Costa Rica: Jungles & Rainforests

Arrive San José

San Jose/Costa Rica, Costa Rica

Tauck Bridges' family Costa Rica vacation begins at InterContinental Costa Rica at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from San José's Juan Santamaria International Airport to InterContinental Costa Rica in the heart of Costa Rica's capital city, San José. Meet your fellow eco-adventurers at this evening's welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel, where your family enjoys Deluxe Rooms.

Dinner

INTERCONTINENTAL COSTA RICA AT MULTIPLAZA MALL

Toucans, chocolate & on to Tortuguero

Tortuguero N.P., Costa Rica

A day of fun awaits your family today as you depart the capital, San José, and make your way to Tortuguero National Park, a tropical paradise in the heart of the coastal rainforest and your first taste of Costa Rica's incredible biodiversity! En route, pay a visit to the Toucan Rescue Center, where you'll tour the facilities and meet some of the toucans, sloths, monkeys and other wildlife the center's staff cares for.

Next, learn everything you ever wanted to know about one of our favorite food groups – chocolate – at an artisan chocolatier! See the natural process of transforming the cacao fruit into chocolate during a hands-on demonstration, do a little tasting and have lunch.

This afternoon, a boat transports you to your rustic rainforest retreat adjacent to Tortuguero National Park – where most travel is by water, toucans and blue morpho butterflies fly all around you, and howler monkeys provide a natural wake-up call! Enjoy a poolside barbecue for dinner tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ANINGA LODGE

The natural treasures of Tortuguero

Tortuguero N.P., Costa Rica

Wake up today in your rainforest lodge near the entrance to Tortuguero National Park, where 11 different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness – providing homes to 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Your day begins with a morning canal cruise, where you'll do some birding and nature viewing with our local guides, then return to your lodge for lunch.

This afternoon, take a boat to explore the village of Tortuguero; learn about the medicinal benefits of coconuts, and the "tree of life" they come from, during a coconut demonstration; and, if you wish, take an optional canal cruise inside Tortuguero National Park, or just relax at your resort. And if you're traveling with us between July and August, this evening we'll take an unforgettable nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting green sea turtles in one of the world's top nesting grounds for these endangered animals. You'll have a chance to see them make their way up the beach from the water to dig their nests in the sand, leaving tractor-tread trails behind them!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ANINGA LODGE

Zip lining & more at Arenal

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Depart your coastal lodge by boat this morning, then hop aboard a short flight to Costa Rica's Arenal region – home to Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal and Arenal National Park. Upon arrival, get an extraordinary bird's-eye view of cone-shaped Arenal Volcano, an actively "restless" volcano, on a thrilling zip-line ride* at Sky Trek Adventure Park, where you'll soar over and through the canopy of rainforest treetops! (Those not into zip lining can take a nature walk instead.)

After lunch, continue to your luxury spa resort, your family's home for the next two nights; spend a free afternoon relaxing at the resort, where you'll have dinner tonight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

THE ROYAL CORIN THERMAL WATER SPA & RESORT

River float trip & a pineapple tour

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Head to the banks of the Peñas Blancas River today, a quiet backdrop perfect for taking in the sights and sounds of the rainforest. Board a rubber river raft for a gentle float trip* through the jungle today; try to spot giant iguanas, sloths, monkeys, toucans, herons, kingfishers – maybe even crocodiles and caimans – that call the Peñas Blancas home, and stop along the way to meet a local farming family who have lived on the river all of their lives.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, join us for a pineapple tour on which you'll taste pineapples fresh from the field, learn how to choose the best pineapple at the supermarket, and sample some local pineapple treats. Return to your resort for some time at leisure and dinner this evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

THE ROYAL CORIN THERMAL WATER SPA & RESORT

Across Costa Rica to coastal Guanacaste

Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica

Head out from Arenal and across Costa Rica's interior today to Guanacaste on the Pacific coast, stopping for lunch on the way. Then continue on to your eclectic oceanfront resort, El Mangroove, on the shores of the Pacific in Guanacaste.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

EL MANGROOVE

Outdoor fun & a beachfront farewell

Golfo de Papagayo, Costa Rica

A day of fun awaits your family today at Vandara Adventure Park & Spa in Guanacaste... where the only other guests will be your fellow Tauck travelers! You can choose from activities including horseback riding, a zip-line adventure*, waterslides, a dip in volcanic hot springs, or a massage. Whichever you choose, it's a great way to wind up your family's Costa Rica vacation!

After enjoying a farm-to-table lunch at Vandara featuring products from the park's own organic garden, return to your oceanfront resort, where you'll celebrate the end of your amazing eco-trip with a farewell reception on the beach, complete with traditional Costa Rican music by a marimba band, followed by a farewell dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

EL MANGROOVE

Adios, Costa Rica!

Liberia, Costa Rica

Your family's memorable Costa Rica vacation ends in Guanacaste. Fly home anytime. A transfer from El Mangroove to Liberia International Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of three hours for check-in at the airport.

Breakfast

• ALL guests must carefully verify the existing identification requirements for their particular travel situation DIRECTLY WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSULATES OR EMBASSIES or with a visa service, as these requirements may change. Guests without proper documentation may be denied entry and will not be entitled to a refund

• 60 days or more before departure: $350.00 per person
• 59-8 days before departure: $600.00 per person
• 7-1 days before departure: $900.00 per person
• On departure day and later: 100% of total price
• Any changes or cancellations to airline reservations made through Tauck either before or after departure are subject to the cancellation / change policies of the individual airlines. In n some instances these cancellation / change fees may be up to 100% of the ticket price.
• Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including extra night accommodations, independently supplied services, and optional excursions reserved prior to, during, and after the tour. If flight changes, including, but not limited to, flight cancellations or name changes, are requested after full land and air deposits are received, revision fees, change fees, or airline cancellation fees will apply.
• All cancellations must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
• The purchase to trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.

• Land only “from price” is per person based on two people sharing a room together and does not include airfare unless expressly stated.
• All prices are in US Dollars.
• A $350 non-refundable, non-transferable, per-person, per-vacation deposit is required to reserve space for you. Payment of the deposit indicates you have read and accepted all Terms & Conditions. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit payment is processed and you receive a confirmation invoice.
• Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Within the final payment date, payment in full is required at time of booking to reserve space. Reservations (land, cruise, and air) are canceled if final payment is not received by the due date.
• Additional deposits or payments are required for international air added to the start and/or end of your vacation.