COSTA RICA, PANAMÁ & NICARAGUA
15 Nights & 16 Days
Day 1: San José, Costa Rica
Welcome to San José.
Transfer to Hotel. Check in to the Hotel.
Explore the city and its charms, its theaters, museums, shopping, or just enjoy a coffee while watching the daily life of the “Ticos”.
Overnight in San José, Costa Rica
Day 2: San José – Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Breakfast at Hotel.
Today begins our adventure to our sister country of Panama. Specifically, we will visit the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, which is bordered to the west by Costa Rica, and is composed of 9 islands, 50 Keys and more than 200 islets. All of these offer a wide variety of attractions and natural environments difficult to find in other regions of our continent – dense humid forests and rainforests with abundant flora and fauna, islands full of sun, beaches that compete with the best in the Caribbean, living coral reefs in completely transparent waters, mangrove islets in lake settings, indigenous Ngobe and Naso communities, and a biosphere reserve that protects examples of the ecosystems and natural resources within the Bocas del Toro province as a tribute to future generations.
Overnight in Panama
Day 3: Panama – Bocas Del Toro – Panama
Breakfast at Hotel.
excursion to Bird Island, BocaDrago and Estrellas Beach, which allows you to discover the attractions of Colón Island and the town of Bocas del Toro. The tour starts in the center of Bocasdel Toro, where you will board a covered boat that will take you to the most beautiful places. The first place we will visit is Bird Island, which is a bird sanctuary. It is also one of the most important nesting sites for seabirds, including gulls in particular; for instance, the Red-billed tropicbird spends most of the year in the open sea and only comes to the Keys to reproduce. The Brown Booby, Northern Gannet, Terns and Pelicans are some of the birds found on this island. From there, we will head to Boca Del Drago beach, which lies at the other end of the island. Legend has it that 500 or so years ago, Christopher Columbus landed on this beach. Dragoisan ideal site for swimming, diving or snorkeling. There are walking trails and beaches with crystal clear water where you can see starfish. From there we also will enjoy the pristine waters of Estrellas (Star) Beach.
Included:Regular boat transport, bottled water, local guide. The tour does not include meals.
Overnight in Panama
Day 4: Panama – Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Breakfast at Hotel.
We will continue to discover more of the Bocas Del Toro archipelago: Excursion to Dolphin Bay, Coral Cay, Red Frog Beach & Hospital Point. The tour starts in the center of Bocasdel Toro, where you will board a covered boat that will take you to the most beautiful places in Bocas Del Toro. We will visit Dolphin Bay to see wild dolphins, then go to Coral Cay to snorkel amid coral reefs filled with multicolored fish; after snorkeling, we will have time for lunch (lunch is not included). After savoring the delicious Caribbean cuisine of Bocas Del Toro, we will visit the beautiful Red Frog Beach, where you can relax under the sun on a turquoise beach. Finally, we will snorkel along the multicolored reef of Hospital Point. Included: Regular boat transport, bottled water, local guide, entrance to a private nature trail at Red Frog Beach. The tour does not include meals.
Overnight in Panama
Day 5: Panama – Bocas Del Toro, Panama – Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
At the appointed hour, we will go by private transfer to Puerto Viejo de Limón, Costa Rica. Our Southern Caribbean destination is home to Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean culture, which has an incredible combination of colors and flavors.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 6: Costa Rica –Cahuita – Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
We will go on a snorkeling tour at Cahuita National Park. We will go by 15-passenger boat with our captain and guide to one of the most important coral reefs of Costa Rica, where we will snorkel for approximately 2 hours. Afterward, we will have a snack of seasonal tropical fruits and fresh bottled water, before we begin the second stage of the tour which is a guided trail walk. Our guide will take us to different points between Punta Cahuita and the town of Cahuita (3.5 km) to enjoy the flora and fauna common in the rainforest.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 7: Costa Rica – Puerto Viejo – Arenal Volcano
Breakfast at Hotel.
