The Arenal Volcano area tour is a favorite among travelers.
This tour offers the auspicious site of the imposing Arenal Volcano and the soothing thermal waters. On route there will be a stop in the famous town of Sarchi, known as the birthplace of Costa Rica's Artisans. In Sarchi, you may see an ox cart that holds the title as being the largest ox cart in the world.
We will stop to enjoy lunch at a cozy restaurant. Then you will go on to relax at one of the best hot springs in the area where you will enjoy the rejuvenating effects. EcoTermales Hot Springs is the hot spring property where the water naturally springs up right on site 6 elegant pools with temperatures ranging from 99deg to 106deg F (37deg to 41deg C) in addition to one fresh water waterfall and pool.
It is a wellness paradise immersed in the primary rainforest And for a perfect ending, before going back to San Jose, you will enjoy a delicious dinner.
Once participants arrive to the park they will be greet and welcomed by our friendly staff, at this boarding area guests will be invited to board the van in wich participants will enter our facilities. (Rest rooms are available).
In cases that the time is limited for the visit, motor coaches are allowed to enter our preserve to avoid the open coach and proceed directly to the video room.
After this short video presentation guests will be divided into smaller groups, some of them will proceed directly to the boarding station for the Tram Ride, others will start the 45 minute easy walk with a naturalist guide.
Included:
* Entrance to the Park
* Transfer from the entrance to the visitor's area
* Access to frog and butterfly garden
* Access to Hummingbird Garden
* Access to Orchids Garden
* An Expert naturalist guide during your visit at the park
Once participants arrive to the park they will be greet and welcomed by our friendly staff, at this boarding area guests will be invited to board the van in wich participants will enter our facilities. (Rest rooms are available).
In cases that the time is limited for the visit, motor coaches are allowed to enter our reserve to avoid the open coach and proceed directly to the video room.
After this short video presentation guests will be divided into smaller groups, some of them will proceed directly to the boarding station for the Tram Ride, others will start the 45 minute easy walk with a naturalist guide.
Included:
* Transfers to and from the Park
* Entrance to the Park
* Access to Frog and Butterfly Garden
* Access to Hummingbird Garden
* Access to Orchids Garden
* An Expert naturalist guide during your visit at the park
The route of suspension bridges is carried out on a path with a distance of 1,800 meters, it is circular in shape and allows us to pass through 6 suspension bridges located at different heights in the forest. The tour is designed for all audiences and has handrails and security. We start in a hummingbird garden, where visitors will have the possibility to observe these beautiful little birds with impressive characteristics. The tour takes us to the highest level of the forest, the upper canopy and we can observe life as seen by a monkey, from another perspective. Not to mention the aerial gardens enjoyed by our forests, orchids and other plants, forming part of indescribable scenes. The song of water abounds everywhere, a lot of waterfalls relax our minds with their sounds. Along the way we will enjoy several ecosystems that make it more diverse and interesting, secondary forests, border or transition forests, primary or gallery forests and mature and primary forest. At the end of the tour we expect a butterfly garden full of emblematic and beautiful species such as the blue butterfly (morphos peleides) in addition to other very beautiful species
Hit the Pan-American Highway and head south, deep into the volcano country for this day trip to the mighty mountain Irazu, followed by a stop at the stately Basilica of Los Angeles in downtown Cartago. Discover the natural and man-made marvels of colourful Costa Rica on this fantastic five-hour tour, learning about the wildlife, geology and culture of this brilliant land from your knowledgeable guide.
As you head towards the volcano, pass through a fertile landscape cultivated with all kinds of vegetables and offering stunning panoramic views from the small winding road as you begin to ascend. Here, Irazu volcano rises from the montane forests, the highest peak of the Central Volcanic Range of Costa Rica with a mint green pool of acidic water in its crater. On a sunny day it's possible to appreciate both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from this impressive cone, famous for erupting in 1963 on the day US President John F. Kennedy began his state visit to Costa Rica.
Next, descend from the high lands and head to the city of Cartago to visit the magnificent the heavenly Basilica of Los Angeles. This beautiful Catholic cathedral and pilgrimage site is dedicated to a small representation of the Virgin Mary with miraculous powers, said to have been discovered by a peasant girl. This statue is kept in a golden shell inside the basilica, and is known as the Queen of Cartago. This volcano and cathedral combo is a delightful introduction to the enigmatic and beautiful country of Costa Rica.
Get ready to visiti Poas Volcano & Doka Coffee Tour
To get to the different attractions included during this excursion we will drive by the city of Alajuela.
As we ascend towards the Poas Volcano we will notice the change in temperature and vegetation; we will see coffee plantations as well as fern, flower and strawberry farms along the way, creating a beautiful landscape.
On the way to the volcano we will visit Doka Coffee Tour for a delicious breakfast and a coffee tour, in an actual coffee plantation where we will learn about the ancient techniques used by the experts to produce one of the best coffees in Costa Rica. After the coffee tour we will continue to Poas Volcano where we will not only admire the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles.
