Experience blue water, white sand, green mountains, superb cuisine and attentive personal service. Calypso's super catamaran, Manta Raya, glides past more than seven islands in the Gulf of Nicoya. Her Port of Call is the enchantingly beautiful, palm studded Tortuga Island where you can walk the impeccable white sand beach, swim in the turquoise waters and investigate the marine life while the crew prepares a sumptuous feast (featured in Gourmet Magazine). Enjoy dining in the shade of white umbrellas with tables covered in white linen.
This is an excellent opportunity to view the coffee, sugar plantations, volcanic mountains and the unique Brahman cattle that form an ever-changing panorama.
You will see beautiful countryside and mountain landscapes. You will have an easy hike around the Carara National Park for about 2 hours. Your english speaking guide will give you explanations of the natural history and will point out the interesting shy animals to be seen in this forest.
As it is a transition zone between a drier region to the north and a wetter one to the south, Carara represents a wide diversity of plantlife with over 1400 plant species and with evergreen species predominant. Crossed by diverse streams mostly with permanent waters, in the dry season the park is an oasis of freshness and greenery.
You may see toucans, monkeys, iguanas, coatimundis and sometimes the scarlet macaws! Carara is a very special site because it houses the second most important population of scarlet macaws in the country and also it protects a unique transition forest between dry tropical forest and a wet tropical forest.
Beautiful tropical gardens, tropical butterflies and Arabica Coffee growing, processing and history!
The Butterfly Farm offers visitors a more in depth view and appreciation of butterflies. All guests receive a two-hour guided tour of an enclosed tropical garden while hundreds of Costa Rican butterflies flutter around flowers with a guided explanation about the life cycle and natural history of these fascinating creatures.
Travel with us to the famed Café Britt Coffee Tour where you will laugh and learn with our coffee expert “campesinos” who lead the way from a single Arabica coffee bean through history until it reaches your cup. The tour ends with a delicious fresh Costa Rican buffet with a contemporary twist and tropical flavors that will surprise you. Delicious specialty hot and cold coffee drinks made to order by our “baristas”!
This is the highest volcano (3,432 meters = 11,000 feet high), considered by many the most energetic site in Costa Rica. Its huge crater is surrounded by a moonscape and it has a small lagoon at the bottom. From the top you can enjoy one of the most wonderful views over the forest of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, the Caribbean coast and lowlands. The volcano is located north from the old capital city of Cartago around 2 hours from San Jose by car. The bus ride offers beautiful views of the Central Valley, of San Jose and Cartago cities, as well as the interesting agricultural industry around the slope of this colossus. At the volcano you will have time to hike and explore the area. You can take a look at the different craters and enjoy the unique vegetation of these altitudes. On the way back to San Jose you will stop in Cartago to see the most important church of the country, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels (our patron saint). You will get back to San Jose between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. No meals included.
You can combine this half day tour with the Lankaster Gardens and Orosi. You will have lunch in Cartago and then continue to the Gardens. These beautiful gardens have one of the most complete and important collection of orchids and bromeliads in Costa Rica. There will be a hike of an hour around the gardens to enjoy this tropical paradise. After this you will drive to Orosi through coffee plantations with good views over the Cachi hydroelectric lake scheme to the Irazu National Park and Lankaster Gardens are included. scheme. You will arrive back in San Jose around 5:00 p.m. Lunch and entrance fees to the Irazu National Park and Lankaster Gardens are included.
This tour offers you the greatest variety of landscapes and vegetation that you can see in one day. It is perfect for people on a short break wishing to see the Costa Rican outstanding vegetation and scenery. The day will be fast - moving and fulfilling.
On this combination tour you will experience in one day at a no rush pace what is considered the most recommended tour in Costa Rica. After a delicious Costa Rican breakfast we will continue our upward journey to the Poas Volcano, observing on the way huge coffee fields, dairy farms, strawberry, blackberry, fern and tropical flower plantations. At an elevation of 2704 m above sea level you will experience one of the world´s widest active craters as well as enjoy a small hike on the refreshing cloud forest of this National Park.
After leaving the National Park we will be able to observe some dairy farms which have become the pride of Costa Ricans, due to the quality and the rich tasting products that are currently being exported. As we continue towards the Caribbean zone, we will stop to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a Nature Park where we will walk on the truly spectacular trails that will lead us to Magia Blanca Falls (the largest and most spectacular of the falls in the area). At the park you will also witness a After lunch we will continue to Sarapiquí and on our way we come across the famous La Paz Waterfall, where we take some time to enjoy the splendid view.
