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NATURAL WONDERS OF COSTA RICA W/ MANUEL ANTONIO EXT.

Vacation Overview
This incredible vacation lets you sample the scenic beauty of Costa Rica. Your trip begins in San José, the capital of Costa Rica, with a city tour. Visit the National Theater, designed as the opera house at the beginning of the 19th century, and the National Museum. Tour a banana plantation before reaching Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica’s national park dedicated to protecting endangered turtles. During your stay, cruise through the Tortuguero Canals, view amazing flora and fauna in a remote section of the park, and enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest. Your guide will help you spot freshwater turtles, herons, toucans, monkeys, and more.

Next, transfer by boat to Sarapiqui and tour the Corsicana Pineapple Farm. Travel through Tilajari Rainforest Reserve en route to Tilajari Resort, your home for two nights. Here, experience the Butterfly Garden, relax in the pools of the Ecotemales Hot Springs, view Arenal Volcano, or walk in the nearby tropical rainforest in search of 300- to 400-year-old trees, poisonous frogs, monkeys, birds, and possibly small animals native to the reserve. Then on to Poas Volcano National Park to see the magnificent La Paz Waterfall and Poas Volcano, where you have up-close views of the enormous crater with its deep, green lake.

Learn about coffee production at the Doka Coffee Plantation before returning to San José for an overnight. Then continue on to the coastal town of Quepos, gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Here you explore dense mangrove swamps with the opportunity to view a variety of wildlife. It is not uncommon to see iguanas and white-faced monkeys on the beach. For the more active, there are jungle hikes suited for all levels, and local activities include canopy tours, diving, sea kayaking, and mountain biking. Enjoy two full days at leisure, then conclude your memorable Costa Rica vacation back in San José.

These days will be added to the end of the basic tour itinerary:

7-18-10 (Sun.) San José–Quepos

Take a morning drive to the Pacific Ocean to the town of Quepos, gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. Dense mangrove swamps sheltering a variety of wildlife back up to the pristine beaches in this area. It is not uncommon to see iguanas and white-faced monkeys on the beach. For the more active, there are jungle hikes suited to all levels. Other local activities include canopy tours, deep-sea fishing, diving, sea kayaking, and mountain biking. (B)

7-19-10 & 7-20-10 (Mon. & Tue.) Quepos

Enjoy two days at leisure. (B)

7-21-10 (Wed) San José

Transfer back to the San José airport for your homebound connections. Please do not schedule your return flights before 2:30 pm. (B)

Notes: Itinerary and hotels subject to change. Quepos Hotel: El Hotel Parador. MEALS: Breakfast (B); Lunch (L), Dinner (D). PRICING: Add the Manuel Antonio post-extension for an additional $450 per person. Save $10 per person; add both the Guatemala Pre Tour and the Manuel Antonio post-extension for only $1300 additional per person. (Prices are per person, and based on double occupancy.)