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Exclusively for Women
- Six nights hotel accommodations, including taxes and service charges
- Professional English-speaking local tour manager throughout the program
- Roundtrip private airport/hotel transfers with luggage assistance based on one group arrival
(at mid-day) and one group departure (early morning)
- Private land transfers between San José-Tortuguero-Arenal-San José, all in air-conditioned vehicles
- Delicious meals to include 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
- Special farewell dinner with wine at the Grano de Oro Hotel in San José
- Sightseeing, guided tours and special WOW! activities, including admission fees where applicable
- Informal Spanish lessons by our guide with practice opportunities at several events
Not Included:
- Airport transportation outside of the 1 main group transfer each way
- Other meals – 3 lunches and 1 dinner – and additional cocktails (refer to the codes B, L, D in the itinerary to see
what’s included)
- Personal incidentals
- Optional activities not included in the itinerary
- Tips to the bus drivers and tour guides
- U.S. Airport taxes, government fees and September 11th security fee
- Costa Rica airport departure tax of $26 per person
Costa Rica Entry Requirements:
*** Valid passport required. U.S. citizens do not need a Visa or Inoculations***
You must present a valid passport that will not expire for at least 30 days after arrival, plus a roundtrip airline ticket. Passports
must
be in good condition and not damaged in any way. For citizens of other countries, please check your specific entry requirements.
Day 1 - Tuesday, January 13: Arrive San José, Costa Rica.
Upon arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport, you will be met by our local tour manager who will oversee your luggage
assistance and transfer to the Hotel Doubletree Cariari by Hilton in San Jose. Located just a short drive from the airport, the
Doubletree Cariari is a modern, hacienda-style hotel with 222 guest rooms and full-service amenities: spacious, newly renovated
guest rooms, 2 sparkling outdoor swimming pools, fitness center, Casino, 2 restaurants and a hotel shuttle to nearby golf.
Your comfortable room features the “Sweet Dreams by Doubletree” Sleep Experience. Rooms are reminiscent of the colonial
hacienda-style of traditional San Jose. Archways and tile floors, wireless high-speed internet and mini-bars combine to meet the
needs of the contemporary traveler in a casual ambiance. Room includes AM/FM alarm clock/MP3 player, cable 29" TV service
(Spanish and English), coffee maker with Costa Rican blend, safe deposit box, in room A/C, iron and board and hairdryer.
We are not planning a welcome dinner, as women will be arriving at different times. Instead, we will have an informal meeting in
the hotel lounge with dinner optional for those in-house. (Meals on own today)
Day 2 - Wednesday, January 14: San José / Tortuguero (4 hours).
We leave early, stopping for a delicious breakfast en route in the Caribbean lowlands. At the dock in Matina, we board the boat
(30-40 seat capacities) for the 2-hour cruise to Tortuguero, the “Region of Turtles.”
Note on Luggage Restriction: There is a 25-lb limit to the luggage you can take on the boat. Bring a small bag to store your
belongings in for the next 2 nights. You won’t need more than a few informal changes of clothes, plus swim wear and good
walking
shoes. We will leave our luggage with the local tour operator, locked at their office, and your bags will be returned to
you in Arenal
on Friday.
Our residence for the next 2 nights is the lovely Mawamba Lodge, a 15-acre beachfront property situated on a sand bar between
the
Tortuguero Canals and the Caribbean. The location is fabulous, with direct access to the pristine beach and with gorgeous
views of
the Lagoon and canals. Lodge accommodations are comfortable with private bathroom, ceiling fans, and garden views.
Everywhere
in the tropical sanctuary of Tortuguero affords the opportunities to see an amazing array of wildlife, including 3 species
of monkeys.
Thatched roofed ranchos (shelters) with hammocks are situated around the grounds, and invite you to rest and
listen to the sounds
of birds and animals. Your first introduction/refresher in Spanish begins today! Join your guide for an
enjoyable and instructional
lesson. Then, since all meals are included at the lodge, we will start with lunch.
In the afternoon, we will take a guided walk to the town of Tortuguero, just a quarter mile from the hotel. Admission to the
Caribbean
Conservation Center is included, and it’s fascinating to see the lengths to which the Center protects the Green Sea
Turtles that
arrive each year onto the beaches, from Miami to Suriname. In Tortuguero, the Season runs from July through
September. Their
migration is monitored by satellite to ensure there is never any danger of extinction.
Later, we return to the hotel for relaxation and dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Thursday, January 15: Tortuguero.
After breakfast we travel with our guide through the beautiful Tortuguero National Park and its canals, with fascinating vegetation
and wildlife. The turtle nesting area here consists of 22 miles of protected beach on the Caribbean Coast. The canals are the only
way to get around and are great fun. You are likely to see colorful birds, sloth, river turtles, caiman, iguanas and crocodiles.
WOW! Today at lunch, we dine in the company of a legend, Miss Junie! Famous for her cooking, as well as her ancestry, she is the
granddaughter of Sea Captain Martinez who came from the San Andreas Islands and was the founding father of the village. Miss
Junie´s Restaurant is located on the north side of the village of Tortuguero, and has been celebrated world-wide for serving the
best food on the Costa Rican coast. You will be treated to the most delicious Caribbean dishes while learning about the village’s
local history (She is also one of the oldest residents). The restaurant is located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Tortuguero.
