Costa Rica: Natural Beauty
Transcripción
Costa Rica: Natural Beauty
SPECIAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL 4603 Main Street Va n c o u ve r, B C V5V 3R6 Canada tel no.:1 (604) 291-1332 toll-free:1 (800) 665-0998 fax no.:1 (604) 291-1378 s t i @ s t i c a n a d a .com w w w. s t i c a n a d a . c o m SPECIAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL Costa Rica Natural Beauty Jan 28 – Feb 11, 2014 (15 days) San Jose – poas volcano – la Paz waterfall gardens – monteverde – selvatura park – arenal rincon de la vieja – guanacaste – nicaragua manuel antonio & palo verde national parks Costa Rica San Jose – poas volcano – la Paz waterfall gardens – monteverde selvatura park – arenal – rincon de la vieja – guanacaste nicaragua – manuel antonio & palo verde national parks Jan 28 – Feb 11, 2014 (15 days) Day 1 Tues, Jan 28 canada – san jose We are met at airport for transfer to the hotel, time at leisure and a get together before dinner. (D) Day 2 Wed, Jan 29 san jose We’ll enjoy a San Jose City Tour, followed by some time in the afternoon at leisure. Tonight offers a Night Expedition at INBioparque including a barbecue Dinner. (B,D) San Jose City Tour Discover the rich history and culture of Costa Rica on this comprehensive sightseeing tour of San Jose. Starting on the East side of San Jose, our guide will show us the architecture and history of Democracy Place, the Courts, Los Yoses, San Pedro Mall, Hispanidad Fountain and the Rodrigo Facio Campus of the University of Costa Rica. After we have seen the capital’s main attractions, we’ll have guided tours through the impressive Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the beautiful National Theatre. After those visits the tour continues to the western section of San Jose: La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Costa Rican Contemporary Art Museum or the first International Airport in Costa Rica, the National Gymnasium and National Stadium, the Comptroller’s office, the residential area of Rohrmoser, and Boulevard and Pavas sections. At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity for some sightseeing or souvenir shopping. INBioparque INBio is the National Biodiversity Institute of Costa Rica, a non-profit organization founded in 1989 dedicated to scientific research and promoting the importance of conserving the country’s rich biological diversity. Feel, discover, and explore nature under the magic mantle of the stars in the best introductory tour of Costa Rica, a unique nocturnal experience you can only enjoy at INBioparque. Our nighttime tour begins with an opening video about Costa Rica and is followed by a “son et lumière” presentation about the protected wildlife areas and National Parks to give us a better idea of the wonders enclosed in this marvelous little piece of land. At the Biological Investigation Station you will learn about the important work done by INBio, including discovery of a new species every three days on average, which contributes dramatically to the world’s scientific knowledge base. We continue on pathways that take us across different representations of Costa Rican forests: 1 the rainforest, the central valley forest, wetlands and the dry forest. Many of their inhabitants are nocturnal. Equipped with flashlights, we will use our senses to discover these creatures guided by the festival of sounds they produce, never fully knowing how many pairs of eyes are watching us. We will visit small stations with frogs, caimans, turtles and snakes, orchids, heliconias and bromeliads. Finally, we end this amazing night with a delicious dinner, barbecue style. Day 3 Thu , Jan 30 San Jose – poas volcano – San Jose We visit Poas Volcano National Park, have a Doka Estate Coffee Tour, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens and enjoy lunch. Upon return to San Jose dinner on your own to enjoy local specialties. (B,L) Poas Volcano National Park One of the special features of Poas is that you can venture all the way to the edge of the crater. Located in the Alajuela Province, the volcano’s main crater is 950 feet (290m) deep and quite active with frequent small geyser and lava eruptions, though the last major eruptions were during 1952-54. Well-marked trails take you to two more, extinct craters in this Park: the Von Frantzuis crater and the Botos crater, now a beautiful cold, green water crater. The Botos crater last erupted 7,500 years ago. Doka Estate Coffee Tour Located in Sabanilla, Alajuela, the coffee capital of Costa Rica. The Doka