee provided a product suitable for export. Coffee was followed by bananas, and both remain two of the country's most important crops. Upon arrival in Tortuguero you will be transported to your hotel.
Meals: Explorer, L, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Mawamba Lodge; Connoisseur, Tortuga Lodge.

Day 7: Tortuguero National Park (B,L,D)
After breakfast depart with your Tortuguero Guide for a boat tour into Tortuguero Park. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, the Park now encompasses 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Eleven habitats are found in the park. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler and White-faced), Three-toed Sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk Lizards, and Poison Dart (Dendrobates) Frogs inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds, including all six species of Kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, 8 species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and White-fronted Nunbird and many more which we will have the opportunity to observe. Return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at your Tortuguero hotel (see Day 6).

Day 8: Tortuguero Village (B,L,D)
After breakfast your local guide will take you to Tortuguero village. Learn about the history of the town and it's efforts to get their basic needs met, such as running water, medical and dental care, garbage collection and management. Visit the park headquarters, the general goods store and walk paths lined with colorful Afro-Caribbean homes. Visit the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle Museum founded by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). The late Dr. Archie Carr began to study and tag thousands of Atlantic Green Sea Turtles that come to Tortuguero Beach every year from June through October to lay their eggs. The CCC study has continued without fail ever since and is the longest-running, continuous study of its kind in the world. Lunch will be at "Miss Juney's," one of Tortuguero's oldest and most well-loved residents. Miss Juney is famous for her down-home Caribbean cooking featuring typical dishes from the Caribbean coast, such as rice and beans in coconut milk, black chicken, sweet plantains, fried bread fruit and fruit juices made with tamarindo, cas, or maracuya. Return to your Tortuguero hotel in the afternoon.

Day 9: Tortuguero / San Jose
Morning departure from your hotel to meet the 30-min. chartered flight to San Jose. Upon arrival take either a shopping or a Cafe Britt tour. The Coffee Tour is packed with tips and tricks that will help make your next cup of coffee your best. Learn how to properly store coffee and brew a perfect cappuccino. Observe how experts distinguish good coffees from great ones and why they ignore their mothers' warnings about slurping. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in San Jose. Farewell dinner held tonight. Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.
Meals: Explorer, B, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Day tours: Explorer, San Jose shopping; Connoisseur, Cafe Britt Plantation.

Day 10: Departure (No meals.)
Transfer to the international airport, arriving at least two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time.

FIXED DEPARTURE: COSTA RICA CONNOISSEUR / EXPLORER
2008-2009 DATES, HOTELS & PRICES

Prices per person in US$, based on double occupancy. Includes taxes. Children 12 and over only, except on family departures. Trips are guaranteed to depart with a min. of 2 participants.

Date Name
Itinerary Order

Hotels

Price (US$)

Aug. 29 to Sept. 7; and
Oct. 10-19, 08 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,008

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Nov. 14-23, 08 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,108

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Dec. 19-28, 08; and
Dec. 26, 08 to Jan. 4, 09 EXPLORER San José Parque del Lago
$1,908

Monteverde Sapo Dorado Lodge

Arenal Volcano Lodge

Tortuguero Mawamba Lodge

Jan. 2-11; and
Jan. 14-23, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,108

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Feb. 13-22, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Mar. 4-13;
Mar. 13-22; and Mar. 19-28, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Apr. 3-12, 09 (Easter Week) Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Apr. 17-26, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,108

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

May 22-31, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,008

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

June 12-21; and
June 26 to July 5, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,008

FAMILY TRIP Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

July 17-26, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

FAMILY TRIP Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Aug. 7-16; Aug. 14-23; and Aug. 28 to
Sep. 6, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

FAMILY TRIP Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Oct. 9-18, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,008

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Nov. 20-29, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,108

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Dec. 16-25, 09 Connoisseur San José Parque del Lago
$2,208

Monteverde Monteverde Lodge

Arenal Manoa Lodge

Tortuguero Tortuga Lodge

Dec. 23, 09-Jan 1, 10; and Dec. 30, 09 to
Jan. 8, 2010 EXPLORER San José Parque del Lago
$1,908

