Costa Rica: Jungles and Rainforests

•   Family fun at a hacienda at the foot of a volcano featuring waterfall swimming, horseback riding and river tubing

Day 1: Arrive Liberia, Costa Rica
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Playa Hermosa. A transfer is included from Liberia International Airport to Hotel Playa Hermosa, which, as you are about to learn, is Spanish for “beautiful beach.” But that's just the beginning of the natural delights your family will discover at this secluded oceanfront resort, for there are monkeys in the trees overhead, iguanas on the sands below and tropical gardens all around you. Settle in for a two-night stay and meet your fellow eco-adventurers at a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D
Overnight: Hotel Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Fun at Hacienda Guachipelin
Wonder what local families do for fun in Costa Rica? You'll find out firsthand when you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands at a working hacienda set at the foot of a towering volcano. They've been raising cattle and horses here at Hacienda Guachipelin for more than a hundred years. See them in the corrals of the hacienda before embarking on your choice of included activities. Want to explore the scenic grounds on horseback? Saddle up for a trail ride* with your cowboy guide. Feel like a refreshing swim? Hike* to a nearby waterfall and cool off in a natural pool or don your life jacket and spirit of adventure for an exciting river-tube ride* down Rio Negro. Outdoor fun continues back at your beachfront resort. Meals BD
Overnight: Hotel Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Soar over Arenal Volcano
Drive to Lake Arenal today, nestled under the shadow of cone-shaped, hot-headed Arenal Volcano. Weather permitting, get a closer look at this active volcano on a lake cruise, before taking off on a sky tram or on a thrilling zip-line adventure* over lush Costa Rican landscapes. This afternoon, we're headed to a private riverfront reserve for a two-night stay, where you can enjoy an authentic glimpse of jungle life, starting with an introductory Spanish lesson by a local teacher who teaches you to habla Español. Meals BLD
Overnight: Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Go river rafting in a jungle
Another exciting day in Costa Rica's tropical playground begins with a jungle river-rafting trip* on the Peñas Blancas River. Your expert guide will help you spot amazing wildlife from giant iguanas - they can grow up to 3 feet in this tropical climate - to chattering parrots and slow-moving sloths. Stop along the way to visit the home of a local farmer and his extended family; they have lived on the river all their lives, much as their ancestors did. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. How about orchid spotting, bird watching, butterfly hunting or fruit picking? Meals BLD
Overnight: Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Pineapples, boats & a turtle trip
In Spanish, Costa Rica means “rich coast,” - you'll find riches galore everywhere you go. Visit an organic pineapple plantation in central Costa Rica for a farm-fresh treat that is as sweet as it gets. Hop aboard a special touring tramcar for an insider's look at the history of pineapple production on this 3,000 acre farm - over 38 million pineapples are harvested here every year. Back on the road again, we'll drive atop some typically rugged, often unpaved roads to the northeastern coast. Then it's all aboard a jungle launch for a boat ride to your riverfront lodge, set on a network of scenic canals next to Tortuguero National Park. Keep an eye out for turtles, caimans, monkeys and toucans as you cruise. Depending on when you travel with us, we'll head out on a nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting endangered green sea turtles - this unforgettable experience only occurs in July and August. Meals BLD
Overnight: Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Tortuguero treasures
Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest. Eleven different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness, including 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Cruise the park's rivers and canals with an expert naturalist guide, then visit a local village and the Caribbean Conservation Center to see how these ecosystems are being protected for the future. Meals BLD
Overnight: Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: A cup of joe in San José
Fly back to San José. We'll take you behind the scenes to see how coffee is made from seed to the cup on a guided tour of a coffee farm flavored with history and tradition. Spend the afternoon at your resort and join us tonight for a farewell dinner. Meals BLD
Overnight: Real InterContinental Hotel & Club Tower Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Adios Amigos - journey home
Tour ends: San José. Fly home anytime. Airport transfers are included from the hotel; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
12/19/2010 - 12/27/2010	$2,590
12/21/2010 - 12/29/2010	$2,590
12/22/2010 - 12/30/2010	$2,590
12/23/2010 - 12/31/2010	$2,590
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

