Costa Rica & Panama Combo

Start your ultimate adventure with an exciting whitewater rafting trip down Class III –IV rapids on a world class river.  The next part of your trip will take you to the Los Angeles Cloud Forest known for its misty dreamlike setting that is great for hiking and wildlife observation.  From here tour the Arenal Volcano and soak in the hot springs before you fly to Panama to stay in an over the water bungalow.  Enjoy the pristine islands and the Caribbean Beaches for three days before ending your journey in Panama City where you will explore the city and the Panama Canal.

Day 1:   Upon arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, you will transfer to the Hotel Grano de Oro for overnight. Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colón, San José's main thoroughfare, Hotel Grano de Oro is a true oasis, a sanctuary in the heart of the city.  Converted from a Tropical Victorian mansion, the recently renovated 40-room hotel maintains the warmth and comfort of a private home. Guests delight in the tranquil ambience of tropical plants and flowers found throughout the hotel. Italian tile fountains grace intimate atriums, ensuring that one is never far from the soothing melody of falling water. Additionally a rooftop garden terrace offers relaxing Jacuzzis and a blissful, secluded spot for lounging, sunbathing and stargazing. Once a simple café, the restaurant at Grano de Oro has evolved into one or San Jose’s finest dining establishments, frequented by locals and visitors alike.

Day 2:   Pacuare River Whitewater Rafting (Class III-IV): Early morning pickup from your hotel, you will drive by private, comfortable bus to the Operations Center for a delicious, typical Costa Rican breakfast. After breakfast, drive to the put-in on the banks of the Pacuare River. Here, we review and adjust all necessary equipment for proper fit, give you a comprehensive rafting safety talk, and instruct you on paddling basics. You’ll begin to paddle 14 miles deep into the heart of one of Costa Rica's most impressive primary rainforests. You’ll pass through densely vegetated rainforest gorges, view cascading waterfalls, relax in serene pools and experience pounding rapids. You will enjoy an adrenaline-packed afternoon running the Pacuare’s biggest rapids, with names like Upper and Lower Huacas, Cimarron, Dos Montanas and more. Late this afternoon, you will return to San Jose and arrive at the Hotel Grano de Oro for overnight.

Day 3:  This morning you will be met and transferred approximately 1 ½ hours to the Los Angeles Cloud Forest near San Ramon. This high-elevation forest, literally in the clouds, is a misty dreamlike setting that is great for hiking and wildlife observation. Arrive at the Hotel Villa Blanca for overnight located on a 75-acre Private Biological Reserve.  The hotel offers distinctive and unique accommodations with amenities not commonly found in a Cloud Forest region including 35 Casitas with fireplaces, each with breathtaking views of pristine tropical cloud forest, upscale restaurant, lobby with fireplace, bar lounge, terrace deck, library / game room, private movie theater, Serenity Spa facilities and Regalame II Gift Shop and Art Gallery.  The remainder of the day is free to hike through the private cloud forest reserve bordering the hotel or to book a day tour.  Additional optional excursions include an on site canopy zip line tours, bird watching tours, cultural/historical countryside tour, horseback riding and nocturnal nature walk. 

Day 4:  Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Tour (full day): This morning we will depart from Villa Blanca traveling along the continental divide into the San Carlos plains.  Along the way your guide will explain dairy production and the characteristics of different crops located in San Carlos including ornamental plants, pineapple, cassava, papaya and plantains.  Upon arriving in the town of La Fortuna you will learn the growing importance of tourism to this area in recent years.  Next we will take a nature walk to observe the volcano (weather permitting) and discuss its history, including the most important recent eruptions.  After a short walk and photo opportunity we will head to the private thermal hot springs where we will relax in the medicinal waters.  Prior to the drive back to Villa Blanca we will stop at a local restaurant for a delicious campesino style lunch and more spectacular views of the volcano.  Overnight Hotel Villablanca.

Day 5:   This morning you will be met and transferred 1 and ½ hours to the airport in San Jose for an international flight to Bocas del Toro, Panama.   Upon arrival you will be met and transferred by boat to Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge for overnight.  Punta Caracol was born out of the idea of creating an Acqua-Lodge in a totally virgin and natural environment.  The idea is to offer guests a pure and intimate experience with nature in a place of singular beauty where they can relax in comfort.  The whole lodge is built over the crystal clear Caribbean Sea, along a mile long coral reefed coast.  Nine cabins are built upon stilts which support a wooden frame over the water and covered by a palm leaf roof and connect to a long spiraling central walkway to face Almirante Bay. The cabins are all equipped with solar energy, a second level master bedroom, bathroom and a private terrace to observe the beautiful sunset and playful dolphins. The palm leaf roof restaurant offers a variety of the freshest fish caught the same day along with Caribbean and International dishes.   The rest of the afternoon is free to snorkel from your private terrace, take out a kayak or to plan a day tour. 