Estate belongs to the Vargas Ruiz family, pioneers of Costa Rican coffee production for more than 70 years. The centre offers education about the production, processing and roasting of coffee. Costa Rica has a large variety of microclimates and altitudes within a small geographical range and we will learn how this affects and enriches the taste. La Paz Waterfall Garden La Paz Waterfall Garden is Costa Rica’s most visited privately owned Ecological Attraction, featuring the country’s most famous waterfalls and the best hiking near San José. Over 3.5 kilometers of walking trails encompass five waterfalls, an aviary, toucan feeding, marmoset monkeys, an insect exhibit, butterfly gardens, two-toed sloths, Capuchin monkeys, blackhanded spider monkeys, a hummingbird garden, serpentarium, Jaguar, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundi, margays, Casita de la Paz with a petting zoo and ox cart, ranarium, plus Orchid, heliconia and bromeliad exhibits. Day 4Fri, Jan 31 San Jose – monteverde Our day starts with a visit to the spectacular Orchid Garden. After we enjoy lunch, we’ll depart for Monteverde. Tonight we have a guided Night Walk in Monteverde Forest and dinner at our hotel. (B,L,D) Orchid Garden Claudio Salas, botanist and orchid expert, felt an urgency to preserve the valuable trees on this estate, with a vision toward creating an ideal ecosystem for the orchids. Lush with the color and fragrance of the result, the property also features a rich variety of compatible tropical and ornamental plants such as heliconias, gingers and palms. Greenhouses, nurseries and a laboratory were eventually added, in which Claudio Salas perfected the process of orchid development. Night Walk Tour A Monteverde Night Walk Tour gives us the rare opportunity to experience the incredible biodiversity of Costa Rican tropical forests (rain, cloud and dry forests). The enchanting epiphyteladen environment shrouded in mist is worth the trek alone, but we’ll also have the opportunity to see many birds and mammals including the Emerald Toucanet, Collared Redstart, Bluecrowned Motmot, Black Guan, Hoffmann’s Twotoed Sloth, and Kinkajou to name just a few. Day 5 Sat, Feb 1 Monteverde – selvatura – arenal Our visit to Selvatura Park includes hanging bridges, the Butterfly and Insect Museum, and its famous reptiles. We depart for the Arenal area after lunch, check in and have dinner. (B,L,D) Selvatura Park The park features eight different Hanging Bridges of various lengths, a Butterfly Garden, Insect Museum and Reptile Exhibit. We’ll enjoy a guided walk inside one of the world’s largest live butterfly exhibitions, and the third largest private insect collection in the world. In the Reptile and Amphibian Exhibition we can discover more than 30 species of frogs, lizards, geckos and snakes living comfortably in specialized climatecontrolled terrariums. Day 6 Sun, Feb 2 arenal Today we visit Arenal Volcano National Park and then there is time for lunch on your own in a local restaurant. After lunch we visit Baldi Hot Springs Resort where you can spend some hours relaxing in the fabuous pools. We enjoy dinner there before returning to our hotel. (B,D) Arenal Volcano National Park The Arenal Volcano National Park encompasses the Arenal Volcano, which was the most active in the country. Believed to be dormant until a major eruption in 1968, it adjoins Lake Arenal, the site of the country’s largest hydroelectricity project, the Lake Arenal Dam. The lagoon-filled crater of a second volcano within the park, Cerro Chato, has been inactive for around 3500 years–coinciding with the creation and growth of Arenal itself. Baldi Hot Springs Resort 25 of the most thermal mineral waters in the world issue here from natural springs. The medicinal waters are certified by the Costa Rica government and vary in content and temperature from 93116, all the way up to 152o F, each differently suited to the tastes and needs of the clients. If the relaxing sound of falling water were not enough, basking in the thermal waters while admiring the magnificent Arenal Volcano is truly gratifying. Day 7Mon, Feb 3 arenal – rincon del la vieja We depart for the Rincon de la Vieja area with time for lunch on your own en route. The afternoon is free to enjoy some of the Hacienda’s amenities or perhaps opt for an afternoon in the saddle or thermal hot springs. Then relax over dinner at the hotel. (B,D) Day 8 Tue, Feb 4 rincon del la vieja Today we head to Rincon de la Vieja National Park, taking a box lunch for our adventure. Then