Best of Costa Rica Tour

San Jose – Arenal – Monteverde – Manuel Antonio

Explore the very best of what Costa Rica has to offer from breathtaking volcanoes to treks deep into the rain forest to the pristine beaches of Manuel Antonio. This 8 day tour is packed with adventure and incredible scenery. Brought to you exclusively by American Student Travel Abroad!

INCLUSIONS & HIGHLIGHTS (You Get All Of This!):

International regular scheduled roundtrip air transportation between your city and San Jose, Costa Rica*
Transportation between San Jose/Arenal/Monteverde/Manuel Antonio via deluxe motor coach
Daily 3-4 star hotel accommodations located in the heart of San Jose, Arenal, Monte Verde, and Manuel Antonio
All hotel taxes
Daily Breakfast & Dinner
Guided excursion to Poas Volcano National Park
Shopping tour of Sarchi
Guided walking tour of Salvatura Park and the Cloud Forest with Zip Line
Hiking tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
Farewell dinner with Salsa Lessons

STOPS IN:

San Jose – Arenal – Poás Volcano National Park – Sarchí – Monteverde – Manuel Antonio

Day 1 (Depart to SAN JOSE)

Depart to San Jose, Costa Rica
Greeting at airport by your ASTA representative
Transfer to the hotel, rooming assignment/general briefing
Full dinner
Overnight San Jose

Day 2 (ARENAL)

Full American breakfast
Early in the morning departure to Poás Volcano National Park, Poás Volcano is the most visited park in the Costa Rican National Park system. The massive active crater often has sulfuric smoke rising out of the boiling, muddy lake on its bottom, while the beautiful crater lagoon is surrounded by lush cloud forest, with species of birds and plants native to the volcano, then continue to Sarchí a small town on the way to the Arenal volcano, which it is famous for its handicrafts and painted oxcarts, and then continue to La Fortuna.
In the afternoon visit Baldí Hot springs while enjoy the view to the volcano.
Hotel Rooming assignment/general briefing
Full dinner
Overnight Arenal

Day 3 (MONTEVERDE)

•Full American breakfast
Departure by van-boat-van to Monteverde. The trip begins from the town of Fortuna and after a short ride it arrives at Lake Arenal where a boat will transfer us to Rio Chiquito. The boat ride is full of beautiful scenes including a great view of the volcano. After crossing the lake, the bus will continue to Monteverde, Santa Elena.
Check in to your hotel and reconvene for lunch, then enjoy your majestic surroundings during your free afternoon.
Full dinner
Overnight Monteverde

Day 4 (MONTEVERDE)

•Full American breakfast
Depart for Selvatura Park where you will learn about the Cloud Forest and experience the Suspension Bridges and the eco-system in the upper elevations of the forests. The Treetop Walkway is a 1.9 mile trail that crosses through the cloud forest in which visitors will walk through eight different bridges of various lengths. Each of the bridges feature a five foot width, the widest ones in the country, and also a capacity of up to 80 people per bridge making them both the longest and strongest bridge system in Costa Rica. The treetop walkways are suitable for people of all ages and physical conditions. Then, enjoy one of the best adventures in Costa Rica, the Zip-line! At your Zip Line Tour, students will easily observe a wide variety of plants, birds and even insects that are only found in the upper elevations of the forest. The canopy tour guides will start by dressing you with the appropriate equipment, then they will take you through each of the 15 cables and 18 platforms, located inside the actual virgin cloud forest.
Optional “Don Juan Coffee Tour” in Santa Elena. (Very good option as educational and cultural tour). It is located about 2 kilometers from downtown Santa Elena de Monteverde, and around of 1,300 meters above sea level. During our tour, you will have the opportunity to learn about how coffee is grown, processed and produced. We have a series of both modern and traditional tools and machines in which we use to remove the many layers of the coffee fruit (yes the coffee bean comes within a fruit!). Throughout your tour you’ll have a chance to learn fun facts about coffee, including history and distribution as well as visit our germination bed, “El Recibidor” (processing area), drying yards, solar dryers and finally the roaster. Afterwards, you will have a chance to visit the Rainforest Café where you are invited to taste some of the “on the house coffee” as well as some of our specialty coffees.
Full dinner
Overnight Monteverde

Day 5 (MANUEL ANTONIO)

Full American breakfast
Departure to Quepos.
Rooming assignment/general briefing
Afternoon Free
Full dinner
Overnight Manuel Antonio

Day 6 (MANUEL ANTONIO)

Full American breakfast
Hiking Tour at Manuel Antonio National Park
Afternoon Free
Full dinner
Overnight Manuel Antonio

Day 7 (SAN JOSE)

Full American breakfast
Departure for San Jose
Rooming Assignment
Farewell dinner/free salsa lessons!
Overnight San Jose

Day 8 (RETURN FLIGHT)

Full American breakfast
Transfer to San Jose International Airport
Return flight to US

*Prices above based on sample June/July 2014 flight fares into Mexico City and out of Cancun from Chicago (ORD) & New York (JFK/LGA) and inter-Mexico flight between Mexico City and Merida with a minimum of 30 fully paid travelers, 3-4 star hotel stay in Mexico City, Merida and Playa del Carmen, and “1 & 8” teacher rewards. Additional US and Mexican Departure taxes and fees NOT INCLUDED in prices. Flights originating from other departure cities may increase prices. Upgrades for full lunches and dinner available at an additional cost. Price dependent on travel dates & group size and are subject to change. Any deviation from above itinerary or change in teacher rewards may incur price increases. See complete ASTA Trip Terms & Conditions here. Call 1.844.327.ASTA for more details and to plan this trip.

^Optional Activities are activities or excursions highly recommended but not included in price of this tour. Special discounted pricing for Optional Activities will be presented to organizing teacher in advance of finalizing itinerary. Call 1.844.327.ASTA for more details regarding Optional Activities.