Day 6 – 7:   Free days to choose from a fascinating selection of day tours- visit the numerous islands of the spectacular Bocas del Toro archipelago, explore rainforest rivers, tour the island jungles and tropical forest, visit native Indian villages, observe a variety of majestic sea birds at flight as well as the fascinating creatures of our luxuriant rainforests like the cute sloth and the scarlet red frogs-native only to Bocas.   Dive or snorkel with the colorful fish in our coral reefs or spend some time fishing- wherever you go Bocas will reveal a surprising, relatively unknown marine world.  Overnight Punta Caracol.

Day 8:   Today you will transfer to the domestic airport in Bocas for a short and scenic flight to Panama City.  Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Hotel De Ville, located at an exclusive address in the financial center of Panama City, for overnight.  The hotel’s custom-designed ambiance incorporates the elements of understated elegance and style, maximum comfort, personal service, state-of-the-art technology and security required by the experienced traveler.  The boutique hotel has been designed bearing in mind the needs of the experienced business or pleasure traveler whose requirements go beyond a traditional room. Additional space in the suites is provided for all those details that make up a small home away from your home. The suites are offered in varying degrees of comfort and size, named after the great men of vision from the historic French Canal era and the inception of the nation of Panama. 

The hotel features include concierge services, laundry and dry cleaning services, business center, safe deposit box, reception and convention rooms and wireless internet.  The Ten Bistro at the hotel should, before defining ''Ten'' as a restaurant, be understood as a concept of actual life, created by urban people with modern and receptive criteria of the metro-contemporaneous lifestyle. On the menu created for you, you can begin by choosing among the different attractive starts of your taste, followed by selecting between ten varieties of main dishes, using creativity, diversity and freshness on each presentation.

Day 9:   Panama City & Canal Tour (half day):  Your English speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a private tour to Panama City and the Miraflores Locks. You will start the tour with a 30 minutes drive to the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal where you will be able to see many ships getting lifted or lowered 18 meters in two distinct steps. You will enjoy the view on the Locks from a sheltered terrace and listen to the explanations of your guide. To complete the visit of the Canal you will visit the Museum and Visitor Center at Miraflores which gives you a good idea on the construction of the Canal, the entire world trade, as well as on the current expansion project. After the visit to the Canal you continue with your guide to the Amador Causeway, a road that connects three Islands in the Pacific Ocean and offers magnificent views of the Canal on one side and of the Panama City skyline on the other side. The tour continues to the Casco Viejo, Panama City’s colonial quarter. At Casco Viejo you feel set back in time as you admire the lovely colonial houses, the narrow roads and the impressive churches. You will get a good idea about Panama’s history by driving or walking through the main attractions of this quarter.  The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city.  Overnight Hotel DeVille. 

Day 10:  Morning transfer to the international airport in Panama City for your return flight home.        

Includes: 

• Includes: 

  • One way San Jose international airport transfer. 
  • 2 nights Hotel Grano de Oro, standard room. 
  • Pacuare River Whitewater Rafting (class III-IV).  Includes: transfers, guide, equipment, breakfast and lunch. 
  • Roundtrip private ground transfers San Jose / San Ramon. 
  • 2 nights Hotel Villa Blanca, superior casita.  Breakfast daily included. 
  • Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs Tour.  Includes:  transfers, guide, entrance and lunch. 
  • One way international flight San Jose, Costa Rica / Bocas del Toro, Panama.  *MAX 40 lbs luggage per person to avoid excess luggage fees. 
  • 3 nights Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge, punta caracol suite.  Includes:  roundtrip Bocas del Toro airport transfers and breakfast & dinner daily. 
  • One way domestic flight Bocas del Toro / Panama City.  *MAX 25 lbs luggage per person to avoid excess luggage fees. 
  • One way Panama City domestic airport transfer. 
  • 2 nights Hotel DeVille, deluxe room.  Breakfast daily included. 
  • Panama City & Canal Tour.  Includes:  transfers, guide and entrance. 
  • One way Panama City international airport transfer. 
  • ALL HOTEL TAX INCLUDED. 

Package only operates with a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday departure