We will travel by regular transfer to Costa Rica’s Northern Plains to the impressive Arenal Volcano, a natural wonder offering you the chance to witness volcanic activity, such as columns of white smoke and as the mandating from the cone-shaped crater. Along the way there, you will see various agricultural andornamental plant plantations and cattle ranches, until you reach the town of La Fortuna. The town is worth visiting to walk and to have lunch or dinner. Your hotel is strategically located to appreciate the Volcano.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 8: Costa Rica – Arenal – Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
The tour starts with a walk along rainforest trails accompanied by our naturalist guide, where you can see monkeys, toucans, sloths and more. Then we’ll go to Arenal Volcano’s active area, where you can see in can de scent rocks falling, the eruption of gases, and the roar of this amazing giant .Afterward, relax in the hot springs of Tabacon Resort, famous for its healing properties.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 9: Costa Rica –Monteverde – Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
Your next destination is the Monteverde cloud forest, a small community located at the top of the Tilarán Mountain Rangeand an important eco tourism destination in Costa Rica; the main attraction is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. During the trip, you will see Lake Arenal and beautiful landscapes, and pass through some typical country villages. You will have the afternoon free to enjoy your hotel’s facilities.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 10: Costa Rica – Monteverde – Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
Today, we will explore the Monteverde cloud forest by canopy zipline tour and hanging bridges at Selvatura Park. We will cross through the unique cloud forest canopy suspended on high-capacity cables, using the best mountaineering equipment. This tour not only combines the excitement of one of the safest and most popular Costa Rica adventures, it also offers amazing views of the cloud forest canopy, a perspective which could only be appreciated by scientists until recently.
Our tour continues walking the hanging bridges trail which offers a safe way to admire the cloud forest canopy. The bridges can be enjoyed by people of all ages and physical conditions. Almost the entire trail is flat and the hills are small. The trail is a loop, which ensures that our visitors will not get lost and can walk at their own pace. Finally, you will visit the hummingbird museum and butterfly garden.
Overnight in Costa Rica
Day 11: Costa Rica –Monteverde – Granada, Nicaragua
Breakfast at Hotel.
Today, we will go by private transport to Peñas Blancas, the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. At the border, we will change transport and continue on to the colonial city of Granada. Once there, we will enjoy a half-day tour through the oldest and most historical city of the American continent. Explore its main streets where you can appreciate the architecture of colonial houses. In addition, we will walk in the Colón Park, visit the La Merced Church, Pólvora(Gunpowder) Fortress, the San Francisco Convent, and appreciate the monuments, culture, and warmth of this wonderful city. Finally, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a boat tour through the lush and romantic islets of Granada.
Overnight in Nicaragua
Day 12: Nicaragua – Granada, Nicaragua
Breakfast at Hotel.
In the morning we will drive to Catarina, known for its impressive viewpoint and the town of San Juan de Oriente, rich in handicrafts and traditions. Then our tour will take us to the city of Masaya, famous for being the birthplace of Nicaraguan folklore; it is essential to visit the artisan market where you can learn about and purchase a range of handicrafts by Nicaraguan artisans. Afterward, we will delve a little deeper into the rich nature of Nicaragua by visiting the Masaya Volcano National Park, where you can see the volcanic activity of the San Fernando crater.We also have the opportunity to visit the museum. Following this, we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Nicaragua
Day 13: Nicaragua – Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
You have part of the morning free to enjoy this beautiful colonial city. At the appointed time, we will return once again to Costa Rica, passing the border at Peñas Blancas; there, your private transport will take you onward to Guanacaste. With a spectacular, always sunny climate, here you can enjoy beautiful beaches of white sand and one of the richest areas for culture, music, gastronomy and hospitality in Costa Rica.
Overnight in Guanacaste
Day 14: Costa Rica – Guancaste – Costa Rica
Breakfast at Hotel.
Today you have many different activities available in the area: visit the Palo Verde National Park, the Rincon de la Vieja National Park, beach activities, canopy tours, etc. Additionally, you can experience many Costa Rican traditions such as clay handicrafts, traditional “marimba” music, and a delicious typical dinner.
Overnight in Guanacaste
Day 15: Guancaste – San Jose
Breakfast at Hotel.
Return trip from the “land of cowboys” to the Central Valley. During the trip, we will pass through picturesque towns. Upon arrival to your hotel, you will have time to rest before enjoying an exquisite dinner from the wide range of gourmet cuisine found in the Capital
Overnight in San Jose
Day 16: San Jose
Breakfast at Hotel.
At the appointed hour, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.