Costa Rica 2021
Costa Rica 2021 – Arenal Springs Resort & Azura Beach Resort
ARENAL AREA
Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a town in the Northern Plains, home to the majestic Arenal Volcano and one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica because of its natural and geological wealth and the wide range of tourist activities. The Arenal Volcano is an active volcano although its activity has significantly decreased since 2011. However, there continue to be two very different landscapes in its structure: a cover of dense, green vegetation, and another dominated by lava and sand of the last eruptions.
Hot Springs of La Fortuna
The hot waters from the Arenal Volcano are rich in minerals associated with health, so it is one of the most visited sites in the country for relaxing and enjoying an extraordinary natural landscape in the rainforest. There are several tourist developments that offer hot springs, but particularly noteworthy is the River Tabacon hot springs, which have an average temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and runs freely into the river.
Located on the southeast side of the volcano is Chato Hill which is an extinct volcano with an altitude of 1,140 m.s.n.m. Currently, in the crater you can see a greenish lagoon about 550 meters across, bordered by dense vegetation. To reach the lagoon you must walk an average of 5 hours in a narrow walkway, all worth the while to appreciate the beauty of the place. At the entrance to the main road to Chato Hill is the waterfall La Fortuna, one of the jewels of this place measuring 70 meters high and with pools for cooling off.
Near the village of Guatuso, along the Frio River is the Maleku Indigenous Reserve. Currently, the population has approximately 600 people, so you can visit some villages that preserve their culture, as in the case of El Sol, Margarita, and Tonjibe. In the area of La Fortuna there is also a small settlement that aims to show Maleku culture for tourism purposes and preserve their customs.
The Celeste River is one of the natural wonders of Costa Rica, formed from the union of two rivers with different mineral content from the slopes of the Tenorio Volcano, this gives the waters of this river a very particular blue color. The river is protected by the Tenorio National Park, which offers a trail of 7 kilometers surrounding the area, showing the main geological attractions, such as Teñideros, hot springs, the intense sky-blue waterfall, hot springs and fumaroles, between others.
A few kilometers from the center of La Fortuna is the country’s largest artificial lake. Lake Arenal is an anchored dam between forests and mountains that is 87.8 square kilometers, and at an elevation of 546 meters above sea level, this lagoon is ideal for boat tours, kayaking, fishing tourism and water skiing; windsurfing and SUP, among others.
The Black Reed Wildlife Refuge is located north of Costa Rica adjacent to the border of Nicaragua. There is a wetland of about 10,171 hectares surrounded by its extensive biodiversity, especially for species migrating from January to March, which require areas like this to make their migrating tour successfully. It is an ideal site for bird watching; so many visitors choose to take boat trips on the waters of the Frio River to reach Black Reed. The village of Black Reed is small but offers all a tourist needs to explore the area.
The area of Bajos del Toro, located at 1,442 meters above sea level, conceals natural treasures, among them Toro Amarillo and Agrio River Waterfalls. The biggest of all are the Toro Amarillo Waterfalls, measuring 90 meters high, and is formed from the union of three rivers: Toro Amarillo River, Desagüe River and Agrio River (named for its lemony taste), all of which have water with high mineral content that makes the landscape a fairy tale scene. Its landscape is unique because it has a particular blend of rivers, waterfalls, hydroelectric projects, natural reserves, and agricultural landscapes.
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui is a typical riverbank community, surrounded by forests and agricultural plantations, featuring rural architecture and numerous hammock bridges. Sarapiqui River tours allow you to watch wildlife from the dock. This area also allows you to enjoy whitewater rafting. The Sarapiqui River is 84 kilometers long and connects with the San Juan River (bordering Nicaragua), Barra del Colorado and Tortuguero. Near the town of Sarapiqui you can find the Vara Blanca and Cinchona communities, which offer the traveler very beautiful rural landscapes combined with dense vegetation. Imposed within its lush forest are a series of beautiful waterfalls culminating with the La Paz Waterfall.
