Wow, what an adventure we have for you on this 7-day tour to Costa Rica!
Volcanos, waterfalls, beaches, hot springs resort, chocolate plantation tour, animal rescue centre, turtle nesting experience, lagoon boat trip, crocodile farm, and oh so much more! Small but incredibly diverse, Costa Rica has beaches and rainforests, rivers and waterfalls, volcanoes and mountain ranges, all in a country that is about 195 times smaller than Canada! We'll try to give you an incomparable experience of all those things on this tour. |
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7-Day Trip
April 15-21, 2018 $99 deposit 
Have questions? Please call us at (866) 208-2950 and we will be pleased to answer any questions you might have.
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Tour Dates: April 15-21, 2018
InclusionsTour starts and ends in San Jose, Costa Rica. Prices shown do NOT include airfare to Costa Rica. See notes section below for more details.
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Payment ScheduleDepositNon-refundable deposit of $99 per person required to reserve your seat. Balance is due by Jan 15, 2018.
PricesDouble Occupancy: $1,849
Single Occupancy: $2,249 All prices are in Canadian dollars, all taxes (except San Jose airport departure tax) included.
Tips for local tour guides, bus drivers and the ShortTrips.ca tour director are also included. Tips are not included for restaurant servers or room attendants, please tip at your discretion. |
Hotel: La Costa de Papito
This is a 3-star hotel in Puerto Viejo. It has a high 4.5 rating and a Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor.com. To read the reviews on TripAdvisor.com, click here.
This hotel is truly a tropical jewel! It was awarded 5 coconuts from the Carribbean Travel Magazine for its style, service and setting. Rustically elegant, hand crafted bungalows are privately set apart in a lush five acre tropical "Garden Of Eden" on the edge of the jungle.
The hotel offers a beachfront, free WiFi, restaurant, a bar/lounge, laundry service. Spa services & optional surf lessons are available at an additional cost.
Please note: The hotel does not have a pool and does not offer air conditioning in any of the bungalows. All rooms have ceiling fans, big windows with mosquito screens, and the bungalows are surrounded by trees so A/C is not generally needed. Night time temperatures in Costa Rica in April are around 25C so it's pleasant sleeping temperature.
This hotel is truly a tropical jewel! It was awarded 5 coconuts from the Carribbean Travel Magazine for its style, service and setting. Rustically elegant, hand crafted bungalows are privately set apart in a lush five acre tropical "Garden Of Eden" on the edge of the jungle.
The hotel offers a beachfront, free WiFi, restaurant, a bar/lounge, laundry service. Spa services & optional surf lessons are available at an additional cost.
Please note: The hotel does not have a pool and does not offer air conditioning in any of the bungalows. All rooms have ceiling fans, big windows with mosquito screens, and the bungalows are surrounded by trees so A/C is not generally needed. Night time temperatures in Costa Rica in April are around 25C so it's pleasant sleeping temperature.
Notes
- Prices do NOT include airfare to Costa Rica. You are welcome to make your own air arrangements or we will be pleased to make them for you.
- A valid passport with an expiry date of at least 3 months past your planned return date is required. Canadian and US passport holders do NOT require a visa. Citizens of other countries may require a visa.
- Please make arrangements to arrive in San Jose any time by Sunday evening, April 15, 2018. A welcome reception is scheduled for 9PM.
- Please make arrangements to depart from San Jose any time on Saturday April 21, 2018. Our tour will end on Friday April 20 evening at our airport hotel.
- Transfers have been arranged to and from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) airport to our hotel on Sunday April 15 and Saturday April 21.
- Final payment is required by Jan 15, 2018. All reservations for which full payment has not been received by January 15, 2018 will be cancelled automatically. Any deposits paid will be forfeited.
Cancellations & Refunds
- Deposit of $99 per person required to reserve seats. Deposit is non-refundable once booking is created.
- Balance of payment is due by January 15, 2018. Payment is non-refundable once paid.