there is time at leisure to choose your own perfect afternoon and dinner entertainment from the wonderful possibilites on offer. (B,L) Rincon de la Vieja National Park Rincon de la Vieja National Park encompasses two impressive volcanoes, the active Rincon de la Vieja and the dormant Santa María. Located 15.5 miles (25 km) northeast of Liberia in Guanacaste, Rincon de la Vieja is the largest volcano in the country’s northwest, and features a 15-kilometerwide (9 miles) caldera. The park’s 24,800 acres are split into two sections, Las Pailas and Santa María. Las Pailas (“The Cauldrons”) includes the active volcano whose name means “Corner of the Old Woman”, along with fumaroles, mud pots, steam vents, and a number of waterfalls. The volcanic vents and geysers are habitat for certain extremophile micro-organisms and the park sports an abundance of wildlife, with over 300 species of birds, such as the three-wattled bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata) and emerald toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus), various quetzals, curassows, and eagles. The many mammals seen in the park include cougars, monkeys, kinkajous and jaguars. Day 9 Wed, Feb 5 rincon – Tamarindo/guanacaste We begin with a tour of the Curubanda Project, departing for Guanacaste after lunch. The afternoon is free to enjoy as you wish before dinner at the hotel, perfect for an afternoon at the beautiful Avellanas Beach. (B,L,D) Curubanda Our day’s tour begins with a visit to a small cheese factory where a family will share some of the secrets of its business. We will be able to participate in the production process of cheese, curd and Palmito Cheese, among other products. Our second stop will be at the El Consuelo School which opened in 2008 to serve the local youth who previously had to travel over an hour to the nearest schools. Here we have an opportunity 2 to learn about the rural educational system. Afterwards, we will spend some time in Quebrada Grande where a group of women is establishing an orchid nursery, both rescuing these flowers and providing for their own families. Currently this nursery is located in some of the family houses, and we’ll stop to take lunch with them. We continue on then to the community of Dos Ríos, a small village surrounded by the Biological Corridor Rincon-Cacao, where each inhabitant has a specific function and means of sustenance. In the afternoon, we will visit the village bakery where we have the opportunity to prepare, knead and bake bread. This tour culminates in a blissfully relaxing visit to natural hot spring pools in the middle of the forest, which issue from the foot of the Rincon de la Vieja volcano. Day 10 Thu, Feb 6 Tamarindo – nicaragua –Tamarindo We have a full day tour to Nicaragua today, including lunch. Tonight is free to relax and enjoy dinner on your own. (B,L) Nicaragua One Day Tour Nicaragua is a beautiful country, home to a rich culture and both proud and difficult heritage. Our journey to this northern neighbor starts very early in the morning to avoid lines on the border. Once across, we will stop for a delicious breakfast near Rivas city. We then continue to Granada city, one of the first cities founded in America by Europeans; a colorful place still showcasing its Spanish colonial roots in its architecture. We’ll visit Granada’s most important monuments of the city by horse drawn carriage, as the Spanish may have 200 years ago. These include the main church known as the Catedral and the Plaza de España which offers one of the best views of magnificent Nicaragua Lake. We’ll lunch in a nice restaurant with a historic view. After lunch we drive towards to Masaya City, a very typical Nicaraguan town, and visit the National Park of the active Masaya Volcano, a destination not to be missed. We’ll complete our stay at Masaya with a visit to the local market, where the traditional pottery and wares are available to those in search of a unique souvenir. We return to our hotel back in Costa Rica in the evening. Note: Exit Taxes are included. Day 11Fri, Feb 7 Tamarindo We start the day with a Boat Tour of the rich flora and fauna of the Estuary. Then the afternoon and evening are flexible to make your own plans for lunch, dinner, sightseeing or simply enjoying the beach and amenities of the resort. (B) Estuary Boat Tour The perfect trip for nature lovers! Our 45 ft boat, equipped with individual seats for 28 passengers, will usher us through the calm waters of the estuary between Tamarindo Beach and Playa Grande where we can observe birds, crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys and other animals in this idyllic setting. Departure for the one hour trip is according to tide and our tour includes both park entrance and drinking water. 