Maximum elevation on tour is 9,000 ft.Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Local Guide services will be provided as outlined in the itinerary.This vacation visits remote locations where hotel facilities may not be up to the first-class standard you expect from Globus. Some lodges may not have air-conditioning, televisions, and other amenities you would expect from most Globus hotels.All Escapes by Globus tours and departures are excluded from the following Globus discounts: Book Early & Save, Welcome Back Credit, Second Tour discount and Small Group discount.
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA
Welcome to San José! Your hotel will be available for check-in the afternoon. A Globus representative will provide details about your Tortuguero National Park adventure. Please note:The Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Services will be provided as outlined in the itinerary. You will meet your Tour Director on day 4 in San José.SAN-JOSE-WELCOME.jpg
Day 2 SAN JOSÉ–TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Shell Games Journey east to the Caribbean shore and Tortuguero National Park. On the way, pass by several banana plantations and see one of Costa Rica’s main exports being harvested. Later, board a motorboat for your cruise along the Tortuguero Canals, waterways crisscrossing a national park dedicated to the protection of endangered turtles. The trained eyes of your guide and boatman help you spot freshwater turtles, caimans, herons, toucans, egrets, and monkeys. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink and briefing at your lodge before free time before dinner this evening. TOUR HIGHLIGHTWONDERS OF NATURE Your time in Tortuguero National Park includes Naturalist-guided visits to the bio-diverse park—home to many species, including white-faced capuchin, howler, spider monkeys, toucans, macaws, tapirs, ocelot, manatees, and jaguars! The area is also famous as the annual nesting site for the five species of turtles.TORTUGUERO-NATIONAL-PARK-BOAT-RIDE.jpg
Day 3 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK
Natural Beauties A local Naturalist accompanies you on a guided cruise of the remote yet extensive Tortuguero canals. Watch for abundant wildlife, including over 125 species of mammals, 124 species of reptiles, and over 375 species of birds. Return to the lodge for a nature walk into the rainforest with your Naturalist guide who explains the flora commonly found here and its uses. This afternoon, visit the small town of Tortuguero and visit the Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum in the protected nesting habitat and largest green turtle rookery in North America, as well as Hawksbill, Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Olive Ridley turtles. Please note: Spawning of the sea turtles typically occurs between mid-July to mid-October. TOUR HIGHLIGHT CONSERVATION MATTERS The Sea Turtle Conservancy Museum has been working with green turtles in Tortuguero since 1959, making it the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. Learn about sea turtle species that nest in Tortuguero, their life cycle, migratory routes, the research that was started in the early 1950s, and preservation efforts to help protect these endangered species. TORTUGUERO-NATIONAL-PARK-TURTLES.jpg
Day 4 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK–SAN JOSÉ
Make Waves A morning boat cruise and drive take you back to San José where you will meet your Tour Director. TOUR HIGHLIGHT SCENIC RIDE Pass the plentiful fields of banana trees on your way to San José where the Costa Rican plantations produce this main export to the rest of the world. TORTUGUERO-NATIONAL-PARK-BANANA-PLANTATION.jpg
Breakfast
Lunch
Day 5 SAN JOSÉ–ARENAL
Lava Love Depart on a scenic drive past banana groves and pineapple and sugar cane fields en route to Arenal. Visit to La Fortuna Village in the shadow of mighty Arenal Volcano (currently dormant but known for consistent lava flows before 2010). Arenal is home to cascading waterfalls, thriving rainforests, abundant wildlife, and a wealth of outdoor activities with nearby nature trails and 400-year-old trees. Watch for frogs, monkeys, birds, and native wildlife. TOUR HIGHLIGHTWONDERS OF NATURE For 42 years, Arenal Volcano was Costa Rica’s most active volcano until 2010 when entered a passive phase. This area is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world and is home to more than 850 species of birds and other wildlife. Time here can be spent hiking the trails around the volcano or relaxing in the many thermal hot springs. ARENAL-VOLCANO.jpg
Breakfast
Day 6 ARENAL
Bird’s Eye View Today, take a guided excursion with your Naturalist to Arenal Hanging Bridges. Explore the jungle canopy atop 15 bridges suspended in the treetops to see various species of plants, birds, butterflies, monkeys, sloths, and other local wildlife. On a clear day, get a 360-degree view of the tropical rainforest and stunning views of Arenal Volcano. Free time the remainder of the day. TOUR HIGHLIGHTPICTURE PERFECT Explore the rainforest from a bird’s-eye perspective high above the jungle floor from the Arenal Hanging Bridges. This Naturalist-guided tour introduces you to the flora and fauna of the Costa Rican rainforest. With some bridges spanning over 700 feet long and 200 feet high, this is truly a unique way to admire the forest's canopy. ARENAL-HANGING-BRIDGE.jpg
Breakfast
Day 7 ARENAL–MONTEVERDE
Heads in the Clouds This morning, depart Arenal on scenic drive to Monteverde for the next two nights. Arrive in the cloud forest of Monteverde, situated on the continental divide under misty cloud coverage in one of the world’s most bio-diverse areas. Enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure. TOUR HIGHLIGHTWILD & WONDERFUL Explore Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to over 3,000 species of plants, 400 species of birds, 60 species of bats, 1,200 species of amphibians, and 700 species of butterflies in one of the last remaining natural habitats of all six Costa Rica wildcat species—ocelots, jaguars, jaguarundi, pumas, oncillas, and margays. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful birds, the resplendent quetzal.MONTEVERDE-QUETZAL.jpg
Breakfast
Day 8 MONTEVERDE
Creatures of the Cloud Forest This morning, take a Naturalist guided walking tour of Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve home to forest fauna such as sloths, jaguars, ocelots, monkeys, coatis, and numerous species of birds. With almost 100% humidity throughout the year, the cloud forest experiences almost 12 feet of rain per year. Free time this afternoon. TOUR HIGHLIGHTPARADISE FOUND This unique, high-elevation ecosystem of Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve is constantly enveloped in moisture-rich clouds formed from the warm winds from the Atlantic Ocean as they sweep over the Continental Divide, creating one of the most bio-diverse and rich ecosystems in the world. Prolific in many animal and plant species, this is a nature lover’s paradise. MONTEVERDE-SLOTH.jpg
Breakfast
Day 9 MONTEVERDE–SARCHI–SAN JOSÉ
Artistry & Drama En route to San José, visit Sarchi Village, the hub of Costa Rican craftsmanship, and see the artists in their workshops making their famous ox carts. Upon arrival in San José, a guided city orientation introduces downtown San José includes the historic National Theater and the Metropolitan Cathedral. TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Visit the local village of Sarchi and see firsthand how the traditional ox carts are hand-painted. Once used to transport coffee and sugarcane, these are now pieces of art with intricate designs. SARCHI-OX-CART.jpg
Breakfast
Day 10 SAN JOSÉ
¡Adiós y Gracias, San José! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. SAN-JOSE-MARKET.jpg
Breakfast