Local Luxury Honeymoon Special

*Includes 2 nights FREE plus one complimentary romantic dinner, bottle of sparkling wine and guided tour Manuel Antonio Park!

Day 1:    Upon arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, you will transfer to the Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn in Heredia for overnight. Nestled in 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and dramatic tropical flora, the enchanting inn is a jewel crowning a picturesque knoll. Situated above the beautiful Central Valley, surrounded by towering “Higuerón” trees and exotic flora, the Inn offers spectacular views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations. Here at 4000 feet above sea level on a temperate plateau of extraordinary beauty, is grown some of the world’s best coffee in the lush volcanic soil. The Inn is renowned for its fine cuisine, prepared with bounty from its own fruit orchards and organic vegetable and herb garden. Unwind by the hillside swimming pool for stunning views morning, afternoon and evening.

The Inn offers two extraordinary master suites, and eleven elegant yet whimsical junior suites, four of which can be united to form two spacious villas. Each suite is unique and features fine local woods and pieces from the owners’ extensive modern art collection. All of the luxurious rooms include Jacuzzi baths and mini bars as well as private verandas overlooking the lovely Central Valley and the volcanoes above.

**** The Rosa Blanca Suite is the prized quarters, a dramatic duplex encompassing a separate living area and bar opening to an enormous terrace looking out over the valley. It also features spiral staircase, bathroom murals, and an oversized soaking tub.

*** The El Ranchito Suite is a lovely open-air bungalow, a traditional style Costa Rican structure, with cane ceilings and murals throughout. The bathroom has a luxurious Jacuzzi bathtub surrounded by lush gardens and a large sitting room and deck provides views of the higueron trees above and the coffee plantations below.

Day 2:  Cultural Highlands Tour - Experience Costa Rican Culture and History with our knowledgeable guides who will take you on a magical journey through the colonial towns of Barva and Heredia.  Famous mask makers of Barva still pass on the traditions of mask making for the community festivals and the giant puppets that dance through the streets to the wild music of the ¨cimarrona¨, a percussion and horn accompaniment.  Visit the Iglesia of San Bartolome completed in 1575 and then on to Heredia, the provincial capital founded in 1706 and its Spanish Colonial style landmarks arranged around the Parque Central,  the main cathedral, El Fortin, the Guard tower as well as the Casa  de La Cultura, an historic colonial residence.   Experience the sights, smells and sounds of the Central Market, crowded and bustling and filled with exotic fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs.  On our way back to Rosa Blanca we will stop at the Museo de Cultura Popular which recreates Spanish colonial Costa Rica in a century-old farmhouse.   Overnight Finca Rosa Blanca. 

Day 3:   Poas Volcano National Park Tour - After a scenic drive through Alajuela, arrive at Poas Volcano, one of the deepest active volcanoes in the world.  Having erupted last in 1978, Poas emits a continuous flow of steam from vents adjacent to a lake deep within the main crater. Hike to the second crater, with a crystal clear rain-fed lake surrounded by lush tropical jungle, located a half-mile away via a trail through dwarf cloud forest. Among the 80 species of birds reported, several are unique to this unusual habitat. Then visit the La Paz Waterfalls and Gardens - a beautiful private wildlife refuge. Hike along nature trails and across suspended bridges to see 4 massive waterfalls including the magnificent La Paz, a butterfly garden, jungle cat exhibit, aviary, monkeys, frogs, hummingbird garden and more in this cloud forest and rain forest. Enjoy lunch before returning to Finca Rosa Blanca for overnight. 

Day 4:  This morning you will be met and transferred 3 hours to the Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort, located next to the Manuel Antonio National Park on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Unique and spectacular beach and nature experiences combined with highest levels of comfort and sustainability in a local Costa Rican setting define the concept of Arenas del Mar. The resort caters to tourists that are looking for more than just another high-end resort experience. The property offers luxurious lodging in a spectacular beach and rainforest setting, with upscale dining in two hotel restaurants and personalized service that exceeds guest expectations.

