Rainforests, Rivers, Hot Springs, Chocolate, Coffee, and Arenal Volcano

Upon arrival at the San Jose International Airport, after clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met by a Holbrook representative and transferred to the Central Pacific. Arrive at your hotel and settle in. Flights need to arrive by 1:00 p.m. If this is not possible, a pre-night hotel in San Jose can be arranged at additional cost. Check-in time from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Visit Carara National Park in the morning. The park is located in the Central Pacific region, one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country. The intersection of northwestern tropical dry forest with the humid rainforest of the South Pacific region, concentrated in a relatively small area, produces an interesting combination of species from both ecosystems. Then take the rest of the day to enjoy the hotel amenities. Fuego de Sol Hotel is a beach destination for everything a getaway requires: surf, sun and adventure.

Following a delicious breakfast and check-out, transfer to La Fortuna. Upon arrival in La Fortuna, enjoy lunch at Finca Educativa Don Juan then an interactive introduction to local crops. Continue on to the spectacular Arenal Observatory Lodge, located between the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. About two miles on the south side of the volcano, the views are stunning from your room, the restaurant, or poolside. Set on a ridge amid tall pine trees and luxuriant rainforest, it is the only hotel that is located inside the Arenal Volcano National Park. Your spacious Smithsonian room features huge picture windows which frame the majestic Arenal Volcano, the beautiful rainforest, and gardens. There is also an extensive trail system on the property. Remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

This morning, meet your guide and driver in the lobby and travel to Arenal Hanging Bridges, a reserve that abounds with wonderful trails, suspension bridges, and outstanding natural areas. Return to the lodge to enjoy the rest of your day, and perhaps take in some of the amenities that they offer, including their spa treatments. There are seven miles of well-maintained trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking that wind through the Arenal Volcano hotel's 870 acre property, through primary and secondary rainforest, past waterfalls and across verdant pastures. Plenty of wildlife lives in the area, including three kinds of monkeys, anteaters, coatis, raccoons, deer, and more than 500 species of birds - making Arenal Observatory Lodge a preferred destination for bird watching in Costa Rica. Their gardens and landscaping are extravagantly designed with colorful flowering plants, shrubs, and trees chosen to attract wildlife, such as jewel-toned hummingbirds, brilliant butterflies, and exotic birds.

Today, join your guide for a 30 minute hike to the Danta River waterfall. Possible wildlife sightings include many of the 500+ species of birds in the forest, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, spider monkeys, coatis, anteaters, sloths, green iguanas, snakes and insects. This afternoon, head to Titokú Hot Springs, where we have planned your stay from 1:00-3:00 p.m. They offer eight different hot springs; every pool has a different temperature and a different size (from 6 to 20 people depending on the pool). Titokú also has a bar, dressing rooms, and lockers for your convenience. Travel back to the lodge and have the remainder of your day and last evening in Arenal at leisure.

Depart Arenal National Park and travel to the Sarapiqui Valley. This afternoon explore Tirimbina Biological Reserve and take a Chocolate Tour. Walk through the rainforest and hanging bridges, and enjoy informative hands-on demonstration of not only the history of the creation of chocolate, but also the process of its creation utilizing rural instruments.

Your day starts with breakfast, then transfer to La Selva Research station for a guided hike. Established by the Organization for Tropical Studies, La Selva offers almost 4000 acres of well-preserved old-growth and recovering wet lowland tropical forest. Return to your hotel in time for lunch. This afternoon, choose between a river boat ride on the calm portion of Rio Sarapiqui, or White Water River Rafting - Class II-III upstream.

This morning you will be travel to Santo Domingo and Hotel Bougainvillea. En route, enjoy a wonderful lunch (cost on own) and guided coffee tour at Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation Resort. On property is 30 acres of high quality Arabica coffee plants within an aesthetically delightful landscape. The plantation is shaded by a forest which is the home to over 130 species of birds. The tour will walk you through many of the more than 5,000 native trees that they have planted, with the help of the environmental protection agency (MINAET) and local school children. These indigenous trees produce shade and nitrogen for their organic coffee, and have created biological corridors for the birds and animals of the area. The coffee is planted following the natural topography of the farm to avoid erosion and water waste and is protected by living fences planted with native shrubs and trees. They are a certified organic coffee farm and thus they do not use agro-chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, but instead apply to the rich compost from their vermiculture (worm beds) and from the composting of organic refuse from their hotel. They apply only natural remedies for fungus and pests. Their coffee is certified organic by the BCS OKO Garantie, an international organic agriculture certification, and is certified sustainable by Rainforest Alliance and ICAFE, the Costa Rica National Institute for Coffee. After your time at Finca Rosa Blanca, you will proceed to Hotel Bougainvillea.

This morning, transfer to the San Jose International Airport for your flight(s) home. Please be aware, when arranging your air schedule, that there is a required 3 hour prior to departure check-in. The hotel is approximately 30 minutes from the airport, unless it is during rush hours, so it is suggested that you arrange afternoon departures. Check out is at 3 pm.
Welcome home!