The total stay at the park will be 1:30 hours aprox. walking on the trek to get to the crater viewpoint, and visit to Botos Lagoon.
Recomendations:
Due to the altitute and activity of the Poas Volcano, this tour is not recommended to any person with heart conditions, high blood preasure, people who have had a recent surgery, pregnant women or children.
Tickets & Attraction Passes, Zoo, Aquarium & Nature+1 more
Service date
1-3 hours
Flexible
The Poas Volcano National Park, where there is a noticeable change in temperature and exuberant vegetation of the cloud forest,is the home of the incredible Poas Volcano, an active 2,708-metre (8,885 ft) stratovolcano. The crater of the volcano is over a mile across and 1050 feet deep. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, including April, 2017.
At the Volcano we will have time to enjoy the impressive main crater with its sulfur fumaroles, and hike on a trail to the beautiful Botos Lagoonas we learn about the different ecosystems in the park. Not only does it have one of the largest craters in the world, but it is located in the mountainous forests of the Central Volcanic Cordillera, so it boasts magnificent natural landscapes: this is the Poas Volcano National Park.
Being located in the province of Alajuela, it offers visitors good access from the main cities of the country. This place allows you to tour its attractions through a network of trails, in a cold climate tinged especially by a light drizzle that prevails most of the year.
Fly among and above the canopy in the most exciting zip-line course in the country!
Immerse yourself inside the magnificent Braulio Carrillo rainforest and experience firsthand why Costa Rica is the ultimate ecotourism destination. This thrilling adventure features a 10-cable and 14-platform course, including the spectacular 700-meter "Adrenaline" cable designed to let you soar freely above breathtaking national park scenery.
Thanks to our advanced hands-free controlled-braking system and top-of-the-line double cable safety setup, you can fly completely carefree. Complement your high-flying journey on the ground by exploring our rich natural exhibitions, featuring a beautiful butterfly garden, an exotic orchid collection, and fascinating snake and frog habitats.
It is the perfect balance of pure adrenaline and rich biodiversity for an unforgettable rainforest experience.
Explore San Jose by night, complete with local markets, cultural icons, and a tasty dinner with wine pairings - that's your evening sorted! Get up close and personal with the nightlife in San Jose, starting with Morazan Park where we will learn post-colonial Costa Rican history and enjoy the Metallic Building, then on to Spain Park for a fantastic view of the Yellow House (now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
On the way we will stop at Stiefel Pub in Barrio Otoyato enjoy a local beer. After we had a chance to enjoy a drink, we will continue our walk through San Jose's tangible history through its buildings and streets, uncovering traces from the past converging with the present or something like that, as we will continue exploring historic landmarks and points of interest before heading to Barrio Escalante. Escalante is a "newish" neighbourhood, it has a foot in the history of coffee production, but its architecture it's from 60s-70s, making it not the oldest but a place built during Costa Rica's spring from 1950 to 1980. The "barrio" as locals call it, was first a coffee farm but by the 1950s became the favourite neighbourhood for the economic and political elites of the time. Nowadays, Barrio Escalante has reinvented itself and is now home to many up-and-coming restaurants and at night is a favourite meeting spot for locals and visitors alike.
The evening will end with a contemporary traditional meal at a hip local restaurant that is very popular with locals and offers a sampler of traditional Costa Rican pub fare. Between your tasty traditional meal, and wine or beer that go down a treat, you'll be ending the evening feeling every bit the San Jose local. Your local guide will be happy to provide suggestions on where to head next, but if not, they can assist you with getting a taxi back to your accommodation.
Important information - There may be restrictions
We reserve the right to change the itinerary and locations within the tour.
Food inclusions are subject to change, depending on the availability of the day.
As we leave San Jose towards the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, we head into the mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park, where steep slopes are covered with thick cloud forest and beautiful waterfalls can be seen from the road.
After crossing Braulio Carrillo, we will enjoy a delicious Costa Rican typical breakfast.Then we continue to a Banana Plantation, where your guide will explain the process of growing and exporting this fruit. Continue later towards the embarkation dock, we will embark on the most exciting part of this tour: the boat trip into the jungle of the Tortuguero National Park.
Covering 29000 hectares, Tortuguero is one of the most important nesting sites of Chelonia Midas, the green sea turtle. Tortuguero's forests and waterways are home for many endangered mammals such as sloths, monkeys, agoutis, coatimundis and manatees. There are also abundant birds, such as toucans, trogons, egrets, herons and aninghas, as well as crocodiles, turtles and countless colorful butterflies, including the blue morpho.
You will enjoy a hearty typical buffet lunch to please the hungriest of appetites. After lunch you will take a walk through the Tortuguero Village, where you will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the town and its inhabitants. Returning to the bus, we head back to San Jose, making a rest stop along the way.