- Your seat on the tour with ShortTrips.ca is fully transferable to anyone else up to the time of departure. Since you are responsible for booking your own flight however, your airline may charge fees or have other restrictions on the transfer of your air ticket to a third party. Please consult your airline or travel agent for those limitations.
Travelling With Children
- Children 10 and older are welcome on this tour, same price as adults.
Single Supplement
- We do not charge single supplements or surcharges!
- Are you travelling by yourself? We guarantee to find you a roommate of the same gender or we pay the surcharge!
- If you wish to have a private room by yourself, that is not a problem, simply choose single occupancy at the time of booking and pay the single occupancy rate.
Emergency Medical/Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical and trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
- If you are not covered by a workplace or other policy, we recommend that you purchase such insurance for this trip.
- You can also call Marville Travel at (905) 891-0111 and one of the agents will be pleased to assist you.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Sun April 15, 2018
Welcome to Costa Rica!
Arrive at San Jose at any time during the day. The ShortTrips.ca representative will be waiting outside the arrivals terminal to help you with free transportation to our nearby Airport Hotel in San Jose.
A welcome reception to introduce you to the other passengers on the tour and and to your local tour guide has been scheduled for 9PM this evening. The late start is to allow passengers arriving on later flights to also be able to join in.
Arrive at San Jose at any time during the day. The ShortTrips.ca representative will be waiting outside the arrivals terminal to help you with free transportation to our nearby Airport Hotel in San Jose.
A welcome reception to introduce you to the other passengers on the tour and and to your local tour guide has been scheduled for 9PM this evening. The late start is to allow passengers arriving on later flights to also be able to join in.
Day 2 - Mon April 16, 2018
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After breakfast at the San Jose Airport Hotel, you will begin your journey to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, a 4½ hour drive in a deluxe bus through the beautiful Costa Rican countryside.
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Upon arrival in Puerto Viejo, you will be taken to your hotel to check in and use the facilities and amenities. In the afternoon you will take a tour around the town, neighbouring areas and the beaches. In the evening we have a private welcome dinner planned for our group at a charming local restaurant. There you will be indulging in delicious international foods, while being entertained by the live music of a local band.
Day 3 - Tue April 17, 2018
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After breakfast you will start with a chocolate plantation tour at Caribeans. This tour includes a guided hike through the cacao forest while learning of the history and science of chocolate, followed by a chocolate tasting, of single origin, from various small farms in Costa Rica. The chocolate plantation tour will end with the Chocolate Creation Lab where you get to "see how it’s done!" Smell the aroma and taste the transformation from raw cocoa bean to fine tempered chocolate.
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Don't forget your swimsuits! After the chocolate tour, and your free time for lunch at one of many restaurants in town to choose from, you will visit one of Costa Rica's beautiful beaches in the area. The afternoon is free time and an opportunity to laze on the beach or do some shopping. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
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As dusk falls, you will be going on your Turtle Watching Tour to Gandoca National Wildlife Refuge. This is the most important nesting site in the South Caribbean for the leatherback turtle. Nesting season is from March to June, with the peak in April and May.... Just about the time we will be there!
The beach is about 11km long with 2km accessible to public. You will get an up-close look at these impressive creatures while still giving them their space to nest. Sea turtle nesting is one of Costa Rica’s most incredible experiences; truly, those who have observed it in person describe it as emotional, moving, and even spiritual. |
Day 4 - Wed April 18, 2018
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After breakfast you will be going to the Animal Rescue Center tour. The Animal Rescue Center is a temporary home for rescued, injured and orphaned animals. The primary goal is to rehabilitate animals and reintroduce them back into their native habitats. The animals are brought to the centre and treated by professional veterinarians, caregivers and a team of staff and volunteers. This tour will bring you in direct contact with jaguars, monkeys, wild cats, sloths, anteaters and other animals.