3 Day 12 Sat, Feb 8 Tamarindo – manuel antonio national park We’ll enjoy a Boat Tour to Palo Verde National Park with lunch and then continue on our way to Manuel Antonio National Park. After check in the evening is free for dinner on your own. (B,L) Palo Verde National Park Palo Verde National Park, part of the Tempisque Conservation Area, covers much of the Tempisque River valley in its 45,492 acres of Guanacaste Province. The Park was founded to preserve the vital floodplain, marshes, limestone ridges, seasonal pools and surrounding tropical dry forests from encroaching development. Tropical dry rainforests once covered most of Central America, but remain in less than 0.1% of their original territory, ranking them as the most endangered ecosystems in the tropics. Protecting one of the last remaining tropical dry rainforests, the Park also conserves the most important migratory bird site of the Mesoamerican Pacific, a remote wetland sanctuary harboring one of Central America’s largest concentrations of aquatic birds. Day 13 Sun, Feb 9 manuel antonio national park We’ll head off for a visit of Manuel Antonio National Park equipped with boxed lunches. The afternoon and evening will be free to enjoy the area and make your own dinner plans. (B,L) Manuel Antonio National Park One of the world’s most impressive landscapes where lush mountain forests stretch down to numerous coves and white sand beaches. Featuring beautiful coral reefs, scenery, an excellent climate and amazing biodiversity both on land and in the water, it has become a favourite ecotourism destination. While developing an adequate infrastructure to support this, the emphasis has been on harmony and minimizing visual and environmental impact, all under strict environmental protection. Four beaches are contained within the limits of the park: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Teldoro, and Playita. Day 14Mon, Feb 10 manuel antonio national park – san jose We’ll have a sensory excursion to Villa Vanilla Spice Farm and then have time on our own to indulge in some of the local fare for lunch. Depart for San Jose in the afternoon, arriving in time to savour a Special Folklore Dinner. (B,D) Villa Vanilla Spice Farm Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation is a sustainable organic spice farm. The plantation includes 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest. Cash crops include the major spice, vanilla, plus true ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oils and medicinal plants. They also showcase the unique collection of epiphytes (air plants) including orchids, bromeliads, and tilandsias. Each vanilla orchid is carefully fertilized by hand and during pollination season visitors learn how to pollinate vanilla flowers. Vanilla is the only edible member of the orchid family, the largest plant family on the planet. Day 15 Tues, Feb 11 san jose – canada After breakfast we transfer to the airport for the flight home. (B) cost in Canadian funds per person, based on double occupancy from Vancouver/Toronto $3890 Land-Only Rate* $3060 Single Supplement +$680 *if you want to make your own flight arrangements for rates from other cities, please call our office included ■■ Tours: • San Jose City Tour • Poas Volcano National Park • Doka Estate Coffee Tour • La Paz Waterfall Garden • Orchid Garden • Monteverde Forest Night Walk • Selvatura Park • Arenal Volcano National Park • Baldi Hot Springs Resort • Rincon de laVieja National Park • Curubanda Project • Nicaragua one-day tour • Boat tour Palo Verde National Park • Manuel Antonio National Park • Villa Vanilla Spice Farm ■■ Return Air fare Canada – San Jose – Canada. ■■ Departure Taxes (based on rates as of March 2013; they will be adjusted prior to final payment date approx. six weeks prior to trip departure.) ■■ Private bus and English-speaking guide. ■■ Accommodation in superior tourist-class hotels. ■■ Meals: • 13 Breakfasts (B) • 6 Lunches (L) • 2 Box Lunches (L) • 8 Dinners (D) ■■ Entrance fees, special events, folklore shows, etc. per itinerary. ■■ Porterage & local taxes and service charges. ■■ Gratuities for driver and guide. not included ■■ Travel Insurance. ■■ Departure fee (about $30 to be paid locally at the airport in San Jose). ■■ Drinks and items of personal nature. Accommodations