From brilliant blue butterflies to brightly colored birds, howling monkeys, quiet caimans, and three-toed sloths, Costa Rica puts a tropical playground right at your doorstep. Experience an unforgettable family eco-adventure that takes you to the tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, lush jungle rivers, beautiful beaches, and scenic canals of Costa Rica with expert naturalist guides who show you an amazing world of natural wonders. Stay in awesome lodges in the heart of the jungle, with an opportunity to view exotic wildlife right outside your door from dawn to dusk! Have fun on a hacienda adventure where you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands; you can take a dip in thermal mud pools, go river tubing or horseback riding. Spot diverse wildlife as you cruise jungle rivers and canals with naturalist guides. View one of the world’s most active volcanoes by lake boat and sky tram or have an amazing adventure by zip-line. Visit the home of a local farmer and his family who have lived along the river for generations. Learn some Spanish from a local. Get an insider’s view of organic farming on tours of working organic pineapple and coffee plantations. See nesting green sea turtles at Tortuguero National Park (in season), or learn all about them at a conservation center. Day 1. Arrive Liberia, Costa Rica Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Playa Hermosa. A transfer is included from Liberia International Airport to Hotel Playa Hermosa, which, as you are about to learn, is Spanish for “beautiful beach.” But that’s just the beginning of the natural delights your family will discover at this secluded oceanfront resort, for there are monkeys in the trees overhead, iguanas on the sands below and tropical gardens all around you. Settle in for a two-night stay and meet your fellow eco-adventurers at a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D Day 2. Fun at Hacienda Guachipelin  Wonder what local families do for fun in Costa Rica? You’ll find out firsthand when you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands at a working hacienda set at the foot of a towering volcano. They’ve been raising cattle and horses here at Hacienda Guachipelin for more than a hundred years. See them in the corrals of the hacienda before embarking on your choice of included activities. Want to explore the scenic grounds on horseback? Saddle up for a trail ride* with your cowboy guide. Feel like a refreshing swim? Hike* to a nearby waterfall and cool off in a natural pool or don your life jacket and spirit of adventure for an exciting river-tube ride* down Rio Negro. Outdoor fun continues back at your beachfront resort. Meals BD Day 3. Soar over Arenal Volcano Drive to Lake Arenal today, nestled under the shadow of cone-shaped, hot-headed Arenal Volcano. Weather permitting, get a closer look at this active volcano on a lake cruise, before taking off on a sky tram or on a thrilling zip-line adventure* over lush Costa Rican landscapes. This afternoon, we’re headed to a private riverfront reserve for a two-night stay, where you can enjoy an authentic glimpse of jungle life, starting with an introductory Spanish lesson by a local teacher who teaches you to habla Español. Meals BLD Day 4. Go river rafting in a jungle Another exciting day in Costa Rica’s tropical playground begins with a jungle river-rafting trip* on the Peñas Blancas River. Your expert guide will help you spot amazing wildlife from giant iguanas – they can grow up to 3 feet in this tropical climate – to chattering parrots and slow-moving sloths. Stop along the way to visit the home of a local farmer and his extended family; they have lived on the river all their lives, much as their ancestors did. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. How about orchid spotting, bird watching, butterfly hunting or fruit picking? Meals BLD Day 5. Pineapples, boats & a turtle trip In Spanish, Costa Rica means “rich coast,” – you’ll find riches galore everywhere you go. Visit an organic pineapple plantation in central Costa Rica for a farm-fresh treat that is as sweet as it gets. Hop aboard a special touring tramcar for an insider’s look at the history of pineapple production on this 3,000 acre farm – over 38 million pineapples are harvested here every year. Back on the road again, we’ll drive atop some typically rugged, often unpaved roads to the northeastern coast. Then it’s all aboard a jungle launch for a boat ride to your riverfront lodge, set on a network of scenic canals next to Tortuguero National Park. Keep an eye out for turtles, caimans, monkeys and toucans as you cruise. Depending on when you travel with us, we’ll head out on a nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting endangered green sea turtles – this unforgettable experience only occurs in July and August. Meals BLD Day 6. Tortuguero treasures Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest. Eleven different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness, including 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Cruise the park’s rivers and canals with an expert naturalist guide, then visit a local village and the Caribbean Conservation Center to see how these ecosystems are being protected for the future. Meals BLD Day 7. A cup of joe in San José Fly back to San José. We’ll take you behind the scenes to see how coffee is made from seed to the cup on a guided tour of a coffee farm flavored with history and tradition. Spend the afternoon at your resort and join us tonight for a farewell dinner. Meals BLD Day 8. Adios Amigos – journey home Tour ends: San José. Fly home anytime. Airport transfers are included from the hotel; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B

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