NEW! Costa Rican Treasures: Coast to Coast (2012)

Fly from your U.S. gateway city to San Jose. You'll be greeted at the airport by your Grand Circle representative, who will assist you with your transfer to your hotel in San Jose. 

After breakfast, join your Program Director for a welcome briefing, where you’ll learn what to expect on your journey through Costa Rica. Then, embark on an included tour of San Jose.

The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose was founded in 1737 and is now one of the more developed Central American capitals—a small, lively city rich in culture and history. Your discoveries of San Jose begin with a guided tour this morning, starting at the Parque Nacional, a lush, green urban oasis where the Ticos—as Costa Ricans call themselves—come to escape the bustle of city life.

At the center of the park is the National Monument, a bronze statue commemorating Costa Rica’s 1948 civil war—a conflict that resulted in the abolition of this now-peaceful nation’s army. Freed from the burden of defense spending, Costa Rica now devotes large portions of its national budget to education and the arts, and you’ll get glimpse at this rich cultural legacy as you walk past the National Library and the National Center of Arts and Culture on your way to Morazan Park.

From there, you'll take a short drive to the Plaza de la Cultura—the main square of San Jose—where you’ll enjoy an included visit to the National Theater, proudly regarded as the "jewel of the nation.” You'll also visit the National Museum. Then enjoy lunch on your own, perhaps in one of the many restaurants and cafés along the pedestrian-only section of San Jose’s main street, Avenida Central.

After lunch, your tour of San Jose continues through some of its newer neighborhoods, starting in La Sabana—home to Costa Rica’s largest urban park and the Museum of Costa Rican Art—followed by the quiet residential streets of Pavas.

You return to the hotel later this afternoon and enjoy a little leisure time. This evening, get to know your Program Director and fellow travelers during a Welcome Dinner.

After breakfast this morning, head to the Doka Estate, an award-winning plantation that specializes in the production of gourmet coffee. Locally owned by the Vargas Ruiz family for more than 70 years, the Doka Coffee Estate is a modern operation that uses time-honored techniques—the estate has the oldest working water-powered mill in all of Costa Rica.

Your included tour takes you through the estate to see the various steps in the production of this important national export. You’ll learn how the many varieties of beans are carefully separated for processing and how the water-powered mill and peeling machines work, as well as the roles of the fermentation tanks, sun-drying patios, and roasting hall. As the tour progresses, you’ll hear about the history of the coffee farm and its owners, the importance of its geographic location, and the value of traditional coffee-growing methods. You will savor the rich, intoxicating aroma of the freshly roasted beans, and have a chance to sip some of the plantation’s tasty brews.

After an included lunch at the estate, drive to the nearby villages of Sarchi and Grecia. Sarchi is known as the home of some of Costa Rica’s most skilled artisans, renowned for their skill in painting, woodcarving, and jewelry making; and you’ll have a chance to experience the full range of their talents as you visit a local market in the neighboring town of Grecia, which is also noteworthy for its unique church—the Iglesia de la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes—made entirely of sheets of red-painted steel. Then, in Sarchi, witness artisans at work on the most famous of Costa Rica’s handcrafts—the carreta, or oxcart.

In the 19th century, the humble oxcart played an important part in the growth of Costa Rica’s economy, providing the coffee-growing families of the country’s fertile Central Valley a means to transport their handpicked beans across the mountains to the shipping centers on the coast. Frequently the only means of transportation available to most families, the carts became both a status symbol and a source of local pride, with the people of each region painting their carts in particular designs that allowed others to identify what part of the country the cart’s driver was from. Today, these brightly painted, handmade carts are admired for their aesthetic qualities and stand as a symbol of traditional country life, and you’ll see some of the finest in Costa Rica as you tour a factory where they have been produced by hand since the beginning of the 20th century.

Following your village visits, you'll return to your hotel, where your Program Director will provide suggestions on where to dine on your own this evening.

Enjoy an early breakfast this morning before you begin your journey to the Caribbean Plains and the Tortuguero Basin. As you travel by motorcoach through the Braulio Carrillo National Park, you’ll be able to view your first primary rain forest. Spread across the misty peaks like a blanket, this lush green ecosystem will be the main landscape you’ll see until you reach the plains. Here, the scenery changes, and you’ll see cattle ranches, seemingly endless fields of pineapples, and banana plantations extending to the Caribbean Sea on the horizon.

In late morning, arrive at a dock in Cano Blanco, where a boat awaits. You’ll embark the boat and set off on your journey into the jungle labyrinth of Tortuguero National Park. This incredibly diverse national park—made up of eleven different habitats that are home to home to 111 species of reptiles, 60 species of mammals, 309 species of birds, and 57 species of amphibians—covers more than 47,000 acres and is accessible only by boat along its series of protected canals.

You'll arrive at your lodge around noon today for a short orientation walk around its lush grounds, followed by an included lunch.

Then you'll visit the quaint town of Tortuguero. This tiny village of 1,000 inhabitants is remarkable in that there are no cars, no roads, no sidewalks, and no streetlights, since everything—from gasoline to beer—is transported here by boat. Roads have yet to connect some of this area to the rest of the country, so this lifeline of canals and rivers acts as a highway—as you may witness yourself during your explorations here.