The property is flanked by two pristine public beaches. Playa Espadillas is a long stretch of beach leading to the entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park.  We recommend this beach for those with children and for guests who would like to take walks, swim or surf and enjoy the wonderful view of the National Park. The second beach “Playitas” is a small cove beach with rough surf, located adjacent to the lower level of the hotel. This beach is known as a gay beach and does have some nudity at times. Guests of Arenas de Mar may prefer Playa Espadillas.

Arenas del Mar has 38 guest rooms set in seven three story buildings that are located overlooking the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Pacific Ocean, private beaches and surrounding rainforests. All rooms are equipped with: king size beds, spacious bathrooms, ceiling fans, air conditioning (in the bedrooms), flat screen TV’s, wired internet, telephones, mini-bar, coffee makers, safe deposit boxes, and large private decks. Other hotel facilities include a small spa located below the main restaurant/bar, a gift shop featuring local art and souvenirs and a state of the art business center near the hotel lobby.

Day 5:  Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike: Costa Rica’s favorite national park is tiny Manuel Antonio, featuring three of the country’s most beautiful white sand beaches bordered by dense rainforest and trails abundant in wildlife. Follow a professional naturalist guide for a moderate walk through the park. Keep your eyes and ears open to soak in the wonders of this tropical rainforest and its natural history. The animal life is diverse, with some 109 known species of mammals and 184 species of birds.  Expect to spot two or three species of monkeys, sloth, white-nosed coatimundis, agoutis, colorful butterflies, iguanas and various birds. Bring a bathing suit and towel to enjoy the beaches after the tour. Overnight Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort. 

Day 6:  Santa Juana Mountain Local Experience Tour - Experience the magic of nature and enjoy a unique part of Costa Rican rural heritage! This expedition takes you along the lush, jungle-shrouded slopes of the Fila Chonta Mountains where the Rodeo, Coto and Paquita rivers are born. See the rushing mountain streams that feed these rivers on their journey to the Pacific Ocean and enjoy a refreshing swim beneath mesmerizing waterfalls. You’ll also see fascinating regional wildlife, including a myriad of birds, insects and reptiles. Try your luck at organic Tilapia fishing, visit an authentic sugar mill powered by two massive oxen, and have the option to take a guided horseback ride.

Visit the rustic Santa Juana pueblo, where you’ll learn about coffee and citrus production, participate in the Carbon Offset Tree Planting Adoption Program, and enjoy a typical Campesino style lunch while taking in the panoramic vista of the coastline of Manuel Antonio National Park. You’ll see why this exceptional tour, which is supported by international conservation organizations for helping preserve and protect Costa Rica’s rural heritage, is so well received by our guests.  Overnight Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort. 

Day 7 – 8:  Free days to explore the region.  The resort overlooks the Manuel Antonio National Park and is set in 11 acres of nature, with private nature trails and access to two beautiful sand beaches. Other attractions and tours include sport fishing, sea kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, Butterfly Farm Tour, exploring the Isla Damas Estuary by kayak or boat, Rainmaker Reserve and suspension bridges, Sunset Sailing and whitewater rafting. Guided excursions at additional cost can be pre-booked or arranged upon arrival.  Don’t forget to visit the fun shops and restaurants in the old United Fruit Company town of Quepos. Overnight Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort.   

Day 9:  Morning transfer 3 hours to the international airport in San Jose for your afternoon return flight home. 

Price:  $2212.00 per adult / double occupancy / land package
(valid for travel from May 1 – October 31, 2011)

Includes: 

• One way San Jose international airport transfer. 
• 3 nights Finca Rosa Blanca, master suite.  Breakfast daily included.  *Honeymoon Special – includes the 3rd night FREE plus a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine!
• Cultural Highlands Tour.  Includes:  transfers and guide. 
• Poas Volcano & La Paz Waterfall Gardens Tour.   Includes:  transfers, guide, entrance and lunch. 
• Roundtrip private ground transfers San Jose / Manuel Antonio. 
• 5 nights Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort, ocean view premium suite.  Breakfast daily included.  *Honeymoon Special – includes the 5th night FREE plus one complimentary romantic dinner at the beach and a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park!
• Santa Juana Mountain Tour.  Includes:  transfers, guide and lunch. 
• ALL HOTEL TAX INCLUDED.