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I absolutely loved the recent trip to Costa Rica! The country is gorgeous, full of flowers, lush greenery and the people are super friendly. The constant call of "Pura Vida!" (which means pure life or To Life!) is so positive and uplifting. This charming saying is used instead of “you're welcome” or “good-bye” and is unique to Costa Rica.
The hotels were awesome and beautiful. Hearing the howler monkeys in the early hours at Mawamba Lodge was thrilling and convinced me I was truly in the middle of a rainforest. I did have a slight dampening experience at Tortuguero, I sprained my ankle while walking on the beach, but I received excellent care from the town nurse and the Mawamba hotel staff were all really concerned with my welfare and went out of their way to see to my comfort. My ankle was sore and swollen the rest of the trip but that didn't stop me. I still had a great time.
Our guide was excellent. He is a walking biology/botany book and shared his knowledge of the animals and plants we were looking at. He has super sharp eyes and could spot interesting birds in very inconspicuous places, especially toucans! We got to see a toucan close enough to photograph thru his personal telescope that he set up on the side of the road! His friendly, outgoing personality made us feel as if we were traveling with a good friend instead of just an employee of a tour company.
The WOW experiences were just that! The women of the Corazones Valientes were very welcoming, and getting the chance to create our own art work was exciting and since only one of us had ever painted anything, our efforts were at first shaky but the women made us feel confident and we were all very proud of our own paintings of animals and flowers. The last WOW experience at the Grano Oro hotel was a beautiful ending to a wonderful trip. The hotel was elegant and the food was great.
Speaking of food, it was all delicious! I fell in love with Gallo Pinto which is a mixture of white rice, black beans, spices and coconut milk, and the baked plantain bananas are wonderful. The variety of fish and chicken available to us was great, there was also an assortment of beef dishes which I didn't try but they looked really good.
I'm looking forward to another trip with WTC and hope to meet more wonderful and friendly fellow women that love to travel, laugh and enjoy life. Pura Vida!! Laura M., Alhambra, CA
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 1 pm) 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 6 breakfasts,
4 lunches and 5 dinners
- Special farewell dinner 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 – 1 lunch and 1 dinner – and 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
(currently $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 6 months 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 - Sunday: Arrive San José, Costa Rica
- one group arrival transfer at 1:00PM
Upon arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport,
those arriving in time 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.
For those arriving at other times, taxis are plentiful and
inexpensive (about $10).
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
reserve a table in the hotel restaurant at 7:00PM so that
those of you in-house can meet for dinner.
Day 2 - Monday: San José / Tortuguero (4 hours)
We leave early, stopping for a delicious breakfast en route in the Caribbean lowlands.
Along the way you will pass Braulio Carrillo National Park. At the dock in
Cano Blanco, 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 Laguna Lodge, a 15-acre property set on a narrow strip of land between the Caribbean coast and Tortuguero’s principal lagoon. The location is fabulous, with direct beach access for observing the thousands of Green Sea turtles who lay their eggs there from June through September. Lodge accommodations are rustic, but comfortable. Each of the 80 rooms has a private bathroom, ceiling fan, and garden views. The open-air restaurant overlooks the waterways while the pool area is set in the rear of property near the beach and has a hydro-massage waterfall to enjoy. There are private trails to explore, and an open butterfly garden with local plants that attract local species. Everywhere in the tropical sanctuary of Tortuguero affords the opportunities to see an amazing array of wildlife, including 3 species of monkeys. Thatched roofed Tiki huts with hammocks are situated around the grounds, and invite you to rest and listen to the sounds of birds and animals.
Since all meals are included at the lodge, we will start
today with a late lunch after check-in.
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 turtles that arrive each year onto the beaches, from Miami to Suriname. Their migration is monitored by satellite to ensure there is never any danger of extinction.
Later, we return to the hotel for relaxation. Your first
introduction/refresher in Spanish begins this evening!
Before dinner, join your guide for an enjoyable and
instructional lesson. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Tuesday: Tortuguero
After breakfast we travel with our guide on a boat tour 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
at the restaurant 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, and due to her age, the talk will be given by a family member). 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,
fishing, 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 - Wednesday: Tortuguero / Arenal (5 hours)
After an early breakfast we depart by boat, back to the dock at
Cano Blanco, 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)
Volcano 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 - Thursday: 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!
As a small gesture of saying thank you for visiting, the
women will serve a simple, family-style lunch!
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, L, D)
Day 6 - Friday: Arenal / San José (3 hours)
Following breakfast you have the morning free to enjoy the pool and the sunshine. Later, 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 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)
Day 7 - Saturday: San José / Home -
one group departure transfer at 10:00am
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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