Villa Tournon Hotel The Villa Tournon offers exquisite facilities, attentive service, and an ideal location. The hotel features a swimming pool, gardens, elegant décor and professional, personalized service. Hotel Heliconia Hotel Heliconia is located in Monteverde, a privileged location near three of Costa Rica’s most beautiful tropical cloud forests. The hotel offers a perfect setting for those who love bird-watching or nature photography from the serenity of a mountain retreat. The hotel has been designed to offer home-style comfort in the warmth of a wooden construction, assuring the guest an unforgettable experience & locale. Arenal Palace Hotel All spacious guest rooms at the Hotel Arenal Palace feature a private balcony or terrace with an unforgettable views to the Arenal Volcano and rainforests. Wrapped in the exotic sounds of the local birds and wildlife, the hotel’s well-trained and friendly staff will assure a comfortable stay and warm atmosphere. Hacienda Guachipelin Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin is located at the foot of the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste. Hacienda Guachipelin offers comfortable ranch-style rooms, with traditional wooded furniture and unique experiences for its guests. All rooms have views of the volcano and the Hacienda with wide verandas inviting you to relax and meet fellow travelers. The wonderful array of optional activities here offer you the opportunity to ride Costa Rican ranch horses to natural volcanic thermal springs or spectacular waterfall pools, transform yourself into a Cowboy for a day, watch some of the incredible bird varieties or explore the trails. La Posada Hotel La Posada offers hotel rooms surrounded by open spaces, beautiful gardens, and the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste. Characterized by the peace and tranquility of its location and its proximity to nature, Hacienda Pinilla is the perfect spot to enjoy sunny days and starry nights. Guests have access to the Beach Club on Playa Avellanas, where they can enjoy a dip in the oceanfront pool, a meal at Avellanas Restaurant, a spa treatment, or an afternoon spent walking the beach. Los Almendros Hotel This family-operated hotel is strategically located near the entrance to the Manuel Antonio National Park and just five minutes from the country’s most beautiful beaches, Los Almendros is one of the area’s finest hotels. Enjoy facilities such as a restaurant, bar and pool. 4 RESERVATION FORM please indicate x your tour selections below Costa Rica Jan 28 - Feb 11, 2014 (15 days) Please fill out this form in full and mail it with your deposit of $600. and insurance payment for each passenger. Insurance is optional but strongly recommended. Please write name exactly as listed in passport (e.g.: William, not “Bill”) 00 Passenger No. 1: Name Mr/Mrs/Ms Passenger No. 2: Name First Name Mr/Mrs/Ms First Name Middle Name Middle Name Last Name Last Name Passport #: Passport #: Passport Issuing Country: Passport Issuing Country: dd/mm/yy Date of Birth: Date of Birth: dd/mm/yy ADDRESS: Street: City: Province/State: Postal Code: Country: Phone: home work email: Next of Kin (to be contacted in case of emergency): Accomodation: o Single o Double Seating Preference on Aircraft: o Window o Aisle ph: Sharing with: Special Dietary Meal Request: (where available for flights/cruises) First Name (as you would like it to appear on your name tag): Please see insurance page then indicate your choice below INSURANCE: All-Inclusive or Trip Cancellation insurance should be purchased at time of deposit o Accepted o Declined specify All Inclusive or Trip Cancellation ___________________________________________________ specify amount of premium (see next page) $__________________________ Please make cheques payable to: ( BC Reg # 23625 ) VISA/MASTERCARD PAYMENTS: SPECIAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL 4603 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R6 Canada phone: (604) 291-1332 or 1 (800) 665-0998 *A 2% service fee applies to payments made by credit card Card Number ___________________________________________________________ Expiry date ________ Name on card __________________________________________________________________________ Amount to be charged ___________________________ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the brochure. SIGNATURE: FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT: A deposit of $600 per person is required at the time of reservation on this Special