This tour offers you the greatest variety of landscapes and vegetation that you can see in one day. It is perfect for people on a short break wishing to see the Costa Rican outstanding vegetation and scenery. The day will be fast - moving and fulfilling.
On this combination tour you will experience in one day at a no rush pace what is considered the most recommended tour in Costa Rica. After a delicious Costa Rican breakfast we will continue our upward journey to the Poas Volcano, observing on the way huge coffee fields, dairy farms, strawberry, blackberry, fern and tropical flower plantations. At an elevation of 2704 m above sea level you will experience one of the world´s widest active craters as well as enjoy a small hike on the refreshing cloud forest of this National Park.
After leaving the National Park we will be able to observe some dairy farms which have become the pride of Costa Ricans, due to the quality and the rich tasting products that are currently being exported. As we continue towards the Caribbean zone, we will stop to discover La Paz Waterfall Gardens, a Nature Park where we will walk on the truly spectacular trails that will lead us to Magia Blanca Falls (the largest and most spectacular of the falls in the area). At the park you will also witness a After lunch we will continue to Sarapiquí and on our way we come across the famous La Paz Waterfall, where we take some time to enjoy the splendid view.
This is a unique experience for nature lovers and one of the best ways to enjoy the rainforest. After long studies in the canopy (upper part of the forest), biologists have discovered that about 60% of the life in a rainforest is found in the canopy and this is something we do not see on a normal hike. The first person to write about epiphytes (plants living on other plants but not in a parasitic manner), was Columbus when he saw the diversity and richness of the Central American rainforests. Columbus noted our native trees as having different types of leaves within a single specimen, without realizing at the same time that he was among the first to see tropical epiphytes. The incredible amount of epiphytes in the canopy of this forest is due to the high amount of rainfall throughout the year. The tram ride is a fascinating way of observing and exploring very closely ( like a bird flight ) the hanging gardens of Central America, considered by many as one of the richest rainforests of our new world.
This is a wonderful river that offers an exciting experience for people that want to try rafting for the first time. You need no experience, and all the instructions and the safety measures are discussed before the tour begins. The tour starts early in the morning in San Jose at a given pick up time in your hotel and takes you through the continental divide to the Caribbean lowlands. The water is not cold as in the temperate zones and you will enjoy the tropical vegetation on the banks. The ride will be of approximately 1 ½ hours depending on the water level and the number rafts.
The Pacuare River is one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids. This quintessential tropical river is a trip of pure magic, unsurpassed beauty, wildlife and exhilarating rapids.
Located on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope, the Pacuare River borders the Talamanca mountain range, home to native Càbecar Indians and an incredible variety of wildly Pacuare is considered the most beautiful rafting river in Costa Rica. It offers you the great excitement of a class IV river and the mystic experience of an almost pristine rainforest around it! If you want to have a lot of excitement this is your tour. Normally, rafting experience is required for this tour, but if you are athletic you will certainly manage.
This adventure is combined with an attractive hike, which would take us through primary forests with trees of grate height and diameter. This activity end with a visit to the traditional native Maleku Village and an unforgettable hike, crossing by a hanging bridge, to La Fortuna Waterfall, icon of this side of the world.
After feasting your senses and enjoying the tranquility of sailing these pristine waters, our Catamaran glide into a beautiful, protected bay so you and your group can swim under the protected cover of our tropical jungle. Snorkel along the coral reefs near the gentle coastline, and let your bilingual guide and naturalist help you discover our fascinating underwater domain, or rather, our underwater Costa Rican playground of tropical fish and exotic marine life. But don´t worry, this adventure has its “perks” too – and it´s not all work and no play. As you frolic and enjoy the secluded bay and romantic scenery, your crew will prepare a savory meal (lunch or dinner depending upon the time of your departure) of fresh local produce, great tropical fruits, and a terrific selection of refreshments.
Mysterious and imposing, in the very bowels of the Tenorio Volcano, manifestations of hidden power transform the union of the Buena Vista and Roble rivers into a sky blue stream, giving birth to one of the most extraordinary phenomenon’s of nature: “Light Blue River”. Along the river we will find hot springs, bends of heavenly tranquillity and a waterfall of singular beauty, all surrounded by varied flora and fauna.