Within this village community, you’ll walk past colorful houses and little stores, and you’ll notice that the rhythms and sounds oflocal music are a part of this environment, blending in with the racket of monkeys and the fussing of resident parrots in the rain forest that borders the village on either side.

Return to the lodge and enjoy time at leisure before gathering for dinner tonight.

This morning, seek out the local wildlife while traveling the canals of Tortuguero National Park by boat. Some of the many animals that call this area home are the Emerald Basilisks, huge Orange Iguanas, lumbering Three-toed Sloths, agile Spider Monkeys, and the playful White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, as well as numerous species of birds, including colorful toucans and parrots. The real stars of Tortuguero, however, are its amphibious residents—the name Tortuguero literally means “region of turtles”—including the endangered Green Turtle, for which the park is the most important nesting site. This area is made up of tall forest and palm groves, liana trailing from the trees, and floating gardens of fragrant hyacinths. Underneath the layer of vegetation floating on the water, the endangered West Indian Manatee feeds on aquatic plants, and River Otters may slip underwater as your boat approaches. As you float along, keep your eyes peeled for some of the park’s namesake turtles and other aquatic residents, including crocodiles. Keep your binoculars ready—with luck, you might even glimpse the stunning Blue Morpho butterfly winging through the tropical air.

After an included lunch at the lodge, you’ll explore the Mawamba Park trails and gardens on a walking tour, where you’ll learn about the area’s amazing ecosystem. Following our afternoon walk, you’ll return to the lodge in time for another included dinner there this evening.

After breakfast this morning, begin your transfer inland to region dominated by Arenal Volcano. You’ll ride by boat to the dock, where you’ll disembark and head to a local restaurant for an included lunch. Then, boarda motorcoach for a drive through one of Costa Rica's most diverse agricultural areas—the northern plains—where you'll spot dairy farms and cattle ranches against a backdrop of forested peaks.

You arrive at your lodge by mid-afternoon. After checking in, you'll take an orientation walk around its lush, protected grounds, then have the opportunity to enjoy a dip in the lodge’s private hot springs. Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own and the evening at leisure.

After breakfast this morning, enjoy some free time to explore independently, or just relax at the hotel’s thermal pools and savor the views of the rain forest. Or, join us on an optional Sky Tram tour, and explore the incredible diversity of plants and animals in the rain forest canopy as you ascend in an open gondola into the uppermost layers of the forest. A naturalist guide accompanies you onboard as you ride slowly between the gigantic trees, gliding quietly up to 100 feet above the forest floor. Your elevation provides a unique opportunity to observe the canopy denizens in their domain. Wildlife sighting is unpredictable, but you might encounter brilliantly colored tree frogs, sloths, raucous monkeys, any number of bird species, and of course butterflies. As you scan the trees, your guide describes the ecology of the Arenal area, and will stop the tram along the route for sightings and photographs. After your ride to the upper observation platform, join your guide for a short trail walk in the rain forest before boarding the tram again for your return descent.

Afterward, visit the town of La Fortuna. Known as the “front yard of the Arenal Volcano,” La Fortuna offers spectacular views of the beautifully cone-shaped Volcán Arenal (as it's called in Spanish), which has been one of the world’s most active volcanoes since it awakened from a long dormancy in 1968. Enjoy a little time at leisure and lunch on your own this afternoon.

This evening, perhaps you'll join our optional tour to explore Arenal Volcano from a more intimate perspective. You’ll begin with a sunset cruise on Lake Arenal, enjoying the beautiful views of the volcano and the peaceful, verdant forest that lines the lakeshore. You may spot more wildlife during our cruise as well—including some resident Howler Monkeys. Enjoy an included barbecue as part of your optional tour.

Otherwise, dinner is on your own this evening.

After breakfast, you’ll experience a feast for the senses as you travel to a tropical garden plantation for an exclusive Discovery Series event. Here, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the grounds, and discover the many plants, fruits, and flowers that help make Costa Rica lush and vibrant. Among the vegetation you may see are bananas, bamboo, and medicinal plants, and you're sure to find colorful birds and butterflies in their midst. From here, you’ll climb aboard a tractor for a ride to a ranch, perhaps spotting other wildlife en route.

Then you’ll travel to a rural village in the Arenal region. There, you’ll be the guests of honor at a local primary school (when in session) supported by Grand Circle Foundation. You’ll be enthusiastically welcomed by the village’s schoolchildren, who will give you a presentation on the folklore of their country—including traditional songs, dances, and costumes—after which you’ll have the opportunity to interact with them one on one. Then, enjoy a discussion with the student’s teachers and parents, who can answer your questions about Costa Rica’s education system—one of the best in Latin America. Many Grand Circle travelers rank opportunities to interact with local children like these as among the most memorable moments of their travels.

Such a full morning calls for a satisfying lunch, which you’ll enjoy today at the home of a local family. After meeting your gracious hosts and getting a tour of their house, you’ll have a chance to join your hosts in the kitchen to help prepare a traditional local dish. Costa Rican cuisine is simple, wholesome, and quite delicious. A typical meal features chicken, beef, or fish (sometimes grilled) served with tortillas and gallo pinto (a zesty rice-and-bean side dish). But regardless of what's on the menu, you can count on the hospitality of your hosts and an authentic opportunity to learn about everyday life and customs of rural Costa Rica.

