Monteverde Cloud Forest
Become One with the Earth
The Monteverde cloud forest area, which comprises ten towns with 8,000 people, is situated on the Continental Divide at an elevation or 5,600 feet above sea level. The region is well known for its commitment to the sustainable development of the community and the conservation of the cloud forest reserves.

Arenal

Arenal Volcano is the most spectacularly active in Costa Rica. With a little luck you will get an incredible peak of the lava flows and red hot boulders ejected from the volcano glowing in the darkness. It is estimated that only 10 of every 3 millions inhabitants on the earth will have the opportunity to see during their lifetime a volcanic eruption. Well, this is your chance!

Arenal Packages 2010

*per person based on double occupancy

Travel Tips:

The first thing you should know about Costa Rica is its tremendous diversity. A trip to the city of San Jose is only the tip of the iceberg. You can choose among wide sandy white beaches in Guanacaste to cloud and rain forests to the north of San Jose to the true jungles of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast to the amazing wildlife and remote beauty of Manual Antonio Nature Park to..........

San Jose is located in the central valley, almost in the center of Costa Rica and is completely surrounded by mountains. The nearest beach on the Pacific Coast is 2 hours from San Jose (Jaco Beach) and the nearest beach on the Atlantic or Caribbean side is 3 hours from San Jose. Costa Rica is always warm and its high season begins the middle of December and ends in late March. It is a small mountainous country sandwiched between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. While Costa Rica covers only .03% of the earth’s surface, the nation is endowed with over 5% of all life forms on earth. One fourth of the country is designated as Conservation Areas. You can drive to the very edge of a volcanic crater, through the heart of a mountain jungle, take an aerial tram ride in the rainforest canopy and soak up sun on a deserted beach, all on the same day in all but the most remote areas. White water rafting is probably the single most popular adventure sport in the country. Rafting rivers are even better from May to November. Kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, diving, sport fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding and boat tours are all available.

Where to go: San Jose is the center of activity for Costa Rica and its capitol. This is the best spot to plan your day tour activities such as kayaking, white water rafting and canopy tours. Transportation from San Jose is included in any of these half day and full day tours. See a complete list of these tours: San Jose Optional Tours

Arenal is an active volcano located just outside the town of La Fortuna. Approximately a 2 to 3 hour drive north of San Jose through breathtaking scenery as you climb through the mountains, past tropical plant farms. You can rent a car or take a full day or multi day excursion. When the skies are clear you can actually see the sparks fly off the volcano. The site of these eruptions moves around the volcano and what can be seen from one location one night can vary the next. Don't miss the Tabacon Hot Springs Park. Some resorts provide complimentary entrance to this park with the price of your stay. This park is famous for its hot pools and waterfalls. It is also a spa and a great place to relax during your tropical adventure especially after white water rafting, mountain hiking or a canopy tour. Drive around the mountain to the largest lake in the country, Lake Arenal.

Monteverde, a Quaker colony high in the cloud forest only a short distance from Arenal as the crow flies but several hours away by car. You'll see ox carts still in use by the dairy farmers there. The trip there is part of the adventure, hair pin turns and scenery you'll never forget as you climb the mountains, higher and higher till you reach the cloud forest.

Once there, visit the spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. You'll feel like you're walking in an incredible green cathedral. These rain and cloud forests have majestic, tall trees covered with orchids, bromeliads, ferns, vines, and mosses. The variable climate and altitude have helped produce an extremely high biodiversity. Spectacular wildlife includes the Jaguar, Ocelot, Baird´s Tapir, Three-wattled Bellbird, Bare necked Umbrella bird and the famous elusive Quetzal, Costa Rica's national bird. Don't miss feeding time for the hummingbirds here at the reserve, hundreds of hummingbirds arrive and literally fill the sky.

Take the time to visit the famous Monteverde Cheese Factory, the women's cooperative where local women hand paint and embroider clothing with ecological themes and sell wonderful local cheeses. (Try Turialba, wow!)

Tortuguero is so remote you can't get there by car. Reserve your one or two night stay in the very heart of the jungle before you arrive. You'll travel by air conditioned motor coach through the Braulio Carillo Nature Reserve, rainforests and banana plantations and then by long boat through the canals of Tortuguero. You'll see monkeys swinging in the trees above you and dozens of different types of birds. But this area is most famous for its nesting turtles. If you travel July to October with the peak in August, and again February to April you and your family will have the opportunity to see the huge sea turtles nest and lay their eggs. If you are really lucky you'll see the the newly hatched turtles race to the sea. There is some overlap of the nesting and hatching. It is possible to see individual turtles at any time of the year. Fishing is wonderful here. Bring your camera and lots of film!

Manuel Antonio National Park. With the establishment of Manuel Antonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife is unequaled.

Manuel Antonio contains a charming combination of rain forest, beaches and coral reefs. These beaches are the most beautiful in the country, lined with lush forest, and the snorkeling is excellent too. The forest is home for sloths, iguanas, the rare and adorable squirrel monkeys and millions of colorful little crabs. And the trail that winds around Punta Catedral affords some spectacular views. The park is easy to reach, south of the town of Quepos and only a few hours drive from San Jose.

Standing with your feet dug into the sand and watching the wave crash against the rocks on either side of the lagoon, it is easy to believe that you are a thousand miles from anywhere.

Guanacaste, located on the northwest coast of Costa Rica, where you'll find quite a few of the largest beach resorts in the country. Since it is approximately a 5 to 6 hour drive through the mountains from San Jose you may want to fly into Liberia from the US or take a short flight from San Jose, then rent a car. Fishing is excellent here as it is on the Caribbean coast.

Let us arrange your hotel stays, car rentals and tours. If you need flights within the country, we'll be happy to make arrangements. We also offer confirmed air options from the US. Costa Rica is a good buy.

We recommend that you do not plan on driving at night in Costa Rica. Driving from San Jose to any destination will be a drive through the mountains. Most highways in Costa Rica are 2 lanes and not well lit. Even the Pan American highway is only 2 lanes for most of its travel through Central America. We recommend that you plan your hotel and resort stays prior to arrival. We also recommend that you avoid the city of Limon on the Caribbean coast.

All of our agents have traveled to Costa Rica.

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