The tour returns through trails, rich with ecological wonders, that lead us to the “OLLAS” -- openings in the earth where we can excavate healing muds, take a mud bath, and a dip in the natural hot springs all while observing the attractions of the Tenorio Volcano. We will continue our hike through the jungle to seek out the volcano’s furnace vents that expel gases of extreme high temperatures. On our decent we will get to see the spectacular Rio Celeste waterfall whose color makes it one of a kind.
Our final reward is an exquisite Costa Rican typical lunch at the end of our journey, and after that, the drive back to the hotels in La Fortuna.
This is one of the tours we offer for those who want to go on a bike trip to the area where the forest, the Arenal Volcano and the Lake meet and leads through a beautiful trail.
The tour starts from the Arenal Lake Dam, where we take an old trail into the forest. At the end of the trail we will arrive at the entrance of the Arenal Volcano National Park and then get on the way to the Observatory and back in the main road.
On this trail we will have the chance to see many different birds, for example: Squirrel Cuckoos, Keel-billed Toucans, Crested Guans, Slaty-tailed Trogons, Black-headed Trogons, Bare - throated Tiger Herons, Laughing Falcons; as well as howler monkeys and raccoons.
The South Pacific one of the least visited areas in Costa Rica and one of the most exotic and authentic! You will have an exciting holiday while enjoying nature at its best! Get to hike and observe the flora and fauna of one of the richest forests of Central America! (The Corcovado National Park) Enjoy snorkeling and hiking in the Caño Island Biological Reserve! See the beautiful scarlet macaws in their natural habitat!
Excursion starts at 5:45 a.m. in the morning, after enjoying Coffee or any other beverage and some snacks, with a guide specialized on bird observation and behavior the walk starts on the Galleria Nature Trail where species like Manikins, Wood-creeper, Tyrants and many others representing several families could be seen.
After leaving Galleria Trail feel the experience of several species close to you at our Hummingbird Garden; where these amazing birds will be Wonderful to watch.
After this experience and because this protected area is still being used for cattle farming and horse breeding, bird observation will go through pastures, ponds and secondary Forest where species like Toucans, Oropendolas, Tanagers and Hawks could be found.
The walk will go slow, good for adults and children of all ages through trails and terrain easy to walk with an average Temperature of 26 Celsius or 78 Fahrenheit.
Travel through time and transport yourself to the Costa Rica of the past with the unique presentations of Pueblo Antiguo; where you can see how life went by Costa Rica at the beginning of the 20th century. You will find out about our legends, believes, traditions, music, dances and stanzas.
Includes: Transportation, bilingual guide, typical lunch, entrance fee to the National Theater, entrance fee to the National Museum, sightseeing of residential and commercial areas of San José Downtown and time for shopping.
Within its 31 788 hectares is one of the zones with the greatest diversity in the country.
The humid tropical forest contains 500 species of trees, 140 of mammals Duch as wild cats, 367 species of birds, 40 of freshwater fish and 117 species between amphibians and reptiles Duch as crocodiles, and more than 600 kinds of insects. Corcovado is an important center for international research on sumid tropical forest.
Starting on the East side of San José, the first thing you will see from the bus is the Democracy Square and the National Museum, the Court Buildings, Los Yoses, San Pedro Mall, Hispanity Fountain and the Rodrigo Facio Campus of the University of Costa Rica.
After we have seen the capital’s main attractions, our first stop will be at the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and later at the beautiful National Theatre where we will have a guided tour through these cultural gems.
This building (National Theater) is the pride of San Jose and was declared a national monument in 1965. Our country is proud of having destinated these economical resources and efforts to this cultural building, while other neighbor nations where destinating most of their resources to enlarge the army or the police forces. It is decorated in a renaissance style with important paintings of famous Italian artists.
After our visit, the tour continues through the western section of San José: La Sabana Metropolitan Park, Costa Rican Contemporary Art Museum or the first International Airport in Costa Rica, the National Gymnasium, the Comptroller’s office, Rohrmoser residential area, Vatican Embassy, Nobel Peace prize winner Oscar Arias Sánchez’s house, Rohrmoser Boulevard and the Pavas suburb.
