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10 days/9 nights Highlights: San José, Zarcero, Sarchi (optional), Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal, Monteverde, and Jaco Beach |
| For detailed information on each hotel use the links to visit their home pages, then use your "back button" to return to this package. All the hotels in this package are very popular so you should book well in advance. If any of the hotels are full we will suggest an alternative.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Hotel Irazú. We selected the Hotel Irazú because it is only ten minutes from the airport and is on the Pan-American highway, so you don't have to drive across San Jose either when you leave for Arenal or return from Jaco Beach. Your air conditioned mid-sized SUV, a Toyota Rav 4 will be delivered to the hotel the following morning, and you're off to Volcan Arenal, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. En route you will pass through Zarcero, famous for the sculpted bushes surrounding its picturesque church. Option: Going a few miles out of your way you can also visit Sarchí, home of Costa Rica's traditional brightly painted ox carts and a great stop for buying beautiful items made of Costa Rican hardwoods. You will spend two nights at the Volcano Lodge. La Fortuna de San Carlos with the Arenal Lake, with direct view of the Arenal Volcano, considered Costa Rica's most active volcano and has been the study of seismologists for many years. This 5,300-foot high cone-shaped mountain laid dormant for hundreds of years, but in 1968 it erupted destroying the small town of Tabacon at its base killing approximately 80 of its inhabitants. During the day you may choose to visit Volcan Arenal National Park, hike to a waterfall, or relax in the thermal baths at Tabacon Hot Springs. (See Arenal section for more information.) After taking the scenic drive around Lake Arenal through lush rolling hills you arrive at Monteverde where you will spend two nights at the chalet-style Hotel Belmar. While in Monteverde take a guided tour of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve or one of the other private reserves, or take a horseback ride to a 200 ft waterfall. (See Monteverde section for more information.) After enjoying the cloud forest it's a short but bouncy drive down the mountain to Jaco Beach. As you cross the bridge at the Río Tárcoles take a look for crocodiles. They are usually there. At one of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica, you will stay at the Club del Mar for three nights. After relaxing on the beach you will return to San José by way of Atenas (the most perfect climate in the world) and your room at the Hotel Irazú. Your vehicle will be picked up at the hotel and transportation will be provided the next day to the International Airport.
Driving InstructionsDistances are in kilometers because that is what the speedometers are calibrated in. If you want to convert to miles multiply by .6San José to Arenal - Starting out to the West on the Pan-American highway you drive 56 kilometers to the Naranjo turnoff. You pass through Zarcero and continue north through Ciudad Quesada and La Fortuna. Approximately 20 kilometers past Fortuna you will see a sign for Arenal Observatory Lodge, turn left. The lodge is about 3 kilometers up a rough road with a small river ford. (Driving time is approximately 3 hours without the side trip to Sarchí.) Arenal to Monteverde - Leaving Volcano Lodge you drive north around Lake Arenal. Although this road is paved (except for a 10 kilometer section south of Nuevo Arenal), parts the road are very potholed. Arenal Botanical Garden, one of the most complete botanical collections in Costa Rica is located on the right 5 kilometers before the town of Nuevo Arenal and worth a stop. Past the end of the lake you turn left at Tilarán toward Quebrado Grande. The paved road ends there and it's 35 kilometers of rocky road up through beautiful countryside. Follow the signs for Santa Elena and Monteverde. (Driving time is approximately 3 1/2 hours without the stop at the Botanical Garden.) Monteverde to Jaco Beach - Head down the mountain from Monteverde. Just past Guacimal turn left to Sardinal. At Sardinal turn right to the Pan-American highway then left onto the highway. After 12 miles (20 kilometers) take the Puntarenas turnoff (sign also says Hotel Fiesta). Follow the signs past Puerto Caldera towards Jaco Beach. (Total driving time is approximately 3 hours) Jaco Beach to San José - When you leave Jaco Beach follow the road signs through Atenas to San José. (Driving time is approximately 2 hours) Caution: It is not advisable to leave valuables in an unattended car. Travel times are influenced by weather, traffic, and road conditions. These are reasonable approximations. We strongly suggest that you plan your travel to arrive before dark. It is more difficult to see road hazards after dark and it's a shame to miss the scenery. |
Standard Package Includes:
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Superior Package Includes:
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Packages do not include meals or optional activities.
Standard Package
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Superior Package
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Prices are per person based on double occupancy.
B) Included breakfast
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