Monteverde Sapo Dorado

Arenal Volcano Lodge

Tortuguero Mawamba Lodge

*Chid Policy for Costa Rica Connoisseur
· We are happy to accept children 12 years and older on regular departures.
· Children under 12 years are allowed on FAMILY departures only. On these trips, a 25% discount applies for children 0 -11 years, IF the child is sharing a room with two adults who are paying full rate. When a single parent is traveling alone with one child, he or she must pay the adult rate plus the single supplement. The child will pay the regular children's rate. The reason for this is because lodging is not costed into the children's rate.

Costa Rica Connoisseur Depatures
The Connoisseur trips include guaranteed stays at Monteverde and Tortuga Lodges and all meals in Arenal. Also include a Cafe Britt coffee plantation tour on Day 9.

Costa Rica Explorer Departures
On Explorer trips, we reserve the right to change the hotels used right up until the day of arrival. A shopping tour in San Jose is included on Day 9.

Single Supplement
Single supplement (year round): US$379. Single supplement added if single accommodations are requested or forced. Also, when a single parent is traveling alone with one child, he or she must pay the adult rate plus the single supplement. The child will pay the regular children's rate. The reason for this is because lodging is not costed into the children's rate.

INCLUDED
Nine nights lodging, all land, air and water transportation within Costa Rica, all airport/hotel transfers when arriving and departing on the stated arrival and departure dates of the group, meals as specified in the itinerary, Hotel taxes, entrance fees to National Parks, museums and places of interest in effect at the time of booking are included unless otherwise specified, guide services as specified in the itinerary, guides' expenses.

NOT INCLUDED
International airfare, airport departure taxes ($26 per person), tax increases or new taxes charged for services that were not taxed at the time the booking was made, meals not specified in the itinerary, alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, extras in hotels (laundry, phone calls, room service, etc.), gratuities.

Note regarding arrival and departure transfers: Transfers are available by previous arrangement through Costa Rica Expeditions for participants not arriving or departing on the stated arrival/departure dates of the tour. See pricing here: Transfer Services.

IMPORTANT: There is a 25-pound weight limit on domestic flights in Costa Rica. Please remember to pack light. If you would like to leave some of your belongings behind, we will do our best to catch it up to you when you arrive at the next destination in your itinerary.

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* DETAILED * CUSTOM ITINERARY - COSTA RICA CONNOISSEUR / EXPLORER (10 Days/9 Nights)
Monteverde, Arenal and Tortuguero
Explorer: US$2,349 per person in double occupancy. Connoisseur: US$2,749.* Click on the Fixed Departure Itinerary tab above to see a more affordable version of this intinerary that goes on set dates.

Guided hike in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and visit to the Butterfly Garden. At Arenal walk in the nearby 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 a night excursion to observe sea turtles nesting (June-Oct. only). Return in light charter plane to San Jose and, on your last full day in Costa Rica, enjoy a shopping tour or visit the Cafe Britt Plantation.

Click to enlarge.

Meal codes: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Day 1: Arrival San Jose, Costa Rica (No meals.)
Arrive at Juan Santamaria International Airport. After passing through Immigration you will be met by a Costa Rica Expeditions representative who will give you a sticker to facilitate clearing customs. When you are exiting the building, look for a Costa Rica Expeditions Guide in a bright orange or yellow shirt holding a sign with your name on it. He or she will take you to your hotel. Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.

Day 2: San Jose / Monteverde (B,L,D)
After an early breakfast on your own, meet your guide for the 4 1/2-hour drive to Monteverde (transportation may be shared with other guests). The first 2-1/2 hours are on the Pan-American Highway and the last two are on a winding gravel road. Arrive at your Monteverde hotel in time for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Ecological Farm. This small private reserve provides the chance to see flora, birds and mammals. Dinner and overnight at hotel (cool climate).
Hotels: Explorer, Sapo Dorado; Connoisseur, Monteverde Lodge.