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In the afternoon you will be going to the Gandoca Lagoon for a boat tour, which will take approx. an hour by bus. Upon arrival you will board a boat and be greeted by the captain who is also a certified bilingual tour guide. Your boat trip will explore the lagoon, in which you will witness the only natural mangrove oyster bank on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica! This is a special place of serenity and relaxation, where you'll get to enjoy the melodies of the birds and wish it would never end!
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Day 5 - Thu April 19, 2018
After breakfast you will checkout of your hotel in Puerto Viejo and travel by bus to the Arenal Volcano. This is a 6 hour drive with stops along the way as needed.
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Your hotel will be the Los Lagos Resort & Spa. It is an exclusive resort with 1050 acres of tropical forest and wide landscapes, along with spectacular views of Arenal Volcano. The resort also includes a butterfly garden, a crocodile farm and a frog farm.
In the evening we will head to a nearby Hot Springs Resort for your farewell dinner and hot springs pools. This is the world's largest hot springs resort, with 25 thermal water pools, filled by crystalline waterfalls. The purity of the water will make you feel like you are floating in an oasis of healing, while having an unobstructed view of the Volcano.
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Day 6 - Fri April 20, 2018
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After breakfast you will check out of the Los Lagos hotel and head to the Sky Tram Tour. The Sky Tram gondolas rise smoothly through the rain forest, offering endless views of the Arenal Volcano's southern face and the rainforest during their ascent. This part of the tour doesn't require much physical effort but you are still able to experience nature's magic.
The Sky Tram travels up the mountains to arrive at a wide observation platform on the highest point of the reserve, where you can enjoy the view of the volcano and also enjoy a walk on a short trail if you wish. |
After the Sky Tram ride, you will then move on to the La Fortuna waterfall.
The waterfall drops about 70−75 meters and is located at the base of the dormant Chato volcano. This is probably the most physically challenging part of our entire tour. The hike down to the waterfall is a short but arduous one, along a staircase carved into the hillside with about 400 steps. You are welcome to swim in the stream and small rapids below the falls, and there's a lifeguard on duty. There are restrooms and showers in the guest facilities at the top of the cliff, along with a restaurant and gift shop. It takes about 10 minutes to go down and about 20 minutes to get back up to the parking lot.
Descending to the pool and/or swimming in the pool are optional.
After the waterfall visit, you will head to the town of La Fortuna for some free time and lunch on your own. Again, recommendations on where to eat will be provided. You will depart La Fortuna in late afternoon for your airport hotel in San Jose, arriving in the evening. Dinner on this final night in Costa Rica is on your own. The hotel has a restaurant that is open till 10PM.
The waterfall drops about 70−75 meters and is located at the base of the dormant Chato volcano. This is probably the most physically challenging part of our entire tour. The hike down to the waterfall is a short but arduous one, along a staircase carved into the hillside with about 400 steps. You are welcome to swim in the stream and small rapids below the falls, and there's a lifeguard on duty. There are restrooms and showers in the guest facilities at the top of the cliff, along with a restaurant and gift shop. It takes about 10 minutes to go down and about 20 minutes to get back up to the parking lot.
Descending to the pool and/or swimming in the pool are optional.
After the waterfall visit, you will head to the town of La Fortuna for some free time and lunch on your own. Again, recommendations on where to eat will be provided. You will depart La Fortuna in late afternoon for your airport hotel in San Jose, arriving in the evening. Dinner on this final night in Costa Rica is on your own. The hotel has a restaurant that is open till 10PM.
Day 7 - Sat April 21, 2018
After breakfast, sadly, you will be saying goodbye to Costa Rica but you will also leave with the great memories and experiences you shared! The airport shuttle will take you from your hotel to the airport at a time that is convenient to you, and according to your flight schedule.
PLEASE NOTE: Costa Rica has a departure tax. Currently the fee is US$29 but is subject to change. Some airlines include the tax in the flight cost. We suggest checking with the airline prior to booking.
PLEASE NOTE: Costa Rica has a departure tax. Currently the fee is US$29 but is subject to change. Some airlines include the tax in the flight cost. We suggest checking with the airline prior to booking.