Following the road bordering Lake Arenal one can locate along the way the little green lagoon Cote or Coter, standing at approximately 680 meters above sea level. Although the distance appears short, it has a diameter of 1 kilometer and its geological features have made several Costa Rican scientists believe that it could be a crater of an extinct volcano. Currently, it has recreational and tourist use, offering boat trips and artisanal fishing.
GUANACASTE
Dates:
- December 4-11, 2021
Price:
- Land package from $1,543.00 per person sharing
Your package includes:
- Meet and Greet at the airport
- One way private transfer from San Jose/Liberia Airport to Arenal Springs Resort
- 3 nights’ accommodation in double occupancy/shared basis in Arenal Springs Resort (Junior Suite)
- Tour orientation provided by Flow Tropicales (see attached file for all available tours)
- Daily buffet breakfast and dinner for first 3 days
- Resort and hotel taxes
- One way private transfer from Arenal Springs Resort to Azura Beach Resort
- 4 nights’ accommodation in double occupancy/shared basis in Azura Beach Resort – All Inclusive (Junior Suite Garden View)
- All inclusive package at Azura Beach Resort: 24-hour fitness center; two outdoor pools; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, unlimited alcoholic beverages, juices and soft drinks are included daily; room service for all guests; high speed internet; access to our international restaurants, International cuisine prepared by professional Chefs
- Tour Orientation provided by the resort (see attached file for all available tours)
- Resort and hotels taxes
- One way private transfer from Azura Beach Resort to San Jose/Liberia Airport
Excluded:
- International Airfare
- All tours and excursions which will be arranged locally
- All other items not mentioned in package inclusion
ITINERARY
April 22, 2021
ARRIVE: Auckland
ACCOMODATION:
Auckland City Hotel – Studio Room
MEALS:
Welcome dinner at the hotel
EXPERIENCE:
Auckland Orientation Tour
Arrive ex flight TBA.
Meet and greet by a General Travel Representative and your North Island Driver, for assistance to your coach.
Enjoy a short Auckland Orientation Tour with a local guide – approximately 1 hour.
The tour includes: Points to note such as where banks are, where shopping is, and where food markets (supermarkets) are if guests wish to purchase snacks, Queen Street, The Viaduct, Auckland’s Waterfront.
You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in, where you can enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure.
Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.
Includes: Welcome dinner at your hotel
Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel – Studio Room x 2 nights
Inclusion: Full breakfast daily
Auckland City Hotel
Auckland
April 23, 2021
AUCKLAND SIGHTSEEING (WAIHEKE ISLAND)
ACCOMODATION:
Auckland City Hotel – Studio Room
MEALS:
Auckland City Hotel – Breakfast
Platter Lunch
EXPERIENCE:
Waiheke Island
Tastings at 2 Vineyards per person
Oneroa Village
OPTIONAL:
Ziplining
Breakfast at the hotel is included this morning.
Meet your driver in the hotel lobby and transfer to the Downtown Ferry Terminal.
Enjoy a leisurely 40 minute ferry ride to Waiheke Island where you will spend the day experiencing a taste of what the island has to offer.
Day tour includes:
- Return coach transfer from your hotel to the ferry terminal
- Return ferry from the Downtown Ferry terminal to Waiheke Island Matiatia Wharf
- Exclusive Private Vehicle with guide throughout tour on Waiheke Island
- Platter Lunch per person
- Tastings at 2 Vineyards per person
A few points to note:
- Ziplining is optional – additional cost is NZ$70.00 per person.
- Guests who choose not to zipline can do Onetangi beach and Peacock Sky tasting if they wish (there is time to do both).
- After lunch, we have allowed some time for all guests to explore Oneroa Village before the final tasting at Mudbrick.
- All venues have taxis on call should guests decide on the day they would like to leave earlier or later.
Waiheke Island