Travel International (hereafter called STI) tour. A second payment of $ 600 per person is due by October 31, 2013. The final payment is due by December 10, 2013. Travel documents will be sent to you approximately 14 days prior to your trip departure, provided full payment has been received. TOUR PRICES: All tour prices for land arrangements are based on rates effective at the time of printing and are expected to be in effect at the time of departure. Should these rates change, it may be necessary to surcharge the price of your vacation. Should the tour price increase by more than 10%, the passenger shall have the right to cancel within seven days of notification without penalty. 0-60 $210 61-65 $264 66-70 $323 71-76 $378 77 + $761 $600 Nov. 1 – Dec. 10, 2013 $1200 Dec. 11 – Dec. 28, 2013 $75% After Dec. 28, 2013 100% photo: Pyzhou INSURANCE: STI recommends that each tour participant has health, cancellation, interruption, accident and baggage insurance for the duration of his/her travel (in situations where insurance is not included in the tour price.) photo: Airunp (rate per person) Notice of cancellation must be made in writing. The effective cancellation date is the date when written notification is received by STI. The deposit of $600 is non-refundable. The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is received prior to departure: STI acts only as an agent in securing all services related to the tours described in this brochure, including transportation, sightseeing and accommodation. STI shall not be responsible or liable for any loss, cost, damage, injury, delay or expense arising from the use of any conveyance, accommodation or service or from acts of God, strikes, weather, quarantine, accidents, sickness, government regulations, insufficient documents and any loss/expense resulting from the above contingencies shall be borne by the tour member. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for the comfort of the passenger, or for any reason whatsoever, to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made without penalty to the operators. Additional expense, if any, shall be borne by the passenger. The right is reserved to withdraw any or all tours should conditions warrant, and also to decline to accept or retain any passenger as a member of the tour. In such instances, full or equitable amounts will be refunded. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: It is entirely the passenger’s responsibility to possess whatever documents and visas required by the law of the countries visited on the tour. AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY: Any airliner carrier providing transportation in connection with these tours is not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passenger is not on board its planes or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the airlines concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the purchase of these tours and/or passenger. Similar responsibility as noted applies to all types of carriers, including car rental companies. SPECIAL TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL BC Reg # 23625 THE ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY: THE ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE consists of: • Cancellation & Interruption • Emergency Medical ($5 Million limit) • Flight Accident • Travel Accident • Baggage & Personal Effects AGES: Prior to Oct. 31, 2013 InSURANCE Premiums Following are the main areas of coverage and the two packages we offer for this particular trip. Please carefully read the brochure you will receive after booking for full details. For insurance purposes the key point is that you are in GOOD health. Please note that PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS are not covered. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like further information. 4603 Main Street Vancouver, BC V5V 3R6 Canada tel: (604) 291-1332 or 1 (800) 665-0998 Fax: (604) 291-1378 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.sticanada.com 15 days If you wish you may choose the Cancellation & Interruption insurance alone; this plan is suitable if you have sufficient medical coverage already. These rates apply to any trip length. CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE AGES: 15 days 0-59 $196 60-64 $222 65-69 $245 70-74 $278 75-79 $387 80+ $471 Note: Insurance rates are valid at time of printing and are subject to change. Insurance premiums are subject to Provincial Sales Tax: 8% Ontario 9% Quebec 7% Manitoba