Costa Rica: Pacific And Caribe 9 Nights and 10 Days

San Jos

• Arrival. Welcome to San Jos, Costa Rica. 

• During your transfer to the hotel. We will provide you with the necessary introductory information and instructions for starting your trip around this beautiful country.

San Jos-Poas Volcano-coffee hacienda-San Jos

• We leave early, and take a brief walk through Alajuela, a characteristic city near San Jos

• Following this visit, we visit one of the largest craters in the world, the Poas Volcano.

• In the National Park, we have time to admire this natural wonder. We can stroll along the trails, taking in its unique nature and explore the ancient crater, which has become a beautiful lagoon. 

• Then we go on to an old coffee processing plant that now processes gourmet coffee. Lunch is included and a visit to learn all about this drink: its cultivation, harvesting, roasting and percolation techniques in this historic place. 

• Back in San Jos, we make a brief tour of its historical sites and prestigious institutions to understand the peculiarities of the Tico(the informal local term for Costa Rican people) and their democracy, one of the most stable in Latin America.

San Jos

• Today, we offer different optional excursions, according to each traveller's interests and inclinations. 

• The option we recommend most highly (if you are physically fit) to take a rafting trip down the Pacuare River, which is classified as one of the most scenic rivers in the world. 

• Another option is to take the cable car over the humid tropical rainforest, observing flora and fauna of the emerald forest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.

San Jos-Tracoles River-Manuel Antonio-Ballerina National Marine Park

• We leave San Jos and travel towards the Pacific Coast. 

• Our first stop is at the mouth of the Tracoles River, which is the site of one of the great curiosities of the country it is home to a colony of giant crocodiles, some of which are almost 10 meters long. A boat trip inclusion to see them. 

• Then we stroll around the beaches of Manuel Antonio and enjoy the beautiful views of the bay and admire the sunset. 

• Continue to the area of the Ballerina National Marine Park.

Ballena National Marine Park

•  Morning, a scheduled boat ride on the Ballena National Marine Park, with beautiful views of unspoiled beaches and dramatic cliffs. 

• It is possible to see turtles, whales, seabirds, and dolphins in their natural habitat. Migrating humpback whales can also be seen from December to March in the northern hemisphere and from July to October in the southern hemisphere. 

• Returning from lunch, enjoy the pool, the views of the bay and the facilities on offer. 

• A transfer to the beach &, at night, to the village of Ojochal, which stands out for its varied cuisine.

Ballena Pak- Dominical- Dota

• We have the whole morning to visit and enjoy the Dominical beach. It's optional for you to go on a horse ride in the mountains to see one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. 

• These majestic waterfalls offer a chance to swim in their pools. In the afternoon, we head off to the hidden valley of San Gerardo de Dota, a region that is surrounded by mountains full of primary forest and home to the rare and glorious Quetzal bird.

Dota- Cartago- Guayabo Archaeological Site- Puerto Viejo

• The day begins in the forest, with temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius, which is an ideal habitat for the exquisite Quetzal bird to nest and live. 

• We include a hike with a nature guide that will enable us to see this beautiful bird. Mid-morning, we depart for the city of Cartago, the first capital of the country. 

• There we visit the Basilica de Los Angeles (Basilica of Angels), wherein August every year, half the population of the country makes a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Virgin, who is the patron saint of Costa Rica. 

• We leave towards the region of Turrialba. Post lunch, we include admission into the country's most important archaeological site: the Guayabo National Monument, where we find the remains of a pre-Columbian settlement and ceremonial center.

• We enter the Caribbean plains toward Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, and we arrive at the end of the day.

Puerto Viejo Caribbean coast and it's chocolate

• We are now in Puerto Viejo in the Caribbean. 

• This area of beautiful beaches and small family hotels is a melting pot where the descendants of three cultures mix: indigenous, European and African. 

• We shall have the morning free to enjoy the beach or the hotel facilities, with lunch included. The afternoon will be devoted to immersing ourselves in the world of cocoa, which is of great importance for Costa Rica's indigenous culture. 

• We shall learn from these families about the traditional way of cultivation, fermentation, and roasting of the cocoa, and its transformation into delicious hand-crafted chocolate. Of course, we have the chocolate tasting event from the area. 

• At night, we include transport to the small village of Puerto Viejo so we can enjoy the varied cuisine on offer, the beach bars, and small craft markets.

Puerto Viejo or Bocas del Toro, Panam, Puerto Viejo

• A day set to enjoy the beach. We offer an optional trip to Panama to explore the archipelago of Bocas del Toro.

• This group of islands near the coast harbours colourful buildings on stilts over the sea. 

•  We shall have time to stroll around Bocas Town, take a scenic boat trip to several islands and snorkel in an almost unspoiled islet, surrounded by corals in turquoise waters. 

• Return at the end of the afternoon.

Puerto Viejo or Bocas del Toro, Panam, Puerto Viejo

• A day set free to enjoy the beach. We offer an optional trip to Panama to explore the archipelago of Bocas del Toro.

• This group of islands near the coast harbours colourful buildings on stilts over the sea. 

• We shall have time to stroll around Bocas Town, take a scenic boat trip to several islands and snorkel in an almost unspoiled islet, surrounded by corals in turquoise waters. 

• Return at the end of the afternoon — the meeting of the three cultures. We can sample the famous patty, a local pie that is typical of the area, and we include a boat trip along the canals of Mo, where we shall learn firsthand about the subsistence lifestyle of the crab fishermen in a changing environment of oil refineries and modern ports. 

• In the afternoon, we return to San Jos in the evening. 

• End of our services.