With Caribbean and African décor, plus framed black and white photos, the restaurant walls reveal the history of the village from
1940. The business is still run by Miss Junie, along with her daughter and the friendly local staff who look forward to providing us
with a memorable experience in Caribbean hospitality.
The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the many activities back at the hotel. There is hiking, birding, and for a truly unique
experience, take an optional kayaking tour into the mangroves!
Our guide will offer another Spanish lesson before dinner for those interested. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Friday, January 16: Tortuguero / Arenal (5 hours).
After breakfast we depart by boat, back to the dock at Matina, and then via coach to Arenal. Along the way we will stop for lunch in
Sarapiqui. Our destination is the Volcano Lodge Hotel, located in the northern region of Costa Rica with excellent views of Arenal
Volcano. We arrive the hotel in the afternoon. Tonight, dinner will be served at the Lodge. (B, L, D)
Arenal Lodge is a charming hotel on the slopes of one of Costa Rica’s natural wonders. The Arenal Volcano is the only volcano
in Costa Rica constantly active since it woke up in 1968 after 400 years and erupted with huge ash columns, explosions and
glowing red lava. Today, you can see stones rolling down the sides of the mountain during the day, while at night, see unforgettable
live colored eruptions worth photographing. Each guest room is strategically located for the best views of the Arenal Volcano, and
has tiled floors, ceiling fans, air conditioning, private bathroom, a terrace with rocking chairs surrounded by tropical gardens.
Amenities include an inviting pool, outdoor jacuzzi and a Spa.
Day 5 - Saturday, January 17: Arenal.
WOW! This morning we transfer to the town of Monterrey, about a 40-minute ride, to participate in a special, 2-hour workshop at
Corazones Valientes. The “CV” project is aptly named and means “Brave Hearts.” It was started with 16 women from the most
rugged, rural area of Monterrey. Faced with the challenge to support themselves and their families, the women were selected by the
Peace Corps for this project. A volunteer was sent to teach them the techniques of painting. To purchase materials, they sold bread
and picked coffee at harvest time. Their economic condition improved slowly, and they were able to improve their skills while
maintaining support, not only for their children, but for others in the community.
Their artwork, which is sold at souvenir shops at La Fortuna and San José, helps 30 to 40 families, each with 4 to 8 children. They
also sell their products at special fairs to aid the local school. During our visit, we will participate in a workshop to make a painting
with the women. This will also be a wonderful chance to practice your Spanish!
Afterwards, we will stop at a local restaurant for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we visit the famous Hanging Bridges of Arenal
for a unique perspective of the exotic birds and lush vegetation from above. The tour takes several hours and covers 2-3 miles of
hiking trails through spectacular lowland rainforests. Along the way you are guided safely over 8 fixed bridges (ranging 24 to 70 feet
long) and 6 hanging bridges (between 150 and 300 feet long). All the bridges are made of galvanized steel and high-strength
aluminum for utmost safety. The entire project was designed to blend with the natural environment, leaving the forest virtually intact,
and offering a birds-eye view of a great diversity of plant and animal life.
Later, we will offer a visit to the Hidalgo Hot Springs, an exclusive retreat not open to the public where you can take a dip in the
natural springs heated by Arenal Volcano. The 5 pools are landscaped with large, smooth river rock taken from the area and are
large enough to offer plenty of room to spread out and find a private corner to relax in serenity amidst lush, tropical foliage.
Dinner will be served back at the hotel. (B, D)
Day 6 - Sunday, January 18: Arenal / San José (3 hours).
Following breakfast we head back to the capital of San José, stopping first to visit the picturesque town of Sarchi. An enchanting,
fairy tale village, Sarchi is famous for colorful wood craftsmanship . . . its pink church trimmed in pale green, the many houses
adorned with colorful gingerbread decoration. In the numerous souvenir shops you will find an astonishing array of crafts and
wooden products. Here you will see craftsmen meticulously hand-painting the colorful ox carts and ox cart wheels that are seen all
over Costa Rica.
You will be free to have lunch on your own in a local restaurant. Later, after checking back into the Hotel Doubletree Cariari, you are
free to relax.
WOW! This evening we will transfer to the nearby Grano de Oro Hotel for a special farewell dinner. The hotel is a converted Victorian
mansion on a quite street close to downtown San José. Notice the paintings on the atrium terrace by local artists. The garden
restaurant merges Costa Rican tropical cuisine with European specialties under the expertise of French-trained Chef Francis Canal.
A lovely farewell dinner with wine will be served. We are pleased to know that all proceeds from the restaurant fund the Casa Luz
halfway house for young mothers and youth at risk. (B, D)
Monday, January 19: San José / Home.
Breakfast is at the hotel, followed by a morning group departure to the airport. For other times, airport transfers are available through
the hotel or by taxi. (B)
For additional information, see: Visit Costa Rica
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Trips designed by women for women