Tour Details - Monkeys Jungles and Volcanoes 2012

Pura Vida! Bienvenidos a Costa Rica! You’re going to have more fun than a barrel of monkeys and spot more than a barrel of wildlife on this incredible adventure. A local representative will greet you at the airport and arrange your complimentary transfer to the hotel. Relax by the pool before meeting your Tour Director and fellow explorers at 6 p.m. for a Kick-off Party.

Rise with the roosters and head east through Braulio Carrillo National Park towards the Caribbean Sea. Stop at a banana plantation and learn about banana production while snacking on a just-ripe banana before arriving in Tortuguero National Park. Your journey begins aboard a river boat, gliding through canals, lagoons and lowland rainforest teeming with wildlife. You’ll be amazed at how many kinds of animals live here - six species of sea turtle, monkeys, caimans, tons of exotic bird species plus rare and endangered ocelots, river otters and manatees. The afternoon is yours - hang out by the pool or on the beach, or head to Tortuguero Village to meet the students (when school is in session) and visit the Green Turtle Research Station to learn about the efforts to protect the turtles’ nesting habitat and young hatchlings. Enjoy a buffet dinner at the resort’s open air restaurant along the Tortuguero lagoon.(Full Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)

Arrr, arrr, arrr! There’s nothing like the wake-up call of a troop of howler monkeys to start your day. Set off with your captain and naturalist guide to explore the lush canals and waterways of Tortuguero National Park. You may want to start a tally of all the types of wildlife you’ll see. Look out for sloths, green iguanas, caiman crocodiles and colourful toucans. Of course, you’ll spot tons of monkeys - agile howler and spider monkeys and white headed capuchins swinging through the dense rainforest canopy. This afternoon, you can venture back out on the canals to add to your wildlife tally or relax back at the lodge – the choice is yours! If you’re visiting during nesting season (Jul-Sep), join an optional night walk with a naturalist guide to witness some of the world’s largest turtles laying their eggs. Amazing! A buffet dinner is served at your hotel this evening.(Full Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)

Bid adios to the monkeys for now as you boat back to the mainland and travel by motorcoach to Horquetas. Here you’ll visit a local Tico family palm plantation to learn all about and taste an exotic vegetable you’ve probably never tried – the delicate heart of palm. Continue travelling to tiny Sarapiqui where you’ll visit a pineapple farm, the only farm of its kind in the world producing certified organic golden pineapple. After learning how it’s grown without hurting the environment, you’ll eat the juiciest, most delicious pineapple ever. As you approach Arenal, keep a look out for the steam and lava seeping from the active volcano.(Full Breakfast / Lunch)

Rise and shine as the jungle and volcano are calling! Start the day at the Arenal Hanging Bridges where you can walk eye-level within the lush canopy, observe the monkeys, sloths and chattering birds up close, and look out to see the rumbling, steaming Arenal Volcano. Next, take a guided trek around the quiet side of the volcano at Arenal National Park. Walk through the old lava rocks and learn about the powerful forces behind the volcano’s past eruptions and continuing lava flow. After a typical Casado Highlight Lunch, you can relax by the swimming pool back at the lodge, or continue your exploration at the Danaus Eco-Center. Spot caimans, iguanas and water-walking lizards and examine the tiny, poisonous blue jeans tree frogs. Visit the reserve’s butterfly farm, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a giant Blue Morpho land on you! End the day bubbling and soaking in the thermal mineral pools and hot springs at the awesome Tabacon Hot Springs followed by a scrumptious Highlight Buffet Dinner. And, if Mother Nature is in the mood, you’ll be wowed by an outing to see the evening pyrotechnics of Arenal Volcano.(Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Highlight Dinner)

Head south to Manuel Antonio National Park, renowned for its warm blue waters, sparkling white-sand beaches and abundant exotic wildlife. Then, get ready for a blast! Imagine yourself soaring high above the jungle floor as you fly along ziplines through the treetops, eye-to-eye with the lush foliage and exotic rainforest creatures. Combined with Tarzan swings and rappelling, ziplining through the canopy is sure to be among the most amazing adventures of your lifetime! This evening, join the gang for a Poolside Pizza Party Highlight Dinner.(Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Walking deep into the national park with your guide, you’ll definitely check off a few more creatures on your wildlife list – at last count, there were 109 kinds of animals and 184 species of birds living here! Listen for those barking howler monkeys and the chattering of those mischievous squirrels and white face monkeys. Then, its time to hit the beach! You can laze in the warm Pacific or at the resort’s pool, or choose one of many incredible optional activities. Will it be a catamaran cruise to snorkel with dolphins, parrotfish and sea turtles, a surf lesson, mangrove kayak tour, horseback ride or white water rafting? This evening, join your fellow explorers and celebrate new friendships and awesome experiences with a Farewell Dinner at a cool local restaurant set under the starboard wing of a retired army transport plane!(Full Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

Travel back to San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport or to the tour hotel in San Jose for guests extending their stay in San Jose. Or choose to linger longer in Manuel Antonio!(Full Breakfast)