Your evening is at leisure, and dinner is on your own.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll board the motorcoach for Guanacaste. The journey takes you through some stunning landscapes as you pass near Arenal Lake, making a stop en route for lunch on your own. In mid-afternoon, you arrive in Guanacaste Province on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.

Home to seven National Parks, three wildlife reserves, and more than 100 miles of sandy beaches, the province of Guanacaste is a paradise for nature lovers, ranch enthusiasts, and beachcombers as well. Dominated by the Guanacaste Mountain range, this region has a distinctive dry tropical climate—which has resulted in tropical dry forests of mostly deciduous trees, quite unlike the rain forests of Tortuguero or the Central Valley—and is famous for its thermal pools, and a large section of the province has been set aside for preservation and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch on your own, you’ll regroup with your Program Director and fellow travelers to drive into Liberia—the capital city of Guanacaste province—for an included tour. Home to around 35,000 people, Liberia—while large by the standards of Guanacaste—retains much of its colonial charm. In addition to the nearby wilderness preserves, Liberia is also known for its cattle ranches, and it’s not uncommon to see a local Tico ride into town on horseback, dressed in cowboy style.

You’ll begin your discoveries in this sleepy city at its oldest church, La Agonia, located along the city’s central avenue. This structure is a great example of Liberia’s whitewashed, Bahareque architecture—a kind of wattle-and-daub construction that was once common in much of Central America—which has earned Liberia the nickname “White City.” From there, walk through Liberia’s central park to the modern church that faces the town square.

Afterwards, you’ll visit Liberia’s central market, where you’ll have a chance to sample some delicious, local produce, and discover more about the traditional way of life among the people of Guanacaste. Then, continue to the hotel, where you’ll take a short orientation walk around the hotel grounds, before you take some time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

After breakfast, you have a full day to make your own discoveries in beautiful Guanacaste—and there are many possible pursuits from which to choose. Your hotel is located very close to Avellanas Beach, a stretch of soft sand and lush vegetation that is one of the most scenic in Guanacaste. Perhaps you’ll stroll the beach looking for seashells. Or you may find yourself content to lounge peacefully on the sand, watching the world go by.

Our hotel is located 15 minutes from Tamarindo Town, where you can find numerous bars and restaurants—popular with locals and visitors alike—where you can enjoy lunch on your own. The area also offers popular fishing spots. If you like, ask your Program Director for suggestions and advice on taking advantage of the many opportunities available to you.

Or, join us this morning for an exciting half-day tour of the tropical dry forest canopy. Ride to this leafy locale, and then ascend into the very tops of the giant, tropical trees on a system of aerial platforms and cableways. This is a unique opportunity to observe the layers of canopy vegetation in the upper world of the forest and see this amazing and complex ecosystem up close, exploring recesses of the canopy that travelers have not had access to until very recently. It’s also a chance to add an aspect of adventure to your trip as you enjoy a thrilling decent through the upper forest along a series of sturdy zip-lines, feeling the cool breeze and watching the colorful wildlife flash by you as you glide back to the forest floor. After your tour, return to the hotel and enjoy lunch on your own and the afternoon at leisure.

Tonight, enjoy dinner on your own.

Today, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and free time to enjoy the hotel’s amenities, or spend another morning at the beach.

Or, rise early this morning for a half-day optional tour, which begins with a cruise of the lush wilderness of Palo Verde National Park by boat. You’ll travel to a riverside dock in Palo Verde, where you’ll board a small watercraft to cruise through the park’s mangrove forest—a unique ecosystem of tropical trees growing in a saltwater marsh formed by a tidal estuary. As you float past the mangrove trees’ sinuous, exposed roots on the slow-moving river, your guide will help you spot and identify some of the colorful plants and animals that dwell in this wetland sanctuary, including crocodiles, monkeys, anteaters, iguanas, coatis, and more than 300 species of birds.

After your cruise, enjoy an excursion to a local sugar cane mill—you'll witness the journey sugar cane takes to your table, as well as savoring Costa Rican cuisine during a cooking demonstration and tasting. Your tour ends with lunch at a local restaurant.

Then, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure and dinner on your own.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel’s poolside dining room this morning before beginning your journey back to San Jose. You'll start by traveling to the village of Guaitil, well known for its continued use of pre-Columbian techniques in the creation of its pottery. Here, enjoy another exclusive Discovery Series event, as the artisans of Guaitil give you an introduction to their ancient pottery-making traditions.

From there, traverse the La Amistad Bridge over the Tempisque River, which was opened for travel in 2003. This bridge spans more than 2,500 feet and was constructed with an intricate system of piles to resist erosion and flood damage, and you’ll pause here to enjoy a sweeping view of the river and the surrounding forests. Then, continue on to San Jose, stopping en route for lunch on your own.

You'll arrive at your hotel late this afternoon. This evening, gather with your new friends and your memories for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast this morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.