Day 3: Monteverde (B,L,D)
After breakfast, guided excursion in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Founded in 1972, the Reserve extends down both slopes of the Tilar?n Mountains (elevation 2,300 to 5,600 ft.), encompassing six different ecological life zones and protecting more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and 1,500 species of plants. From January to July, depending upon your luck and patience, you may observe in its natural habitat the Resplendent Quetzal (occasionally 12 or more individuals at once). Other species include the Three-Wattled Bellbird, the Emerald Toucanet, and White-faced and Howler Monkeys. Return to your hotel for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Butterfly Garden where butterflies and other insects are raised and displayed in cloth enclosures in tropical gardens. Overnight at hotel. (Same as Day 2.)

Day 4: Monteverde / Arenal
Mid-morning drive from Monteverde to your hotel in the Arenal area (4 hours). You will drive around the north end of Lake Arenal near Arenal Volcano, which has been active since 1968. Stop for lunch on the way to Arenal. Arrive at your hotel in time for an afternoon rest. In the evening, weather permitting, view the volcanic activity, which may include explosions and lava flows.
Meals: Explorer, B; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Volcano Lodge; Connoisseur, Arenal Manoa.

Day 5: Arenal
After breakfast a local guide will pick you up at your hotel for a morning hike on the Arenal Hanging Bridges trails, in 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. Overnight at your Arenal hotel (see Day 4).
Meals: Explorer, none; Connoisseur, B, L, D.

Day 6: Arenal / Tortuguero
After an early morning breakfast, drive with your Service Guide to the Cano Blanco dock (5 hours), where you will meet your boat and local guide for the 1 1/2-hour ride to Tortuguero. The last part of the drive will take you through banana plantations. Until the 19th century, Costa Rica was very poor with an economy based on subsistence agriculture. Then the introduction of coffee provided a product suitable for export. Coffee was followed by bananas, and both remain two of the country's most important crops. Upon arrival in Tortuguero you will be transported to your hotel.
Meals: Explorer, L, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Hotels: Explorer, Mawamba Lodge; Connoisseur, Tortuga Lodge.

Day 7: Tortuguero (B,L,D)
After breakfast depart with your Tortuguero Guide for a boat tour into Tortuguero National Park. Originally intended to protect a major nesting beach of the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle, the Park now encompasses 51,870 acres, one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest in Central America. Eleven habitats are found in the park. Three species of monkeys (Spider, Howler and White-faced), Three-toed Sloths, and river otters are frequently seen along the natural inland waterways and canals. Caiman, iguanas, river turtles, Basilisk Lizards, and Poison Dart (Dendrobates) Frogs inhabit the area, along with more than 320 species of birds, including all six species of Kingfishers found in the new world, three species of toucans, 8 species of parrots, and other neotropical species such as the Slaty-tailed Trogon, White-collared Manakin, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and White-fronted Nunbird and many more which we will have the opportunity to observe. Return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at your Tortuguero hotel (see Day 6).

Day 8: Tortuguero (B,L,D)
After breakfast your local guide will take you to Tortuguero village. Learn about the history of the town and it's efforts to get their basic needs met, such as running water, medical and dental care, garbage collection and management. Visit the park headquarters, the general goods store and walk paths lined with colorful Afro-Caribbean homes. Visit the Atlantic Green Sea Turtle Museum founded by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). The late Dr. Archie Carr began to study and tag thousands of Atlantic Green Sea Turtles that come to Tortuguero Beach every year from June through October to lay their eggs. The CCC study has continued without fail ever since and is the longest-running, continuous study of its kind in the world. Lunch will be at "Miss Juney's," one of Tortuguero's oldest and most well-loved residents. Miss Juney is famous for her down-home Caribbean cooking featuring typical dishes from the Caribbean coast, such as rice and beans in coconut milk, black chicken, sweet plantains, fried bread fruit and fruit juices made with tamarindo, cas, or maracuya. Return to your Tortuguero hotel in the afternoon.

Day 9: Tortuguero / San Jose
Morning departure from your hotel to meet the 30-min. chartered flight to San Jose. Upon arrival take either a shopping or a Cafe Britt tour. The Coffee Tour is packed with tips and tricks that will help make your next cup of coffee your best. Learn how to properly store coffee and brew a perfect cappuccino. Observe how experts distinguish good coffees from great ones and why they ignore their mothers' warnings about slurping. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in San Jose (see Day 1). Overnight at Parque del Lago Hotel.
Meals: Explorer, B, D; Connoisseur, B, L, D. Day tours: Explorer, San Jose shopping; Connoisseur, Cafe Britt Plantation.

Day 10: Departure (No meals.)
Transfer to the international airport, arriving at least two hours before your flight's scheduled departure time.

*Note: Pricing can vary considerably depending on the number of people in your group and travel dates. Please contact us for an accurate quote on this or any other trip on our web site.

HOTEL DESCRIPTIONS

Mawamba Hotel
Located about 500 meters north of the village of Tortuguero, in front of the beach, this hotel has 36 rustic units with private baths and covered walkways. A restaurant serves family-style meals. There is a bar, swimming pool with waterfall, Jacuzzi, volleyball court and an air-conditioned conference room with nightly presentations by the resident, multi-lingual biologist. Hot climate.

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens
Located just 15 minutes from the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the lodge has 27 spacious rooms with private baths, all with views of the forest or garden. The main area includes a glass cathedral entry, high wooden ceilings, an open fireplace, restaurant and bar and jacuzzi. There are comfortable sofas in the reading room and landscaping designed to bring the flora and fauna of the cloud forest to the doorstep of the hotel. Cool climate.

Parque del Lago Hotel
This hotel is geared to business travelers but it is near the heart of San Jose and just 15 minutes from the International Airport. Features 30 comfortable guest rooms, nine junior suites, a penthouse with views of the city, a full-service restaurant and bar, four meeting rooms and business center. Anywhere within the hotel, cost-free, wireless Internet and e-mail are available as well as fax services from the front desk; limited room service; laundry service and non-smoking rooms. Temperate climate.

Sapo Dorado Hotel
Located on the Monteverde road just minutes from the Monteverde Reserve, this hotel offers 30 large rooms arranged in ten stone-and-timber duplex cabins with your choice of verandas facing the sunset, or fireplaces to fight the evening chill. The cabins are secluded and all have private baths. The gourmet restaurant offers health-conscious food with many vegetarian choices. Trails lead into a private reserve. Cool climate.

Tortuga Lodge & Gardens
"The most atmospheric and appealing place in Tortuguero..." Costa Rica Handbook, Moon Publications. Set on a private rainforest reserve bordering Tortuguero National Park on the north Caribbean coast, the lodge's 26 rooms have solar heated private baths. There is a non-chlorine purified swimming pool, botanical gardens lead into the forest and wildlife is abundant with 320 species of birds, myriad forest mammals and reptiles. The restaurant offers family-style fare based around the fresh fruits and seafood of the region. Hot climate.

Arenal Manoa Hotel
Located 10 mins. from La Fortuna, this hotel has 40 junior suites with volcano views, private bathroom with a small interior garden and balcony. All rooms are equipped with two queen-sized beds, air conditioning, satellite tv, telephone, terrace with views of the volcano, minibar, safe-deposit box and coffee maker. The hotel also features pool with swim-up bar, children’s pool, Jacuzzi and restaurant. Temperate climate.

Volcano Lodge
"The appointments are simple but the rooms get plenty of light from big picture windows." Frommer's Costa Rica, IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. Located ten minutes from La Fortuna town, the Lodge has a collection of ten duplexes, each has a private bath and small terrace for volcano viewing. There is a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and continental breakfast is provided. The restaurant offers a variety of local and international meals. Warm climate.

AVG TEMPERATURES & ALTITUDES

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES		ALTITUDES
San José	69F	3,500 ft
Monteverde	65F	5,000 ft.
Arenal	65F	5,000 ft.
Tortuguero	79F	Sea level